Watercraft flotation device

Abstract

A watercraft flotation device with an inflatable vessel and a strap system to selectively secure the inflatable vessel to the watercraft can provide sufficient buoyancy to raise the watercraft hull out of water. The strap system can limit movement of the inflatable vessel fore and aft relative to the watercraft hull. The flotation device can include a forward inflatable vessel and an aft inflatable vessel. The inflatable vessels are, in some embodiments, generally tubular and have inflation valves positioned near one end. The inflation valve can be coupled to an inflation pump such that air can be pumped into the inflatable vessel(s) to raise the watercraft hull. A system including multiple inflatable vessels and an inflation pump can be stored portably for transportation with the watercraft.

1 . A flotation device for raising at least a portion of a watercraft hull out of water, the flotation device comprising: 
 an inflatable vessel configured to be positioned under the watercraft hull; and    a strap system coupled to the inflatable vessel and configured to selectively secure the inflatable vessel to the watercraft and to substantially prevent the inflatable vessel from moving longitudinally with respect to the watercraft;    wherein the inflatable vessel is configured to receive a volume of gas such that the inflatable vessel has an inflated state in which the inflatable vessel is buoyant.    
   
   
       2 . The flotation device of  claim 1 , wherein the flotation device further comprises a valve configured to receive a supply of gas to inflate the inflatable vessel.  
   
   
       3 . The flotation device of  claim 1 , wherein the strap system comprises a plurality of straps configured to extend partially longitudinally with respect to the hull to substantially prevent the vessel from moving longitudinally with respect to the hull.  
   
   
       4 . The flotation device of  claim 1 , in combination with and applied to said watercraft.  
   
   
       5 . The flotation device of  claim 1 , wherein the strap system comprises first and second straps connected to the vessel and configured to form a generally V-shaped portion of a strap system on a port or starboard side of the watercraft when the flotation device is applied to the watercraft.  
   
   
       6 . The flotation device of  claim 5 , wherein the first strap is coupled to the inflatable vessel at a position approximately 30-120 degrees clockwise rotation from an uppermost point on the inflatable vessel and wherein the second strap is coupled to the inflatable vessel at a position approximately 240-330 degrees clockwise rotation from the uppermost point on the inflatable vessel.  
   
   
       7 . The flotation device of  claim 5 , wherein the first strap and the second strap are each configured to couple to a cleat on the watercraft.  
   
   
       8 . The flotation device of  claim 1 , wherein the strap system comprises one or more straps attached to the inflatable vessel and configured to collectively extend across an upper surface of the watercraft from a port side to a starboard side of the watercraft.  
   
   
       9 . A flotation system for at least partially raising a watercraft hull out of water, the system comprising: 
 a forward inflatable vessel configured to be positioned under the watercraft hull and configured when so positioned to extend generally between and toward a port side of the hull and a starboard side of the hull;    an aft inflatable vessel configured to be positioned under the watercraft hull and configured when so positioned to extend generally between and toward a port side of the hull and a starboard side of the hull; and    a strap system coupled to the forward and aft inflatable vessels and configured to selectively secure the inflatable vessels to the watercraft, the strap system comprising straps configured to extend at least partially in a longitudinal direction relative to the watercraft hull to substantially prevent the inflatable vessels from moving longitudinally with respect to the watercraft.    
   
   
       10 . The flotation system of  claim 9 , in combination with and applied to said watercraft.  
   
   
       11 . The flotation system of  claim 9 , further comprising an inflation pump configured to inflate the inflatable vessels of the forward flotation device and the aft flotation device.  
   
   
       12 . The flotation system of  claim 9 , further comprising a center inflatable vessel configured to be positioned underneath the hull and to extend generally from and between the port and starboard sides of the hull, wherein the strap system is coupled to the center vessel and configured to selectively secure the center vessel to the watercraft, the strap system comprising straps configured to extend at least partially in a longitudinal direction relative to the watercraft hull to substantially prevent the center vessel from moving longitudinally with respect to the watercraft.  
   
   
       13 . The flotation system of  claim 9 , wherein the strap system comprises: 
 a first strap and a second strap connected to the forward vessel proximate a port-side end of the forward vessel, the first and second straps configured to form a generally V-shaped portion of the strap system on the port side of the watercraft when the flotation system is applied to the watercraft;    a third strap and a fourth strap connected to the aft vessel proximate a port-side end of the aft vessel, the third and fourth straps configured to form a generally V-shaped portion of the strap system on the port side of the watercraft when the flotation system is applied to the watercraft;    a fifth strap and a sixth strap connected to the forward vessel proximate a starboard-side end of the forward vessel, the fifth and sixth straps configured to form a generally V-shaped portion of the strap system on the starboard side of the watercraft when the flotation system is applied to the watercraft; and    a seventh strap and an eighth strap connected to the aft vessel proximate a starboard-side end of the aft vessel, the seventh and eighth straps configured to form a generally V-shaped portion of the strap system on the starboard side of the watercraft when the flotation system is applied to the watercraft.    
   
   
       14 . The flotation system of  claim 13 , wherein the strap system further comprises a ninth strap coupled to the forward vessel and the aft vessel and configured to limit movement of the forward vessel relative to the aft vessel.  
   
   
       15 . The flotation system of  claim 9 , wherein the strap system comprises: 
 a first strap connected to the forward vessel proximate a port-side end of the forward vessel, the first strap configured to extend at least partially forward relative to the hull of the watercraft when the flotation system is applied to the watercraft;    a second strap connected to the aft vessel proximate a port-side end of the aft vessel, the second strap configured to extend at least partially aft relative to the hull of the watercraft when the flotation system is applied to the watercraft;    a third strap connected to the forward vessel proximate a starboard-side end of the forward vessel, the third strap configured to extend at least partially forward relative to the hull of the watercraft when the flotation system is applied to the watercraft;    a fourth strap connected to the aft vessel proximate a starboard-side end of the aft vessel, the fourth strap configured to extend at least partially aft relative to the hull of the watercraft when the flotation system is applied to the watercraft; and    a fifth strap coupled to the forward vessel and the aft vessel and configured to limit movement of the forward vessel relative to the aft vessel.    
   
   
       16 . A method for raising a watercraft hull out of water, the method comprising: 
 positioning a first inflatable vessel under the watercraft hull, a first strap being coupled to the first inflatable vessel near an end of the vessel;    securing the first vessel to the watercraft hull with the first strap such that the strap extends at least partially in a longitudinal direction with respect to the hull to restrain the first vessel from moving longitudinally with respect to the hull;    positioning a second inflatable vessel under the watercraft hull, a second strap being coupled to the second inflatable vessel near an end of the second vessel;    securing the second vessel to the watercraft hull with the second strap such that the second strap extends at least partially in the longitudinal direction to restrain the second vessel from moving longitudinally with respect to the hull;    inflating the first inflatable vessel; and    inflating the second inflatable vessel.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein inflating the first and second vessels comprises: 
 providing a portable pump;    operatively coupling the portable pump to the first inflatable vessel;    operating the portable pump to supply gas to the first inflatable vessel;    operatively coupling the portable pump to the second inflatable vessel; and    operating the portable pump to supply gas to the second inflatable vessel.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein securing the first and second vessels to the watercraft hull comprises tying the first and second straps to cleats on the watercraft.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein inflating the first and second inflatable vessels causes the watercraft hull to be raised completely out of the water.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein securing the first vessel to the watercraft hull comprises strapping the first vessel to the watercraft hull with the first strap and a third strap coupled to the first vessel near said end of the first vessel, such that the first strap and the third strap form a generally V-shaped portion of a strap system; and wherein securing the second vessel to the watercraft hull comprises strapping the second vessel to the watercraft hull with the second strap and a fourth strap coupled to the second vessel near said end of the second vessel, such that the second strap and the fourth strap form a generally V-shaped portion of the strap system.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising using a center strap to restrain movement of the first vessel relative to the second vessel, the center strap being coupled to both the first vessel and the second vessel.