When Shipcrafters was founded in 1975,
it was merely a Marine Broker subsidiary of a then existing corporation. Its
main purpose was simply to acquire and outfit a vessel obtained through a
Mexican dealer. Over the years the company began to languish, being 
used
from time to time to acquire marine assets and do marina development. In the
late 1980's, Captain Stephen Carner, an avid boater working with Shipcrafters,
was responsible for the redesign, development and construction of a 400 slip
marina on Miami Beach.
Shipcrafters' focus changed soon after Captain Carner suffered a paralyzing
injury in 1999, and found that navigating his vessel was nearly impossible.
He devoted countless hours researching how he could make his boat accessible
and was disappointed at discovering that the market offered few solutions.
Unfortunately, the existing solutions were geared towards large yachts, and
not the average sized boat. Deciding to take matters into his own hands, Captain
Carner resolved to use his strong engineering background and a passion for
boating to provide the market with a way to make vessels accessible to the
physically disabled.
WHAT
WE DO
Shipcrafters is committed to making boating accessible to the mobility impaired.
Captain Carner's first project demonstrates this: he successfully converted
a 46' Bertram sport fisherman into a vessel that could be operated and enjoyed
by anyone who did not have the use of their lower body. The saloon, cockpit
and bridge are accessible from any height dock or each other, and swimming
with full retrieval are all possible without human assistance. The equipment
is aesthetically pleasing, and the trim of the boat undisturbed. The vessel
can be returned to its original condition with a minimum of repair, and the
equipment may be moved to another vessel. Nowadays, Shipcrafters is committed
to making vessels accessible to anybody.
The
cost factor, always a consideration, is appropriate to the benefits. I am
available on a consulting basis at $100 an hour in the office, $200 an hour
in the field with a minimum of 5 hours, including traveling time. The first
telephone interview is free, as it establishes the efficacy of the project
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