IN-WATER BOAT WASH SYSTEM

Abstract

An in-water boat wash system includes pontoons constructed to float in a body of water in a spaced apart arrangement. A frame is attached to the pontoons such that the frame extends down and away from the pontoon into the body of water when in use. A tank is attached to or supported by the frame. A brush assembly is attached to the pontoon such that the brush assembly extends away from the pontoon into the body of water, the brush assembly shaped to clean the exterior of a boat. A nozzle assembly is attached to the pontoons such that the nozzle assembly extends away from the pontoon into the body of water, the nozzle assembly shaped to clean the exterior of the boat.

Claims

1. An in-water boat wash system comprising: pontoons constructed to float in a body of water; a frame constructed to attach to the pontoons such that the frame extends down and away from the pontoon into the body of water; a tank constructed to attach to the frame; a brush assembly constructed to attach to the pontoon such that the brush assembly extends away from the pontoon into the body of water, the brush assembly shaped to clean the exterior of a boat; and a nozzle assembly constructed to attach to the pontoon such that the nozzle assembly extends away from the pontoon into the body of water, the nozzle assembly shaped to clean the exterior of the boat.

2. The in-water boat system of claim 1, wherein the frame is constructed to hold wiring.

3. The in-water boat wash system of claim 1, further comprising: an actuator constructed to be pivotably attached to the pontoon; an arm constructed to be moved by the actuator, wherein the arm is configured to contact an exterior of a boat to secure a boat in place.

4. The in-water boat wash system of claim 1, further comprising: a bar configured to be attached to a bottom side of the tank; and a piston configured to be attached to the bar, the piston being configured to raise the tank above a water level.

5. The in-water boat wash system of claim 1, further comprising a side brush configured to be attached to the pontoon, wherein the side brush is shaped and arranged to clean the exterior of a boat above water.

6. The in-water boat system of claim 1, further comprising: a second pontoon constructed to float in the body of water; wherein the frame is constructed to attach to the second pontoon such that the frame extends away from the second pontoon into the body of water.

7. The in-water boat wash system of claim 6, further comprising: a first gate door configured to be pivotably attached to the pontoon; and a second gate door configured to be pivotably attached to the second pontoon; wherein the first and second gate doors are shaped to meet and close an entrance to the tank.

8. The in-water boat wash system of claim 7, further comprising: a kiosk configured to be in electronic communication with the first and second gate doors, the brush assembly, and the nozzle assembly.

9. The in-water boat wash system of claim 8, further comprising a sensor arranged and configured to detect a boat, wherein the sensor is in electronic communication with the kiosk.

10. The in-water boat wash system of claim 6, further comprising: a railing configured to attach to a top side of the pontoon and the second pontoon; and a roof supported by the railing.

11. The in-water boat wash system of claim 10, further comprising a solar panel on the roof.

12. The in-water boat wash system of claim 1, further comprising: an intake port on a bottom side of the debris tank configured to be in fluid communication with a filter, wherein the filter is configured to remove debris from water; a discharge port on the pontoon configured to discharge filtered water from the filter; a discharge line configured to receive debris from the filter.

13. The in-water boat system of claim 12, further comprising a discharge tank constructed to receive and hold debris from the discharge line.

14. The in-water boat system of claim 12, further comprising an oil separator tank.

15. A pontoon comprising: outer walls defining an inner space; and a deck that divides the inner space into a first section and a second section.

16. The pontoon of claim 15, wherein the second section is constructed to be filled with a buoyant substance.

17. The pontoon of claim 15, wherein the outer walls are shaped as a rectangular prism.

18. The pontoon of claim 15, further comprising a space adjacent to the first and second section on the side, wherein the space is constructed to be filled with a buoyant substance.

19. The pontoon of claim 15, further comprising an access hatch on the outer walls arranged to allow access to the first section.

20. The pontoon of claim 15, further comprising: a solar panel on an upper wall of the outer walls; and a battery in the first section, the battery being configured to be charged by the solar panel.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0040] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an in-water boat wash system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0041] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the in-water boat wash system of FIG. 1.

[0042] FIG. 3 is a top plan view of an in-water boat wash system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0043] FIG. 4 illustrates an in-water boat wash system with a railing, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0044] FIG. 5 illustrates a side perspective view of an in-water boat wash system submerged in a body of water, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0045] FIG. 6 illustrates a pontoon, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0046] FIG. 7 illustrates a side view of a boat was system for use on a boat ramp, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0047] The figures depict various embodiments of the present disclosure for purposes of illustration only. Numerous variations, configurations, and other embodiments will be apparent from the following detailed discussion.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0048] The present disclosure is directed to an in-water boat wash system and method of use. The system includes pontoons constructed to float in a body of water in a spaced-apart configuration. Each pontoon can include outer walls that define an inner space and a partition that divides the inner space into a first section and a second section. The second section can be configured to be filled with a buoyant substance, such as air or foam. A frame is constructed to extend away from each pontoon into the body of water so that the frame attaches between and connects the pontoons. A tank is constructed to attach to the frame. A brush assembly is constructed to attach to the pontoons such that the brush assembly extends between the pontoons in the body of water. The brush assembly is also shaped to clean a boat hull, such as a V-hull. A nozzle assembly is constructed to attach to the pontoons and extend away from the pontoon into the body of water. The nozzle assembly is shaped to clean the exterior of the boat.

[0049] In some embodiments, the entire system floats on the water. In other embodiments, the frame is anchored to the ground in the body of water. In yet other embodiments, the system is configured for use on a boat ramp. Numerous variations and embodiments will be apparent in light of the present disclosure.

Overview

[0050] Fouling occurs when organic particles such as bacteria or plant matter from a body of water accumulate on the exterior of a boat. If fouling is not removed, it can allow invasive species and harmful microorganisms to travel on the exterior of the boat to different parts of a body of water or to another body of water that a user takes the boat to. This is harmful to these aquatic environments as invasive species and undesirable microorganisms are allowed to spread.

[0051] A user can clean the exterior of the boat by hand using a washing mitt or cloth, but this can be difficult and time consuming. Additionally, if fouling is left to accumulate over a period of time, it can become strongly attached to the exterior of a boat and difficult to remove by hand. The user may be required to use a pressure washer or other tool to remove the fouling. In either case, the cleaning process is manual and requires undesirable labor. Existing cleaning processes also require a user to remove the boat from the water which takes away from the time that the boat can be used and enjoyed in the water. For these reasons, a user may forget or neglect to clean the exterior of the boat and allow fouling to accumulate. Accumulated fouling can lead to negative environmental impacts as mentioned above. Accumulated fouling can also lead to damage to the exterior of a boat. Additionally, accumulated fouling can increase the drag on the exterior of a boat when used in water, leading to increased fuel consumption.

[0052] In light of the foregoing challenges, a need exists for an improved system for boat washing. The present disclosure addresses this need and others by providing an in-water boat wash system. In some embodiments, the in-water boat wash system enables automatic washing and filtration of the water used to wash the boat so as to remove particles greater than a predefined size, such as 5 microns. As such, the system can be useful to remove invasive species from the hull of a boat and aid in preventing the spread of such plant life from one location to another. In some embodiments, the system can be powered by solar panels. Numerous variations and embodiments will be apparent from the present disclosure.

Example Embodiments

[0053] FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of an in-water boat wash system 100 and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a boat was system 100, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. The boat wash system 100 includes pontoons 120 supported on a support structure or frame 104, and a tank 106 between the pontoons 102, among other components. Pontoons 102 are constructed to float in a body of water in a spaced-apart, parallel orientation so that the pontoons 102 define a support structure for the system 100 on a body of water. The pontoons 102 can be made of aluminum, steel, or polyurethane, for example. The pontoons 102 can have welded seams. The welded seams can allow the pontoons 102 to be watertight so that they remain afloat.

[0054] A frame 104 is constructed to extend downward and away from each of the pontoons 102 into the body of water. In some embodiments, the frame 104 includes a plurality of vertical support posts that extend vertically downward from each pontoon 102. The posts can extend to the ground, to footings, or can simply extend downward into the water to guide and contain the tank 106. In some embodiments, the frame 104 includes lateral sections that extend between and connect the vertical support posts and to generally define a U-shape below the spaced-apart pontoons 102. The frame 104 can be welded to the pontoons 102. Alternately, the frame 104 can be attached to the pontoons 102 with fasteners such as bolts or screws. The pontoons 102 can have brackets that are constructed to attach the frame 104 to the pontoons 102. In some embodiments, two or more distinct frames 104 can be attached to each pontoon 102. In some embodiments, the frame 104 can be constructed to define passageways for wiring, such as an opening or channel near the center of the frame 104. Such wiring channels can be used to connect power wires or low voltage communication wires. In one embodiment, a first end of the frame 104 is constructed to attach to one pontoon 102, and a second end of the frame 104 is constructed to attach to a second pontoon 102. In some embodiments, the frame 104 can define a rectangular profile, a V-shaped profile, or a U-shaped profile that is below the pontoons 102.

[0055] A basin or tank 106 is constructed to attach to be at least partially contained within the frame 104. The tank 106 can be made of a polymer. The tank 106 can be attached to the frame 104 with fasteners such as bolts or screws. The tank 106 can be constructed to keep water from inside the tank 106 from flowing into the body of water surrounding the tank 106. In some embodiments, the tank 106 has a bottom surface 106a that rests on the lateral sections of the frame 104 and includes sidewalls 106b that extend vertically up from the bottom surface 106a. Ends of the tank 106 can be selectively closed by doors 118 that swing open and closed. In the closed position, the doors 118 contain a volume of water used for a wash cycle and separate that water from the surrounding environment.

[0056] A brush assembly 108 is constructed to be attached to the pontoons 102 such that the brush assembly extends downward and away from the pontoons 102 and into the tank 106. The brush assembly 108 can be attached by welding or fasteners such as bolts or screws. The brush assembly 108 is shaped to clean the exterior of a boat hull that is submerged in the body of water. The brush assembly 108 can include a frame that one or more rotating brushes can be attached to. The frame can be shaped so that the brushes on the frame align with the shape of the boat hull in the in-water boat wash system 100. In one embodiment, the brush assembly 108 includes side brushes and a bottom brush for flat-bottom boats. In another embodiment, the brush assembly 108 includes brushes selected to conform to a V-hull or the like. In some embodiments, each of the rotating brushes has a diameter of at least 36 inches. The brush assembly 108 can engage and clean a boat hull by moving along a travel rail 109 along each of the pontoons 102 that guides longitudinal movement of the brush assembly 108 in a direction parallel to the pontoons 102 so as to clean a bottom of a boat.

[0057] A nozzle assembly 110 is provided in the tank 106 and includes a plurality of nozzle heads to direct pressurized water at the boat hull. The nozzle assembly 110 can include a frame that one or more nozzles can be attached to. The frame can be shaped so that the flow of water from the nozzles on the frame is directed at the exterior of a boat in the in-water boat wash system 100. In some embodiments, the nozzle assembly 110 is conformable so that it can take the shape of a boat hull. In some embodiments, the nozzle assembly 110 generally follows the profile of the tank 106. The nozzle assembly 110 can include two or more nozzle portions, each of which is configured to direct pressurized water towards a specific portion of a boat 500.

[0058] In some embodiments, the pontoons 102 define one or more access hatches 302. In some embodiments, a solar panel 205 can be attached to one or both pontoons 102.

[0059] The boat wash system includes arms 114 with contact pads 116 at the end of each arm 114, where the arms can be moved by way of an actuator 112. In use, arms 114 extend to engage a boat 500 located in the tank 106. Actuators 112 move the arms 114 to center and align the boat 500 in the tank 106, such as with the boat's keel aligned along the center of the tank 106.

[0060] FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the in-water boat wash system 100, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. An actuator 112 can be pivotably attached to the pontoon 102. An arm 114 can be moved by the actuator 112. When the actuator 112 is actuated, it can move the arm 114 away from the pontoon 102 and towards a boat hull. The arm 114 can have an end configured as a contact pad 116 that is constructed to contact the boat hull. In some embodiments, the contact pad 116 is constructed to hold a boat in place without causing damage to the exterior of the boat. The contact pad 116 can include a soft coating such as rubber foam and/or cloth. A pressure sensor can also be included in the contact pad 116 to ensure that the exterior surface of the boat 500 is being held with an appropriate amount of pressure to keep the boat in place, but without causing damage to the exterior.

[0061] The in-water boat wash system 100 can include one or more rotating brushes 128 attached to the pontoons 102, to the tank, or to the frame 104. For example, rotating brushes 128 extend up from the bottom of the tank 106. Each rotating brush 128 can be shaped and arranged to clean the exterior of a boat above water. Each brush 128 can improve cleaning of the water scrum line.

[0062] One or more doors 118, such as a pair of gate doors 118, can extend between and are pivotably attached to the spaced-apart pontoons 102. For example, gate doors 118 can be pivotably attached to the pontoons 102 by hinges. The gate doors 118 can be made of polypropylene, fiberglass, aluminum, or steel. The gate doors 118 are shaped to come together when closed and close an entrance to the tank 106 and provide little or no exchange of water through the doors 118. In a closed position, the gate doors 118 can extend at angle of 20-60 degrees, such as 45 degrees, from respective ends of the pontoons 102. Alternatively, in a closed position, the gate doors 118, 120 can extend perpendicularly the pontoons 102. The gate doors 118 can each have a seal at the end where the gate doors 118 meet. The seal can be made of rubber. The gate doors 118 can use a hydraulically or pneumatically operated opening mechanism so that the doors 118 can be opened remotely by a user. In other embodiments, the system 100 can have a single gate door 118 at each end of the system, namely, at an entrance and at an exit.

[0063] A kiosk 130 can be configured to be in electronic communication with gate doors 118, the brush assembly 108, and the nozzle assembly 110. The kiosk 130 can use an RFID system or a mobile app configured so that a user can start the washing process remotely. The kiosk 130 can communicate with the hydraulically or pneumatically operated opening mechanism of the gate doors 118 to open or close the gate doors 118 when a user starts or stops the washing process. The kiosk 130 can communicate with the brush assembly 108 and the nozzle assembly 110 to start operation of the brush assembly 108 and nozzle assembly 110 after a boat has entered the tank 106 and all doors 118 are closed.

[0064] A sensor 132 can be arranged and configured to detect a boat in the tank 106 of the boat wash system 100. The sensor can be located on one or both pontoons 102. The sensor 132 can be located on a side of the pontoon 102 where the boat enters the in-water boat wash system 100. The sensor can communicate with the kiosk 130 by wired or wireless means. The sensor 132 can be configured to measure a dimension of a boat such as the length or width of the vessel. The sensor 132 can be configured to detect a position of the boat within the in-water boat wash system 100, such as a distance from each of the pontoons 102. The kiosk 130 can be configured to stop operation of the boat wash system 100 if the boat is not positioned correctly to be washed by the brush assembly 108 and/or the nozzle assembly 110.

[0065] FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of an boat wash system 100 with a railing 202 on top of the pontoons 102, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The railing 202 can be configured to attach to a top side of one or both pontoons 102. The railing 202 can be attached to an outer edge of the pontoon 102. The railing 202 can be four feet in height or other suitable height. In one embodiment, the railing 202 has circular brackets configured to receive posts that will be removable to support a roof 204. In one example, the roof 204 can be eight feet off of deck on exterior sides that are bent to an angle of 0-45 degrees. The roof 204 can also include a solar panel 205 used to power, at least in part, the wash system 100. In one example, a solar battery bank with inverter can be held in one or both of the pontoons 102. One or both pontoons 102 can also be configured to hold washing equipment, hydraulic equipment, and power distribution panels. Pontoons 102 can be charged using power hookups on land and can also be configured to operate from an on-land power supply by means of a NFPA 72 connection.

[0066] FIG. 5 illustrates an end view of an in-water boat wash system 100 submerged in a body of water together with a boat 500, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The tank 106 can have one or more intake ports 206 on a bottom portion of the tank 106. The intake ports can be configured to be in fluid communication with a filter 208. The filter system 208 can be configured to remove debris from the water received by the intake port 206. Debris can be bacteria, plant matter, animal waste, other organic matter in a body of water, or non-organic particles in a body of water. The filter system 208 can be configured to filter particles greater than 5 microns from a body of water. The filter system 208 can be a remote-located model that is configured to handle a high flow rate, such as about 20,000 to 160,000 gallons of water wash cycle in about 15 minutes. An oil separator tank 216 can also be included in the filter system 208. A discharge port 210 on the pontoon can be configured to discharge filtered water from the filter system 208 back into the tank 106. A discharge line 212 can be configured to receive debris from the filter system 208. The discharge line can be connected to a discharge tank 214. The discharge tank 214 can be constructed to receive and hold debris from the discharge line 212. The discharge tank 214 can then be emptied by a pump-out vessel or a commercial sewage company. Alternatively, the discharge line 212 can be constructed to connect to a sewage system or leach field after water travels through the oil separator tank 216.

[0067] Beams 124 can extend longitudinally along a bottom side of the tank 106. A piston 126 can be configured to attach each beam 124. The piston(s) 126 can be configured to raise the tank 106 above the water level of a body of water by pushing upwards on the beam 124. The tank can include two or more beams 124 and the pistons 126 can lift the tank 124 up so that the top 106a of the tank 106 is out of the water. Alternately, the pistons 126 can raise the tank 106 so it is completely out of the water. In one embodiment, after a boat 500 enters the wash system 100, pistons 126 raise the tank 124 to enclose the boat 500 and water 510 surrounding the boat, thereby separating the volume of water 510 immediately surrounding the boat 500 from the remaining body of water. During the wash cycle, water from within the tank 106 is filtered by the filter system 208. After completing a wash cycle, the tank 106 lowers, by action of the pistons 126, to allow the boat 500 to pass freely to the body of water.

[0068] FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of a pontoon 102, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The pontoon 102 can include outer walls 300 that define an inner volume 304. In one example, the pontoon 102 can be four feet in width and/or four feet in height. The pontoon 102 can be twenty, thirty, forty feet, fifty, fifty-five, sixty, or seventy feet long, for example. The pontoon 102 can be shaped as a rectangular prism. A cross section of a bottom section of the pontoon 102 can be V-shaped in some embodiments. In other embodiments, the pontoon 102 has a cylindrical geometry. The outer walls 300 can be made of aluminum, steel, or polypropylene, for example. The outer walls 300 can have welded seams. A partition 306 can divide the inner volume 304 into a first section 308 and a second section 310. The first section 308 can be arranged to be above the second section 310. The first section 308 can be constructed to hold equipment such as hydraulic equipment for the brush assembly 108, and pumps for the nozzle assembly 110. The second section can be configured as a sealed air chamber for flotation and/or for operation of pneumatic systems, or configured to contain waste tanks, in some embodiments. The bow and stern portions of the pontoon 102 can include foam or other buoyant material for purposes of flotation.

[0069] A solar panel 314 can be included on a top of the pontoon 102. The first section 308 can be constructed to hold a battery 316 for the solar panel 314 or 205. The partition 306 can form a floor of the first section 308 and can be constructed to hold equipment such as hydraulic equipment for the brush assembly 108 or the nozzle assembly 110, or a battery 316 for a solar panel 314 or 205, or shore power hookups. An access hatch 302 can be arranged on the outer wall 300 to allow access to the first section 308. The hatch 302 can be water-tight to allow equipment to be stored inside the pontoon.

[0070] The second section 310 can be constructed to be filled with a buoyant substance, such as air or foam. A buoyant substance is one that will allow the pontoon to float in water when used to fill a section of the pontoon. The second section 310 can be airtight to prevent air or gas from escaping. The second section 310 can be watertight to prevent water from entering. A side space 312 can be included adjacent to the first and second sections. The side space 312 can be constructed to be filled with a buoyant substance. The side space 312 can be airtight to prevent air or gas from escaping. The side space 312 can be watertight to prevent water from entering.

[0071] FIG. 7 illustrates a side view of a boat wash system 100 configured for use on a boat ramp 550, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. In this example, a front or uphill side of the boat wash system 100 remains open so that a trailered boat can be placed into the tank. The downhill side of the boat wash system 100 includes one or more doors 118 that can open to close the volume of water 510 in the tank 106 to the outside water 511. Instead of floating pontoons, the boat wash system 100 can use pontoon-like structures to store mechanical components of the system, such as pumps, electrical connections, hydraulics, and pneumatic systems.

[0072] In use, the captain can enter the boat wash system 100 located on a boat ramp 550. After the boat is in the tank 106, the boat wash system 100 begins operation to clean the hull of the boat 500. A trailer can then be backed into the tank 106 to load the boat 500, which is now clean of aquatic life, dirt, and the like.

[0073] In a method of using an in-water boat wash 100, gates of the system open to allow a boat to enter the tank. After the boat proceeds into the tank and has cleared the open door, the doors close to define a closed volume of water in the tank. Arms extend to engage the boat hull and align the boat with the tank 106. In some embodiments, arms communicate with the system to determine position and pressure applied to the boat hull. After closing the gates, the filtration system starts and rotating brushes begin to rotate. In some embodiments, the nozzle assembly sprays the bottom of the boat in conjunction with rotating brushes engaging the boat. A pump system exchanges the volume of water in the tank, filtering particles and solids from the water that have a size greater than a predefined threshold size, such as 5 microns. In some embodiments, the filtration system takes in water at or near the bottom of the tank 106 and returns water back into the tank after passing through a filter. In some embodiments, the wash cycle includes injecting a cleaning material (e.g., soap, chemicals, herbicide) into the return water stream. Optionally, the system is equipped with a pressure washing nozzle that is available to the user to spray other portions of the boat that are not accessed by the nozzle assembly and brush assembly. Optionally, the system includes a vacuum available to the user for cleaning the top and inside of the boat. At the completion of the wash cycle, the filter system ramps down (e.g., to 5% water flow) or shuts off completely, the arms retract from the sides of the boat, and the exit gates open to allow the boat to exit the tank. The captain may be signaled to enter, wait, and/or exit at various portions of the wash cycle.

FURTHER EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

[0074] Example 1 is a boat wash system comprising pontoons constructed to float in a body of water, a frame constructed to attach to the pontoons such that the frame extends down and away from the pontoons, and a tank constructed to be retained by the frame. A brush assembly is constructed to attach to the pontoon such that the brush assembly extends away from the pontoon into the body of water, where the brush assembly is shaped to clean the exterior of a boat. A nozzle assembly is constructed to attach to the pontoon such that the nozzle assembly extends away from the pontoon into the body of water, the nozzle assembly shaped to clean the exterior of the boat.

[0075] Example 2 includes the boat wash system of Example 1, wherein the frame is constructed to hold wiring.

[0076] Example 3 includes the boat wash system of Example 1 and further comprises an actuator constructed to be pivotably attached to the pontoon and an arm constructed to be moved by the actuator, wherein the arm is configured to contact an exterior of a boat to secure a boat in place.

[0077] Example 4 includes the boat wash system of Example 1 and further comprises a bar configured to be attached to a bottom side of the tank and a piston configured to be attached to the bar, the piston being configured to raise the tank above a water level.

[0078] Example 5 includes the boat wash system of Example 1, further comprising a side brush configured to be attached to the pontoon, wherein the side brush is shaped and arranged to clean the exterior of a boat above water.

[0079] Example 6 includes the boat wash system of Example 1 and further comprises a second pontoon constructed to float in the body of water, wherein the frame is constructed to attach to the second pontoon such that the frame extends away from the second pontoon into the body of water.

[0080] Example 7 includes the boat wash system of Example 6 and further comprises a first gate door configured to be pivotably attached to the pontoon and a second gate door configured to be pivotably attached to the second pontoon. The first and second gate doors are shaped to meet and close an entrance to the tank.

[0081] Example 8 includes the boat wash system of Example 7 and further comprises a kiosk configured to be in electronic communication with the first and second gate doors, the brush assembly, and the nozzle assembly.

[0082] Example 9 includes the boat wash system of Example 8 and further comprises a sensor arranged and configured to detect a boat, wherein the sensor is in electronic communication with the kiosk.

[0083] Example 10 includes the boat wash system of any of the foregoing Examples and further comprises a railing configured to attach to a top side of the pontoon and the second pontoon, and a roof supported by the railing.

[0084] Example 11 includes the boat wash system of Example 10, further comprising a solar panel on the roof.

[0085] Example 12 includes the boat wash system of any one of the foregoing examples and further comprises an intake port on a bottom side of the debris tank configured to be in fluid communication with a filter, wherein the filter is configured to remove debris from water. A discharge port is on the pontoon configured to discharge filtered water from the filter. A discharge line configured to receive debris from the filter.

[0086] Example 13 includes the boat wash system of Example 12 and further comprises a discharge tank constructed to receive and hold debris from the discharge line.

[0087] Example 14 includes the boat wash system of Example 12 or 13 and further comprises an oil separator tank.

[0088] Example 15 is a pontoon comprising outer walls defining an inner volume and having a partition that divides the inner space into a first section and a second section.

[0089] Example 16 includes the pontoon of Example 15, wherein the second section is constructed to be filled with a buoyant substance.

[0090] Example 17 includes the pontoon of Example 15, wherein the outer walls are shaped as a rectangular prism.

[0091] Example 18 includes the pontoon of Example 15 and further defines a space adjacent to the first and second section on the side, wherein the space is constructed to be filled with a buoyant substance.

[0092] Example 19 includes the pontoon of Example 15 and further comprises an access hatch on the outer walls arranged to allow access to the first section.

[0093] Example 20 includes the pontoon of Example 15 and further comprises a solar panel on an upper wall of the outer walls and a battery in the first section, the battery being configured to be charged by the solar panel.