Captain Anthony Corcella is giving back to those who gave us everything – our veterans. Corcella and his Pocket Change Inshore Fishing Charters are getting disabled vets out on the water with boat ramps.
Instead of this being a boat ramp that lets you easily get your boat in and out of the water, this boat ramp easily lets wheelchairs come aboard boats.
This is basically the same setup as an ADA compliant van,” Corcella said.
He’s even set up his skiff to be compatible with the ramp, anchors, straps and hooks so wheelchairs can be safely secured.
Thanks to Corcella, vets who thought they may never get on the water again have another chance to enjoy their passion.
“It’s a workhorse boat. They handle the weight. They’re are 8-feet wide and we can accommodate pretty much up to 600 pounds,” Corcella said.
Image: wasp.com
Felix Guerrero, an 87-year-old World War II and Korean War veteran, was able to get on the water and fish for the first time in over a decade.
“Oh, I love the water,” Guerrero told Channel 10 News. “At home, restricted on what you can do you think about being out on the water and fishing.”
You may be wondering what something so specialized might cost those on board – not a single penny.
“If you’re a wheelchair-bound veteran you absolutely ride for free on my boat,” Corcella said. “I have always wanted to be able to give back and this allows me to do that.”
