Accessibility for All Helpful pontooning hints from the staff of the Pontoon Boat Guide.

Boating has come to symbolize many things for many people, but usually everyone can agree on this: Boating means freedom. It allows you to remove yourself from the hassles of everyday life, to become one with your environment, to exist more fully in the present moment. And there’s absolutely no reason that a physical disability should prevent anyone from experiencing that unique sense of freedom — and enjoying the fun, thrills and memories that go along with pontoon boat living.

Thanks to the same flat deck and open layout that prove to be so user-friendly for children, older family members and pets, pontoon boats are superb platforms for boaters in wheelchairs. There's plenty of room to maneuver while on board, and due to the living-room-style seating configurations, you'll discover that it's easy to station the chair in spots that maintain the seamless flow of conversation, laughter and activity.

You'll definitely want to consider adding one key piece of equipment: a wheelchair ramp. While most manufacturers produce ramps that can be used with most wheelchairs and most types of pontoon boats, you'll want to make sure you know the size of your pontoon's boarding gate as well as the size and weight of the wheelchair so you can match the ramp to your boat properly. You'll also want to ensure that the ramp incorporates nonskid.

You also might want to consider a handrail system; a mounting system to secure the ramp to vessel; and skid pads for both ends of the ramp, to protect it in case there's any ramp movement at the dock. Yacht Boarding Systems makes 4-, 6-, 8- and 10-foot wheelchair accessible boarding ramps with a variety of helpful features.

While pontoon boats do provide a very stable boating platform, you may want additional security beyond the wheelchair's brakes and/or wheel locks — particularly if you're going to be cruising through patches of open water on a breezy day. Wheelchair tie-downs are available from a variety of sources, including www.DiscountRamps.com. If you decide to purchase tie-downs, talk to your dealer as well as one of the seller's transportation specialists to learn more about the best system to use on a pontoon boat.

But it's not all about going along for the ride. Adaptive sports have exploded in recent years, and exciting options abound for outdoor enthusiasts with disabilities. For example, if you love fishing or are interested in giving it a try, check out Fishing Has No Boundaries Inc. On its website, this national organization has great information about the latest adaptive gear, newsletters, membership details and links to chapters around the country.

And if you figured watersports might not be an option, don't miss the The Adaptive Adventure Sports Coalition and Disabled Sports USA websites. You'll quickly realize that not only is fishing a possibility, so are waterskiing, kayaking and camping. Freedom is in the air, and the water is calling — get out there!