Introduction
The NW Kayaking Facebook site on January 26, 2023 posted the following photo of this Boardsafe’s Adaptive Kayak Boat Launch. Links to Seattle’s ‘Outdoors For All‘ and Portland’s ‘Adventures Without Limits‘ advocacy groups were also posted and the NW Kayaking administrator encouraged members to suggest areas where these would be beneficial.
Forty four comments revealed a high level of interest and suggestions. Among them was Ocean Shores. Adventures Without Limits answered my question in the comments inquiring what the stair steps were for. They replied: “The stairs with railing allow for a gradual transfer for someone who might use a wheelchair or other mobility device. Even ambulatory folks with pain or reduced range of motion in their knees and hips may have a hard time getting all the way down to the ground (in this case, the kayak) and back up again without a few contact points in between. Not sure that I’m describing well – does that make sense?”
In general, easier access to a launch does not limit anyone’s participation and actually encourages those who are hesitant of their physical abilities to participate. People with disabilities can be now be active participants. Aging populations such as I can remain active participants longer. Both people with disabilities and their neighbors benefit.
Looking over the Ocean Shores map, I discovered a link to a highly rated business called Canoe Dude that supplies canoes and kayaks to paddle the “23 miles of fresh waterways” the area offers. We’ve been corresponding, and I’ve come to find out that he is also a member of the Fresh Water Ways Advisory Board, which helps and suggests for the people to the Ocean Shores city council, and he’s also a new member of the Fresh Water Ways Corporation. This post is a shareable way offering what I’ve seen to support his efforts as I live two hours south and seldom get up that way.
Here are my amateur observations and photos of the ADA style docks at Raymond WA, Seaside Oregon, Westport Oregon and finally Wheeler Oregon.
Road Trips & Phone Calls
Listed in order of distance from the Ocean Shores city hall.
RAYMOND WASHINGTON
Located 48 miles and 1 hour 8 minutes from the Ocean Shores City Hall with the GPS coordinates of 46.683306, -123.733333 , I used this launch for two community events on May 30, 2015, and later on August 6, 2016.
The city of Raymond’s contact phone for information is 360-942-4100. Willapa Paddle Adventures is near this dock and can be reached at (360) 591-8739.
A very good set up for most kayaks that are light and up to about thirteen feet long. My sixteen foot boat is on the left.
A simple ramp that has a handhold but would be risky to park a personal mobility device on.
The event I attended had plenty of help. I have also observed that this makes a good swimming dock for the neighborhood kids.
UPDATE: JUNE 2023 The above ramp broke and was replaced with an EZ Dock similar to Wheeler Oregon. Here is a picture:
The right angle of the ramp above the kayak’s rudder in the first photo is an obstacle to me. My kayak is sixteen feet long and ninety pounds plus. It needs a lift over the rail to negotiate the bend. I don’t have a photo of this but have a photo of a similar problem I have at Trestle Bay in Fort Stevens Oregon. Tandem kayaks are also long. Tandem kayaks are useful when taking out a guest and need to be able to roll down to an ADA launch. When I launch at Raymond alone I need to carefully use the shoreline adjacent to the ramp.
SEASIDE OREGON
Located 114 miles and 2 hours 27 minutes from the Ocean Shores City Hall with the GPS coordinates of 45.993639, -123.915222 I last launched from here May 30, 2016.
The city of Seaside’s contact phone for information is 503-738-5514.
The dock and ramp are located in Broadway Park with full facilities for changing, parking and getting ready.
The ramp has dual stepped access for different heights of crafts and personal mobility devices.
It uses a ‘V’ shaped roller system, reducing the chances of scratching the hull. In my experience, pedal powered kayaks can use these too after retracting the pedals and rudder.
With my paddle ready, everything double checked, it’s just a pull in and later a pull out of the water.
A look back at the ramp at a +1.1′ tide.
Supporting sites for the Broadway Park ADA kayak launch are listed below.
A two and a half minute excellent video from ‘EZ Dock EZ Launch for Kayaks’ (1-800-654-8168) made in 2012 demonstrates its use from personal mobility devices. EZ Dock’s site is here.
Here is a YouTube video demonstrating the fold out seat and the launching from this ramp filmed here soon after the ramp was installed on March 5, 2015. Project partnership credit include Necanicum Watershed Council, City of Seaside, Sunset Empire PRD and ODFW.
The site Seaside is for Fun provides an overview of recreational opportunities that include kayaking here and north at Sunset Lake.
“A QUICK GUIDE TO GETTING OUT ON THE WATERWAYS IN SEASIDE, OREGON” This overview by Shellie Bailey-Shah includes a short video of Quatat Park and a paragraph about Broadway Park but omits mention of the ADA ramp.
WESTPORT OREGON
Located 126 miles and 2 hours 43 minutes from the Ocean Shores City Hall at GPS coordinates: 46.136472, -123.372917 I last launched from here February 3, 2022.
Contact information for Clatsop County Parks is Steve Meshke, Natural Resources Manager
2001 Marine Drive, Room 253, Astoria, OR 97103 Phone: (503) 325-6452
View from top of ramp at a +1.3′ tide. The ADA launch is off to the left.
Here is a city employee demonstrating a smooth rail to avoid dragging your hull down the textured walkway. Handy if the boater is without a cart or helper and the boat is a bit heavy.
Left and right views. The strapping holds the hull steady when boarding. Dual height steps are for adapting to different personal mobility devices and hull heights.
My ninety plus pound boat after tipping it in and rearranging its cargo. Soon I was ready to go after retracting the ramp’s seat.
A kayaker’s view of the entrance.
Supporting sites for Westport Oregon’s Boat Ramp and ADA kayak launch are listed below.
Here is a video of the February 1, 2022 opening day including a launch demonstration of the ADA ramp.
Clatsop County.gov’s official site is here. It includes three slide shows and the video referred to above. It also narrates the construction, the area’s history, the project time line and a list of supporters.
The Boat Oregon blog reviewed this rebuilt launch May 18, 2022. They include pictures, funding sources, history of the project, features, and additional photos.
WHEELER OREGON
Located 140 miles and 2 hours 43 minutes from the Ocean Shores City Hall at GPS coordinates: 45.690417, -123.882194 , I last launched from here July 1, 2018 and visited the new ADA dock April 17, 2022.
Contact the city of Wheeler’s government phone at (503) 368-5767. The adjacent Wheeler Marina’s phone is (503) 368-5780.
The ADA access ramp is attached to an existing dock. A concrete trailer ramp is located to the right of the foot ramp.
Here’s a picture from before the ADA launch was installed. It illustrates how the ADA dock has been installed out of the way of the busy concrete ramp trailer launch.
A cut was made through the dock’s wooden rail to the securely fastened ADA dock.
A closer view of the skid pads that help to protect the boat.
This is a product of EZ Dock. They also supplied the launch for Seaside Oregon’s ADA dock.
On March 23, 2022 I created a post for the Facebook group ‘NW Kayaking’. It read: “As posted on the Astoria based ‘Ship Report’, Wheeler and Garibaldi have just installed EZ Kayak Launches. I called Wheeler Marina. They confirmed it and encouraged sharing it with this group. Martha Taylor of the North Country News wrote on 3/21: “Grants really do work! Tillamook Coast Visitors Association applied for a Travel Oregon Destination Ready Grant, which provided funds to purchase two kayak launchers. Because of supply chain issues, those kayak launchers were on back order. Last week they were finally installed in Wheeler AND Garibaldi!!!! Thanks Nan Devlin!” She also shared a video because “A lot of you folks might be wondering how to use the brand new highfalutin EZ kayak launchers which are now located in Wheeler and Garibaldi.”
Here is that video demonstrating the use of this model of launch.
I cannot find the original reference in the Ship Report or the North County News as I don’t have access to their archives. Here is a picture taken during the installation at Wheeler.
In conclusion
I was going to offer my recommendations of where I would like to see an ADA launch in Ocean Shores. A place that would have easy parking, existing restrooms. It would be close to the canal system and also close to the population center so as to offer independent access to non drivers. That decision is better left to the locals who are going to use it the most. A lot of work lies ahead and I hope this helps a little.
Southwest Washington Paddle Trips 