English Abstract
Current unpowered, single person watercraft in use for the purpose of lake
fishing suffer from a number of design characteristics which cause one or more
problems. These problems have been addresses in various ways that ultimately
leave a number of issues unaddressed in previous craft.
Issues include:
1. Many are too heavy to be dealt with easily by many elderly, young, or small
in stature users without expensive accessories.
2. Poor tracking in windy conditions is a persistent issue.
3. Fisher persons value the ability to stand up, both for casting and better
vision below the water's surface. Many previous craft either ignore this or
give up payload capability, lightness of weight, speed, or hydrodynamic
principles to accomplish this.
4. Many previous craft, in particular those which are light and unpowered
compromise comfort to facilitate portability and perceived lower cost. This
may be the result of seat type and position as well as the need to dangle
flippered feet in the water.
5. Stealth (important in fishing), a function of glide, is sacrificed in
previous flat
boats and some inflatable boats to enable greater lateral stability. These
boats often slap the waves and create loud sounds.
6. The ability to stay put, in a non-drifting position in some types of lake
fishing
is highly valued. One of the most effective ways to accomplish this is double,
vertical anchoring. The design of many previous single person fishing boats
is too short to accomplish this effectively.
7. A major issue in small, unpowered, slow moving boats is safety. One of the
major safety issues arises when weather conditions change suddenly. Many
operators of previous small, single-person, unpowered fishing craft have
been caught unaware and unable to easily get back to a safe landing site in
non-sea worthy, non-hydrodynamic, slow moving and poorly tracking craft.
The present inventions uses a number of both overall design innovations unique
to the craft here considered, and some unique specific details to address the
above issues as well as improve on some other common boat details in an
elegant and simple manner.
ADDRESSING #1
This present invention is designed to present minimal problems for transport.
All
the rigging which stays on the boat permanently is mounted BELOW the
gunwales so that the boat can be slid onto a roof rack in the same way as a
regular canoe. For example, outriggers on small boats such as canoes and
kayaks are not unknown. However, the booms that secure an outrigger float to
the hull tend to extend above the gunwales of the boat as these booms are
2
generally secured across and over the gunwales. Also, non-inflated fishing
boats
that can be put on a roof rack in some fashion are tend to be much heavier
than
the present invention as fabrication with Kevlar is either virtually
impossible
(fishing kayak) or impractical due to expense (Jon boat). Pontoon boats can be
light as well but have major limitations related to performance (speed,
tracking,
anchoring, comfort, safety) compared to the present invention. Furthermore, it
is
easy to carry 2 of these boats on the roof of a regular vehicle ... almost
impossible with other fishing boats. The piercings for the outrigger float
booms
are reinforced to relieve stresses in the composite material of the hull by
applying
a reinforcing plate around the piercings. The reinforcing plate is both
adhered
and secured using screws. The reinforcing plate is preferably of a lightweight
material such as aluminum but may also be a built up pad of resin impregnated
fibre such as kevlar or glass fibre. Similarly, the rigger beam that supports
the
oarlocks on the present invention pass through the hull as described above.
The hull of the present invention is 14' 2" and made from lightweight kevlar
and
resin. The bare hull weighs 30 lb., with semi-permanent rigging attached it
weighs 40 lb. This is below the 50-60 lbs that an adult can generally safely
lift
alone. This means that the hull and the rigging that may remain attached
thereto
can be easily lifted from the water and placed on a roof rack of a car.
Furthermore, the beam of the boat is 34" and 2 of these can be placed side by
side on a typical roof rack system. The boat of the present invention is
intended
to be somewhat modular in that the seat, pontoons, oarlocks, anchor reels, and
rigger booms may be removed from the boat with relative ease. This permits
structures that may extend above or laterally from the gunwales of the boat,
or,
weight that is present unnecessarily during transport, to be readily removed
so
the boat can be more easily transported. This also allows for easy repair or
replacement should a component of the boat be damaged or lost.
ADDRESSING #1, 3, 5, 6, & 7
Using a 14' 2" ultra light canoe hull as the central hull of the present
invention
allows for a number of substantial advantages that are key aspects of the
boat.
1) The canoe shape is inherently hydrodynamic. It cuts and glides. The lighter
it
is the less force is needed to propel it. These characteristics are inherently
desirable, but only by adding features described throughout this document
( which maximize both roll stability and tracking stability) can this be taken
advantage of while at the same time maximizing fishing functionality. This is
primarily accomplished by adding pontoon outriggers and oars incorporating
outriggers, and having them strategically placed. These features are mainly
what
makes the present invention fast, powerful and stable
3
2) The relative substantial length of the boat along with substantial
freeboard
(unlike a pontoon boat or fishing kayak) allows much greater cargo capacity
than
any other unpowered single person boat that can match the current invention in
lightness, speed, and seaworthiness. This length also enables a number of
other
unique features of the Chironomid:
3) Having the anchors 14' apart maximizes the stability of the 2
anchor/vertical
anchoring approach of many stillwater fly fisher persons. Where used for fly
fishing, one may wish to position the boat relative to a feature where fish
are
likely to congregate. Similarly, where one uses the boat of the present
invention
for shooting, one may wish to remain in place behind a blind or obscuring
foliage.
In this case it is desirable to include both fore and aft anchors that can be
used to
secure the boat in location with a specific angular orientation. And, as it
can be
difficult to access and operate anchors at the bow and stern of a craft, it is
preferable for the lines that secure the anchors to be routed to winches
positioned adjacent the seat of the craft. In this way, the anchors of the
craft can
be deployed without needed to move to the bow or stern. The boat employs a
unique built-in double anchor reel mounting system that "snaps" anchor reels
into
place in 2 seconds with one hand and has a unique flip lock located on the
mount
which engages the reel itself.
4) It enables the simple and unique 4 rod-horizontal-holder system which
allows
casting without having vertical rods in traditional rod holders blocking back
casts.
The unique rod holding system of the present invention can also stay on the
boat
permanently while adding virtually no weight AND with a simple flip, be below
the
gunwales for loading on roof racks.
5) Having this amount of length allows the outboard and inboard rigging to be
entirely located in the stern of the boat. This enables the boat to be set up
with a
swivel seat near the centre of the boat allowing room for the pilot to be able
to
swing around facing the stern while rowing and facing the bow while anchored
for
still fishing, still leaving substantial room for gear and foot room plus
having a
relatively clear space to prevent tangles and encumbrances in the bow
(casting)
end. Because of the light weight, hydrodynamic hull, long spoon oars that
propel
by rowing like a racing scull, and the stability and tracking characteristics
of the
Chironomid this boat dramatically decreases the need for a motor, battery,
battery charger and, with heavier boats, the need for a hydraulic lifter or
trailer as
well.
ADDRESSING #2 & 3
4
This pivot point between 2 "work stations" (so to speak) is unique among one
person fishing boats. This unique design contributes to another key feature of
the
current invention.
6) Having the 2 outriggers in the stern end also increases the resistance to
tracking swing (so common and problematic in a standard canoe for example).
Technically this is accomplished by effectively increasing the swing radius
(hence resistance) with respect to the horizontal plane's fulcrum and centre
of
gravity, which, on the horizontal plane, is located at the centre point of the
hull
where the fisherman sits or stands. This allows the 2 outrigger pontoons to
act
like a sailboat keel in some respects, while at the same time affording the
Chironomid high "initial" stability (allowing maximum standing freedom) due to
the wide stance of the pontoons (7.5 feet). This wide stance is possible
BECAUSE the stern mounting of the pontoons allows sufficient clearance for the
7.5' spoon oars.
ADDRESSING #3 & 4
High initial stability (describes above) allows the seat to be high relative
to the
norm in many previous craft, and much higher than any standard canoe, almost
as high as a kitchen chair (the seat of the boat is 16" high), but more
comfortable
as it is padded as well. The lake fishermen demographic comprises an older
cohort than other types of fishing. 50 to 70 year olds who spend up to 10 hrs
at a
stretch on the water need the comfort that this affords. This height
facilitates ease
of standing without additional supports or undue exertion and allows dynamic
motion. Having the seat at this height facilitates a position that puts the
knees at
approximately a 45 degree angle. Technical studies have shown this to be an
optimum ergonomic position when engaged in activity that is active and
occasioned by both sitting and standing. The boat has 40 lb. of added
flotation in
each pontoon. This added stability, though not making the boat capsize proof,
enables an average user to displace their upright centre of gravity within a
range
of movement of approximately 2 feet side to side. This is a good compromise
against size, weight, and drag. [Once a pontoon is submerged the centre of
gravity immediately passes the centre of buoyancy.] Another benefit to the
presence of outrigger pontoons in the present invention is that the increased
stability of the hull prevents water from entering the hull through the
piercings.
Because the boat does not tip to any significant degree, the piercings, placed
high up on the side of the hull near the gunwale, do not ship water. Of
course,
waves might cause water to enter the piercings but these conditions are not
likely
to be experienced under normal conditions.
ADDRESSING #1 & 6
5
In previous craft anchor deployment systems are treated as after market
accessories. Often involving a cam cleat and pulley wheel they are mounted
above the gunwale. In the present invention anchor line slides of stainless
steel
and aluminum guide posts are permanently installed on the bow and stern deck
plates. The slide and guides actually double as bow and stern point protection
from rocks and gravel while loading and unloading. No additional accessory is
need, and this system does not impede the the boat from being easily slid
along
the rails of a roof rack while loading.
