Trusts pay for Wheelyboats for disabled anglers

Coulam 16 Wheelyboat on Llyn Brenig. Credit: Llyn Brenig

The Angling Trust has joined forces with the Wheelyboat Trust to part-fund seven new Coulam 16 Wheelyboats that will enable clubs and fisheries to provide disabled anglers, and wheelchair users in particular, with access to their waters and fishing.

Clubs and fisheries have until April 30th to apply for one of the first four Wheelyboats available. Applications for the final three Wheelyboats will be invited in the Autumn.

The Coulam 16 is a purpose-built angling boat widely used on fisheries all over the UK. The Coulam 16 Wheelyboat is identical to the standard but is built with a hydraulic platform to lower wheelchair anglers to floor level. The Coulam 16 Wheelyboat can be driven from a wheelchair and, once on board, the disabled angler can operate the Wheelyboat entirely independently.

The Coulam 16 Wheelyboat has a maximum capacity of three people and maximum outboard motor of 10hp. It is designed for angling on stillwaters on the drift or at anchor. Its wide beam makes it unsuitable for rowing very far but it can be used on a river if motored to the swim or pool and anchored up.

For salmon fishing, where a boatman rows and the angler fishes from the stern, then a Coulam 15 Wheelyboat is recommended. Two of these accessible boats operate on the River Tweed and applications can be made for this model instead of the Coulam 16 Wheelyboat.

The Wheelyboat Trust has raised £35,000 in grants from the Peter Harrison Foundation (£30,000) and Lord Barnby’s Foundation (£5,000) to support this initiative. It is with huge thanks to them both that the seven Coulam Wheelyboats will each be discounted by £5,000 bringing the cost of each boat down to the same price as the standard, non-accessible version of the Coulam 16.

The application process is now open HERE where applicants can also find detailed information about the project and what is funded.

School trip in Wheelyboat on Farmoor Reservoir. Credit: Farmoor Reservoir

Article republished with permission from The Angling Trust website: https://www.anglingtrust.net/news.asp?section=29&sectionTitle=Angling+Trust+News&itemid=4818