Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TITLE OF THE Lhv~h~lON:
Boat for Use with a Personal Watercraft
NAME ( S ) OF Lll Vl!.h . ~K ( S ):
Daniel E. Beaulac
Trevor S. Hewison
Wayne Washington
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to boats and in
particular to boats intended for use with personal
watercraf t .
QF THE INVE~TION
The design of boats for various purposes is
an old and well applied art. The recent growth in the
number of jet powered personal watercraft (PWC) have
created a demand for increased safety and comfort for
passengers. A PWC has a small sealed hull with an
internal combustion engine and jet pump that normally
only carries one person. At times it is desirous to
carry extra passengers/ fuel, baggage, and food to a
destination. PWC are seriously limited in this
regard .
Another problem is the instability of PWCs
because of their narrowness and rounded hull. People
riding a PWC are subject to being immersed in water
when the unit is stationary or at low speeds.
Properly attaching a PWC to another small boat creates
a great degree of stability.
Several styles of driven boats are found in
previous art that include a U-shaped boat driven by a
~maller watercraft or removable propelling device.
These include United States Patents 5,184,564 to
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Robbins et al and 3,659,546 to Miklo6 and Japanese
application no. 2-175592 of Kobayashi.
Robbins et al disclose an inflatable boat
having a U-shaped tube or pontoon which surrounds the
PWC. Miklos discloses a solid pontoon boat which
provides a space for a PWC. Kobayashi discloses an
open hulled boat with a floor plate between two rear
hulls that only a few particular makes of PWC can ride
on. Operational and safety problems are encountered
with all of these methods.
To overcome the limitations encountered by
this previous art, extensive research was conducted to
develop a new system.
SUMMaR~r OF TITR INVE;NTION
Accordingly, it is a principal object of the
invention to provide a reliable and cost-ef f ective
method of moving people and objects in a small boat.
It is a further object of the invention to create a
safer and more efficient small boat.
According to one aspect of the invention
there is provided a boat for use with a personal
watercraft, the personal watercraft having a bumper,
and the boat having twin rear hulls forming a docking
bay for the PWC, also includes U-shaped bumper
receiving channels on either side of the docking bay
for securing the bumper of the PWC.
The height and pitch of each U-shaped bumper
receiving channel is preferably set for each
particular PWC.
A rigid transom board may be used to connect
the rear of the first and second rear hull portions
and a motor may be mounted to the rigid tran80m board.
2~42626
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF TEIE DRPWINGS
There will now be described preferred
embodiments of the invention, with reference to the
drawings, by way of illustration, in which like
numerals denote like elements and in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hull with
PWC mounting mechanism made in accordance with the
present invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a deck made
in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a sundeck
configuration for the boat of the present invention;
FIG. 4A is a cross section of a first,
preferred, U-shaped bumper receiving channel of the
present invention;
FIG. 4B is a cross section of a second U-
shaped bumper receiving channel of the present
invention;
FIG. 5 is a top view showing a first
embodiment of a transom board for use with the boat of
the invention;
FIG. 6 is a rear view of the transom board
of FIG. 5;;
FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a
second embodiment of a transom board for use with the
boat of the invention;
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a ride plate
for use with the boat of the invention;
FIG. 9 is a top view of the ride plate of
FIG. 3; and
FIGS. lOA, lOB and lOC are top views of a
PWC docking in the boat of the invention.
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nRT~TT~n DESCRIPTION OF ~n4rr,r~ v 15UBODIMENTS
Ref erring now to FIG . 1, FIG . 2 and FIG . 3
in particular, there i8 shown a boat 1 that includes
a bow 5 and a stern 4. The stern 4 of the hull 1 is
separated into first and second rear hull portions 3a
and 3b forming a docking bay 51 between them. The bow
of the boat 1 encloses a front hull portion 2. The
docking bay 51 creates an enclosure for a narrow
motorboat or specifically a jet powered personal
watercraf t ( PWC ) .
In a preferred embodiment, the boat hulls 3a
and 3b are formed of fibreglass reinforced plastic.
The docking bay 51 terminates towards the bow 5 with
a hull wall 7 and PWC nose rest or receptacle 9, that
has a concave shape, suitable for receiving the nose
of a personal watercraft.
A main transverse rib 8a, which may be made
of similar materials, traverses the front hull 2
forward of the twin rear hulls 3a and 3b. Secondary
transverse ribs 8b extend across the front portions of
the twin rear hulls 3a and 3b and may also be used to
give additional strength to the hull. The main rib 8a
extends across the bow 5 ~rom exterior hull wall 13a
to exterior hull wall 13b adjacent the rear hull
portions 3a and 3b. The main rib 8a is situated
directly in front of the PWC nose rest 9 and wall 7.
The ribs 8a and 8b strengthen and reduce bending of
the twin rear hulls 3a and 3b. Additional ribs may be
provided as desired to strengthen the hull.
Also shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 is an
arrangement of a boat 1 showing a deck structure. A
front deck 20 across the bow 5 of the boat 1 drops to
front 8eat8 21 which 8pan the width of the boat 1.
Further seats 22 are located in the hulls 3a and 3b
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beside the front portion of the docking bay 51. Floor
space 25 is provided in front of seats 22. Storage
compartments 24 are located behind the rear seats 22
in the rear hull portions 3a and 3b.
FIG. 3 shows a boat with a sundeck
configuration including bowback 60 at the rear of the
front deck 20, upholstered front seats 21a and 21b,
upholstered back left hatch 62 on rear hull 3a and
upholstered back right hatch 63 on rear hull 3b, and
reinforced fibreglass panels 65 spanning the docking
bay 51. When the PWC has been removed from the docking
area, the panels 65 can be 6et over the docking bay 51
to form a sun deck or provide more useable space. The
panels 65 rest on suitable ledges on the sides 15 of
the hull portions 3a and 3b or are provided with
downward facing grooves to fit on the sides 15 of the
hull portions 3a and 3b.
FIGS. lOA, lOB and lOC show a PWC 30 being
navigated into the docking bay 51. The PWC 30 includes
a nose 32, front deck 33, steering mechanism such as
handle bar 34, seat 35, bumpers 31, which extend
around both sides and front of the PWC 30 and hull 36
( FIG . 4B ) .
The combined boat and PWC can be operated
from the PWC seat 35 and controlled with the handlebar
34 or optionally can be operated by remote controls
within the boat 1 that are connected to the PWC 30.
The PWC 30 may be docked in the boat 1 in
the following manner. The PWC 30 is docked by
approaching the boat 1 from the rear (FIGS. lOA, lOB)
and sliding the side bumpers 31 into U-shaped bumper
receiving channels 40 forming a fixed PWC mounting
m~r~n; ~m (one on each side of the docking bay) that
may be custom f it f or a particular model PWC . In a
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preferred embodiment, the PWC 30 i5 secured to the
boat 1 by simply driving the PWC into the docking bay
51 where friction between the U-shaped bumper
receiving channels 40 and the bumper of the PWC holds
the PWC 30 in place. If desired, straps or hooks may
be used to hold the boat in place, but these are not
necessary .
Now ref erring to FIGS . 1, FIG . 4A and 4B in
particular, is shown a PWC mounting ~ qn; ~m. The
docking device includes U-shaped bumper receiving
channels 40 formed on the sides 15 of each rear hull
portion 3a and 3b. Only one will be described, as the
other has the same construction. A flat plate 37 is
permanently fastened to the inner wall 15 of the rear
hull 3a by means of bolts 38. Mounted on the flat
plate 37 are three walls 52, 53 and 54 defining a
channel between them. The actual design shown in FIG.
4A shows one possible manner of construction, although
it is pref erred that the walls 52, 53 and 54 be made
of solid fibreglass or moulded plastic. Walls 52 and
54 extend out from the plate 37 about at right angles
and spaced from each other by a little more than the
bumper of a PWC for which the boat is intended. Walls
52 and 54 are supported and strengthened by wall
supports 52a and 54a respectively. Wall 53 extends
between walls 52 and 54, set back from the furthest
extending parts of walls 52 and 54, and is supported
by wall supports 53a. The length of the wall supports
53a, or equivalently, the separation of the walls 53
on either side of the docking bay 51 is set according
to the bumper width of the PWC f or which the mounting
mechanism is intended. The spacing of the walls 53
acro88 the bay 51 should be 81ightly greater than the
width of the PWC from bumper to bumper 80 as to allow
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the PWC to fit in the mounting lr?~iqn;~m~ yet to bind
against the channel walls if the PWC is not removed
rearward in a more or less straight line. In FIG. 4A,
the channel 55 has dimensions 42 mm by 42 mm.
An alternative U-shaped bumper receiving
channel is shown in FIG. 4B, the channel in this
instance being defined by an adjustable plate 41a, on
which slides a locking plate 41b, is then fastened to
the permanent f lat plate 37 with screws 44 . The
adju6table plate 41a is located at the proper depth
(height) and angle (pitch) for the PWC 30 being used
to propel the boat 1. The height and pitch of the
adjustable plate 41a may be adjusted by selection of
the location o~ the screws 44. The pitch is the degree
of rotation of the plate about a transverse axis of
the boat. A locking (movable) plate 41b iB provided
above the adjustable plate 41a, and slides with
projections (not shown) on the side of the plate in
slots (not shown) in the plate 41a. A lever 42 with an
eccentric fulcrum 42b rotates about an arm 42a
inserted in the plate 41a, and forms a means to move
the locking plate 41b in relation to the adjustable
plate 41a. The ad]ustable plate 41a, locking plate 41b
and moving mechanism together form a U-shaped bumper
receiving channel for securing the bumper of the PWC
30 .
Also shown in FIG. 4B iB an optional
reinforcement for the hull portion 3a including layers
of wood 6 adhered to fibreglass side 12 and bottom 14
of rear hull 3a. The rear hull 3b may also be
constructed in like manner.
To secure the PWC 30, the PWC 30 iB firBt
inserted into the docking bay 51 with it8 bumpers 31
engaged between the locking plate 41b and plate 41a.
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The locking plate 41b 61ides down towards the plate
41a as the eccentric lever 42 is rotated in one
direction. To relea6e the PWC, the lever 42 is turned
in the opposite direction.
Referring to FIGS. 5-7, a conventional
outboard motor (not shown) can be mounted on the boat.
A f irst embodiment i6 shown in FIGS . 5 and 6, in which
ib shown a square bar 18 spanning the docking bay 51
and functioning as a transom board. The square bar 18
has depending legs 19 formed of steel rods at either
end of the square bar 18. The legs 19 are received in
slots in the walls 52, 52a, 54, 54a defining the PWC
mounting mechanism 40. Tits 27, such as are used for
ski bar supports for ski boats, reinforce the tops of
the slots in the walls 52a, 54a. A washer 29 secured
on each leg 19 stops the leg 19 at a designated height
suitable for mounting a motor. Plates 28 welded onto
each side of the bar 18 at the center of the bar 18
are used to mount a motor.
As shown in FIG. 7, a second embodiment of
transom board is shown. In this ~ l;m~nt~ a transom
board 26 is mounted in a bracket 56 attached to each
wall 15 of the rear hull portions 3a and 3b. The
brackets 56 are secured as by bolts to the hull
portions 3a and 3b, and a pin 57 may be inserted
through the bracket and through holes 58 in the board
26 to secure the transom board in the bracket 56.
Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, there is shown
a ride plate 70 according to an aspect of the
invention. The ride plate 70 is fastened, as by
bolts, to the bottom 14 (see also FIG. 4B) of the
spaced rear hulls 3a and 3b, preferably extending a
considerable portion along the length of the rear
hulls 3a and 3b towards the stern of the boat, at
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-
least more than half of the length of the docking bay
51. The ride plate has a concave 6ide 71 and a convex
side 72, with the concave side 71 facing rearward
towards the open end 73 of the docking bay 51. The
ride plate 70 may have constant thickness along the
length of the rear hulls 3a and 3b, but preferably is
wider at the forward end of the docking bay 51 near
the hull wall 7, thus forming a crescent or boomerang
shape. For example, the ride plate may be 5" wide
along the rear hull portions 3a and 3b, and 32" thick
at the f orward end . Total length o~ the exemplary ride
plate shown is 7~ f eet . The limitation on the
dimensions of the concave side of the ride plate 70 is
that it must be wide enough to accept the lower
portion of the hull of a PWC when the PWC is in the
docking bay 51. The boomerang shaped ride plate 70
assists in eliminating turbulence in the docking bay,
that might slow the boat down, by providing a smooth
transition between the hull of the boat and the hull
36 of a personal watercraft.
The following velocity data was recorded
during testing of the present invention: Velocity of
PWC alone with 1 passenger = 39 m/hr. Velocity of PWC
and boat with 1 passenger = 32 m/hr. Velocity of PWC
and boat with 2 passengers = 30 m/hr.
~ person skilled in the art could make
immaterial modifications to the invention described
and claimed in this patent without departing from the
essence of the invention.
