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The
Wheelyboat Trust
Wheelyboats have made angling truly accessible to people with disabilities
Alan Faulkner realised that when his fishing companion, Bill Buchanan, fell from a tree and broke his back Bill's angling days were nearly at an end for, with few exceptions, fishing locations are unsuitable for wheelchair access. Steep, rugged and unmade banks and paths by there nature disallow people with disabilities. Ordinary boats leave an angler with a disability dependent on their angling companion, in fact being disabled takes away the an anglers ability to be independent, to do what able bodied anglers do - just get in the car on an urge and go fishing.
Faulkner did something about the problem and invented the Wheelyboat. Looking a bit like a WWII landing craft. the wheelyboat has a ramp on its bow which drops down allowing an angler in a wheelchair to just drive onboard and with an electric outboard to propel the boat the wheelyboat it enables disabled anglers to fish on equal terms with all anglers. A simple concept that has brought angling to many people who thought that their days of being able to fish on the natural wild lochs and lakes were at an end.
The Wheelyboat Trust, formerly The Handicapped Anglers Trust established in 1984, was set up to promote improved access for anglers with disabilities. HAT formally changed its name to The Wheelyboat Trust in March 2004. The remit of the Trust has changed a little from being focused only on angling to providing access to lakes and lochs for people who want to pursue photography, painting, bird watching, going for a family picnic or just stooging about on the water for the fun of it.
The original boat,
the MK I, was a revelation to disabled anglers.
While it had a few flaws in terms of stability,
manoeuvrability and in holding a true drift it
served its purpose providing anglers with
unsurpassed access. The MK I is no longer
manufactured having been superseded by the longer,
more stable and manoeuvrable MK II. The 100th
wheelyboat was launched in January 2005
According to the Environment Agency there are over 60,000 Agency License holders in England and Wales who are disabled. There are 8 and a half million people out there with disabilities and as we anglers all know our sport is a great tonic to the spirit which could be enjoyed by more disabled people who might want to go fishing if they thought they had better access. The Wheelyboat Trust raises funds to help place some boats on fisheries, or for fisheries that would like a boat the trust will work with them to find sponsors. Off course fisheries can buy boats directly from the Trust.
Sadly Alan Faulkner died in November 2002 and The Wheelyboat Trust has now set up an annual Alan Faulkner Memorial Award for the fishery that has done most to improve access for disabled anglers. The prize is a trophy and a £500 cash award. Past winners include Stonebridge Fishery near Northallerton and Eyebrook Reservoir. If you wish to nominate a fishery for the award call Andy Beardsley on 01798 342222.
The Wheelyboat allows disabled anglers to compete and in the recent International Competition in Ireland, won by the English team, teams from Scotland, England, Ireland and Wales battled it out over two days giving immense pleasure to the participants, especially the English contingent.
At SpinFish we realise that we have not done enough to highlight disabled friendly fisheries in Fishing Finder where to fish directory and as of today we will endeavour to rectify that situation by highlighting fisheries that go that bit further for our disabled angling comrades. Look for this symbol in the directory.
A
point to note is that the Wheelyboat has opened many
still waters to anglers unfortunately few rivers are
accessible, which is a pity. A few angling clubs
have made the effort, the Abernethy Angling
Improvement Association has created wheelchair
access to one of the best pools on their stretch of
the Spey at Broomhill where disabled anglers can
fish for free and the Achonachie Angling Club have
carried out work on there beat on the Upper Conon to
allow access, good for them. I know of many beats
where just a little bit of effort would give
disabled anglers access to river fishing, so come on
folks lets make the effort.
For more information about wheelyboats and where to locate fisheries with wheelyboats log on to:
For more information about fly fishing for disabled anglers in England log on to:
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