Combination Pontoon Boat and Hovercraft

A combination floating pontoon boat and air-cushion supported hovercraft, comprising:

• a frame having a bottom;
• a plurality of pontoons pivotally and retractably mounted to the frame, the plurality of pontoons having a first pontoon position extending downward from the frame and a second pontoon position extending substantially laterally outward from said frame;
• a pivoting mechanism extending between said frame and each of said plurality of pontoons, said pivoting mechanism pivoting the plurality of pontoons between the first and second pontoon positions;
• a skirt attached to and extending from the frame, the skirt having a first skirt position being retracted against the bottom of the frame, the skirt having a second skirt position extending downward from the frame and forming an air-receiving pocket beneath the bottom of the frame;
• a deploying and retracting mechanism operatively connected to the skirt and the frame, said mechanism moving the skirt between the first and second skirt positions;
• a first power system adapted to move the frame through water when the plurality of pontoons are in the first pontoon position;
• a second power system adapted to drive air into the air-receiving pocket when the skirt is in the second skirt position, and said pontoons are in said second pontoon position, the second power system adapted to vertically lift the frame in a longitudinal direction when air is driven into said air-receiving pocket;
• and
• a third power system adapted to laterally move the frame through water when the plurality of pontoons are in the second pontoon position and the skirt is in the second skirt position.