Buoyant raft and method of construction

Abstract

A raft comprises a core comprising a buoyant material. The core has a generally flat deck surface, a generally flat hull surface, and a height defining a bow surface, a stern surface, a starboard surface and a port surface. The deck surface and the hull surface have substantially equal widths. The deck surface further has a length being greater than a length of the hull surface in which a difference of the length of the deck surface and the length of the hull surface determines a curvature of the bow surface and a curvature of the stern surface. A coating is applied to the core in which the coating encapsulates the core, and is operable for mitigating damage to the core and entry of water into the core.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A raft comprising:
 a core comprising a buoyant material, said core having a generally flat deck surface, a generally flat hull surface, and a height defining a bow surface, a stern surface, a starboard surface and a port surface, said deck surface and said hull surface having substantially equal widths, said deck surface further having a length being greater than a length of said hull surface in which a difference of said length of said deck surface and said length of said hull surface determines a curvature of said bow surface and a curvature of said stern surface; and   a coating being applied to said core in which said coating encapsulates said core, and is operable for mitigating damage to the core and entry of water into said core.   
     
     
         2 . The raft as recited in  claim 1 , in which said core further comprises a plurality of holes extending from said deck surface to said hull surface, said plurality of holes being configured to receive rope cleats and/or loops for safety lines. 
     
     
         3 . The raft as recited in  claim 2 , in which said core further comprises a plurality of holes extending from said deck surface partway to said hull surface, said plurality of holes being configured to receive fishing rod holders. 
     
     
         4 . The raft as recited in  claim 3 , further comprising a caulking being injected into at least one of said holes. 
     
     
         5 . The raft as recited in  claim 1 , in which said buoyant material further comprises a rigid-foam plastic. 
     
     
         6 . The raft as recited in  claim 1 , in which said deck surface and said hull surface are seamless. 
     
     
         7 . The raft as recited in  claim 1 , in which said core is formed from a single piece of said buoyant material. 
     
     
         8 . The raft as recited in  claim 1 , in which said core comprises a plurality of sheets of said buoyant material joined together. 
     
     
         9 . The raft as recited in  claim 1 , in which said length of said deck surface is larger than said width of said deck surface. 
     
     
         10 . A method of fabricating the raft recited in  claim 1 , the method comprising the steps of:
 obtaining a quantity of said buoyant material;   determining dimensions for said core in which said core comprises a generally flat deck surface, a generally flat hull surface, and a height defining a bow surface, a stern surface, a starboard surface and a port surface, said deck surface and said hull surface having substantially equal widths, said deck surface further having a length being greater than a length of said hull surface in which a difference of said length of said deck surface and said length of said hull surface determines a curvature of said bow surface and a curvature of said stern surface;   forming said core from said buoyant material to said determined dimensions; and   applying said coating to said core in which said coating encapsulates said core, and is operable for mitigating damage to the core and entry of water into said core.   
     
     
         11 . The method as recited in  claim 10 , further comprising the step of locating a plurality of holes extending from said deck surface to said hull surface, said plurality of holes being configured to receive rope cleats and/or loops for safety lines. 
     
     
         12 . The method as recited in  claim 11 , further comprising the step of locating a plurality of holes extending from said deck surface partway to said hull surface, said plurality of holes being configured to receive fishing rod holders. 
     
     
         13 . The method as recited in  claim 12 , further comprising the step of injecting caulking into at least one of said holes. 
     
     
         14 . The method as recited in  claim 10 , in which said length of said deck surface is larger than said width of said deck surface. 
     
     
         15 . The method as recited in  claim 10 , in which said deck surface and said hull surface are seamless. 
     
     
         16 . The method as recited in  claim 10 , in which said forming comprises cutting said buoyant material. 
     
     
         17 . The method as recited in  claim 16 , further comprising the step of joining together a plurality of sheets of said buoyant material. 
     
     
         18 . The method as recited in  claim 10 , in which said forming comprises printing said buoyant material. 
     
     
         19 . The method as recited in  claim 10 , in which said forming comprises pouring said buoyant material into a mold. 
     
     
         20 . A raft comprising:
 a core comprising a buoyant material comprising a rigid-foam plastic, said core having a generally flat and seamless deck surface, a generally flat and seamless hull surface, and a height defining a bow surface, a stern surface, a starboard surface and a port surface, said deck surface and said hull surface having substantially equal widths, said deck surface further having a length being greater than a length of said hull surface in which a difference of said length of said deck surface and said length of said hull surface determines a curvature of said bow surface and a curvature of said stern surface, said length of said deck surface being at least twice as large as said width of said deck surface, said core further comprising a plurality of holes extending from said deck surface to said hull surface, said plurality of holes being configured to receive rope cleats and/or loops for safety lines, said core further comprising a plurality of holes extending from said deck surface partway to said hull surface, said plurality of holes being configured to receive fishing rod holders;   a caulking being injected into at least one of said holes; and   a coating being applied to said core in which said coating encapsulates said core, and is operable for mitigating damage to the core and entry of water into said core.