Brockport's Paddling on the Erie Canal Is Truly Inclusive
The Village of Brockport installed its BoardSafe Adaptive Kayak Launch in June 2021 to accommodate truly inclusive paddling. The adaptive system is located in downtown Brockport along the Erie Canal. One of the challenges for this project was a nearly 20-foot-high concrete wall along the entire area, meaning the gangway for this project needed to be engineered from the walkway along the wall and down to the dock.
There has been a tremendous increase in kayaking, canoeing, and paddle boarding over the last several years. COVID has added to paddlesports’ popularity. Visitor research completed for the Erie Canalway National Corridor in 2017 reported that 42% of visitors would like to canoe or kayak on the canal. You can see the presentation below:
Erie_Canalway-Visitor_Research.pdf
In the years since that research study has been completed, it’s very likely the percentage of visitors interested in paddling the canal has increased. However, most small towns have not improved their canal access points or made provisions to include the disabled community. Launches that have not been improved and launches that have been built in accordance with minimum ADA standards still exclude a large group of adaptive paddlers. Adaptive paddlers require a launch with specific adaptive features. Adaptive athletes find great joy in getting into their vessel and out onto the water with their family and friends.
Read more about BoardSafe's exclusive adaptive products here.
Since the canal is considered a "navigable waterway,” the Erie Canal Corporation stipulated the entire dock system could only project a minimal distance into the canal. BoardSafe Docks identified a design solution that included a cantilevered walkway with support arms attached to the concrete wall. The walkway provided the solution as well as the necessary attachment point for the gangway that ran parallel to the concrete wall and attached to the floating dock. The adaptive launch was attached to the opposite end, allowing for safer and easier access for persons in wheelchairs.
A second challenge at this site was keeping the dock system in place. BoardSafe analyzed the options and recommended that two vertical I-Beam pilings be bolted to the concrete wall and piling guides be attached to the floating dock. This solution allowed the dock system to move up and down as the water level fluctuated, keeping the dock in the same position in relation to the concrete wall.
This custom project included a 5' x 6' landing, a 4' x 16' gangway, one 8' x 20’ floating dock, one Clip-a-Launch 16Dual that allows entry from both sides, and two custom I-Beam pilings and piling guides.
The total cost of this project was about $45,000.
Brockport is on the National Register of Historic Places and is known for its Victorian downtown district. The College at Brockport, State University of NY, is also located here and is recognized for offering the first Adaptive Physical Education Program in the country. It’s fitting that the Village of Brockport understands the need for equity and inclusion in providing an accessible waterfront and saw value in the BoardSafe Adaptive kayak launch with specific adaptive features, ensuring that paddlers of all abilities can experience the joys of paddling the Erie Canal.
Read a local article about the installation here.
BoardSafe Docks Improves Accessibility for Adaptive Paddling Along the Erie Canal
Hospitality and heritage bring hundreds of thousands of tourists to the Erie Canal each summer. They come from near and they come from far, attracted to the region by different activities: biking, paddling, camping, hiking, shopping, sight-seeing, or simply to refresh and resolve to do absolutely nothing. The tourists are as diverse as the region itself. This includes a diverse range of personal mobility — some hindered by age and arthritis, others living with significant disabilities. As a tourist, there is nothing worse than having your group — whether family or friends — fragmented because one member in the group is unable to access a particular location. Everyone in the tourism industry knows the importance of being hospitable, and this includes accommodating those with disabilities.
As the Erie Canal Heritage Corridor strives to better accommodate all visitors, many local leaders have recognized the popularity of paddling and the need to provide safe and convenient access in and out of the water. The recent addition of three adaptive kayak launches has improved accessibility for the adaptive paddling community and all visitors hoping to paddle the historic canal.
BoardSafe Docks is the manufacturer of the adaptive kayak launch, an industry leader in customized marine access products. BoardSafe Docks’ inclusive design allows for persons in wheelchairs to safely transition into their kayak and out on the water. It also ensures that groups of family and friends paddle together.
The launch system has been engineered with specific adaptive features that have improved the paddling experience for the widest range of users. The launch can also be used with canoes and stand-up paddleboards (SUPs), making it a versatile option for towns, communities, and park systems looking for a truly inclusive launch.
Read "Who can use the BoardSafe Adaptive Kayak Launch?"
The Story of the Erie Canal
The Erie Canal is one of the greatest civil engineering feats in our nation’s history. Nestled along the Erie Canal are 234 cities, towns, and villages that touch New York’s 524 miles of navigable waterways. The identities of its communities are all tied to their canal heritage. Historically, the Erie Canal created an economic structure by connecting its small canal towns, opening a water route to the midwest, and allowing for cheaper transportation of goods. The canal provided new opportunities for work and life for Americans living along the canal corridor. The waterway created a social connectedness between villages and served as the information highway for that era. The canal also became instrumental for social reform.
Today, the Erie Canal corridor is a national heritage landmark and a national treasure for each village because of its help in shaping American history. History and tourism are the crown jewels of each canal town. In-water activities offered along the canal corridor — specifically, paddlesports like kayaking, canoeing, and paddle boarding — offer a positive contribution to each town’s economy.
Tourism and paddling on the Erie Canal
There has been a tremendous increase in kayaking, canoeing, and paddle boarding over the last several years. COVID has added to paddlesports’ popularity. Visitor research completed for the Erie Canalway National Corridor in 2017 reported that 42% of visitors would like to canoe or kayak on the canal.
Erie_Canalway-Visitor_Research.pdf
In the years since that research study has been completed, it’s very likely the percentage of visitors interested in paddling the canal has increased. However, most small towns have not improved their canal access points or made provisions to include the disabled community. Launches that have not been improved and launches that have been built in accordance with minimum ADA standards still exclude a large group of adaptive paddlers. Adaptive paddlers require a launch with specific adaptive features. Adaptive athletes find great joy in getting into their vessel and out onto the water with their family and friends.
Providing accessibility for all abilities
Why paddle the Erie Canal?
Kayaking and other paddle sports are great options for visiting tourists who want to experience life on the water in the small canal towns. Fishing, relaxation, fun, and family, were the answers most often given when kayakers were asked about what draws them to the water. Kayaking allows for those who love the water to get out onto the water for less money than the cost of boating.
"We kind of just like going at our own pace, it's peaceful, and you can take kayaks into places you can't take other boats," said a paddler who used the Fairport Village Launch operated by the Erie Boat Company.
Benefits of a BoardSafe Adaptive Kayak Launch
The Village of Fairport is proudly equipped with a custom BoardSafe Adaptive Kayak Launch, part of a complete waterfront redesign at its Erie Canal’s entry point. GPI, the design engineer on the project, sought out BoardSafe Docks for their assistance in developing a design solution that would fit the adaptive launch into a designated space that rests next to their newly-designed boat ramp.
The launch system was designed with a concrete trench at the top of the launch that allowed for the installation of the bulkhead angle and related hinge pin. This space allowed the pin to be removed for an easy installation.
The customized scope of this project included an 8-foot-wide gangway that fit into the designated launch space. The chute was also designed to be 8 feet. The launch included an 8-foot by 20-foot floating dock and Clip-A-Launch 20S (designed for entry from one end). The cost of this project was $50,000 and was installed at the location of the Erie Boat Company, Inc., operated by Peter Abele.
The Erie Canal Boat Company offers kayak rentals and excursions on the Erie Canal and also has associated walking and bike trails along the canal. Their accessible boat company offers kayak, canoe, paddle board, pontoon, and bicycle rentals to people of all abilities.
The Erie Canal Boat Company is a recognized supporter of, and partner with, Rochester Accessible Adventures and the Adaptive Paddling And Cycling Centers (APACC) in the Upstate New York Regions. Together they host accessible paddle days, offer training, equipment, and inclusive programming to transform the Erie Canalway. Anita O’Brien, Executive Director of RAA, has a mission to ensure that people with disabilities who live or travel in the region have access to equipment and have the ability to enter the water as safely and easily as they deserve. She wants everyone to experience the greatness of the Erie Canalway alongside their family and friends. Anita O’Brien is currently working with BoardSafe to get more of their adaptive launches installed along the canal.
The BoardSafe Adaptive Kayak Launch supported the Erie Canal Boat Company in their mission and has helped make Fairport an inclusive destination for paddlers of all abilities. Tourism is on the rise in Fairport, which is becoming recognized as an inclusive destination.
The Village of Brockport installed their BoardSafe Adaptive Kayak Launch in June 2021. The adaptive system is located in downtown Brockport along the Erie Canal. One of the challenges for this project was a nearly 20-foot-high concrete wall along the entire area, meaning the gangway for this project needed to be engineered from the walkway along the wall and down to the dock.
Since the canal is considered a "navigable waterway,” the Erie Canal Corporation stipulated the entire dock system could only project a minimal distance into the canal. BoardSafe Docks identified a design solution that included a cantilevered walkway with support arms attached to the concrete wall. The walkway provided the solution as well as the necessary attachment point for the gangway that ran parallel to the concrete wall and attached to the floating dock. The adaptive launch was attached to the opposite end, allowing for safer and easier access for persons in wheelchairs.
A second challenge at this site was keeping the dock system in place. BoardSafe analyzed the options and recommended that two vertical I-Beam pilings be bolted to the concrete wall and piling guides be attached to the floating dock. This solution allowed the dock system to move up and down as the water level fluctuated, keeping the dock in the same position in relation to the concrete wall.
This custom project included a 5' x 6' landing, a 4' x 16' gangway, one 8' x 20’ floating dock, one Clip-a-Launch 16Dual that allows entry from both sides, and two custom I-Beam pilings and piling guides.
The total cost of this project was about $45,000.
Brockport is on the National Register of Historic Places and is known for its Victorian downtown district. The College at Brockport, State University of NY, is also located here and is recognized for offering the first Adaptive Physical Education Program in the country. It’s fitting that the Village of Brockport understands the need for equity and inclusion in providing an accessible waterfront and saw value in the BoardSafe Adaptive kayak launch with specific adaptive features, ensuring that paddlers of all abilities can experience the joys of paddling the Erie Canal.
The Village of Medina installed a customized BoardSafe Adaptive Kayak Launch, Floating Docks, Gangway, and Landing, completed in September 2021.
The first challenge identified by BoardSafe Docks was that the existing gangway didn't conform to ADA guidelines and was greater than a 1/12 slope. To correct this issue, a landing was constructed for the existing gangway to rest on and a second gangway added to connect from that platform to the floating dock. This concept was a cost savings for Mayor Mike Sidari in the Village of Medina because BoardSafe recognized they were able to use their existing gangway and not replace it with a more costly gangway. A replacement gangway would have been nearly 70-feet long.
The adaptive kayak launch in Medina was designed to attach to the customer’s existing floating marina. The marina’s freeboard was 16 inches, and the same height of a standard BoardSafe Dock. BoardSafe was able to size the docks and configure the launch to fit onto the downriver side of their dock system.
The components of this project included a customized landing platform for their existing gangway, a new 30-foot aluminum welded gangway, two 5' x 10' floating docks, one 8' x 20' floating dock, and one Clip-a-Launch 20S with a single side entry.
The cost of this project was approximately $65,000.
The BoardSafe Adaptive Kayak Launch appeals to adaptive paddlers and will help the village of Medina continue to grow as a tourist destination because of its accessibility to the water, downtown historic district, and painted murals project located behind their historic downtown buildings.
Although the needs and challenges of these three villages are all very unique and different, BoardSafe Docks was able to evaluate their needs and identify a solution to create an accessible launch system that includes specific features that will work for an adaptive paddler.
Build one and they will come
In addition to helping Erie Canal communities boost tourism and revenue, More Features = More Paddlers. Adaptive launches serve a wide range of paddling groups, making it safer and easier to enter and exit the vessel and the water. Adaptive launches are all about inclusion and human rights. Launches with specialized features increase social connection for adaptive paddlers and offer physical activity to contribute to the best medical outcomes. The Erie Canal has a great history for improving the lives of Americans who lived and worked on the canal and contributed to social reform. Today, the canal and villages have the ability to continue this work and ensure their launches are available to and accessible for everyone.
BoardSafe Docks is the industry leader in adaptive kayak launches and fishing piers, gangways and pedestrian bridges, rowing centers, and marinas. They specialize in design consultation, engineering, and manufacturing, and will work with you to ensure your project is accessible to the widest range of users and that necessary specific adaptive features are not overlooked.
You may learn more about BoardSafe Dock’s projects through our website at BoardSafeDocks.com or by calling 610-899-0286.
Durable Floating Docks and Launches Endure Frozen Lakes, Ice, and Winter Elements
People who enjoy water sports are often subject to climates and locations that experience winter conditions.
For example, people in New England and the Midwest face extremes of heatwaves and frigid blizzards. Many of our clients in these areas are concerned about protecting their floating docks, fishing piers, gangways, and adaptive accessible kayak launches. Parks and outdoor spaces must winterize their areas by putting items into storage, placing covers on items, and spending time to protect objects against the harshness of winter. Many customers ask if BoardSafe products need to be removed from the water and stored during the winter. The short answer is, “No, Board Safe’s floating docks, fishing piers, gangways, and adaptive accessible kayak launches do not necessarily need to be removed for the winter.”
BoardSafe’s products use high-quality grades of stainless steel, synthetic lumber, fiberglass, hardware, and other materials that are selected for their durability and ability to withstand extreme winter elements.
BoardSafe products are engineered and manufactured to perform well on rivers and tidal waters and can support various loads of spectators and athletes at rowing centers. BoardSafe takes special care to design products that are sturdy and can withstand both the elements and heavy use. Athletes in the northern United States and Canada will be happy to know that Board Safe’s docks and launches can remain in the water for the winter as long as the water levels do not fluctuate and there are no ice pack movements. Unusual situations, like draining a lake or chunks of ice floating down a river, could result in damage to the product. That said, a floating dock, fishing pier, or adaptive launch, that has a steady level and flow of water around it, will endure the winter and can be left in the water.
Each location and application is different, and BoardSafe should be consulted prior to allowing products to sit in the water all winter. With hundreds of installations across numerous climates and environmental conditions, BoardSafe is an expert in location selection, site work, design, engineering, manufacturing, and installation of floating docks, piers, and adaptive launches.
To discuss your project and to learn more about BoardSafe Docks, call 610-899-0286.
8 Questions To Consider When Identifying the Best Location for an Adaptive Kayak Launch
Your community has decided that it needs to be more welcoming and accessible to those living with disabilities. You volunteered to research options for an adaptive kayak launch. You understand how important it is for those with mobility issues to enter and exit their kayaks safely — as well as the need to sustain a lifetime of physical activity and social connections. Now is the time to make this dream a reality.
BoardSafe also understands this and we want to educate parks, towns, and other communities about providing paddling opportunities for the greatest number of paddlers possible, and empower them to accomplish this goal. An adaptive kayak launch is a big investment — not only in financial terms, but more importantly, in its direct impact on the life of individuals and the collective community.
You must consider the following eight questions when identifying the best location for the launch because this specialty system will be a long-term investment for your community. By answering these questions, you’ll ultimately improve the kayaking experience for all of your paddlers.
When deciding on the best location for your Adaptive Kayak Launch, you’ll need to answer these eight questions about your site:
- What is the vertical drop from the anchorage point to the top of the water? This is important because it will help determine the length of your gangway and chute.
- Is there ADA access to the site from the parking lot? You’ll want to ensure the infrastructure is in place that will allow paddlers in wheelchairs to get from their vehicles to the launch site.
- Is the water depth adequate for the system? A minimum of 18 inches of water is the recommended depth to allow the launch to float.
- Is the area prone to any flooding? If so, you’ll want to make sure your bulkhead is protected and your gangway is attached with a strong connection to the bulkhead and engineered to withstand a stronger load.
- Are droughts a possibility and could the dock system possibly be sitting in mud? If there are drought conditions in your area, you’ll want to increase the length of your gangway to ensure the dock remains in the water.
- Are there any zoning regulations that identify where you can or cannot install the Adaptive Kayak Launch system? Permits are based on local zoning requirements and also should be investigated early in the design process.
- Does your preferred location experience any tidal changes? Any tidal change will determine the length of your gangway as well as the length of your chute. Specific details about the length of your gangway can be found here.
- Should the kayak launch be attached to a fixed pier or concrete bulkhead? Whatever method of attachment is recommended, the width of your pier or bulkhead will need to accommodate a piano hinge mounting angle. For a gangway and chute combination, the hinge will be 10 feet, and for a gangway alone, it would be 5 feet. If the launch is being installed on a river or a place that has swift moving tidal waters, support cables or pipe pilings may need to be added.
Taking the time to conduct the proper due diligence during site assessment and ensuring accessibility will increase the durability and performance of the Adaptive Kayak Launch. Another consideration is the environmental factors: understanding the impact on the natural habitat, surrounding fauna, and animal life during the installation and long-term use of the launch.
Of equal importance to matching the adaptive launch to an ideal location is matching the kayak launch’s features to the range of mobility of the users. Paddlers who are older, arthritic, or suffer from poor balance, can benefit from an Accessible Kayak Launch that offers basic features that help the paddler transition into the vessel. For users with more severe cognitive impairments or those in wheelchairs or with limited mobility, an Adaptive Kayak Launch is best for the job. An adaptive launch is replete with ADA features that include handrails, gentle sloping gangways, low thresholds, boat slide, multi-tiered transition bench, hand straps, a pullout seat, underwater boat stabilizers, and numerous locations for hand grips.
The amount of features available on the kayak launch directly correlates with the number of users who can enjoy the launch. As a recent adaptive paddling instructor recently shared, “A kayak launch that is promoted as ‘ADA’ or ‘accessible,’ but only serves the highest-functioning individuals in the disability community, communicates to the disabled community a disconnect between paying lip service and a true desire to empower a paddler with handicaps. Decision-makers must do their homework and talk to various individuals with various disabilities to best serve this segment of society.”
Moreover, many communities are seeing an opportunity to increase the number of out-of-town visitors and the quality of life for residents. Many areas, including states, counties, and cities, recognize the value of the bodies of water in their communities. Whether it is to draw tourists, promote resident quality of life, or protect nature, waterfront areas are always the most popular real estate, whether for spreading out a picnic blanket or for building a hotel. Providing safe and easy access to help the community enjoy the water is key.
Where can an Adaptive Kayak Launch be installed?
You’ll find that adaptive launches can be installed almost anywhere.
BoardSafe Docks has installed launches on:
- lakes
- rivers
- streams
- ponds
- tidal waters
- bayous
We can install anywhere your heart takes you paddling!
BoardSafe Docks is the trusted designer, engineer, and manufacturer of aluminum floating docks, as well as the premier designer and manufacturer of rowing centers for top national rowing teams. Their sales team is always available for questions, consultation, and to assist you in finding your optimal waterfront solution. You may learn more about BoardSafe Dock’s projects through their website at BoardSafeDocks.com or by calling 610-899-0286.
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
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.
[metaslider id="6729"]
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:
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.
Custom BoardSafe Aluminum Floating Dock, Boat Rack, and Launches
BoardSafe recently engineered, manufactured, and installed, a custom aluminum floating dock and gangway for a private lake. The BoardSafe custom aluminum floating dock is equipped with two kayak launches. The installation also includes an attached boat rack that cantilevers out over the water, freeing up valuable deck space.
Watch this video testimonial and bird's-eye perspective of this custom BoardSafe installation: