# US 10,308,320 B1 · Extendable multihull boat > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,308,320 B1 - Document ID: US10308320B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 15/953,487 - Filed: 2018-04-15 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2012-12-14 - Assignees: Quadratoon Company LLC - Applicants: Quadratoon Company LLC - Inventors: Michael Timothy O'Neal; Blaine Lawson; Michael Thomas Farmer - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10308320B1 ## CPC - B63B 1/14: the hulls being interconnected resiliently {or having means for actively varying hull shape or configuration (collapsible, foldable, inflatable or like vessels B63B7/00)} - B63B 29/02: Cabins or other living spaces; Construction or arrangement thereof - B63B 35/38: Rigidly-interconnected pontoons - B63B 3/48: Decks (planking B63B5/06) - B63B 35/34: Pontoons (floating bridges E01D15/14) - B63B 35/613: with tubular shaped flotation members - B63B 2001/145: {having means for actively varying hull shape or configuration} - B63B 2007/006: {comprising nestable elements} - B63B 2029/022: {Bathing platforms} - B63B: SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING (arrangements of vessel ventilation, heating, cooling, or air-conditioning B63J2/00; floating substructures as supports of dredgers or soil-shifting machines E02F9/06) ## Abstract A lower deck for a watercraft is attached to and supported by an amidships hull, and an actuator slides the lower deck and amidships hull between a stowed position and an extended position on rails that are secured to the underside frame of the upper deck that is supported by abeam hulls. When fully extended, the lower deck remains attached to the watercraft while a portion of the lower deck's aft section remains beneath the upper deck. A hold within the amidships hull can store accessories used with the watercraft, such as live wells, tables, seats, a foldable slide and ladder assembly, and other items which can be accessed and deployed when the lower deck is extended. The holds are covered by panels which may be individual separable panels, a foldable set of connected panels, or laterally expandable panels. The lower deck can have foldable handrails and recessed cup holders. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An extendable multihull boat, comprising: an upper deck extending from a bow to a stern and having an underside frame; a pair of abeam hulls located beneath the upper deck and fixedly connected to the underside frame of the upper deck; a pair of longitudinally elongated guide rails positioned between the abeam hulls beneath the upper deck and fixedly connected to at least one of the underside frame of the upper deck and the abeam hulls; a lower deck located below the underside frame of the upper deck between the abeam hulls, wherein the lower deck longitudinally translates relative to the upper deck, the abeam hulls, and the elongated guide rails between a stowed position and a fully extended position, wherein the lower deck is positioned beneath the upper deck in the stowed position, and wherein a forward section of the lower deck extends forward of the bow of the upper deck in the fully extended position while at least a portion of an aft section of the lower deck remains underneath the upper deck in the fully extended position; an amidships hull located beneath the lower deck and fixedly attached to the lower deck through a plurality of fasteners, wherein the amidships hull is longitudinally arranged between the abeam hulls and longitudinally translates with the lower deck relative to the upper deck, the abeam hulls, and the elongated guide rails between the stowed position and the fully extended position, wherein the fasteners hold the amidships hull in a fixed position relative to the lower deck when the amidships hull and the lower deck are in the stowed position and in the fully extended position, and wherein the amidships hull provides buoyant support to the lower deck in the stowed position and in the fully extended position; and an actuator fixedly connected to the underside frame of the upper deck at an aft actuator end and fixedly connected to at least one of the lower deck and the amidships hull at a forward actuator end, wherein the actuator moves the lower deck and the amidships hull between the stowed position and the fully extended position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The extendable multihull boat of claim 1, wherein more than one half of the lower deck extends forward of the bow of the upper deck in the fully extended position. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The extendable multihull boat of claim 1, wherein the amidships hull and the lower deck have a maximum range of travel between the stowed position and the fully extended position no greater than a length of the elongated guide rails. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The extendable multihull boat of claim 1, wherein the lower deck is comprised of a plurality of panels, wherein at least one of the panels has a closed position and an open position, wherein the amidships hull is further comprised of a storage hold, and wherein the closed position and the open position of the panels respectively covers and reveals the storage hold. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The extendable multihull boat of claim 4, wherein the storage hold contains at least one of a live well, a table, a stool, a grill, a hammock, an umbrella, and a fishing seat, and wherein the lower deck is further comprised of at least one bracket to secure at least one of the table, the stool, the grill, the hammock, the umbrella, and the fishing seat. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The extendable multihull boat of claim 4, wherein the storage hold contains at least one of foldable slide and ladder assembly and a volleyball net and pole assembly, and wherein at least one of the deck and the storage hold further comprise a bracket to secure at least one of the foldable slide and ladder assembly and the volleyball net and pole assembly. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The extendable multihull boat of claim 1, wherein the actuator is comprised of at least one of a centerline actuator and a pair of side actuators, and wherein the amidships hull is comprised of at least one of a center pontoon, a pair of spaced apart pontoons, and a monohull. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The extendable multihull boat of claim 1, wherein at least one of the lower deck and the amidships hull further comprises a ladder having a retracted position and an extended position, and wherein the lower deck is further comprised of a plurality of recessed cup holders. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The extendable multihull boat of claim 1, wherein at least one of the lower deck and the amidships hull further comprises a railing having a retracted position and an extended position. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The extendable multihull boat of claim 1, further comprising a gate rotatably connected to and positioned within the amidships hull, wherein the gate moves with the amidships hull between the stowed position and the fully extended position, wherein the gate rotates at a proximal section between a raised position and a lowered position, and wherein a distal section of the gate extends below a bottom side of the amidships hull in the lowered position. ### Claim 11 An extendable multihull boat, comprising: an upper deck extending from a bow to a stern and having an underside frame; a pair of abeam hulls located beneath the upper deck and fixedly connected to the underside frame of the upper deck; a pair of longitudinally elongated guide rails positioned between the abeam hulls beneath the upper deck and fixedly connected to at least one of the underside frame of the upper deck and the abeam hulls; a lower deck located below the underside frame of the upper deck between the abeam hulls, wherein the lower deck longitudinally translates relative to the upper deck, the abeam hulls, and the elongated guide rails between a stowed position and a fully extended position, wherein the lower deck is positioned beneath the upper deck in the stowed position, wherein the lower deck is comprised of a plurality of panels, wherein at least one of the panels has a closed position and an open position, and wherein a forward section of the lower deck extends forward of the bow of the upper deck in the fully extended position while at least a portion of an aft section of the lower deck remains underneath the upper deck in the fully extended position; an amidships hull located beneath the lower deck and fixedly attached to the lower deck through a plurality of fasteners, wherein the amidships hull is comprised of a monohull with a storage hold and is longitudinally arranged between the abeam hulls and longitudinally translates with the lower deck relative to the upper deck, the abeam hulls, and the elongated guide rails between the stowed position and the fully extended position, wherein the fasteners hold the amidships hull in a fixed position relative to the lower deck when the amidships hull and the lower deck are in the stowed position and in the fully extended position, wherein the amidships hull provides buoyant support to the lower deck in the stowed position and in the fully extended position, and wherein the closed position and the open position of the panels respectively covers and reveals the storage hold; and an actuator fixedly connected to the underside frame of the upper deck at an aft actuator end and fixedly connected to at least one of the lower deck and the amidships hull at a forward actuator end, wherein the actuator moves the lower deck and the amidships hull between the stowed position and the fully extended position. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The extendable multihull boat of claim 11, wherein the storage hold contains a live well, and at least one of a table, a stool, and a fishing seat, and wherein the lower deck is further comprised of at least one bracket to secure at least one of the table, the stool, and the fishing seat. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The extendable multihull boat of claim 11, wherein the storage hold contains a foldable slide and ladder assembly, and wherein at least one of the deck and the storage hold further comprise a bracket to secure the foldable slide and ladder assembly. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The extendable multihull boat of claim 11, wherein at least one of the lower deck and the amidships hull further comprises a ladder having a retracted position and an extended position. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The extendable multihull boat of claim 11, wherein the lower deck is further comprised of a plurality of recessed cup holders located below the upper deck. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The extendable multihull boat of claim 11, further comprising a gate rotatably connected to and positioned within the amidships hull, wherein the gate moves with the amidships hull between the stowed position and the fully extended position, wherein the gate rotates at a proximal section between a raised position and a lowered position, and wherein a distal section of the gate extends below a bottom side of the amidships hull in the lowered position. ### Claim 17 An extendable multihull boat, comprising: an upper deck extending from a bow to a stern and having an underside frame; a pair of abeam hulls located beneath the upper deck and fixedly connected to the underside frame of the upper deck; a pair of longitudinally elongated guide rails positioned between the abeam hulls beneath the upper deck and fixedly connected to at least one of the underside frame of the upper deck and the abeam hulls; a lower deck located below the underside frame of the upper deck between the abeam hulls, wherein the lower deck longitudinally translates relative to the upper deck, the abeam hulls, and the elongated guide rails between a stowed position and a fully extended position, wherein the lower deck is positioned beneath the upper deck in the stowed position, and wherein a forward section of the lower deck extends forward of the bow of the upper deck in the fully extended position while at least a portion of an aft section of the lower deck remains underneath the upper deck in the fully extended position; an amidships hull located beneath the lower deck and fixedly attached to the lower deck through a plurality of fasteners, wherein the amidships hull is longitudinally arranged between the abeam hulls and longitudinally translates with the lower deck relative to the upper deck, the abeam hulls, and the elongated guide rails between the stowed position and the fully extended position, wherein the fasteners hold the amidships hull in a fixed position relative to the lower deck when the amidships hull and the lower deck are in the stowed position and in the fully extended position, and wherein the amidships hull provides buoyant support to the lower deck in the stowed position and in the fully extended position; and an actuator fixedly connected to the underside frame of the upper deck at an aft actuator end and fixedly connected to at least one of the lower deck and the amidships hull at a forward actuator end, wherein the actuator moves the lower deck and the amidships hull between the stowed position and the fully extended position. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The extendable multihull boat of claim 17, wherein at least one of the lower deck and the amidships hull further comprises a ladder having a retracted position and an extended position, and wherein the lower deck is further comprised of a plurality of recessed cup holders located below the upper deck. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The extendable multihull boat of claim 17, wherein the lower deck is comprised of a plurality of panels, wherein at least one of the panels has a closed position and an open position, wherein the amidships hull is further comprised of a storage hold, and wherein the closed position and the open position of the panels respectively covers and reveals the storage hold. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The extendable multihull boat of claim 16, further comprising a gate rotatably connected to and positioned within the amidships hull, wherein the gate moves with the amidships hull between the stowed position and the fully extended position, wherein the gate rotates at a proximal section between a raised position and a lowered position, and wherein a distal section of the gate extends below a bottom side of the amidships hull in the lowered position.