Pontoon boat with folding accessories

Abstract

A pontoon boat having a pontoon deck mounted on a plurality of pontoons by deck support bracketing with a passenger region defined above the deck, the pontoon deck comprising a framework with decking thereon, the framework having an exterior rail extending about a periphery of the pontoon deck. The exterior rail and/or the deck support bracketing having a plurality of openings with accessory receptacles extending horizontally. One or more folding outboard accessories may be positioned “outboard” by inserting attachment portions of the accessories into one or more of the accessory receptacles. The accessories foldable and include seats and cooler supports. Such folding outboard accessories are removable from the accessory receptacles, foldable and stowable in the passenger region on the deck or folded to an upright position while remaining attached to the pontoon deck at the rub rail.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A pontoon boat comprising a pontoon deck mounted on a plurality of pontoons, with a passenger region defined above the pontoon deck, the pontoon deck comprising a framework with decking thereon, the framework having an peripheral deck rail extending about a periphery of the pontoon deck, the pontoon boat further comprising a plurality of pontoon deck accessory receptacles, each pontoon deck accessory receptacle extending in a starboard-port direction within the framework of the pontoon deck with an opening in the peripheral deck rail, the opening being at least one square inch in area, each pontoon deck accessory receptacle extending at least 12 inches into the framework of the pontoon deck from the peripheral deck rail. 
     
     
         2 . The pontoon boat of  claim 1 , wherein each receptacle extends through a plurality of bow-stern extending frame members of the framework. 
     
     
         3 . The pontoon boat of  claim 2 , wherein each receptacle comprises a tubular member supported by the plurality of bow-stern extending frame members, the tubular member extending at least 16 inches inwardly from the peripheral deck rail. 
     
     
         4 . The pontoon boat of  claim 1 , wherein each receptacle has an elongate open interior with an aspect ratio of length to minimal interior diameter of at least 10:1. 
     
     
         5 . The pontoon boat of  claim 1 , further comprising a folding outboard accessory for outboard attachment at the periphery of the pontoon deck of the pontoon boat. 
     
     
         6 . The pontoon boat of  claim 5  wherein the folding outboard accessory is selected from a set of: a seat, a ladder, a gang plank, a cooler receiver, and a table, and wherein the folding outboard accessory has a folded or collapsed configuration and a use configuration, the folding outboard accessory having at least one elongate anchoring portion conformingly configured for being received in one of the plurality of pontoon deck accessory receptacles. 
     
     
         7 . The pontoon boat of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one elongate anchoring portion is a pair of elongate anchoring portions, each elongate anchoring portion with a generally cylindrical exterior surface and having an aspect ratio of length to a maximum diameter of at least 10:1, each of the pair of elongate anchoring portions configured for being received in one of the plurality of accessory receptacles along the peripheral deck rail. 
     
     
         8 . The pontoon boat of  claim 7 , wherein the folding outboard accessory further comprises a plurality of collapsible or folding accessory members, the plurality of collapsible or folding accessory members configured to be assembled in the use configuration, one or more of the collapsible or folding accessory members pivotally connected to or connectable to each of the pair of elongate anchoring portions. 
     
     
         9 . The pontoon boat of  claim 7 , wherein the folding outboard accessory is an accessory that is positioned adjacent a pontoon of the plurality of pontoons of the pontoon boat, and wherein the folding outboard accessory has a pontoon engagement portion that engages a lateral surface of the pontoon of the plurality of pontoons. 
     
     
         10 . The pontoon boat of  claim 5 , wherein the folding outboard accessory is a seat with a pair of rigid frame seat sides, a back rest portion connecting to the pair of rigid frame seat sides, and a seat portion connected to the pair of rigid frame seat sides. 
     
     
         11 . The pontoon boat of  claim 10 , further comprising a pair of elongate anchoring portions configured for being received in one of the plurality of accessory receptacles along the peripheral deck rail and where the pair of elongate anchoring portions are pivotally attached to a respective one of the rigid frame seat sides. 
     
     
         12 . The pontoon boat of  claim 5 , wherein the folding outboard accessory is a cooler holder further comprising: a spanning rigid upper support attached to a pair of elongate anchoring portions, a downwardly extending support member, a horizontal cooler seating member, and a pair of side members. 
     
     
         13 . The pontoon boat of  claim 7 , wherein when the folding outboard accessory is in a folded state and the pair of elongate anchoring portions are received in respective ones of the pontoon deck accessory receptacles, the folding outboard accessory is stowable upright along fencing at the periphery of the pontoon deck. 
     
     
         14 . The pontoon boat of  claim 6 , wherein each of the at least one anchoring portion is sized for engaging retention within a respective accessory receptacle. 
     
     
         15 . A folding accessory for removable outboard attachment to a pontoon boat, comprising:
 An attachment portion for attachment to a plurality of accessory receptacles of the pontoon boat;   an accessory portion having a folded state and an unfolded state;   where the folding accessory is configured to be positioned outboard of a deck periphery and adjacent to a pontoon of the pontoon boat when the accessory portion is in the unfolded state; and   where the folding accessory is configured to be stored within a passenger region of the pontoon boat when the accessory portion is in the folded state.   
     
     
         16 . The folding accessory of  claim 15 , further comprising a pontoon engagement portion that engages a lateral surface of the pontoon. 
     
     
         17 . The folding accessory of  claim 15 , where the folding accessory is further configured to be stored in the folded state upright along a pontoon fencing of the pontoon boat. 
     
     
         18 . A pontoon boat, comprising:
 a plurality of pontoons;   a pontoon deck comprising a framework mounted on the plurality of pontoons; and   where the framework comprises a multiplicity of cross members arranged in a first direction;   where the framework further comprises a plurality of accessory receptacles that are supported by a plurality of receptacle frame members along a second direction relative to the framework; and   where at least one receptacle frame member is attached to at least one cross member of the multiplicity of cross members.   
     
     
         19 . The pontoon boat of  claim 18 , where the plurality of accessory receptacles further comprise a motorized mechanism configured to enable lateral positioning of an outboard accessory along the first direction, and where the first direction extends starboard to port. 
     
     
         20 . The pontoon boat of  claim 19 , wherein the pontoon boat further comprises a fencing that defines a passenger region and where the outboard accessory does not physically intrude into the passenger region of the pontoon boat.