During his recovery from injuries suffered as a member of the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne Division, wounded warrior Travis Mills developed a passion for inspiring fellow wounded servicemen and women. To carry on his commitment to helping wounded veterans and their families, he launched the Travis Mills Foundation in 2013 doing extraordinary nonprofit work working with our nation’s returning heroes.
By 2017, the Michigan native founded a fully accessible lakeside lodge in Rome, ME designed with amputees like him in mind. “What we do is to bring in veterans that have sustained some kind of injury whether it be combat related or service connected,” Mills said of his Maine retreat. “When it came down to the waterfront and what we were wanting to do we needed to find a great partner that could really meet our needs. EZ Docks stepped up, they understood what we needed.”
The EZ Dock launch system was ideal for the Travis Mills Foundation in that it was able to provide waterfront access for people of all abilities; and while it was the ideal product for Travis Mills, it’s also perfect for folks looking to add a kayak, canoe or personal watercraft launch to their existing mooring design or even developing one from scratch.
The EZ Launch system’s innovative one-piece design allows users to stay dry and stable while boarding, exiting and launching kayaks and canoes. With its ability to connect with standard and low-profile EZ Dock sections or any other traditional dock, EZ Launch can be installed virtually anywhere. The EZ Launch system features guide rails for easy access in and out of the water, with launch rollers for easy movement on and off the dock. Built on a floating platform that adjusts to changing water levels, the EZ Launch is designed to help everyone transfer into their watercraft independently and securely then enjoy a stable launch, regardless of the waves and wakes created by wind or boat traffic.
“EZ Dock removes the barriers that stand between you and the water, giving you more time to be exactly where you want to be,” said EZ Docks Jill Amato, adding “Our modular floating docks, ports, launches, lifts and walkways combine strength, stability, and durability in a low-maintenance, easy-to-configure system that can grow and change along with your needs or your waterfront.”
You can also add the optional EZ Launch Accessible Transfer System, an industry-first feature that exceeds minimum ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) requirements. With this easy-to-use transfer bench and transfer slide boards, you just sit, slide and drop into the watercraft, then use the side rails to pull yourself off or on the launch. “This universal accessibility makes the water more inviting for everyone, including seniors, those with disabilities and children,” Amato said.
Best of all, you can extend your season into the cooler months without worrying about cold, wet feet! To see if EZ Docks system is right for you, call Jill Amato at 732-492-1249 or visit www.ez-docks.com.
