Trans RINA, Vol 155, Part C1, Intl J Marine Design, Jan - Jun 2013
EXPANDING THE ABILITIES: DESIGN DEVELOPMENT OF WHEELCHAIR- FRIENDLY CATAMARAN
A Nazarov, P Jabtanom, A Leeprasert, P Suebyiw and P Phormtan Albatross Marine Design, Thailand SUMMARY
The paper discusses design approaches and development processes for a 12m power catamaran intended for wheelchair user. Current boating opportunities for people with disabilities are reviewed. Ergonomics and safety standards implementation for wheelchair-friendly craft are examined with practical recommendations. Design process is illustrated and described with major points highlighted in design task, general concept, exterior and interior styling. Performance, motions and engineering aspects are touched upon, with emphasis to their impact on disabilities.
Figure 1: Rendered images of R1200 power catamaran 1. INTRODUCTION
During recent years our office has developed over 50 catamaran designs in the range of 3.5 to 30m of which over 30
designs have been launched. But the
development of an unconventional design often starts with a detailed study of particular problems. Wheelchair user statistics is sometimes controversial; the following data is available [13]:
about 2.8 million wheelchair users in USA about 5 million wheelchair users in EU about 1.2 million wheelchair users in UK
Generally, in developed countries the total percentage of wheelchair users comprise 0.5-1.5% of the population. People with restrictions in mobility are present in 20% of households. People of retired age (above 60) comprise the major share of wheelchair
possessing funds for travel and recreational activities, on others side requiring special attention to environmental adaptation.
During recent decades significant efforts have been made to adapt living environments to the needs of wheelchair users
– those include public transport and city
infrastructure, sport and cultural activities. On other side, some more efforts are to be made in recreational boating sector for such adaptation.
For us, the task of designing wheelchair-friendly boat was challenging thus making it interesting. Tremendous
space for designers’ creativity exists for solving
particular functional, styling and engineering problems, not just by making ‘edgy’ images of another sleek megayacht. The task for such a design also presents doubtless humanitarian values not only by creating the boat itself (fig.1), but also by creating an awareness of the problems faced by our disabled fellow humans by our design and construction team members, suppliers and – hopefully – by readers of this paper.
2. PRE-DESIGN STUDY
For designer, it is difficult to design something far beyond our personal experience; from a wheelchair many things in this world look different. Careful study of related subjects has been undertaken with few primary sources of information and knowledge:
users, on one side
Published references and reports; Design experience, including our previous designs with wheelchair features;
On-site study and observations, such as hospitals and existing facilities for disabled;
Feedback from wheelchair users including mock-ups and testing.
According to market research few types of boating activities and customization levels are available for boaters with disabilities:
©2013: The Royal Institution of Naval Architects
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