Industrial - Bachelor

Swell Shark – Adaptive Sailing System

The Swell Shark is a seat and rail system allows dinghy sailing boats to be adapted for individuals with limb mobility limitations improving the usability of the boats while improving their overall safety.
This design innovation addresses the problem of no affordable intermediate adaptive boat options for children by allowing any existing dinghy class to become inclusive.

Ashley Warlow

development research

Context Background – Children With Limb Mobility Issues

4% of Australians under 24 have a physical disability caused by genetic conditions, illnesses or injury. Adults with these conditions are more likely to not meet weekly activity guidelines and have mental health distress with 54% of those with a disability report moderate to very high stress levels vs 26.8% of those without a disability. Participation in sport for has been found to greatly increase the mental wellbeing due to the social element and has been seen to improve the physical health of individuals over time. However there are still disparities for most individuals with a disability due to physical, social and environmental barriers that affect their ability to participate in sport. Broadening the range of available sporting options will increase the likeliness of children finding a passion and continuing with it into adulthood. This would reduce their risk of mental distress and feelings of isolation in the future.

Why Sailing?

“(Sailing) has allowed me to, and the more I can get out and meet other people, like minded people, and it’s quite a good community, the sailing community, and it’s very healthy for me.”

Gold Medallist Paralympian Sailor

Sailing was used as a case study as it is one of the most inclusive sports for physical disabilities allowing participation for a range of mobility levels including quadriplegia. Research shows that the exposure to blue spaces and the feeling of independence that can be found in sailing is beneficial to individuals with a disability. Despite the therapeutic and inclusive opportunities for children, sailing has been removed from the Paralympics due to a lack of participation internationally and is low on the list of adaptable sports in popularity and children rarely continue with the sport past the learn to sail phase.

“If someone has a young kid that has a driving accident or a car accident, there’s not a boat in Brisbane that they can sail”

Gold Medallist Paralympian Sailor

research methods implimented

2 semi structured interviews with gold medallist Paralympians 2 semi structured interviews with adaptive sailing coaches 10 surveys of parents with young children on parental concerns regarding organised sport and influences on their decisions to

Design Opportunities Identified

The combined results from the interview and survey data confirmed some of the benefits barriers and facilitators revealed in the background information while revealing new considerations. The survey data revealed that parents are the main facilitators for children’s participation in sport with their main concerns including cost, staff trustworthiness and time constraints. Adaptive sailing has a variety of barriers that prevent initial and continued participation of children with limb mobility issues mainly centred around overall equipment costs and availability.

Name
Research Report – Benefits and Barriers or Sport for children with Limb Mobility Issues
File Type
application
File Size
9 MB
Download File
Design opportunities

“If everyone uses the boat that the most disabled person uses. Then there’s no arms race”

Gold Medallist Paralympian Sailor

there has been no intermediate options for children’s adaptive sailing and no way to modify current boats for inclusion… Until now

Product Video

Product images

exploded components

Swell Shark components are comprised of durable, marine grade materials such as stainless steel and ASL plastic (see BOM download for detailed material and manufacturing processes).

Name
Bill Of Materials – Swell Shark
File Type
application
File Size
375 KB
Download File

Process of use

The seat features crane hook handles to allow the user to be safely lifted into the rail system from the dock or water, making it easier for coaches or parents to safely transition the children into the boat without the degradation of carrying them. The traveller attachments connect to the seat via internal slam locks making connection to the seat legs immediate when lowered.

features

Wheels allow the user to slide along the rail system, with gravity keeping them vertical, and the widened foot base prevents the travellers from bouncing out of the track. By reducing the effect of waves and rocking, it provides them with more stability and feelings of security.

While weighted centreboards may reduce the likelihood of standard dinghies capsizing, it is still possible. The rail system is open-ended to allow the chair and travellers to slide over the side, allowing them into the water vertically so their life jacket can be effective and they can be easily craned out of the water.

There are two fail-safes to ensure the user is released from the boat in a capsize in the event that the chair does not leave the rail system: breakaway buckles to the lap straps of the seat and a 60-degree tilt switch release for the straps.

Through the 3D printing manufacturing process, chair colours can be customized to suit any child’s combination preference.

The Swell Shark – The Adaptive Seating System for Universal Inclusion in Sailing

By using Swell Shark, any boat can become adaptive, and users can continue sailing for life.

Ashley Warlow

Ashley Warlow is a designer passionate about using creativity to improve the wellbeing of others. With out-of-the-box thinking and a human-centred approach, she delivers innovative, impactful designs that inspire and drive positive change