Boat keeps wheelchair angler's dreams alive

Some folks like to fish.

But for Mark Grantham, being on a Missouri lake or river targeting bass, crappie and white bass is at the core of his being.

Nine years ago a tragic accident on an inflatable water slide broke Grantham's neck in a way that left him paralyzed from the chest down, with no grip in his hands and only slight movement in his arms.

"I grew up in a family of five kids and there was never a question whether we'd be doing something on a weekend — we were ALWAYS going somewhere to fish or camp," recalled Grantham, 33.

"But after my accident I went from fishing three or four times a week to not being able to fish at all. That was so devastating to me."

He spent two weeks in Cox South, where doctors analyzed the damage to his C5 vertebra in the middle of his neck, followed by three months of intensive rehabilitation at a Colorado clinic that specializes in spinal injuries.

The prognosis was clear: He'd need a wheelchair the rest of his life.

Fast forward to September 2014, where Grantham participated in the Southwest Center for Independent Living's "Day at the Lake" at Lake Springfield. With special fittings, Grantham found he was able to paddle a canoe with the limited movement in his arms.

He saw dozens of other disabled people enjoying the lake in ways simple and complex.

It was that day at the lake that inspired him to do something to resume his fishing passion. The idea of building a boat — a wheelchair accessible, stable fishing boat — began to form.

"I researched the Internet, looked at a lot of designs and borrowed a little of this, that and the other," he said.

He collaborated with his father, Lance Grantham, a former minister who likes to build things like churches and who shared his son's goal of building a functional, serviceable fishing boat that's wheelchair accessible.

Lance wielded the tools. Ideas flowed from them both:

•A twin-hull design for stability.

•A 12-foot-by-7-foot deck striped with nonskid tape.

•Closed-cell foam inside the hulls for waterproof buoyancy.

•Hulls low enough that a ramp could be attached to the bow and Grantham can roll easily aboard in his wheelchair at just about any boat ramp.

•The entire boat sheathed in fiberglass with no hull penetrations to take on water.

"The whole boat only weighs 400 pounds," Lance Grantham said. "One person can launch it, and it's very stable, even with three people."

The boat's maiden launch a few weeks ago was a perfect success.

He wears a life jacket that automatically inflates if he falls overboard, and the boat's outfitted with fishing rod holders.

But Grantham also found a leather sleeve on the Internet that he straps to his right arm and holds a fishing pole in place.

He jury-rigged another device with a spincasting reel strapped to a wood plank on his left side. He's able to cast with his right arm and crank the reel with his left arm.

It works.

"I caught a 10-11 inch crappie the very first time we took it out on its maiden voyage," Grantham said.

The unique boat draws attention wherever the Granthams take it.

"We've been to the lake four times and every time someone comes up and asks about it," Grantham said. "One gentleman has a grandson in a wheelchair and said it's always been a struggle to get him into a boat. He thought our boat was a great idea."

Although there are no official plans or drawings, the Granthams documented how they built it with a series of photos. Mark Grantham said he welcomes inquiries, especially if the boat's design will help others with disabilities have a safe and stable way to enjoy the outdoors.

"Knowing how much pleasure this gives me, to be able to enjoy my passion, that's a message I want to share with others who are disabled," he said. "If you put your mind to it, there are ways to get out there and enjoy the outdoors."

Reach Outdoors reporter Wes Josnson at 417-836-1243, on Facebook or Twitter @WesJohnsonNL

Interested in his design?

Mark Grantham is president of the Southwest Center for Independent Living's board of directors. He formerly worked at Evangel University but now is focused on a career as a motivational speaker.

He said he welcomes the opportunity to talk about his wheelchair-accessible boat he and his father built. Contact him at ): markgrantham@outlook.com