Thruster system for a watercraft

Abstract

A pontoon is provided, comprising a plurality of pontoons. The plurality of pontoons may include a port-side pontoon, a starboard-side pontoon spaced from the port-side pontoon, and at least one a middle pontoon positioned intermediate the port-side pontoon and the starboard-side pontoon. A deck may be coupled to each of the port-side pontoon, the starboard-side pontoon, and the at least one middle pontoon. A manifold system may be positioned within the middle pontoon, and the manifold system may comprise a first portion including a first fluid conduit having an inlet in fluid communication with an exterior of the middle pontoon. The manifold system may further comprise a second portion removably coupled to the first portion and having a second fluid conduit positioned to receive fluid from the first fluid conduit. The manifold system may still further comprise a third portion including a third fluid conduit positioned to receive fluid from the second fluid conduit and having an outlet in fluid communication with the exterior of the middle pontoon. The second portion may be removably coupled to the third portion. Further, a motor may be coupled to the manifold system.

1 . A pontoon boat, comprising:
 a plurality of pontoons including:
 a port-side pontoon; 
 a starboard-side pontoon spaced from the port-side pontoon; 
 a middle pontoon positioned intermediate the port-side pontoon and the starboard-side pontoon; 
   a deck coupled to each of the port-side pontoon, the starboard-side pontoon, and the middle pontoon;   a manifold system positioned within the middle pontoon, the manifold system comprising a first portion including a first fluid conduit having an inlet in fluid communication with an exterior of the middle pontoon, a second portion removably coupled to the first portion and having a second fluid conduit positioned to receive fluid from the first fluid conduit, and a third portion including a third fluid conduit positioned to receive fluid from the second fluid conduit and having an outlet in fluid communication with the exterior of the middle pontoon, the second portion being removably coupled to the third portion; and   a motor coupled to the manifold system.   
     
     
         2 . The pontoon boat of  claim 1 , the manifold system further comprises:
 a fourth fluid conduit comprising a second outlet in fluid communication with the exterior of the middle pontoon;   a fifth fluid conduit positioned to receive fluid from the first fluid conduit and to provide fluid to the fourth fluid conduit;   a first fluid path including the first fluid conduit, the second fluid conduit, and the third fluid conduit; and   a second fluid path including the first fluid conduit, the fifth fluid conduit, and the fourth fluid conduit.   
     
     
         3 . The pontoon boat of  claim 2 , wherein the first portion has a first flange and the second portion has a second flange, and the first flange and the second flange are angled relative to a vertical plane extending orthogonal to a longitudinal centerline of the middle pontoon. 
     
     
         4 . The pontoon boat of  claim 3 , wherein the first flange has a first locating feature and the second flange has a second locating feature complementary to the first locating feature. 
     
     
         5 . The pontoon boat of  claim 2 , wherein the motor is coupled to the second portion. 
     
     
         6 . The pontoon boat of  claim 5 , wherein the middle pontoon further comprises a hatch having a first envelope defined by a perimeter of the hatch, and the second portion has a second envelope defined by an outer horizontal perimeter of the second portion, and the second envelope is smaller than the first envelope. 
     
     
         7 . The pontoon boat of  claim 1 , wherein the outlet is a first outlet and the motor is a first motor, and the manifold system further comprises a second outlet and a second motor coupled to the manifold system. 
     
     
         8 . The pontoon boat of  claim 1 , wherein the inlet is positioned along a longitudinal centerline of the middle pontoon. 
     
     
         9 . The pontoon boat of  claim 8 , wherein the outlet is laterally offset from the inlet. 
     
     
         10 . A pontoon boat, comprising:
 a plurality of pontoons, the plurality of pontoons defining a port side envelope of the plurality of pontoons and a starboard side envelope of the plurality of pontoons;   a deck supported by the plurality of pontoons, the deck having a deck outer perimeter;   a manifold assembly positioned within at least one pontoon of the plurality of pontoons, the manifold assembly positioned within the port side envelope, the starboard side envelope and the deck outer perimeter, the manifold assembly comprising:
 an inlet, a first outlet, and a second outlet each fluidly coupled to the exterior of at least one of the plurality of pontoons; 
 at least a first conduit defining at least a portion of a first fluid path between the inlet and the first outlet; 
 at least a second conduit defining at least a portion of a second fluid path between the inlet and the second outlet; 
 a first motor operatively coupled to the first conduit, the first motor configured to propel a fluid along the first fluid path; and 
 a second motor operatively coupled to the second conduit, the second motor configured to propel the fluid along the second fluid path. 
   
     
     
         11 . The pontoon boat of  claim 10 , wherein the pontoon boat comprises a lateral centerline, and the inlet is positioned closer to the lateral centerline than the first outlet. 
     
     
         12 . The pontoon boat of  claim 10 , wherein the inlet is positioned along a longitudinal centerline of the at least one pontoon. 
     
     
         13 . The pontoon boat of  claim 10 , wherein the inlet, the first outlet, and the second outlet are positioned to be below a water line of the pontoon boat when the pontoon boat is sitting stationary in the body of water and to remain submerged when the pontoon boat is running at speed. 
     
     
         14 . The pontoon boat of  claim 10 , wherein the manifold assembly is positioned within the deck outer perimeter. 
     
     
         15 . The pontoon boat of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of pontoons includes a port-side pontoon, a starboard-side pontoon, and a central pontoon, and the manifold assembly is positioned in the central pontoon, and the first outlet is configured to direct the fluid underneath the port-side pontoon and the second outlet is configured to direct the fluid underneath the starboard-side pontoon. 
     
     
         16 . A pontoon boat, comprising:
 a plurality of pontoons;   a deck supported by the plurality of pontoons, the deck having an outer perimeter and at least one access opening spaced apart from the outer perimeter and providing access to a top of at least one of the plurality of pontoons; and   a thruster system including at least one water inlet in the at least one of the plurality of pontoons, a plurality of water outlets in the at least one of the plurality of pontoons, and at least one motor positioned within an interior of the at least one of the plurality of pontoons, the at least one motor being removable through the at least one access opening in the deck.   
     
     
         17 . The pontoon boat of  claim 16 , wherein the thruster system includes a first fluid conduit in fluid communication with a first water inlet of the thruster system and a first water outlet of the thruster system, the first fluid conduit including a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion spaced apart from the first portion, the second portion being removably coupled to the first portion and the third portion. 
     
     
         18 . The pontoon boat of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one motor is coupled to the second portion and the at least one motor and the second portion are removable through the at least one access opening in the deck as a unit. 
     
     
         19 . The pontoon boat of  claim 18 , wherein the first portion of the first fluid conduit has a first flange, the second portion of the first fluid conduit has a second flange, and the thruster system includes a plurality of fasteners which couple the first flange of the first portion to the second flange of the second portion, each of the first flange and the second flange are angled relative to vertical. 
     
     
         20 . The pontoon boat of  claim 17 , wherein the first portion of the first fluid conduit has a first flange, the second portion of the first fluid conduit has a second flange, and the thruster system includes a plurality of fasteners which couple the first flange of the first portion to the second flange of the second portion, each of the first flange and the second flange are angled relative to vertical.