i dont see why not , better safe then sorry ! i think its good that your taking him out fishing i was handicapped for over a year when i broke myleft femer and shattered my right hip i was in a wheel chair for 6 months and on crutchs for 9 months had to learn how to walk all over again year of phisical therapy after that i feel for people that are handicapped for life i dont know how they do it , i ended up with a ceramic hip replacement and rod/pins in my left leg , not much fun and i still cant walk perfect . good luck to you ! catch some fish !