Andy,

there was an article in the Wavelength magazine devoted to wooden sea kayaks (vol 12, number 4) written by a paddler (Vadim Kin) who built and modified a Pygmy Queen Charlotte XL so that he can paddle it and have space to store his wheelchair inside. He described several modifications he had to made. He then went and did several 100+ miles long trips, so it seems that he was satisifed with the results. If you don't have access to that magazine's volume, I have a PDF copy and I could mail it to you.

There was another magazine issue afterwards in which he described some paddle-float rig he implemented in his boat, but I cannot find that issue (perhaps somebody else in the forum has it ?).

Hugo

: Do any of you know a paraplegic paddler ? I have a friend who was very
: much into adventure sports (caving, climbing, mountaineering, ski touring
: and so on) before becoming paralysed from the waist down. Since his
: accident, he has not given up cave diving, and he learned to fly light
: aircraft. He has now met some disabled paddlers who paddled Vancouver
: to Juneau this summer and is interested in taking up sea kayaking. He
: lives in Edinburgh, so his local area is the west coast of Scotland,
: with all that implies in terms of tides, weather and exposure to Atlantic
: swell.

: What sort of boat is likely to be best for this sort of paddler ? And
: what sort of outfitting is going to work for someone with no ability to
: do knee bracing and hip flicks ? Obviously the cop-out solution is to
: put him in a double with another paddler, but somehow I can't see Mike
: wanting to be in that position for very long - he is both determined and
: independant in everything to takes up.

: Ideas ?

: Andy