What are stability bars and what do they do as an adaption?
Stability bars are seating tools used used by some sailors to provide themselves with stability when seated and moving about the sailboat. Stability bars are often used in conjunction with drop in seats, both the rigid seat style and bench style. A few photos of stability bars installed on Sonars can be found below. The stability bars themselves are circled in red:
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Rick Doerr can be seen using a stability bar to hike in the photo on the right. Stability bars require installation. In Sonars, Gene Hinkel has developed a method of installing stability bars without permenantly altering the Sonar itself. In many ways the stability bars function with, and similar to, the drop in seat system. Rick is using a drop in seat in the photo on the right. When not needed, stability bars can be removed and stored seperately from the Sonar. Additionally, for installation and proper preparation, it is important to identify prior to the event what sailors will require stability bars. An adaptive equipment questionairre can be used to do this. |
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