Across the nation, many people — from park rangers to city engineers — are seeking to improve access to their local community’s water and marine features. This is an extension and outgrowth of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), with the objective to provide access for all abilities…
The City of Jacksonville, Florida, recently installed its fourth BoardSafe Adaptive Kayak Launch at their Mandarin Park location in December 2021. The fully-accessible launch is located at 14780 Mandarin Road, Jacksonville, FL, 32223-2650. Jacksonville is home to the largest urban park system in the nation, and is committed…
In early March of 2022. the following project was installed at the Mariners’ Museum in Newport News, VA. The client had a fixed pier with steps that lead to a floating dock. The floating dock was removed and a new pressure-treated ramp was installed by the customer on top…
The radiant sun presided over the springtime rejuvenation and the songbirds cheered the eager kayakers as they slipped into their boats. It was harmonious: camaraderie on the Erie Canal and oneness with nature — at least for all but one paddler in the group. Of the kayakers, Ken…
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,…
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…
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…
BoardSafe sells an adaptive launch kit called "Launch-in-a-Box" with all the features of a commercial adaptive kayak launch. It's a turnkey package for clients to assemble and install on their own.
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…
It’s admirable when a community or organization recognizes the need to install an accessible kayak launch with adaptive features. However, there are many questions that need to be answered before the project can move forward. Funds for these types of projects are often hard to come by, so…