OnBoard Magazine - Issue XIII - 2021 Season

ADAPT & LEARN: EVOLVING APPROACHES TO ACCESSIBILITY RETROFITTED VIKING 64 tournament. Perry, Mark and crew were able to get to know their new boat and do some fun fishing before the tournament started. About the only thing Perry could complain about (in jest) is that his wife Lisa caught a fish before him in the new boat! In contrast to all the luxury and comfort foundaboard,whenfishing,Nicholsdoesn’t let the weather phase him a bit. He stakes out his spot in the cockpit and stays there, intently watching his line through rain, shine, and any sea conditions. The 72C’s handling, performance and Seakeeper stabilizer should be acknowledged with an assist for making that possible. He also appreciates speed, picking the largest MTU power set available for the new boat. Just like the electric reel put sport fishing back within his reach, the technological breakthroughs packed into his new Viking are making his boldest dreams possible, and get his crew far offshore and back as quickly and comfortable as possible. “Viking did just an incredible job on this boat,” says Earle. “Perry didn’t have to fit in the boat, Viking made the boat fit him. In the four years I have known Perry, he has become a life-long friend. He is the most infectious, life-changing man I’ve ever met. There is nothing we wouldn’t have done to help him.” But that sentiment doesn’t end with Perry, because Hall also saw an opportunity to help another friend with a disability. Once the 72 was contracted with Viking, he knew the para-customized 64’ would be coming available and thought it would make the perfect upgrade for Steve Jones. Earle made it a point to get both the Viking owners together at the Virginia Beach Billfish Tournament and let them start working out a price directly; wherever it landed they had his word Bluewater would help iron out the details and facilitate the sale. He concludes, “now Steve has a lot more room to fish with his boys on the new 64’ Cuttin’ Up , as does Perry with his friends and family on the 72’ Knot Done Yet . It’s a win-win for everybody.” Perry Nichols and Earle Hall aboard Knot Done Yet O C T O B E R 2 0 1 9 5 1 M A R L I N M A G . C O M the entire component to a slide system with safety locks. This allow the st rs to slide aft b low the salon floor, exposing a scissor-lift elevator that has the same teak-and-holly floor- ing to match the companionway’s. While this might seem to be a straightforward process, it was quite complex because of the number of safety measures that had to be in place. The lift can- not be activate while the stairs are in th ir normal position, and the lift was programmed with precise starts and stops to allow seamless transitions to the salon and companionway floors. Now that companionway access had been achieved, Nichols needed improved access to themaster stateroom. The Bluewater team removed the entry door and widened the opening to 4 feet. They engineered a 4-foot trifold pocket door made of high-gloss teak to match the remaining doors. When the door is open, the master stateroom looks massive. The open concept is enhanced by the removal of a hutch on the forward wall, which provided enough room for a double-door access to the master head. The head itself was raised approximately 8 inches to allow easier transfer from the chair. All the modifications appear to be from the Viking factory—one would never know the difference. Nichol’s chair also needed modification. The Bluewater team the starboard side of the cockpit was impaired, and even with a nonskid surface, the aluminum was slippery when wet. Later in the tournament season, a lighter carbon-fiber ramp was devel- oped that solved a few issues. The new ramp is lighter and can be stored in the salon when fishing. Also, an aggressive nonskid pat- tern allows everyone to navigate the rampwhen it’s in the cockpit. Withinthesalon,twochangesweremade.Thefirstwasremov- ing the starboard-side dinette table, which created a wider lane to reach the companionway steps. Release Marine fabricated a custom fold-out table that is not attached to the salon sole, so it can be moved to the dinette or placed inside the L-shaped sofa on the port side. The second step was removing the carpet, replacing it with a wood laminate for durability, ease of cleaning and easier movement for Nichols’ chair. From the beginning, Nichols wanted to stay on the boat dur- ing tournaments and any extended fishing trips, including a 30-day stay in Chub Cay where the team fished 22 days. How would he access the master stateroom and head with a four- step staircase between the salon and the companionway while staying in his automated chair? The solution involved cutting out the staircase and attaching Th nks to exten ive cust mizat on, even th bridge is accessible using the davit (opposite). Clockwise from top left: The aluminum ramp leading to the salon has been upgraded to a carbon-fiber version; wood-laminate flooring is durable and allows easier movement for Nichols’ chair; the extra-wide doorway leading into the master stateroom; a cleverly engineered scissor lift rises from the floor when the salon steps are retracted aft. AR0919_F-HAN_Fishing is No Handicap.indd 51 8/14/19 3:40 PM O C T O B E R 2 0 1 9 5 1 M A R L I N M A G . C O M the entire component to a slide system with safety locks. This allows the stairs to slid aft below the salon floor, exposing a scissor-lift elevator that has the same teak-and-holly floor- ing to match the companionway’s. While this might seem to be a straightforward process, it was quite complex because of the number of safety measures tha had to be in place. The lift can- not be activatedwhile the stairs are in their normal position, and the lift was programmed with precise starts and stops to allow seamless transiti ns to the salon and companionway floors. Now that com ani nway access had been chieved, Nichol needed improved access to thema ter st tero . The Bluewater team removed the entry door and widened the op ning to 4 fe t. They engineered a 4-foot trifold pocket door m de f high-gloss teak to match the remaining doors. When the door is open, the master stateroom looks massive. The open concept is enhanced by the removal of a hutch on the forward wall, which provided nough room for a doubl -door access to t e master head. The head itself was raised approximately 8 inches to allow easier transfer from the chair. All the modifications appear to be from the Viking factory— ne would never know the difference. Nichol’s ch ir also needed modific tio . The Bluewater team the starboard side of the cockpit was impaired, and even with a nonskid surfac , the aluminum was slippery when wet. Later in the tournament season, a lighter carbon-fiber ramp was devel- oped that solved a few issues. The new ramp is lighter and can be stored in the salon when fishing. Also, an aggressive nonskid pat- tern allows everyone to navigate the rampwhen it’s in the cockpit. Withinthesalon,twochangesweremade.Thefirstwasremov- ing the starboard-side dinette table, which created a wider lane to reach the companionway steps. Release Marine fabricated a custom fold-out table that is not attac ed to the salon sol , so it an b m ved to the dine te or placed inside the L-shap d s fa on the por sid . The second s ep was removing the carp t, replacing it with a wood laminate for durability, ease of cleaning and easier movement for Nichols’ chair. From the beginning, Nichols wanted to stay on the boat dur- ing tournaments and any extended fishing trips, including a 30-day stay in Chub Cay where the team fished 22 days. How would he access the master stateroom and head with a four- step staircase between the salon and the companionway while staying in his automated chair? T e solutio involved cutting out the stai cas and a taching Thanks to extensive customization, even th bridge is accessible using the davit (opposite). Clockwise from top left: The aluminum ramp leading to th salon has been upgraded t a carbon-f ber version; wood-laminate flooring is durable and allows easier movement for Nichols’ chair; the extra-wide doorway leading into the master stateroom; a cleverly engineered scissor lift rises from the floor when the salon steps are retracted aft. MAR0919_F-HAN_Fishing is No Handicap.indd 51 8/14/19 3:40 PM VIKING 72C LOA: 72' 8" Beam: 20' 0" Draft: 5’ 9” Weight: 129,696 lbs. Fuel Capacity: 2,594 gal. Water Capacity: 372 gal. Cockpit: 209 sq. ft. Power: Twin MTU 16V2000 M96Ls @ 2,635hp each Stabilization: Seakeeper 26 A ramp was added to go over the existing mezzanine steps. The modular mezanine steps slide away to reveal the scissor lift wheelchair access. The scissor lift from salon level down to living quarters is a tight fit and corners to turn. An elevator with walls and grab rail provides a safe transition to the master stateroom. VS. VS. NEW BUILD VIKING 72 Initial reporting from our partners at Marlin Magazine, Power & Motoryacht, and Viking Yacht Company contributed to this article. 9 2021 SEASON