“Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing – absolutely nothing – half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats”
Kenneth Grahame, Wind in the Willows
Accessible Boating Thames is a charity based at Bisham Abbey near Marlow that provides opportunities for people with all types of disability to go powerboating on the River Thames.
The boat shown above is a Wheelyboat and is designed for people who use wheelchairs or have restricted mobility. The ramp at the front comes down for easy access and is then lifted up to form a watertight seal.
The boat is not only capable of taking all sizes of manual and electric wheelchairs but the steering position is designed to allow the boat to be driven from a wheelchair.
The wheelyboat can be used in several ways
- By families or small groups where one person holds an RYA Powerboat 2 certificate and is familiar with the Thames and it’s locks (training courses are available through our partner Bisham Abbey Sailing and Navigation School)
- A family or small group being taken by one of our experienced volunteers
- A large group coming down to the waterside at Bisham Abbey and picnicing under our stretch tent and completing short trips in groups of up to 6 skippered by one of our volunteers.
So if you would like to get on the water yourself, with you family or with a group that have mobility issues see See www.accessibleboatingthames.org or fill out the contact form below for more details.