Garage and swimming area for yachts, trawlers and the like

Abstract

According to a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a wet/dry garage for the hull of a marine vessel. The garage includes a compartment defined within the hull of the marine vessel, with a floor below the vessel's waterline and a ceiling above the waterline. One side of the compartment is a door opening defined in the hull of the vessel. The door opening has a lower edge below the vessel's waterline and an upper edge above the waterline of the vessel. A door is mounted to the vessel and can be closed to cover the door opening. The compartment contains at least one small boat storage position. The door may be lowered to a position providing sufficient draft that a smaller watercraft can be propelled into or out of the compartment. Preferably the door can be closed to form a watertight seal surrounding the door opening. After closing the door, the water in the compartment is evacuated to lower the smaller watercraft into a storage position. In an alternate preferred embodiment, the door can be lowered to provide a stable swimming platform adjacent the hull. A protective barrier may be mounted to the door/platform around the periphery of the platform to define a safe swimming area for adults or children.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A garage for a hull of a marine vessel, comprising: 
 a) a compartment defined within the hull, wherein said compartment has a floor below the waterline of the vessel and a ceiling above the waterline of the vessel;    b) a door opening defined in the hull of the vessel and forming one side of said compartment, wherein said door opening has a lower edge below the waterline of the vessel and an upper edge above the waterline of the vessel;    c) a door mounted to the vessel and configured to cover said door opening when in a closed position; and,    d) at least one small boat storage position defined in said compartment.    
     
     
         2 . The garage of  claim 1  further comprising a hinge connecting said door to the vessel.  
     
     
         3 . The garage of  claim 2  wherein said hinge connects said door to the vessel along the lower edge of said door opening.  
     
     
         4 . The garage of  claim 3  further comprising a barrier securable to the interior side of said door and configured to form a swimming barrier when said door is in an open position.  
     
     
         5 . The garage of  claim 1  wherein said door is configured to form a watertight seal surrounding said door opening when said door is in a closed position.  
     
     
         6 . The garage of  claim 1  further comprising a powered movement system coupled to said door for selectively opening and closing said door.  
     
     
         7 . The garage of  claim 6  wherein said movement system comprises a winch and pulley extending from adjacent said upper edge of said door to adjacent said ceiling of said compartment.  
     
     
         8 . The garage of  claim 6  wherein said movement system comprises a hydraulic piston and bell crank mounted adjacent said lower edge of said door and said lower edge of said door opening.  
     
     
         9 . The garage of  claim 5  further comprising a drain defined in the floor of said compartment and a pump associated with said drain wherein said drain and pump are operable to evacuate water from said compartment.  
     
     
         10 . The garage of  claim 9  further comprising a storage tank mounted within the hull of the vessel, wherein said storage tank is connected to said pump and configured to store water evacuated from said compartment.  
     
     
         11 . The garage of  claim 9  further comprising supports disposed at said at least one small boat storage position wherein said supports are configured to secure a small boat when the water level in said compartment is lowered.  
     
     
         12 . The garage of  claim 11  wherein said supports are molded into the floor of said compartment.  
     
     
         13 . The garage of  claim 11  wherein said supports extend from the floor of said compartment.  
     
     
         14 . The garage of  claim 11  wherein the hull of the vessel defines a stern area and said compartment is located adjacent the stem area of said hull.  
     
     
         15 . A method for unloading a smaller watercraft from a marine vessel into surrounding water, comprising the steps of: 
 a) defining a compartment within the hull of the marine vessel, wherein said compartment has a floor which extends below a first waterline of the surrounding water and a ceiling above the first waterline of the surrounding water and wherein said compartment has a door opening defined in the hull of the vessel and forming one side of said compartment;    b) providing a door mounted to the vessel and configured to selectively cover said door opening;    c) providing a smaller watercraft in a storage position within said compartment;    d) opening said door;    e) allowing a second waterline within said compartment to become equal with the first waterline of the surrounding water;    f) floating said smaller watercraft within said compartment; and,    g) propelling said smaller watercraft from said compartment onto the surrounding water.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising the step of pumping water into said compartment until the second waterline is substantially equal with the first waterline prior to opening said door.  
     
     
         17 . A method for loading a smaller watercraft from surrounding water onto a marine vessel, comprising the steps of: 
 a) defining a compartment within a hull of the marine vessel, wherein said compartment has a floor which extends below a first waterline of the vessel at least at a depth equal to a draft of the watercraft, and wherein said compartment defines an opening in the hull of the vessel forming one side of said compartment;    b) providing a door mounted to the vessel and configured to selectively cover said opening;    c) propelling a smaller watercraft into said compartment;    d) positioning said smaller watercraft over a storage location;    e) closing said door to form a watertight seal surrounding said opening;    f) evacuating water from said compartment to lower a second waterline within said compartment; and,    g) securing said smaller watercraft in said storage location.    
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17  wherein said door in hingedly mounted to said vessel adjacent the floor of said compartment.  
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17  wherein said door is initially in an open position and said smaller watercraft is propelled into said compartment over said door.  
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 17  further comprising the step of securing said smaller watercraft to stabilizing supports in said storage location.  
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 17  further comprising the step of storing the water evacuated from said compartment within the hull of the vessel.  
     
     
         22 . A swimming platform attached to a marine vessel, comprising: 
 a) at least one horizontal hinge attached to a hull of the marine vessel below the waterline of the surrounding water; and,    b) a substantially planar platform having a top edge, a bottom edge and two side edges, wherein said bottom edge is mounted to said at least one horizontal hinge, and wherein said platform is selectively movable from an open, substantially horizontal position below the waterline of the surrounding water to a closed position adjacent said hull.    
     
     
         23 . The swimming platform of  claim 22  further comprising a barrier mountable to said platform adjacent said top edge and said side edges to define a swimming area over said platform.  
     
     
         24 . The swimming platform of  claim 22  further comprising a compartment defined within said hull and defining a compartment opening adjacent to said swimming platform.  
     
     
         25 . The swimming platform of  claim 24  wherein said platform is configured to form a watertight seal with said hull surrounding said compartment opening when said platform is in a closed position.