Boat-in-a-box

Abstract

In one example, a boat includes a deck, a pair of pontoons configured to be attached beneath the deck and configured to support the deck, and a railing configured to be attached on top of the deck. The boat is configured to be arranged within a standard sized shipping container during storage or transport of the boat. In this manner, the boat may be collapsed for storage or transport, and expanded for use in operation of the boat. Thus, the boat may be readily assembled by a purchaser, operator, or other user.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A railing for a boat deck, the railing comprising:
 a plurality of railing sections, each of the railing sections comprising:
 an outer frame; 
 an inner frame configured to be nested within the outer frame; and 
 an inner panel configured to be coupled to the inner frame by a tongue and groove mechanism, 
   wherein the railing sections are configured to be decoupled from each other for storage or transport of the railing and coupled to each other for use in operation of a boat to which the railing is to be attached.   
     
     
         2 . The railing of  claim 1 , wherein the inner frame is constructed from a bar or tube having a generally square or rectangular cross sectional shape and including an indented portion forming a ledge, and wherein the inner panel includes an attachment clip defining a slot configured to attach to the ledge of the inner frame. 
     
     
         3 . The railing of  claim 1 , wherein the outer frame defines one or more holes configured to receive a fastener for coupling the inner frame to the outer frame. 
     
     
         4 . The railing of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the outer frame or the inner frame defines one or more holes configured to receive a fastener for coupling the outer frame or the inner frame to the boat deck. 
     
     
         5 . A boat comprising:
 a deck;   a pair of pontoons configured to be attached beneath the deck and configured to support the deck; and   a railing configured to be attached on top of the deck,   wherein the boat is configured to be arranged within a standard sized shipping container during storage or transport of the boat.   
     
     
         6 . The boat of  claim 5 , wherein the railing comprises a plurality of railing sections, each of the railing sections comprising:
 an outer frame;   an inner frame arranged within the outer frame; and   an inner panel coupled to the inner frame by a tongue and groove mechanism,   wherein the railing sections are configured to be decoupled from each other for storage or transport of the boat and coupled to each other for use in operation of the boat.   
     
     
         7 . The boat of  claim 6 , wherein the inner frame is constructed from a bar or tube having a generally square or rectangular cross sectional shape and including an indented portion forming a ledge, and wherein the inner panel includes an attachment clip defining a slot configured to attach to the ledge of the inner frame. 
     
     
         8 . The boat of  claim 6 , wherein the outer frame defines one or more holes configured to receive a fastener for coupling the inner frame to the outer frame. 
     
     
         9 . The boat of  claim 6 , wherein at least one of the outer frame or the inner frame defines one or more holes configured to receive a fastener for coupling the outer frame or the inner frame to the boat deck. 
     
     
         10 . The boat of  claim 5 , wherein the pontoons are inflatable. 
     
     
         11 . The boat of  claim 5 , wherein the pontoons are rigid and collapsible. 
     
     
         12 . The boat of  claim 11 , wherein the pontoons are configured to telescope outward for use in operation of the boat and to collapse inward for storage or transport of the boat. 
     
     
         13 . The boat of  claim 5 , wherein the pontoons have a length between 10 feet and 40 feet. 
     
     
         14 . The boat of  claim 5 , wherein the deck comprises a plurality of individual deck components configured to be attached or detached to or from each other. 
     
     
         15 . The boat of  claim 5 , further comprising a helm configured to be attached on top of the deck, the helm comprising a dashboard including one or more gauges, controls, navigational components, or operational components. 
     
     
         16 . The boat of  claim 15 , wherein the helm is collapsible through folding or telescoping for storage or transport of the boat and is expandable for use in operation of the boat. 
     
     
         17 . The boat of  claim 16 , wherein the helm includes a base portion having a plurality of sections configured to nest within one another to collapse the helm. 
     
     
         18 . The boat of  claim 15 , wherein the helm includes a first section and second section, wherein the first section and the second section are configured such that the first section can be nested inside of the second section. 
     
     
         19 . The boat of  claim 5 , further comprising one or more seats configured to be attached on top of the deck, each of the seats being configured to collapse through telescoping or folding for storage or transport of the boat and to expand for use in operation of the boat. 
     
     
         20 . The boat of  claim 19 , wherein at least one of the one or more seats defines two or more backrest support areas, each of the backrest support areas configured to receive a backrest for the at least one of the one or more seats. 
     
     
         21 . The boat of  claim 5 , further comprising a table including a base portion and a tabletop portion, wherein the base portion is configured to be decoupled from the tabletop portion for storage or transport of the boat and to be coupled to the tabletop portion and the deck for use in operation of the boat. 
     
     
         22 . The boat of  claim 21 , wherein the deck defines an opening for a collapsed version of the base portion of the table, and the base portion of the table is configured to collapse into the opening for storage or transport of the boat and to be removed from the opening for use in operation of the boat. 
     
     
         23 . The boat of  claim 5 , further comprising a canopy and poles to support the canopy, wherein the poles are configured to be collapsed during storage or transport of the boat and to expand for use in operation of the boat, and wherein the poles are configured to be attached to the deck for use in operation of the boat and removed from the deck for storage or transport of the boat. 
     
     
         24 . The boat of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a helm configured to be attached on top of the deck, wherein the helm is collapsible through folding or telescoping for storage or transport of the boat and is expandable for use in operation of the boat;   one or more seats configured to be attached on top of the deck, each of the seats being configured to collapse through telescoping or folding for storage or transport of the boat and to expand for use in operation of the boat; and   a canopy and poles to support the canopy, wherein the poles are configured to be collapsed during storage or transport of the boat and to expand for use in operation of the boat, and wherein the poles are configured to be attached to the deck for use in operation of the boat and removed from the deck for storage or transport of the boat,   wherein the deck comprises a plurality of individual deck components configured to be attached or detached to or from each other.