07-18-2010, 06:48 PM
Wow! I am impressed. Y'all really know this subject. A little more background info on me and my son. Our brand new F-150 was totaled last year, and we haven't replaced it. Our primary vehicle ow is the E-150 LA West Conversion van. My wife and 19 yr old daughter are the only drivers, and my daughter has a Merc Cougar. The van will be out prime mover. There is a power chair lift semi-permanently mounted in the trailer hitch. We could bungee chord a deflated/foldable pontoon to the lift if required. Otherwise, it'd have to go in the van. We're about 8 miles from Indian Head where there is a public paved launch in the Mattawoman Creek (bass hot spot!!!). with access to the Potomac. My wife is wiling to drive us and fetch us at the end of the day. It would have to be at/near a paved or well graded area with a launch/pier.
I was inclined to favor a pontoon for Robby and a float tube for me. If I went alone, I'd use the pontoon, if together, I'd go in the tube and Robby in the pontoon. I was shot down in Vietnam, and shot up trying to escape. I was rescued by some South Vietnamese troops, and ultimately MedEvac's to the Army Hosp in Da Nang. They were able to save my legs, but I still walk with a cane for short distances 50 to 100 meters. Robby is a left leg below knee amputee, but his surgeon up at Walter Reed tells us that he may have to take Robby's knee during the next surgery (this will be his 34th since July 4, '09 - He had 31, 32 and 33 about 3 weeks ago). I don't think he'd be able to use fins to propel a kick boat - oars and/or trolling motor would be required. Poor guy is going nuts bound to the wheel chair all summer and sleeping in the family room again. He can't navigate stairs yet since his last surgeries. He keeps getting infections that get into the bone in his residual limb. He also suffers from severe TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury). But I digress.
I need to find a way to get him out on the water and catch some fish. He won't be able to navigate rough terrain, or wade. Only options are from a pier in his wheel chair, or water craft. Float tubes/pontoons see like the answer. He is 6'3" and weighs about 210. I'm the same height, but weighed in yesterday at 319.
I appreciate all the advice so far. I will investigate the NFO line.
Cheers!
Bob H.
[signature]
I was inclined to favor a pontoon for Robby and a float tube for me. If I went alone, I'd use the pontoon, if together, I'd go in the tube and Robby in the pontoon. I was shot down in Vietnam, and shot up trying to escape. I was rescued by some South Vietnamese troops, and ultimately MedEvac's to the Army Hosp in Da Nang. They were able to save my legs, but I still walk with a cane for short distances 50 to 100 meters. Robby is a left leg below knee amputee, but his surgeon up at Walter Reed tells us that he may have to take Robby's knee during the next surgery (this will be his 34th since July 4, '09 - He had 31, 32 and 33 about 3 weeks ago). I don't think he'd be able to use fins to propel a kick boat - oars and/or trolling motor would be required. Poor guy is going nuts bound to the wheel chair all summer and sleeping in the family room again. He can't navigate stairs yet since his last surgeries. He keeps getting infections that get into the bone in his residual limb. He also suffers from severe TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury). But I digress.
I need to find a way to get him out on the water and catch some fish. He won't be able to navigate rough terrain, or wade. Only options are from a pier in his wheel chair, or water craft. Float tubes/pontoons see like the answer. He is 6'3" and weighs about 210. I'm the same height, but weighed in yesterday at 319.
I appreciate all the advice so far. I will investigate the NFO line.
Cheers!
Bob H.
[signature]