Wheelyboat Trust Tweed Press Release

NEWS RELEASE 5 October 2006

New barrier to be broken on Tweed with launch of revolutionary boat by Chris Tarrant.

The arrival of an ingenious and innovative new boat will for the first time allow access to disabled anglers for fishing on much of the River Tweed. This follows over a year of development and collaboration between the Wheelyboat Trust, the Tweed Foundation and River Tweed Commissioners. The end result is a modified ‘Tweed’ boat for disabled anglers to use in river conditions with fast moving water. Other Wheelyboat Trust designed boats are primarily for use on still waters.

“Tweedability I”, which has been funded by the Tweed Foundation, will be available to any Tweed beat which has wheelchair bound or less able-bodied fishers who wish to take advantage of it.  The boat is safe, comfortable, easy to use and handles well; in addition to oars for the boatman’s use during fishing, it also has an outboard motor to help move between fishing pools. 

Boarding, fishing and disembarkation can all be achieved with the assistance of a single boatman. Training will be provided as continuous communication between boatman and angler are key to the smooth operation of the boat, especially when getting the angler into and out of the boat using the specially designed hydraulic ramp. The boat allows anglers to fish from the comfort of their own wheelchair. Provided adequate access arrangement can be made, the boat will be bookable by beats and delivered by River Tweed Commissioners staff at the beginning of the fishing week.  All running costs will be met by the Tweed Foundation, which will request a small donation from beats which make use of it.

Andrew Douglas-Home, Chairman of the Tweed Foundation, commented: “This is a unique development which, for the first time, will allow less-able and elderly anglers to fish large parts of Tweed”.

Nick Yonge, Director of the Tweed Foundation, explained: “The launch of the Tweed Wheelyboat marks the culmination of more than a year’s collaborative work between the River Tweed Commissioners, the Tweed Foundation and the Wheelyboat Trust. From the start we were determined to provide a river boat that would enable disabled anglers to enjoy salmon fishing from their own chair and to overcome the practical problems that currently prevent them from doing so. I am delighted with the boat design, which has been developed, as it enables safe and comfortable angling for people with a wide range of disabilities; we now hope that the Wheely Boat Trust will supply many rivers throughout the UK with this boat”.

Andy Beadsley, Director of the Wheelyboat Trust: “We are sure that this new boat will overcome many of the physical barriers faced by disabled anglers. It has the potential to transform the angling opportunities available to disabled people on rivers across the UK”.

If the boat proves a success, Tweed will be adding to the fleet.  Other Scottish rivers are watching the development with interest and two have already expressed a desire to order a boat from The Wheelyboat Trust once the prototype has proved itself.

“Tweedability 1” will be formally launched by TV celebrity and keen salmon angler Chris Tarrant at Lower Birgham (between Kelso and Coldstream) on Tuesday 10th October at 1 pm.

1) The Tweed Foundation is a charitable trust set up in 1983 by the River Tweed Commissioners to promote the development of fish stocks in the Tweed River System.  It undertakes extensive scientific research and habitat enhancement work within the 2,000 miles of rivers and burns which make up the Tweed catchment. Further information on the work of the Tweed Foundation can be found at: www.tweedfoundation.org.uk

2) The Wheelyboat Trust is a registered charity that promotes and provides its wheelchair accessible boats to fisheries and other waters all over the UK. As well as the Tweed Wheelyboat, this year it has also completed the design and development of a new standard Wheelyboat model, the Mk III. Standard Wheelyboats differ from the Tweed Wheelyboat in that they have a bow ramp for access and a level deck. The Trust is currently building its 113th Wheelyboat since it began work in 1985. The Trust is involved in a range of activities that promote disabled people’s entitlement to equal access to waterborne activities. See: www.wheelyboats.org

3) “Tweedability 1” includes a hydraulic platform to lower the wheelchair user from gunwale to deck. A purpose built ramp fixes to the boat and provides the disabled angler with access from the bank through cut-outs in the gunwale directly on to the platform. Removable safety handrails around the platform keep the angler in place until the platform is lowered. The angler then moves down the level deck to his fishing position in the stern. When the angler is ready, the boatman’s thwart is repositioned and the ramp disconnected.  The boatman or angler can then operate the outboard or the boatman can take up the oars and row. The boat is fully compliant with the Recreational Craft Directive (category C) for two people, an outboard motor and equipment.

The Tweed Foundation
The Tweed Fish Conservancy Centre
Drygrange Steading
Melrose
Roxburghshire TD6 9DJ
Tel: 01896 848271