INFLATABLE HULL STRUCTURE AND METHOD OF FORMING AN INFLATABLE BOAT HULL

摘要

An inflatable boat includes a bottom structure made up of two or more inflated bottom tubes. Each bottom tube extends along the longitudinal axis of the boat from the stern end of the boat to the bow end of the boat. The bottom tubes are arranged side-by-side along at least a portion of their length, and when in an inflated condition, may directly provide a portion of the hull surface for the boat or at least support further components which provide portions of the hull surface. A front end of preferably each bottom tube is raised vertically relative to a back end of the respective bottom tube at the stern of the boat, and the relative size and/or position of the bottom tubes may be selected to define a desirable hull profile for the boat such as a V-shaped hull profile.

主权项

1. An inflatable boat including:
(a) a peripheral tube structure including a right side tube and a left side tube which, in an inflated condition, define right and left sides of the boat, respectively, and each extend along a longitudinal axis of the boat from a stern end of the boat to a bow end of the boat, and meet at the bow end of the boat; and (b) two or more bottom tubes which, in an inflated condition, define a bottom support structure of the boat extending laterally across the space between the right side tube and left side tube, each bottom tube extending along the direction of the longitudinal axis of the boat with a front end of each bottom tube raised vertically relative to a back end of the respective tube at the stern end of the boat, the bottom tubes residing side-by-side along at least a portion of their length to form the bottom support structure.