Boats and the handicapped- OB's or FS17

[Stripedbass-2]

My primary concern in building the current boat is: Father and nephew both of whom have balance and mobility problems, particularly my nephew.
I have narrowed my requirements down a bit: There needs to be a enough room for a swivel seat, stability is important, some wind protection, layout, and singlehand load and unload easily.
Stability I do not think is a big issue since both individuals have to sit and conditions I would take them out in are probably fairweather only.

Swivel seat and wind protection: Center console takes up a lot of room so I was thinking dual console. They look worse room wise, both people need to easily swing in the chair for fishing. Niether is short, my family averages 6'4"
How difficult is it to launch a 19' verses a 17' ?
Suggestion on wind protection would be helpful.
A cruise speed of 25mph would be nice. Attainable with three people,~700lbs.

I am still considering a rebuild but winter has interfered with the search.
Mark

[Boomer]

If stability is any kind of concern, you want to look at a flat bottom boat, which in the sizes you suggest are the OD's.

As soon as you mention a flat bottom boat, someone will always mention about how they pound in a chop, but they fail to mention how much a V-bottom rolls, especially as weight shifts around the boat.

Most people spend a lot more time in a boat with it at rest than they do with it running.

[anonymous]

I'd think a PH18 would be good. It is wide and stable, but still has enough V to run fairly smooth. After that, I'd say FS17 and OB19. They are large or beamy enough to be pretty stable still. A lot of stability is plain old mass..if the boat is heavier, the people are relatively less influential on the boat when they move around...

[TomW]

Mark the larger the boat the more stable it is going to be. Depending on what you are going to use if for on the N. Shore is what I would determine my selection. Are you going to stay in the harbors around Marlblehead and Peobody and Lynn or are you going to want to run offshore sometimes.

If you are going offshore I would look at the OD18 like Cracker Larry's building or the OB19. Either would be stable platforms for what you are looking for. If your not going to want to go offshore even when your Dad and nephew are not with you the PH18 is a nice wide stable platform for the bays. You can go to Deedaddy's thread to see his daughter's and sons build.

I wouldn't worry about the difference in size of 2' in trailering you'll get the hang of it easy enough.

It's nice that you are considering your dad, and nephew in your build requirements.

Tom

[tech_support]

For that amount of weight and the requirement for extra stability I would be looking for a something 18' or larger with a fair amount of beam. The one mentioned so far would be good. OD18, PH18/ph22, C19, maybe the new AB23 - there are plenty others in that range.

Joel