Collapsible catamaran

A collapsible water craft having adjacent juxtaposed hulls with opposing upright side surfaces, comprising:

• at least one folding mechanism comprising a pair of overlapped cross-linked top and bottom beams disposed between and pivotally connecting to the opposing upright side surfaces of said adjacent juxtaposed hulls, whereby folding of the beams in scissors fashion moves the hulls together while maintaining them upright to collapse the water craft to a smaller width;
• a mast carried by the folding mechanism so as to remain upright during collapse of the water craft;
• and
• lines connecting the mast to said cross-linked beams to substantially maintain tension on the mast as the water craft is collapsed.

A collapsible water craft having adjacent juxtaposed hulls with opposing upright side surfaces, comprising:

• at least one folding mechanism comprising a pair of overlapped cross-linked top and bottom beams disposed between and pivotally connecting to the opposing upright side surfaces of said adjacent juxtaposed hulls, whereby folding of the beams in scissors fashion moves the hulls together while maintaining them upright to collapse the water craft to a smaller width;
• a mast carried by the folding mechanism so as to remain upright during collapse of the water craft;
• and
• a pair of cross-linked overlapped forward bow beams arranged so as to rise at an increasing angle to the water craft as the water craft collapses.

A collapsible water craft having adjacent juxtaposed hulls with opposing upright side surfaces, comprising:

• at least one folding mechanism comprising a pair of overlapped cross-linked top and bottom beams disposed between and pivotally connecting to the opposing upright side surfaces of said adjacent juxtaposed hulls, whereby folding of the beams in scissors fashion moves the hulls together while maintaining them upright to collapse the water craft to a smaller width;
• a mast carried by the folding mechanism so as to remain upright during collapse of the water craft;
• and
• opposed elongate channels formed in the opposing surfaces of said hulls allowing clearance for movement of the outer edges of the cross-linked beams when the beams are folded.

A collapsible water craft having adjacent juxtaposed hulls with opposing upright side surfaces, comprising:

• at least one folding mechanism comprising a pair of overlapped cross-linked top and bottom beams disposed between and pivotally connecting to the opposing upright side surfaces of said adjacent juxtaposed hulls, whereby folding of the beams in scissors fashion moves the hulls together while maintaining them upright to collapse the water craft to a smaller width;
• and
• a mast carried by the folding mechanism so as to remain upright during collapse of the water craft;
• wherein each of the beams is pivotally connected to a respective hull and has a free end formed with a tongue, a section of each beam adjacent its pivotal connection being formed with a groove shaped to receive the tongue of the other beam.

A collapsible water craft, comprising:

• aft and fore tandem folding mechanisms, each comprising a pair of overlapped cross-linked top and bottom beams joined about a pivot joint and disposed between and pivotally connecting to the opposing upright surfaces of adjacent juxtaposed hulls, whereby folding of the beams in scissors fashion moves the hulls together to collapse the water craft to a smaller width;
• each of the beams being pivotally connected to a respective hull, each having a free end formed with a tongue, a section of each beam adjacent its pivotal connection being formed with a groove shaped to receive the tongue of the other beam;
• a center beam disposed between and pivotally connecting the aft and fore folding mechanisms;
• a deck between the aft and fore folding mechanisms;
• opposed elongate C-shaped channels formed in the opposing surfaces of said hulls allowing clearance for movement of the outer edges of the cross-linked beams when the beams are folded;
• a mast carried by the pivot joint of the fore folding mechanism so as to remain upright during collapse of the water craft;
• lines connecting the mast to said cross-linked beams to substantially maintain tension on the mast as the water craft is collapsed;
• and
• shrouds connecting the mast to opposite sides of the water craft to enable the mast to be secured in a upright position when the water craft is fully collapsed.

A collapsible water craft having adjacent juxtaposed hulls with opposing upright side surfaces, comprising:

• at least one folding mechanism comprising a pair of overlapped cross-linked top and bottom beams disposed between and pivotally connecting to the opposing upright side surfaces of said adjacent juxtaposed hulls, whereby folding of the beams in scissors fashion moves the hulls together while maintaining them upright to collapse the water craft to a smaller width;
• a pair of cross-linked overlapped forward bow beams arranged so as to rise at an increasing angle to the water craft as the water craft collapses;
• and
• a line connecting said mast to said forward bow beams.