Mono hulled power boat convertible to twin or triple hulled operation

Abstract

The boat is essentially mono hulled in its appearance but has the capacity wherein the lower and outer sections of the hull can be hinged out of a concave recess under the main deck and behind the full bow of the boat. The front of the hinging sections are curved to a point and graduated longitudinally to allow a bowlike profile at any given point as the sections are swung upward and away from the core of the boat. When the hinging sections are semi extended a full twin hulled operation can be achieved and when further extended a true triple hulled operation can be achieved with essentially three “bows” cutting the water. When fully extended the walls of the hinging sections come up to horizontal and also provide the benefit of extra deck space. This creates an ideal recreational boat which is also easily trailable, but incorporates the advantages of extra deck space, walk around decking, damping and minimized roll and pitch, and variable profile to the water to provide choice of performance according to water conditions.

What I claim as the invention is embodied and described in the claims one (1) to thirteen (13) and the accompanying drawing figures one (1) to six (6) as follows:  
     
         1 . A power boat hereinafter called “The boat” which is essentially mono hulled in appearance but wherein the whole is comprised of three longitudinal sections the outer port and starboard sections of which are hinged on their uppermost and outermost edges to the uppermost and outermost edges of the central hull section whilst the forward most end of each hinging section is pointed and terminates short of the central hull and is recessed at respective undersides of the central hull behind its forward part or bow which extends forward beyond the two hinging sections and terminates on the forward end in a single pointed conventional bow.  
     
     
         2 . The boat of  claim 1  whereon the hinging sections have external surfaces formed by a series of longitudinal bends or graduations which form longitudinal planes and which on the forward ends of each section curve inward from the respective longitudinal planes to form points or bows.  
     
     
         3 . The boat of anyone of claims  1  and  2  wherein the concave shapes at the undersides of the central hull do not extend its full longitudinal length but commence behind the lower rear section of the bow and from that point run longitudinally to the rear of the central hull.  
     
     
         4 . The boat of anyone of  claims 1  to  3  wherein the forward ends of each of the hinging sections terminate in a convex shape so that when the hinging sections are fully retracted they can come into an inverse shape behind the lower rear section of the bow and allow the outer surfaces of the hinging sections to come into profile with the outer surface of the bow and out of direct hydraulic contact with the water which enables the boat to terminate in a single conventional bow.  
     
     
         5 . The boat of anyone of  claims 1  to  4  wherein the forward ends of each of the hinging sections are out of direct hydraulic contact with the water until the hinging sections are moved laterally away from the central hull which brings their points out from behind the bow of the central hull and into hydraulic contact with the water whereupon the curved convex terminus of each provides a bow-like cut to the water and gives the boat the profile of a twin or triple hulled craft according to the distance the sections are extended laterally away from the central hull.  
     
     
         6 . The boat of anyone of  claims 1  to  5  wherein the hinging sections can be moved outward laterally away from the central hull to an upward position wherein what was the vertical side or plane of each section comes up to horizontal position and thereat can be utilized as deck.  
     
     
         7 . The boat of anyone of  claims 1  to  6  wherein whilst in a closed or retracted position the hinging sections do not come forward to comprise the bows or front points of the boat as in a catamaran but when the hinging sections are moved laterally outward from their respective concave recesses under and behind the bow of the core section they come laterally distant from the core and bow of the boat and effectively make an additional hull on each side of the core section and thus form the profile of a triple hulled craft. (FIG. 5)  
     
     
         8 . The boat of anyone of  claims 1  to  7  wherein sockets are placed on the upper and outer most edge of the central hull section to facilitate the installation and removal of insertable rods or pipes with interlinking ropes, chains or cables to operate as a safety barrier whilst the boat is in motion or the hinging sections are retracted  
     
     
         9 . The boat of anyone of  claims 1  to  8  wherein sockets are placed in what is when fully raised the upper and outermost longitudinal edge of the hinging sections to enable the installation of pipes or sockets with cables or ropes to form a safety barrier around the extreme perimeter of the craft when the hinging sections are fully raised.  
     
     
         10 . The boat of anyone of  claims 1  to  9  wherein the lower edge of the hinging sections can be curved laterally outward so that in the raised position a small wall is provided to facilitate the safety barriers.  
     
     
         11 . The boat of anyone of  claims 1  to  10  wherein the full benefits of the three main styles of boat are available in the one boat and mono twin or triple hulled operations can be utilized in the one craft thereby making it possible for the operator to choose the optimum mode for any given time.  
     
     
         12 . The boat of anyone of  claims 1  to  11  wherein the full trailable width boat can be utilized for cabin or deck space whilst the hinging sections can be fully retracted to come under the main deck and behind the bow thus making the deck space provided by the hinging sections truly extra and in addition to the main deck.  
     
     
         13 . The boat substantially as herein described in anyone of  claims 1  to  12  with reference to the accompanying drawings.