Pontoon boat with hull extension

Abstract

One or more hull extensions extend aft of the transom plane and at least one beyond the aftmost point of one or more outboard engines on a three hulled pontoon boat providing hydrostatic flotation and support for hydrodynamic surfaces aft of the transom plane and support for additional functional space aft of the transom plane.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pontoon boat comprising:
 one or more transoms supporting at least one outboard engine; and   one or more hull extensions extending the corresponding pontoon hulls from the aft of the one or more transoms to the aft of an aftmost point of the at least one outboard engine,   the one or more hull extensions comprising:
 an area configured to provide additional buoyancy below the waterline of the pontoon boat. 
   
     
     
         2 . The pontoon boat of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more hull extensions begin as a continuation of corresponding hulls forward of the one or more transoms. 
     
     
         3 . The pontoon boat of  claim 1 , wherein the pontoons hulls comprise a port hull, a starboard hull, and center hull with centerlines parallel to each other. 
     
     
         4 . The pontoon boat of  claim 3 , wherein the deck is above at least 50% of the hull length of one or more of the port hull, the starboard hull, or the center hull. 
     
     
         5 . The pontoon boat according to  claim 3 , wherein the one or more transoms support at least two outboard engines on either side of the center hull, and wherein the center hull is extended aft of the aftmost point of the at least two outboard engines. 
     
     
         6 . The pontoon boat according to  claim 3 , wherein the one or more transoms support at least two outboard engines mounted on the same plane between the port hull and starboard hull, and wherein the port hull and starboard hulls are extended aft of the aftmost point of the at least two outboard engines. 
     
     
         7 . The pontoon boat according to  claim 3 , wherein:
 the one or more transoms are arranged substantially on a plane and support at least two outboard engines between the port hull and the starboard hull,   each of the port hull, the starboard hull, and the center hull being extended aft of the transom plane, and   at least one of the port hull, the starboard hull, or the center hull is extended aft of the aftmost point of the at least two outboard engines.   
     
     
         8 . The pontoon boat according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more hull extensions comprise hydrodynamic surfaces. 
     
     
         9 . The pontoon boat according to  claim 8 , wherein the hydrodynamic surfaces comprise lifting strakes. 
     
     
         10 . The pontoon boat according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more transoms support at least two outboard engines, and wherein the one or more hull extensions provide a support for a deck or platform between the at least two outboard engines. 
     
     
         11 . The pontoon boat according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more hull extensions provide support for a deck or a platform outboard of the at least one outboard engine. 
     
     
         12 . A buoyancy system for a water vessel, the system comprising:
 one or more transoms configured to support at least one outboard engine;   a port pontoon hull, a starboard pontoon hull, and a center pontoon hull with centerlines parallel to each other; and   at least one hull extension extending the corresponding pontoon hull from the aft of the one or more transoms to the aft of an aftmost point of the at least one outboard engine and comprising an area configured to provide additional buoyancy to the water vessel.   
     
     
         13 . The buoyancy system according to  claim 12 , wherein the one or more transoms support at least two outboard engines on either side of the center hull, and wherein the center hull is extended aft of the aftmost point of the at least two outboard engines. 
     
     
         14 . The buoyancy system according to  claim 12 , wherein the one or more transoms support at least two outboard engines mounted on the same plane between the port hull and starboard hull, and wherein the port hull and starboard hulls are extended aft of the aftmost point of the at least two outboard engines. 
     
     
         15 . The buoyancy system according to  claim 12 , wherein:
 the one or more transoms are arranged substantially on a plane and support at least two outboard engines between the port hull and the starboard hull,   each of the port hull, the starboard hull, and the center hull being extended aft of the transom plane, and   at least one of the port hull, the starboard hull, and the center hull being extended aft of the aftmost point of the at least two outboard engines.   
     
     
         16 . The buoyancy system according to  claim 12 , wherein the at least one hull extension comprises hydrodynamic surfaces. 
     
     
         17 . The buoyancy system according to  claim 16 , wherein the hydrodynamic surfaces comprise lifting strakes. 
     
     
         18 . The buoyancy system according to  claim 12 , wherein the at least one hull extension provides support for a deck or a platform. 
     
     
         19 . A method of manufacturing a pontoon boat comprising:
 mounting on a frame of the pontoon boat, one or more transoms configured to support at least one outboard engine;   mounting on the frame, a port pontoon hull, a starboard hull, and a center pontoon hull with centerlines parallel to each other, wherein at least one of the pontoon hull comprises,
 a hull extension extending the corresponding pontoon hull from the aft of the one or more transoms to the aft of an aftmost point of the at least one outboard engine and comprising an area configured to provide additional buoyancy to the pontoon boat. 
   
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , further comprising:
 providing hydrodynamic surfaces on the hull extension.