Shallow Water Boat
OwnerTimothy L. Clanceyinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A shallow water boat is shown that operates well in both shallow water and deep water. A tunnel is provided along a centerline of a flat bottom, which tunnel starts near amidships increases in depth and terminates at the aft of the shallow water boat. A top of the tunnel has an S curve therein. A front end of the tunnel connects through a series of angled holes into a plenum via a conduit to atmosphere above the maximum water line of the shallow water boat. During shallow water operation, the motor is raised and the conduit is plugged so water flows through the tunnel to the propeller for the motor. During deep water operation, the motor is lowered and the conduit unplugged so that water does not flow through the tunnel.
Claims6
A shallow draft boat for alternatively operating at slower speeds in shallow water or at higher speeds in deep water, said shallow draft boat comprising:
- a hull having a bow and a transom aft, said hull having a generally flat bottom;
- an outboard motor mounted on said transom, said outboard motor having a raised operating condition and a lowered operating condition;
- a tunnel in said generally flat bottom starting near amidship and extending aft through said transom along a centerline of said shallow draft boat, said tunnel having a generally flat top with a S curve shape therein;
- a plenum above a forward end of said tunnel connecting via an upper opening to atmosphere;
- proliferation of angled openings from said plenum through said forward end of said tunnel to said shallow water or deep water;
- a plug for plugging said upper opening to prevent air flow therethrough;
- during operation of said shallow draft boat (a) in said shallow water, said outboard motor is in said raised operating condition and said plug plugging said upper opening and (b) in said deep water, said outboard motor is in said lowered operating condition and said plug is removed from said upper opening.
A method of operating a shallow water boat in either shallow water or in deep water;
- said shallow water boat having a hull with a bow, a transom aft and a generally flat bottom;
- a motor mounted on said transom with a raised operating condition and a lowered operating condition;
- a tunnel in said generally flat bottom starting near amidships extending along a centerline of said shallow water boat, increasing in depth and terminating aft through said transom, said tunnel having a S curve in a top thereof;
- a plenum above a forward end of said tunnel having numerous angled openings from said plenum into said tunnel;
- pluggable upper opening from said plenum to atmosphere;
- said method including the following steps;
- during operation in deep water by:
- (a) lowering said motor to said lowered operating condition, and
- (b) unplugging said pluggable upper opening;
- alternatively, during operation in shallow water:
- (a) raising said motor to said raised operating condition, and
- (b) plugging said pluggable upper opening.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.