Accessibility is more than a label. It’s about removing the barriers that prevent people from getting on the water.

For more than 20 years, BoardSafe Docks has designed and manufactured high-performance aluminum waterfront systems for public and private clients across the country. Our expertise includes adaptive kayak launches, floating boat docks, gangways, fishing piers, marinas, pedestrian bridges, and rowing centers.

Designed With Adaptive Paddlers—Not Just For Them

BoardSafe’s Adaptive Kayak Launch was developed in 2012 through collaboration with an environmental engineer, physical therapists, an accessibility coordinator, and adaptive paddlers from the Lehigh Valley Chapter of Team River Runner.

Their firsthand experience helped us identify the real barriers wheelchair users face, from reaching the launch to transferring into a kayak and safely getting back out of the water. That collaboration continues to influence our design today.

The result is an adaptive launch designed to provide greater independence, stability, safety, and dignity for paddlers of varying abilities.

Key Features That Make the Difference

• ADA-compliant gangway with a maximum 1:12 slope for access between shore and the launch.
• Tiered boarding bench designed to facilitate transfers from a wheelchair into a kayak.
• Pull-out seat positioned over the kayak cockpit to minimize the transfer distance.
• Kayak chute and saddle designed to securely cradle the vessel and reduce unwanted movement.
• Adaptive roll cage with overhead grab bars, handrails, and handstraps that provide multiple user preferences when transferring.
• Spacious aluminum floating dock providing room for wheelchair maneuvering and additional wheelchairs.
• Perimeter toe kick to help prevent wheelchairs from accidentally rolling off the dock.
• Continuous handrails along the gangway and launch for additional safety and support.

Stability Matters

BoardSafe does not use roller-based kayak launch systems. Our saddle-style cradle securely supports the kayak and helps minimize shifting during transfers.

This is particularly important for adaptive paddlers who need a stable platform when entering or exiting a vessel. BoardSafe’s design also helps protect higher-end kayaks that can be vulnerable to roller systems

Built for the Waterfront

BoardSafe launches are constructed with marine-grade aluminum, composite decking, and stainless-steel fasteners and are engineered for demanding waterfront environments. Our systems are structurally engineered and built to last.

BoardSafe has built nearly 200 Adaptive Kayak Launches across the United States, with systems designed to withstand wind, waves, flooding, and corrosive environments.

Don’t Just Look at the Label, Look at the User Experience

“ADA” and “accessible” do not necessarily mean a launch will work for a person with a mobility impairment. ADA guidelines provide limited direction regarding actual transfers from a wheelchair into a kayak or canoe from floating or fixed docks.

When evaluating an adaptive kayak launch, ask these questions:

• Can a wheelchair user independently reach the launch?
• Can they safely transfer into their vessel?
• Does the kayak remain stable during the transfer?
• Is there adequate overhead and hand support?
• Can the paddler safely return to the launch and exit safely after being on the water?
• Do you have a user video demonstrating successful entry, launching, and exit?

BoardSafe believes true accessibility means answering yes to all of these questions.

BoardSafe User Videos & Testimonials:   

Adaptive Kayak Launch at Lake Chaminwood 

Adaptive Paddler Reviews Accessible Kayak Launch After First Experience  

Getting boat from vehicle to water: Adaptive kayak launch makes it easy 

The BoardSafe Difference

BoardSafe doesn’t simply build an accessible dock. We build access to the experience.

With proven designs, user-informed features, durable aluminum construction, and nearly 200 launches in operation nationwide, BoardSafe provides communities with a long-term solution for creating more inclusive waterfronts.

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