S.R. Smith MAC Pool Chair – Mobile Aquatic Access Chair for Pools & Zero-Depth Entry

The S.R. Smith MAC (Mobile Aquatic Chair) is a purpose-built mobile aquatic wheelchair for pools with ramp access, zero-depth (beach) entry, or movable floors — allowing individuals with mobility challenges to enter and exit the pool independently, seated in the chair, without transferring to a fixed pool lift or removing themselves from their seating support. The MAC's powder-coated stainless steel frame resists corrosion in pool environments, the 18-inch rigid rotomolded plastic seat provides a stable transfer platform, and the large rear wheels allow the user to self-propel down a pool ramp directly into the water. Front and rear stabilizer wheels prevent the chair from pitching forward or backward on the ramp descent. Flip-up armrests for easy lateral transfer. Patient-operated wheel locks. Rear anti-tip wheels. Seat belt. 300 lb capacity. 60 lbs. ADA compliant for ramp and zero-depth pool access. By S.R. Smith. Item AC0000.

Key Specifications

What the MAC Is — and Isn't

The MAC is a mobile aquatic wheelchair — a chair on wheels designed specifically to enter the water with the user seated in it. This is a fundamentally different approach to pool access than a pool lift:

• Pool lift: User transfers from their wheelchair to a fixed lift seat, the lift lowers them into the water, they transfer off the seat into the pool
• MAC: User transfers once — from their wheelchair or mobility device to the MAC — and then stays in the MAC through the entire pool entry and pool use; the chair itself enters the water

This makes the MAC particularly valuable in three situations:

1. Users for whom repeated transfers are difficult or impossible — anyone for whom the two-transfer process of a pool lift (onto the lift seat and then into the pool) is a significant physical or cognitive barrier benefits from the single transfer of the MAC
2. Aquatic therapy — therapists working with patients in the water benefit from having the patient in a stable, mobile seating platform that can be positioned anywhere in the pool, not just at the entry point
3. Facilities with ramps or zero-depth entry already installed — the MAC requires no permanent installation, no anchor, and no deck hardware; it is a self-contained wheelchair that uses the existing pool ramp infrastructure

Pool Entry — How the MAC Works

The MAC enters the pool via a sloped surface — a ramp leading from the deck into the water, or a zero-depth (beach entry) sloped pool bottom. The entry process:

1. The user transfers from their personal wheelchair or mobility device into the MAC on the pool deck, using the flip-up armrests to allow lateral board from either side
2. The user (or an assistant) positions the MAC at the top of the ramp or zero-depth entry
3. The user self-propels using the large rear wheels, or an assistant guides the MAC down the ramp into the water
4. Front and rear stabilizer wheels keep the MAC from pitching forward (nose-diving) or backward on the slope — maintaining a level seat angle throughout the descent
5. The MAC enters the water with the user seated; the user can remain in the MAC for aquatic therapy, exercise, or recreation
6. Exit reverses the process — the MAC is guided or self-propelled back up the ramp to the deck

Key Design Features

Rigid Rotomolded Plastic Seat

The MAC's 18-inch seat is rigid — not padded or flexible. In an aquatic chair, rigidity is intentional: a firm seat provides a stable platform for lateral transfers (the standard method for getting on and off the chair), does not absorb water or become waterlogged, and resists the deformation that padded seats experience with sustained water exposure. The rigid seat can also be used as a transfer support surface — the user places their hand on the seat to stabilize during the transfer process.

Front and Rear Stabilizer Wheels

Without stabilizer wheels, a wheelchair entering a sloped ramp would tend to pitch — nose-first down the ramp on the way in, or tip backward on the way out. The MAC's front and rear stabilizer wheels contact the ramp surface on both ends of the chair, maintaining a level seat angle throughout the entry and exit regardless of ramp gradient. This is not a feature found on standard wheelchairs adapted for pool use — it is purpose-engineered for ramp descent and ascent.

Flip-Up Armrests

Both armrests swing up and out of the way, allowing lateral transfer onto the MAC seat from either side. The user does not need to lift over a fixed armrest — the arm raises, the user slides or pivots onto the seat, and the arm closes back into position. For users with limited upper body strength or transfer ability, the flip-up design reduces the effort and risk of the transfer step significantly.

Patient-Operated Wheel Locks

The wheel locks are operated by the user — positioned where the user can reach and activate them from the seated position. Locking the wheels before transferring onto or off the MAC is a fundamental safety step; user-operable locks allow independent transfer without requiring an assistant to hold the chair.

Powder-Coated Stainless Steel — Pool-Rated Construction

The MAC's unibody stainless steel frame with powder coat finish is built for sustained chlorinated and saltwater pool exposure. Standard wheelchair frames corrode rapidly in pool chemical environments. The MAC's frame is designed specifically for aquatic use — both the stainless steel substrate and the powder coat layer resist the chlorine and salt exposure that destroys standard frames within months of pool use.

ADA and Pool Access Compliance

The 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design (Section 1009) require that public pools provide at least one accessible means of water entry. For pools with ramp access or zero-depth entry, a mobile aquatic chair like the MAC satisfies the accessible entry requirement. Key ADA provisions relevant to the MAC:

• The ADA requires that pool lifts and other entry means be accessible to users of manual and powered wheelchairs — the MAC's self-propulsion design and patient-operated controls support independent access
• Facilities with sloped entry meeting ADA slope specifications (1:12 maximum) paired with the MAC satisfy the ramp-based accessible entry requirement
• For facilities with both a pool lift and a ramp, the MAC supplements the lift by providing an alternative access method for users who cannot or prefer not to use a lift

For specific compliance guidance for your facility, consult with an ADA accessibility specialist. Call us for general guidance: 866-218-0902.

Who Uses the MAC

• Aquatic therapy patients — physical and occupational therapy in the pool frequently involves a patient remaining in a supported chair position in the water; the MAC is the appropriate equipment for this use in ramp-access therapy pools
• Users who cannot perform repeated transfers — a pool lift requires two transfers (on/off the lift seat); the MAC requires one (onto the MAC); for users with very limited transfer ability, the MAC is often the more accessible option
• Facilities with zero-depth beach entry — zero-depth pools are specifically designed for MAC-type access; the gradual slope is perfectly suited to the MAC's stabilized ramp entry
• Residential users with pool ramps — homeowners who have installed a pool ramp for accessibility can use the MAC for independent, single-transfer pool entry
• Recreational swimmers with mobility challenges — users who want to be in the water independently, remaining in a supported position, without the repeated transfer and repositioning of a lift-based entry

Warranty

• Frame — 3 years limited: S.R. Smith warrants the frame against defects in material and workmanship for 3 years. Excludes powder coat paint finish, which may scratch with normal use.
• Electronics and motor components — 2 years: Full 2-year coverage on electronic and motor components, excluding batteries.
• Battery — 1 year pro-rated: 100% coverage in the first 90 days; 50% coverage from day 91 through day 365. Normal maintenance and regular charging when not in use is required to maintain battery warranty.

FAQs

Can the MAC be used in a pool without a ramp?

No — the MAC requires a pool ramp, zero-depth (beach) entry, or movable floor to function. It cannot be lowered into a pool with a standard vertical wall. For pools without a ramp or zero-depth entry, a pool lift is the appropriate access solution. See our Aqua Creek pool lift collection or call us to discuss your pool configuration: 866-218-0902.

Does the user stay in the MAC while in the pool?

Yes — the MAC is designed for the user to remain seated in it throughout the pool entry, aquatic session, and exit. Unlike a pool lift where the user transfers off the lift into the water, the MAC enters the water with the user in the seat. This is the key advantage for aquatic therapy applications and for users for whom multiple transfers are difficult.

How steep a ramp can the MAC handle?

The MAC is designed for ADA-compliant pool ramps, which have a maximum slope of 1:12 (approximately 8.3% grade). The front and rear stabilizer wheels are engineered for this grade range. For steeper ramps or non-standard slopes, contact us before purchase to confirm suitability: 866-218-0902.

Can the user propel it independently?

Yes — the large rear wheels allow self-propulsion, and the patient-operated wheel locks allow independent transfer setup. On a ramp descent, the user can self-propel using the large rear wheels. Users with very limited upper body strength may need an assistant for the ramp portion; the MAC's design supports both independent and assisted entry.

Is the MAC the same as an aquatic wheelchair?

Yes — the MAC is an aquatic wheelchair, also called a pool wheelchair or mobile aquatic chair. It is purpose-built for aquatic environments with corrosion-resistant materials, stabilizer wheels, and a waterproof seat. It is not a standard wheelchair modified for pool use.

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