Email received 30 July 2014 from John
I have a Mark 2 Deltacraft Islander, 18hp 2 cylinder Volvo (I think).
I have owned it for just under a year, and just really love the boat.
I am totally blind and really love the clean and simple lay out of the Islander, and enjoy how well it handles in most seas, although I do take a sighted crew with me.
I have my boat on a swing mooring in the Great Lakes area, Mid North Coast, NSW.
To get my dinghy to the boat, I use remote control door bells, one on shore the other on the roof of the boat pushing the button around my neck and following the noise, but if I miss my boat my guide dog turns around in circles .
This is the first motor boat I have owned, previously I was into yachts all sizes. I still sail small dinghy's at Taree with Sailability (Sailing for the Disabled), in a Access dinghy.
I do this solo, using a communication helmet, and so long as I am within 4 kilometres I can receive instructions. By the way, I am also a member of the motor cycle group, Ulysses, and ride a dirt bike solo on private property, using the same helmet communication system.
As for how did I choose a Deltacraft, I had tried a house boat for a while, and just couldn't handle the idea, and my swing mooring is next to a friend who works for Maritime Services, and he said he had previously owned a Deltacraft and felt that style of boat would really suit a blind user, due to the uncluttered style.
How right he was. I walk with my guide dog, Nardia, to my boat at least twice a week, and if I am lucky get friends to take me out but if not I still enjoy just sitting on the mooring and polishing, varnishing, or just running the motor.
When I bought the boat (LEO) she needed a fair bit of TLC and I have now finished the seven coats of varnish on all the timber work, re stitched the back covers, wired in a stereo, anti fouled her and just generally tidied up the lay out, I have yet to re-install the electric toilet and shower, but that will happen soon.
I also did a full service on the motor, filters etc and only had to ask for a sighted person to read the manual to me.
When I go out on the water, I take the helm, and get a sighted person to call out navigation instructions.
So if I, a totally blind person, can handle a Deltacraft, what could a sighted person do.
One thing I did do to protect the boat is put swimming pool noodles all around my dinghy so when I row out if I bump into my, or any other, boat it won't damage it.
Editors Note:-
Our visitors may wonder how our Deltacraft owner uses a computer.
He advises that he uses software titled Jaws.
I have a friend who has lost his driving license because of macular degeneration, he uses Natural Reader.
If you have a friend who has difficulty reading the screen, have a look at these web sites.
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