When UK catamaran builder Cheetah Marine first met disabled sailor Geoff Holt MBE, a new, one-off project, was born.

Geoff, the first quadriplegic to sail single handed across the Atlantic, has held a powerboat licence for ten years. “I have owned powerboats of various sizes but if it is one thing that I have noticed in my twenty years of involvement with disabled sailing, it’s getting afloat that gives the enjoyment, said Geoff. “Sailing does not have exclusivity on that.”

“For many, the whole process of going sailing is enough to deter them from getting afloat at all.  There are countless opportunities for disabled people to go sailing but very few to go out on a powerboat, have a whiz around the harbour, or to go fishing and to come ashore dry without the normal rigmarole associated with the end of a sailing trip.”

The project then, was to design and build a very safe, seaworthy boat, MCA coded Category 2 for up to ten people, including three wheelchairs and which could be controlled by a skipper in a wheelchair at the helm. For Sean Strevens, Cheetah partner and designer, the one-off is normal. “We have built several Cheetahs for the disabled but Wet Wheels is the largest to be driven by the wheelchair user carrying other wheelchairs”, he said.

The Cheetah 9m hull was selected as having the best stability, with plenty of space available. The wheelhouse was modified so that a ramped starboard helm position could be installed with a Q Straint inbuilt wheelchair locking down mechanism. Four ‘D’ rings are positioned so that a wheelchair without Q Straint can be ratcheted down. Twelve stainless steel tie down points for three wheelchairs are located in the deck, with twin seat boxes and stainless steel handrails behind the two outer wheelchairs which allow carers to sit either behind the wheelchair or to the side.

A 1m high central console divides the wheelhouse, bow to stern, providing a location for the engine controls which can be used by both the wheelchair user at the helm and, if necessary, an able bodied crew member on the starboard side. The throttle and gear change are all fly by wire for easy use. The isolators and circuit breakers are housed at waist height on this console.  A storage unit is located all along the starboard side of the wheelhouse and the life raft is stowed on the port side of the cockpit.

A 2m long single berth is located in the port side of the wheelhouse so that a disabled person can be treated if necessary. The dash has been redesigned so that the helmsman in the wheelchair can tuck his legs underneath and have a comfortable steering position. Power assisted hydraulic steering is used, with a joystick override option. All the primary electrical functions, wipers, horn and anchor windlass are positioned within easy reach of the helmsman, as is the Raymarine touch screen. Access to the deck is via a 900mm side door and an approved aluminium folding ramp.

The stainless steel hand rails and overhead radar gantry were fabricated in the Cheetah workshop on the Isle of Wight. Raymarine provided the extensive electronics package, including chart plotter, radar, VHF, AIS, fishfinder, autopilot and log. 

Wet Wheels is powered by twin Suzuki 300hp Lean Burn engines, giving plenty of power for heavy loads and the Lean Burn Technology delivering excellent economy. Ocean Safety supplied all the safety equipment, Southern Cross Marine the Hydrive steering, and the windows were supplied by Seaglaze. 

Geoff Holt said, “I visited Cheetah several times and felt fully involved and informed during the build, which was painless, on budget and on time, an unbelievable four months from start to delivery. During the ten days of Southampton Boat Show we have taken out in excess of 250 people, of which approximately 150 have been disabled in some form and, of those 150, more than 50 have been wheelchair users. It is an incredible statistic.

“My thanks to the crew, Tony Salmon (skipper, courtesy of Suzuki), Karen from Suzuki, Barry from Cheetah and James for looking after all of the guests who came aboard and giving them such a safe and fun experience. “The feedback has been overwhelming, including a visit from The London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG), with a request to use the boat for the Olympics and Paralympics in Weymouth, which would be fantastic”.

”Briefly, can I thank PSP and the BMF for allowing Wet Wheels into the Show and for providing the free tickets for all the groups. A massive thank you to Suzuki (and Jamie from Mindworks) for managing all the administration of the bookings, the fuel costs, providing a skipper etc. Also to Cheetah, Raymarine, Ocean Safety, Seaglaze, Pantaenius, Southern Cross Marine and C&J Marine, who visited during the Show and have kindly agreed to provide the vinyl canopy FOC  to give greater security, thank you all so much for your ongoing support ”

Wet Wheels will be operated by Onboard Charter on a part commercial, part ‘not for profit’ basis out of Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth. The boat will be made available to disability groups and clubs for a minimum of two days per week and will be available for commercial charter the remainder. Already interest has been shown from fishing charters, diving charters, the BBC as a fast and stable filming platform, and from the Olympics as a press boat in Weymouth in 2012.