Pontoon boat with slide-out compartment

Abstract

A pontoon boat includes first and second pontoons, a frame supported by the pontoons, and a deck supported by the frame, and a slide-out compartment above the deck. The slide-out compartment includes a movable section movably supported by first and second fixed sections. The first and second fixed sections are supported by the frame. The movable section is movable between a first or retracted position in which the movable section is relatively near an interior region of the pontoon boat and a second or extended position in which the movable section is relatively far from the interior region of the pontoon boat. In the first position, the movable section occludes a portion of the deck. In the second position, the movable section does not occlude the portion of the deck.

1 . A pontoon boat comprising:
 a first pontoon;   a second pontoon;   a frame connected to and supported by the first and second pontoons;   a deck supported by the frame, the deck defining an interior region of the pontoon boat; and   a slide-out compartment, the slide-out compartment comprising:
 a first fixed section attached to the frame; 
 a second fixed section attached to the frame; and 
 a movable section slidingly supported by the first and second fixed sections, 
   wherein the movable section is selectively movable between a first position in which the movable section is disposed relatively near the interior region of the pontoon boat and substantially between the first and second fixed sections, and a second position in which the movable section is disposed relatively far from the interior region of the pontoon boat and is at least partially outboard of the first and second fixed sections.   
     
     
         2 . The pontoon boat of  claim 1 , wherein the slide-out compartment further comprises:
 a first slide mechanism connected between the first fixed section and the movable section second; and   a second slide mechanism connected between the second fixed section and the movable section.   
     
     
         3 . The pontoon boat of  claim 1 , wherein the first slide mechanism comprises a fixed rail connected to the first fixed section and a movable rail connected to the movable section. 
     
     
         4 . The pontoon boat of  claim 1 , wherein the slide-out compartment further comprises:
 a travel limiter configured to limit travel of the movable section with respect to the first fixed section in at least one of a direction toward the interior region of the pontoon boat and a direction away from the interior region of the pontoon boat.   
     
     
         5 . The pontoon boat of  claim 4 , wherein the travel limiter comprises:
 a first stop block connected to one of the first fixed section and the movable section; and   a stop arm connected to the other of the first fixed section and the movable section.   
     
     
         6 . The pontoon boat of  claim 5 , wherein the travel limiter further comprises:
 a second stop block connected to one of the first fixed section and the movable section.   
     
     
         7 . The pontoon boat of  claim 1  further comprising a travel lock configured to inhibit movement of the movable section with respect to the first fixed section. 
     
     
         8 . The pontoon boat of  claim 1 , wherein the slide-out compartment further comprises:
 a prime mover connected between the movable section and one of the first fixed section and the second fixed section.   
     
     
         9 . The pontoon boat of  claim 8 , wherein the prime mover further is connected between the movable section and the other of the first fixed section and the second fixed section. 
     
     
         10 . The pontoon boat of  claim 8 , wherein the slide-out compartment further comprises:
 a second prime mover connected between the movable section and the other of the first fixed section and the second fixed section.   
     
     
         11 . The pontoon boat of  claim 8  wherein the prime mover is a telescopic actuator. 
     
     
         12 . The pontoon boat of  claim 8 , further comprising a control system configured to control operation of the prime mover. 
     
     
         13 . The pontoon boat of  claim 12 , wherein the control system comprises an interlock configured to inhibit operation of the pontoon boat under power if the movable section is not in the first position. 
     
     
         14 . The pontoon boat of  claim 1 , wherein the movable section occludes a portion of the deck when the movable section is in the first position, and wherein the movable section does not occlude the portion of the deck when the movable section is in the second position. 
     
     
         15 . The pontoon boat of  claim 1 , wherein the movable section comprises a floor, wherein the floor occludes a portion of the deck when the movable section is in the first position, and wherein the floor does not occlude the portion of the deck when the movable section is in the second position. 
     
     
         16 . The pontoon boat of  claim 1  wherein the movable section comprises a bench. 
     
     
         17 . The pontoon boat of  claim 16  wherein the bench is convertible between a deployed configuration and a stowed configuration. 
     
     
         18 . The pontoon boat of  claim 17 ,
 wherein the bench comprises a seat, a backrest, and a kick,   wherein the seat is pivotable with respect to the backrest between a seating orientation in which the seat is generally perpendicular to the backrest and a stowed orientation in which the seat is generally parallel to the backrest, and   wherein the kick is pivotable with respect to the seat between a first position in which the kick is generally perpendicular to the seat and a second position in which the kick is generally parallel to the seat.   
     
     
         19 . A pontoon boat comprising:
 a first pontoon;   a second pontoon;   a frame connected to and supported by the first and second pontoons;   a deck supported by the frame, the deck defining an interior region of the pontoon boat, and   a slide-out compartment, the slide-out compartment comprising:
 a first fixed section supported by the frame; 
 a second fixed section supported by the frame; and 
 a movable section slidingly supported by the first and second fixed sections, 
   wherein the movable section is selectively movable between a first position in which the movable section is disposed relatively near the interior region of the pontoon boat, and a second position in which the movable section is disposed relatively far from the interior region of the pontoon boat,   wherein the movable section comprises a floor, wherein the floor occludes a portion of the deck when the movable section is in the first position, and wherein the floor does not occlude the portion of the deck when the movable section is in the second position,   wherein the movable section further comprises a bench,   wherein the bench is convertible between a deployed configuration and a stowed configuration,   wherein the bench comprises a seat, a backrest, and a kick,   wherein the seat is pivotable with respect to the backrest between a seating orientation in which the seat is generally perpendicular to the backrest and a stowed orientation in which the seat is generally parallel to the backrest, and   wherein the kick is pivotable with respect to the seat between a first position in which the kick is generally perpendicular to the seat and a second position in which the kick is generally parallel to the seat.   
     
     
         20 . The pontoon boat of  claim 19 , wherein the seat occludes a portion of the floor when the convertible bench is in the first position and wherein the sat does not occlude the portion of the floor when the convertible bench is in the second position.