Walk-on aft deck and extendable swim platform system and method

Abstract

A system, apparatus and method for providing a walk-on aft deck for a boat, and for providing an extendable swim platform. The walk-on aft deck includes an extended support platform, that may include gunwales, extending from the boat transom between engines of the boat, and extends beyond an aftermost surface of the engines in order to protect the engines from impact. The extendable swim platform extends afterward from the extended support platform, is actuated and retractable, does not act as a running surface when the boat moves forward, but acts as a planing surface when the boat moves in reverse allowing high reverse speeds. The extendable swim platform includes angled anti-slap surfaces underneath. The invention allows users to fish or walk afterward between and beyond the engines; allows greater reverse speeds; and allows users to enter and exit the after swim platform well away from the engine propellers.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An walk-on aft deck for a multi-outboard engine boat, comprising:
 an extended support platform, said extended support platform extending from a aftermost surface of a boat, between engines of the boat, such that an aftermost surface of said extended support platform extends beyond an aftermost surface of said engines;   wherein said extended support platform comprises a horizontally disposed support surface for supporting a user;   wherein said extended support platform is attached to, or is a part of, the boat hull; and   wherein said extended support platform further comprises a gunwale extending upwards from the a periphery of the extended support platform, and wherein said gunwale is attached to, or forms a unitary structure with, a transom or other aft structure of the boat.   
     
     
         2 . The walk-on aft deck of  claim 1 , wherein said extended support platform comprises a lowermost surface that is above the nominal waterline when the boat is at rest. 
     
     
         3 . The walk-on aft deck of  claim 1 , wherein said extended support platform comprises a lowermost surface that is above the nominal waterline such that it does not form a running surface of the boat when the boat is motivated in a forward direction. 
     
     
         4 . The walk-on aft deck of  claim 1 , further comprising an extendable swim platform slidingly attached to an underneath surface of said extended support platform, said sliding attachment enabling the extension of said extendable swim platform in a aft direction to an extended position aft of said aftermost surface of said extended support platform. 
     
     
         5 . The walk-on aft deck of  claim 4 , wherein a lowermost surface of said extendable swim platform remains above the nominal waterline such that it does not form a running surface of the boat when the boat is motivated in a forward direction. 
     
     
         6 . The walk-on aft deck of  claim 4 , wherein said extendable swim platform further comprises a retractable ladder. 
     
     
         7 . The walk-on aft deck of  claim 4 , wherein a lowermost surface of said extendable swim platform is disposed at an angle to the nominal waterline, said angle running along a longitudinal axis of said boat, and having a vertex in a forward direction such that the angle opens in an aft direction. 
     
     
         8 . The walk-on aft deck of  claim 8 , wherein said extendable swim platform lowermost surface forms a planning surface with a surface of a body of water when said boat is motivated in an afterward direction as an aftermost portion of said boat hull begins to rotate downward towards the nominal waterline. 
     
     
         9 . The walk-on aft deck of  claim 8 , wherein said extendable swim platform lowermost surface further comprises at least one anti-slap surface disposed at angle to a nominal surface of the water such that said extendable swim platform lowermost surface is not parallel to the nominal surface of the water. 
     
     
         10 . The walk-on aft deck of  claim 4 , wherein said extendable swim platform further comprises at least one controllable actuator for motivating said extendable swim platform from a forward, or stowed, position to an afterward, or extended, position; wherein said at least one actuator has a first end and a second extendable end, said first end attached to a surface of said boat, and said second end attached to a surface of said extendable swim platform. 
     
     
         11 . The walk-on aft deck of  claim 14 , wherein said at least one actuator is selected from the group consisting of a hydraulic actuator, a pneumatic actuator and an electric actuator. 
     
     
         12 . The walk-on aft deck of  claim 14 , wherein said at least one actuator is in communication with a controller for controlling the extension or retraction of said actuator. 
     
     
         13 . An extendable swim platform for a boat, comprising
 an elongate structure slidingly engaged with a surface of a boat hull, said sliding attachment enabling the extension of said elongate structure in an aft direction to an extended position;   a recess disposed in an aft surface of said boat for receiving said elongate structure when said elongate structure is in a retracted position;   at least one actuator having a first end and a second end, said first end attached to a surface of said boat and said second end attached to a surface of said aft of said elongate structure;   wherein said actuator is controllable to be extended, motivating said elongate structure in aft direction, exposing an upper surface of said elongate structure for use by a user; and   wherein said actuator is controllable to be retracted, motivating said elongate structure into a retracted position in which said elongate structure is received by said recess.   
     
     
         14 . The extendable swim platform of  claim 13 , wherein a lowermost surface of said extendable swim platform remains above the nominal waterline such that it does not form a running surface of said boat when said boat is motivated in a forward direction. 
     
     
         15 . The extendable swim platform of  claim 13 , wherein said extendable swim platform further comprises a retractable latter. 
     
     
         16 . The extendable swim platform of  claim 13 , wherein said extendable swim platform lowermost surface is disposed at an angle to the nominal waterline, said angle running along a longitudinal axis of said boat, and having a vertex in a forward direction such that the angle opens in an aft direction. 
     
     
         17 . The extendable swim platform of  claim 16 , wherein said extendable swim platform lowermost surface forms a planing surface with a surface of the water when said boat is motivated in a afterward direction as an aftermost portion of said boat hull begins to rotate downward towards the nominal waterline. 
     
     
         18 . The extendable swim platform of  claim 16 , wherein said extendable swim platform lowermost surface further comprises at least one anti-slap surface disposed at angle to a nominal surface of the water such that said extendable swim platform lowermost surface is not disposed in a plane that is parallel to the nominal surface of the water. 
     
     
         19 . The extendable swim platform of  claim 13  wherein said at least one actuator is selected from the group consisting of a hydraulic actuator, a pneumatic actuator and an electric actuator. 
     
     
         20 . The extendable swim platform of  claim 19 , wherein said at least one actuator is in communication with a controller operable to control the extension or retraction of said actuator.