BoardSafe Spokesman and Accessible Sports Advocate Ken Ryno Keeps Chugging Along
At the age of 17, Ken Ryno had a motorcycle accident that changed his life. It did not ruin his life, but changed it for the benefit of others.
Ken was told he would never walk again. For 23 years, this was true, but it did not stop him from trying. Long story short, Ken is now a spokesman for BoardSafe Docks, touting the benefits of our ADA-accessible launches, docks, and piers.
Read Ken's remarkable story here: tnonline.com/20210612/warmest-regards-little-engine-that-could-still-chugging/.
Links to our ADA-accessible products:
Adaptive Products
Accessible Kayak Launch
Adaptive Fishing Piers
Clip-a-Launch
Instructions for Using the BoardSafe Kayak Launch
Minsi Lake Wilderness Area, PA, Proud of Their New ADA-Accessible Kayak Launch
Minsi Lake Wilderness Area is a 311-acre park, with hiking trails, picnic areas, woodlands, wetlands, and a 117-acre lake for public fishing and boating. Northampton County Parks & Recreation manages the parkland around the lake. Facilities include two paved boat launches, two parking lots, two picnic areas, and two trails. The park recently reopened after replacing, renovating, and rebuilding decades-old park amenities and infrastructure; building new recreation and park facilities; and making Minsi Lake an accessible recreation area for everyone throughout the region — opening up access to all of their community members, regardless of their physical abilities.
Of course, part of that renovation included three of BoardSafe’s innovative products. There is an ADA-accessible launch, as well as 2 ADA-accessible, 6' x 25' fishing piers. One pier is accessed by a 5' x 20' gangway, and the other by a 5' x 40' gangway.
This installation was featured on WFMZ, an Allentown, PA, news station, in this article and video.
Here are some pictures of the installation, followed by 2 recent videos:
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ADA-Accessible Kayak Launch for Shawnee, OK, Kayak Club
BoardSafe supplied the Pott County Kayak Club of Shawnee, Oklahoma, with an ADA-accessible kayak launch at Shawnee Twin Lakes. BoardSafe worked alongside the kayak club and a local contractor to have the kayak launch installed in late April, 2021. The 12ft x 20ft launch featured a 20ft-long access gangway direct-feed kayak chute to improve accessibility for adaptive paddlers. Our team at BoardSafe is thrilled to have assisted the Pott County Kayak Club and local community with supplying the adaptive kayak launch as one of their initial projects to build an ADA-compliant community park on the shores of Shawnee Twin Lakes.
Gulfport MS Blueway Gets 2 ADA-Compliant Launches
In partnership with Moran Hauling of Biloxi, MS, BoardSafe was selected by the City of Gulfport to provide two new ADA-compliant kayak launches for the Bernard Bayou Blueway.
The blueway is a meandering tidal waterway that offers a diversity of wildlife and a variety of dining and recreational opportunities. One of the launches was installed on the western side of the blueway near Gulfport Lake, while the second launch was installed on the eastern end near historic Handsboro. With the successful installation of these two new launches, paddlers can now navigate nearly the entire 10-mile length of the blueway and have ADA accessible entry and exit points at each end. Both launches used BoardSafe’s Clip-A-Launch, a bolt-on kayak chute that provides the customer with flexibility on positioning at a very competitive price.
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BoardSafe Clip-A-Launch Quickly Adds Launch to Any Dock
After years of designing, manufacturing, and installing floating aluminum docks and other marina products, BoardSafe developed a unique product to meet the needs of unique clients: the add-on kayak launch we call Clip-A-Launch. “Many of our clients have tight spaces that they need to operate within or limitations with their dock sizes. Others have seen an increased use of kayakers whom they want to accommodate,” says Scott Tihansky, president of BoardSafe Docks. Regardless of the reason for the problem, BoardSafe has created a solution: a clip-on kayak launch.
The clip-on, or add-on, kayak launch can be added to any BoardSafe dock system. The kayak launch clip-on has a modified attachment system that allows it to be used on other dock systems, including wooden docks. Recently, the clip-on kayak launch was installed at REI Rowing Center in Chicago, Illinois.
To see the Clip-A-Launch in action, watch these brief videos:
Adaptive Features That Make a Kayak Launch ADA-Accessible
“Just because a product is marketed as ‘accessible’ doesn’t mean that we can actually use it" — Michael White, avid outdoorsman and paddler who lived with spina bifida.
BoardSafe’s uniquely-accessible kayak launches maximize the number of users in a community who can use the launch by making them truly inclusive for those with moderate to severe physical challenges.
Direct quotation made prior to becoming a BoardSafe client (See below for client testimonials.) "Not only are the transfers of some with mobility impairments questionably safe but also the moving of the kayaks in/out of the water. I was not comfortable with the consistent level of safety that we are able to provide for our volunteers, all staff and, of course, our participants.” — Alice Krauss, M.Ed., OTR/L, Manager, Adaptive Sports and Recreation, Brooks Rehabilitation
BoardSafe Docks understands the needs and concerns of adaptive athletes, so we have worked with them to engineer ADA-accessible kayak launches that incorporate our unique aluminum materials and floating mechanisms.
Here are some of the features that make BoardSafe docks the perfect choice for paddlers.
- ADA-compliant features include a uniform 1:12-slope aluminum gangway that is adjacent to the composite-decking boat slide. This design allows individuals to ease their kayak down the slide while they travel along the gangway.
- The floating dock and gangway have a 36″ continuous handrail along the perimeter, consistent with ADA requirements.
- Aluminum floating docks with boat access are engineered for maximum flotation stabilization considering the size, number, and placement of plastic-encapsulated floats. The marine conditions and water movement (tidal waters, rivers, lake ice, etc.) are also considered.
- On the floating dock, there is a loading bench that is 16″ high. Our group of adaptive kayakers determined this to be the ideal height to allow them to transfer over from a wheelchair. On the loading bench, there are four levels with 4" rises. The athlete can use the handrail that runs the length of the bench to guide himself or herself along the bench to the boat. On the last transition, there is a pullout seat that extends out and across the top of the boat. The users can simply slide across the pullout seat, locate themselves directly across the kayak seat, and guide themselves into the boat.
- Surrounding the kayak is the roll cage. It is a frame of handrails and hand straps offering the individual numerous gripping options for lowering into the boat.
- Supporting the boat in the water is a partially-submerged bracket system to stabilize the kayak.
- Our kayak launches are stand-up paddleboard (SUP) compatible, allowing the adaptive athlete to participate in the rapidly-growing SUP sport.
Client Testimonials
"We have been VERY impressed by BoardSafe, and they have developed a system which we feel is superior to the EZ Dock system." — Leon Mertz, Lake Loramie Improvement Association
"BoardSafe has all the features to provide the most access to the greatest number of users." — George White, Wetland Biologist, Team River Runner Chapter Coordinator
"After a Category 3 hurricane flooded our area we found that all the kayak launches were ripped away, except for the BoardSafe launch. It didn’t move an inch." — Chris Camp, Principal Engineer, City of Cape Coral, FL
"The construction and installation of our new ramp and dock were flawless … we are the envy of our neighbors on Boathouse Row in Philadelphia." — Michael Ragan, Pennsylvania Barge Club
This installation was highlighted on the following real estate presentation:
For more information about the BoardSafe Docks family of adaptive products, click here.
Guide to State Resources for Accessible Kayak Launches
NOTE: Listings were current as of date of publication and are subject to change.
Alabama
Justins Bay Sunset and Sunrise Shelter
Alaska
Kenai River Special Management Area - Cooper Landing Boat Launch, near Sterling
Kenai River Special Management Area - The Pillars Boat Launch, near Kenai
Arizona
Arizona State Parks & Trails
Colorado
Adaptive Sports and Adventures in Colorado: Accessible Options for the Disabled
Maine
Fully Accessible Boat Sites
Maryland
MD State Parks - Accessible Boat Ramps
Massachusetts
Accessible Kayaking
Michigan
Department of Natural Resources
Minnesota
Accessible Outdoors
Missouri
Accessibility Information by Park or Historic Site
Oklahoma
Accessible Information
Oregon
Milo McIver State Park
Pennsylvania
Accessible Kayaking in Pennsylvania State Parks
Rhode Island
Accessibility in Rhode Island State Parks
South Carolina
Dolly Cooper Park
Timmerman Jr. Kayak Launch
Wisconsin
State Parks Featuring Adaptive Kayaks
BoardSafe Is a Member of PA COSTARS' Purchasing Program
BoardSafe is a participant in the Pennsylvania COSTARS Cooperative Purchasing Program. COSTARS is the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's cooperative purchasing program that serves as a conduit through which registered and eligible local public procurement units and state-affiliated entities are able to leverage contracts established to cost-effectively and efficiently identify suppliers with whom to do business. This streamlines the purchasing process for both sides.
The COSTARS Program's goal is to provide members with contracts that are competitively priced while delivering increased opportunities for our supplier and member partners.
Membership in COSTAR facilitates the purchase of supplies, services, and construction by entities that spend public funds, such as a council of governments or an area government, or an organization that receives public grant funds.
COSTARS suppliers, such as BoardSafe, must demonstrate high standards of responsibility and responsiveness. Many purchasers use a shortlist of preferred suppliers that they know they can depend on to deliver the goods in a timely manner and at competitive prices. Amazing customer service plus competitive pricing will go a long way to winning a member’s project!
Government agencies large and small, up and down the East Coast, have found BoardSafe to be a reliable supplier of the finest aluminum floating docks, gangways, adaptive kayak launches, and other marine recreation products. We have lived up to their COSTARS standards and reputation.
Other clients, from private citizens to boating and kayak clubs to public schools and universities, have relied on the trusted BoardSafe name.
For more information, contact us at 610-899-0286 or continue to browse our website, especially our Projects page.
Environmental Benefits of BoardSafe Floating Docks
BoardSafe strives to be environment-friendly in all our operations. Our materials are selected for their durability and sustainability. We design systems that do not hinder the surrounding ecosystem of plant and animal life. Our quick and quality installation process reduces the on-site presence of heavy equipment, and we do it right the first time so we don't have to return.
Property owners, whether governments, clubs, schools, individuals, or others who are contemplating installing or replacing docks, need to be aware of the sustainability of the components and their impact on the marine ecosystem. BoardSafe takes all of that into consideration, from the design phase through the procurement of materials to the final installation.
BoardSafe's made-in-the-USA floating docks are constructed from the highest-grade aluminum, so there is no concern about deterioration, as there can be with wooden docks. They are low-maintenance, meaning an occasional power wash will keep them looking great, with a minimal need for solvents and other chemicals that can pollute the water. Environment-friendly cleaning products are available to remove stains.
BoardSafe prebuilds as many components as possible to minimize our time at the installation site. We make sure everything is complete before we leave the site, so we don't have to return. This means less trampling of the ground and vegetation.
Aluminum floating docks are more easily moved and replaced than fixed docks, should the need arise.
Read more about our consultation process here.
Adaptive Kayak Launch Brings Joy to Team River Runner
Following is a testimonial to the quality and superiority of the BoardSafe adaptive kayak launch that provides access for the disabled.
As a physical therapist, we routinely ask our clients what their goals are. People who experience devastating loss such as amputation or paralysis can crave to turn back time and be able to resume doing the things they love.
Our society remains full of barriers but as it becomes more apparent that 1 out of 4 persons has some form of disability, the world is slowly becoming more accessible. There is a difference between merely meeting minimum ADA compliance and meeting quality standards that are truly handi-capable. This is true with homes and businesses, restaurants, and gymnasiums, but also the great outdoors.
As I love to kayak, I can tell you there is a tremendous difference in trying to enter a kayak from the water/shore than when using an accessible kayak launch. And not all kayak launches are created equal. Beware of launches made of plastic or are not flush and graded per ADA guidelines. I have been on a few of those launches and even for an able-bodied person, it can be difficult to maneuver and inaccessible to some.
The BoardSafe accessible kayak launch in my opinion is the highest quality system I have ever seen. It is structurally strong, well thought out, and gets people with disabilities back in the water. As a member of Team River Runner, a volunteer group that gets butts into boats, we take great pride in helping people realize that they can do things such as this that they never thought they would do again. Boardsafe kayak launches provide the best tool to allow a greater population to safely experience the water, with or without help.
At Lake Nockamixon, I volunteered with a group of assisted kayakers before there was a Boardsafe launch and then again after the launch was installed. The time, manpower, and safety in getting a group into the water were unquestionably and remarkably improved. To see the joy of the group and volunteers spending time together on the water is priceless! I give BoardSafe a five-star rating and commend their efforts to promote accessibility!
Best Regards,
JoAnn Sienkiewicz
Physical Therapist