Wheelchair sports have really taken off since a handful of Veterans tossed wheelchair basketball into play just after WW2. Just about any sport can now be enjoyed by people with disabilities.
We frequently see innovations in technology for wheelchair court sports, field sports, and skiing. It is not often that we see advances in boating and water sports. The Alligator Paraboat is a welcomed addition. The Alligator is manufactured by Inventr AG of Switzerland.
The Alligator Paraboat is arm powered and cranked in similar fashion to a handcycle. The rudder control is built into the shaft that holds the hand cranks so that steering and cranking can be accomplished at the same time. There are two models available- The single user model and the tandem model which places both paraboaters in-line and cranking in harmony.
Alligator is appropriately named. The padals on each side of the boat are actually wheels. The boat, with user in place, can enter and exit the water without need for doing knee deep or dockside transfers.
Paraboats are beginning to build a following in Europe. Clubs are beginning to appear and last year a Paraboating Cup was held. There are several intended uses being explored which include recreational boating, therapeutic paraboating, competitive paraboating, and rentals for lakeside hotels and resorts. And of course, one more potential technology for getting people out there and enjoying themselves.
