DUAL STEERING SYSTEM AND RELATED BOAT

Abstract

A dual steering system and related boat are disclosed herein. The dual steering system includes a lower steering station including a frame extending from the main deck, and a lower control console disposed on and attached to the frame; and an upper steering station including a support having at least a first surface elevated above the main deck and behind the lower control console, a superstructure including an opening extending through bottom and top surfaces of the superstructure and that aligns with the first surface of the support, an upper control console arranged above and behind the lower control console, wherein the first surface of the support is arranged for a person to stand on the first surface in an elevated position above and behind the lower control console and in a position to operate the upper control console.

Claims

1. A boat comprising: a hull at least partially covered by a main deck; a lower steering station located on the main deck, the lower steering station comprising a frame extending from the main deck and a lower control console disposed on and attached to the frame; a support being arranged on the main deck and having at least a first surface elevated above the main deck and behind the lower control console toward an aft side of the hull; a superstructure comprising a bottom surface and an opposing top surface, wherein the bottom surface of the superstructure is attached to the frame above the lower control console and an opening extends through the bottom and top surfaces of the superstructure and aligns with the first surface of the support; and an upper steering station comprising an upper control console disposed on and attached to the top surface of the superstructure, the upper control console arranged above and behind the lower control console toward the aft side of the hull, wherein the first surface of the support is arranged for a person to stand on the first surface in an elevated position above and behind the lower control console while surrounded by the opening and in a position to operate the upper control console.

2. The boat of claim 1, further comprising a cover arrangeable over the opening in the superstructure.

3. The boat of claim 1, wherein the support comprises a second surface arranged below and in front of the first surface, the second surface of the support being arranged for the person to sit on the second surface and in a position to operate the lower control console disposed on and attached to the frame.

4. The boat of claim 1, further comprising pipework including two poles extending in parallel to one another from the main deck or the support and to the superstructure, wherein the pipework comprises at least one step extending between the two poles to allow the person to climb onto the first surface therefrom.

5. The boat of claim 1, wherein a perimeter of the top surface of the superstructure is at least partially surrounded by a railing.

6. The boat of claim 5, wherein a rocket launcher is attached or coupled to a portion of the railing.

7. The boat of claim 6, wherein the rocket launcher is attached or coupled to the portion of the railing that is behind the opening toward the aft side of the hull.

8. The boat of claim 1, wherein the upper control console of the upper steering station comprises one or more peripheral accessories including one or more of a display, an on/off switch, a navigation system, electronic control components, a steering element, engine throttle control, and any combination thereof.

9. The boat of claim 1, further comprising an engine in communication with the lower control console and the upper control console.

10. The boat of claim 9, wherein the boat is configured to be controlled by either the lower control console or the upper control console upon receipt of an operational control signal at the engine from one of the lower control console and the upper control console.

11. The boat of claim 1, further comprising an upper seat with a bottom portion movable relative to a top portion between an open position that allows for sitting thereon and a closed position that allows for standing on the first surface in which the bottom portion is moved adjacent to the top portion.

12. A dual steering system for a boat, the dual steering system comprising: a lower steering station located on a main deck of the boat, the lower steering station comprising: a frame extending from the main deck, and a lower control console disposed on and attached to the frame; and an upper steering station comprising: a support being arranged on the main deck and having at least a first surface elevated above the main deck and behind the lower control console toward an aft side of a hull of the boat, a superstructure comprising a bottom surface and an opposing top surface, wherein the bottom surface of the superstructure is attached to the frame above the lower control console and an opening extends through the bottom and top surfaces of the superstructure and aligns with the first surface of the support, an upper control console disposed on and attached to the top surface of the superstructure, the upper control console arranged above and behind the lower control console toward the aft side of the hull, wherein the first surface of the support is arranged for a person to stand on the first surface in an elevated position above and behind the lower control console while surrounded by the opening and in a position to operate the upper control console.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising a cover arrangeable over the opening in the superstructure.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the support comprises a second surface arranged below and in front of the first surface, the second surface of the support being arranged for the person to sit on the second surface and in a position to operate the lower control console disposed on and attached to the frame.

15. The system of claim 12, further comprising pipework including two poles extending in parallel to one another from the main deck or the support and to the superstructure, wherein the pipework comprises at least one step extending between the two poles to allow the person to climb onto the first surface therefrom.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein a perimeter of the top surface of the superstructure is at least partially surrounded by a railing.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein a rocket launcher is attached or coupled to a portion of the railing.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the rocket launcher is attached or coupled to the portion of the railing that is behind the opening toward the aft side of the hull.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein the upper control console of the upper steering station comprises one or more peripheral accessories including one or more of a display, an on/off switch, a navigation system, electronic control components, a steering element, engine throttle control, and any combination thereof.

20. The system of claim 12, further comprising an upper seat with a bottom portion movable relative to a top portion between an open position that allows for sitting thereon and a closed position that allows for standing on the first surface in which the bottom portion is moved adjacent to the top portion.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0029] Having thus described the disclosure in the foregoing general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:

[0030] FIG. 1 illustrates a port side view of a boat including operators at a lower steering station and an upper steering station according to an example embodiment of the of the present disclosure;

[0031] FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of a dual steering system on a boat with operators at a lower steering station and an upper steering station according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0032] FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of a dual steering system on a boat without operators at a lower steering station and an upper steering station according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0033] FIGS. 4A-4C illustrate various views of a dual steering system on a boat without operators at a lower steering station and an upper steering station according to another example embodiment of the present disclosure; and

[0034] FIGS. 5A-5B illustrate an upper bolster forming a seat in a down position and separately in a closed position, respectively, for a dual steering system on a boat according to a further example embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0035] The present disclosure will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof. These exemplary embodiments are described so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the disclosure to those skilled in the art. Any elements of these exemplary embodiments may be combined or excluded to form additional embodiments, though those are not discussed in detail herein. Indeed, the disclosure may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. As used in the specification, and in the appended claims, the singular forms a, an, the, include plural variations unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. In the figures, the forward, aft, port, and starboard directions are indicated for reference. Lengthwise shall mean a direction that is parallel to the forward and aft direction as indicated in the figures of the drawings.

[0036] As described hereinafter, the present disclosure relates to a boat, and specifically, a dual steering system for a boat. As used herein, a dual steering system refers to at least two separate steering stations on the boat, where one of the steering stations is elevated relative to the other steering station(s). There may be just two steering stations, though the present disclosure contemplates a multiple steering system where there are three, four, five, six, seven, or more steering stations. One of the steering stations may be considered a primary steering station where primary or master controls are arranged. Such a primary steering station may be either a lower steering station or an upper steering station. The other steering station(s) may be considered a secondary steering station with secondary controls that do not provide as full control over the boat as the primary controls. The secondary steering station may be the other of the upper steering station or the lower steering station. Regardless, the upper steering station may be elevated above and set back behind the lower steering station to allow for visibility for both operators at each steering station. However, each of the steering stations may also have the same controls, such that the boat may be controlled equally fully at either station.

[0037] In this regard, FIG. 1 illustrates, for example, a boat or watercraft 100 according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure. The boat 100 may include a hull 102 at least partially covered by a main deck 103, one or more engines 104, which may be inboard or outboard, a lower steering station 105, and an upper steering station 106. As may be understood, the particular configuration of the boat 100 may vary, e.g., may not be a center console watercraft as depicted in FIG. 1. Thus, it should be understood that the size, shape, arrangement, and configuration of the boat itself and/or the components of the boat may vary without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

[0038] As noted hereinabove, FIG. 1 depicts a center console fishing boat, though the boats or watercraft contemplated by this disclosure may be any type of vessel capable of traversing a body of water. In particular, the boat contemplated by the present disclosure is one where having an elevated, upper steering station may be beneficial, such as, for example, in sport fishing, where it is desirable to be able to steer the boat from an elevated position to observe fishing conditions in the water ahead. However, other reasons for utilizing an elevated, upper steering station, such as, for example, family excursions, are contemplated herein. Other style boats are also contemplated by this disclosure, such that the upper steering station and other components related thereto are not limited in use to a center console boat, such as that described in FIG. 1.

[0039] The one or more engines 104 shown in FIG. 1, may be a standard outboard engine unit including various, commonly known elements such, as for example, an engine, a gearbox, and a propeller, which power and steer the boat. However, the one or more engines 104 may also include an inboard engine unit mounted inside the hull, for example. Such an inboard engine may turn a drive shaft that runs through a bottom of the hull 102 and is attached to a propeller at the other end. Regardless of whether the engine is an inboard or outboard engine, the engine may generally include an electronic control unit (ECU) (not shown) that receives operational control signals and controls the operations performed by the engine 104 in response to the received operational control signals. The operations include, for example, operational controls with inputs from the dual steering system. Such operational includes include changing the speed, changing the steering direction, adjusting the power output, adjusting the trim, or the like. Manipulation of one of the sets of operational controls may be converted to an operational control signal, which is transferred over a communication network (not shown in FIG. 1) to the engine. The ECU of the engine 104 converts the operational control signals to actuation commands within the engine 104, and the engine 104 changes operational conditions in response to the actuation commands. One example of operational controls is described in more detail in U.S. Pat. No. 7,108,570 to Okuyama, incorporated by reference in its entirety herein.

[0040] The dual steering system described herein includes the lower steering station 105 and the upper steering station 106. The lower steering station 105 is generally located toward a center of the main deck 103. As used herein, toward a center means substantially centrally located on the main deck 103 between forward and aft, and between starboard and port. However, the lower steering station 105 may be located in any region of the main deck 103, below the main deck 103, or even elevated slightly above the main deck 103, such that the present invention is not limited to a boat where the lower steering station 105 is located toward the center of the main deck. The lower steering station 105 may comprise a frame 107 extending from the main deck 103 and a lower control console 108 (FIGS. 2 and 3) disposed on and attached to the frame 107.

[0041] In the example embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the frame 107 may be attached to the main deck 103 in any number of ways known in the art, such as, for example, by welding. The frame 107 may form an open cockpit, with two vertical side portions and a forward portion arranged therebetween, where the forward portion forms a glass windscreen 109. In this way, an operator may stand in an open portion of the cockpit created between the vertical side portions and the forward portion, at the lower control console 108 of the lower steering station 105 and view the waters ahead through the glass windscreen 109. The operator may choose to either stand or sit at the lower control console 108 to operate the boat 100. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the operator is shown as standing at the lower control console 105 to operate the boat 100. In another example, not shown, the operator may sit at the lower control console 105 to operate the boat 100 using a seat formed by a support 110 arranged on the main deck 103 behind the lower control console 108 and toward an aft side of the hull 102. The support 110 may be attached to the main deck 103 in any number of ways known in the art, such as, for example, by welding, bolting, and the like. In this way, the support 110 may be permanently attached to the main deck 103, though the support 110 may also be removable therefrom, e.g., by unscrewing the support. The seat may be formed by a surface (i.e., a second surface 111) of the support 110 extending toward the lower control console 108, and if the operator chooses to stand instead of sit, the operator may stand in front of the seat and operate the boat 100 from the lower control console 108 (as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2). The second surface 111 of the support is in this way arranged for the person to sit on the second surface 111 and in a position to operate the lower control console 108 disposed on and attached to the frame 107.

[0042] The lower control console 108 may comprise one or more peripheral accessories not explicitly called out in the figures, but present nonetheless, and including one or more of a display, an on/off switch, a navigation system, electronic control components, a steering element, engine throttle control, and any combination thereof for operating the boat 100. The electronic control components may include at least one of a control unit, a control system selector (i.e., selection between the lower steering station 105 and the upper steering station 106). These components are used to operate the boat 100. For example, operation of the on/off switch sends one or more operational control signals to the ECU of the engine 104 to start and stop the engine 104. Operation of the engine throttle control, e.g., a throttle/shift lever, sends one or more operational control signals to the ECU of the engine 104 to control whether the boat advances (moves forward) or reverses (moves backward) and to control the speed of the boat 100. Operation of the steering element sends one or more operational control signals to the ECU of the engine 104 to control the direction of the thrust generated by the propulsion device (e.g., the propeller) to control whether the boat 100 continues along a current path or deviates to the left or the right. Operation of the control system selector advantageously enables the foregoing set of controls at whichever, if any, steering station is designated a primary control station. Consequently, when the control system selector is operated, the boat 100 may be maneuvered or otherwise controlled by an operator at the lower steering station 105, which may be designated as the primary steering station.

[0043] A superstructure or roof structure 112 may be installed over the frame 107. The superstructure 112 may be comprised of a carbon epoxy, or any other suitable material, and may comprise a bottom surface 113 and an opposing top surface 114, wherein the bottom surface 113 of the superstructure 112 is attached to the frame 107 above the lower control console 108. The superstructure 112 may be a structural base upon which the upper steering station 106 is securely affixed by any means known in the art for affixing a cover, or hard top, to a watercraft. Such means for securely affixing a cover or hard top to a watercraft include but are not limited to bolting, integrated fiberglass structural elements that are connected by chemical bonding, or any other known attachment means. In this manner, the superstructure 112 may be arranged over the frame 107 such that at least the top surface 114 of the superstructure 112 is substantially elevated over and parallel to the water.

[0044] The upper steering station 106 may, in some example embodiments, be attached to the top surface 114 of the superstructure 112 and arranged above and behind the lower control console 108 toward the aft side of the hull 102 as shown in FIG. 1. Similar to the superstructure 112, the upper steering station 106 may be attached to the watercraft 100 by, for example, welding, bolting, integrated fiberglass structural elements that are connected by chemical bonding, or any other known attachment means, to the top surface 114 of the superstructure 112 or otherwise to the frame 107. A perimeter of the top surface 114 of the superstructure 112 may be at least partially surrounded by a railing 115, similarly welded, bolted, integrated, or connected by any other means to the top surface 114 of the superstructure 112. The railing 115 may at least partially surround an opening 116 extending through the bottom and top surfaces 113, 114 of the superstructure 112 and aligning with a first surface 117 of the support 110 elevated above the main deck 103. The support may be arranged for a person to stand on the first surface 117 in an elevated position above and behind the lower control console 108 toward the aft side of the hull 102 and while surrounded by the opening 116.

[0045] The opening 116 may be arranged such that it is totally or only partially surrounded by the top surface 114 of the superstructure 112. For example, the opening 116 may be totally surrounded by the top surface 114 of the super structure 112 as shown in FIG. 1. Alternatively, the opening 116 may only be partially surrounded by the top surface 114 of the superstructure 112, such that the opening 116 is formed as a cut-out or notch formed in the top surface 114 of the super structure 112. Regardless of the arrangement of the opening 116 in the superstructure 112, the support 110 may be aligned with the opening 116 so that a person may stand on the first surface 117 in the elevated position above and behind the lower control console 108 toward the aft side of the hull 102 and while either partially or totally surrounded by the opening 116.

[0046] The support 110 is thus so configured, in this embodiment, that the second surface 111 is arranged below and in front of the first surface 117, such that when the person stands on the first surface 117 of the support 110 they are behind the second surface 111 and do not interfere with visibility of an operator operating the boat 100 at the lower control console 108. At least one step 118 may be arranged on the support 110 toward the aft side to allow the person to climb onto the first surface 117 of the support without interfering with any operator at the lower control console 108. The step 118 may enable an easy transition from the main deck 103 to the first surface 117. As shown in FIG. 1, for example, the at least one step 118 is arranged as tubing affixed behind the first surface 111 of the support and below the second surface 117. Any number of additional steps may also be included, or a built in ladder may also be used. this manner, the person may step onto the step 118 and then the first surface 117 of the support 110 without interfering with operator visibility at the lower control console 108, such that a first operator may stand or sit at the lower control console 108 and a second operator may stand at the upper control console without interfering with visibility out the windscreen for the first operator. In this manner, the support 110 provides the dual function of acting as the seat support for an operator at the lower steering station 105 and the standing support for an operator at the upper steering station 106, without impacting visibility for either operator. Such a dual purpose reduces the number of components needed on the boat, which thus aids in reducing overall weight of the boat and fuel useage.

[0047] Alternatively, instead of the step 118, an automated lift, not shown, may lift an operator from the main deck 103 to the upper steering station 106 so that operators of differing abilities may be able to operate the boat 100 from the upper steering station 106.

[0048] Similar to the lower steering station 105, the upper steering station 106 may comprise an upper control console 119 that enables an operator to operate the boat 100 from the upper control console 119, as the first surface 117 of the support is in this way arranged for the person to stand on the first surface 117 in a position in an elevated position to operate the upper control console 119 disposed on and attached to the top surface 114 of the superstructure 112. The upper control console 119 may comprise one or more peripheral accessories not explicitly called out in the figures, but present nonetheless. These peripheral accessories may duplicate those peripheral accessories of the lower control console 108, and including one or more of a display, an on/off switch, a navigation system, electronic control components, a steering element, engine throttle control, and any combination thereof for operating the boat 100. The electronic control components may include at least one of a control unit, a control system selector (i.e., selection between the lower steering station 105 and the upper steering station 106). These components are used to operate the boat 100. For example, operation of the on/off switch sends one or more operational control signals to the ECU of the engine to start and stop the engine 104. Operation of the engine throttle control, e.g., a throttle/shift lever, sends one or more operational control signals to the ECU of the engine 104 to control whether the boat advances (moves forward) or reverses (moves backward) and to control the speed of the boat 100. Operation of the steering element sends one or more operational control signals to the ECU of the engine 104 to control the direction of the thrust generated by the propulsion device (e.g., the propeller) to control whether the boat 100 continues along a current path or deviates to the left or the right. Operation of the control system selector advantageously enables the foregoing set of controls at whichever, if any, steering station is designated the primary control station. Consequently, when the control system selector is operated, the boat may be maneuvered or otherwise controlled by an operator at the designated lower steering station.

[0049] The control system selector may thus allow for authorization to operate the boat 100 by switching between the lower and upper steering stations 105, 106, and in a preferred embodiment, communication from unauthorized steering systems stations is disabled. Each of the lower steering station 105 and the upper steering station 106 includes an associated set of operational controls that send operational control signals to other devices (e.g., the engine 104) to control the operation of the boat 100. One example of such type of control is described in U.S.

[0050] U.S. Pat. No. 7,108,570 to Okuyama, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety herein. In this manner, the engine 104 is in communication with the lower control console 108 and the upper control console 119, such that the boat 100 is configured to be controlled by either the lower control console 108 or the upper control console 119 upon receipt of the operational control signal at the engine 104 from one of the lower control console 108 and the upper control console 119.

[0051] The boat 100 may also comprise other optional elements like a cover 120 arrangeable over the opening in the superstructure 112, as shown, for example, in FIG. 3. The cover 120 may be slideable on tracks in order to adjust a size or shape of the opening 116, or may be simply removable and replaceable as needed (e.g., the cover 120 is hingedly attached to a side of the opening 116). In some other embodiments, as shown in more detail in FIG. 2, for example, a rocket launcher 121 is attached to or coupled to a portion of the railing 115 and/or the top surface 114 of the superstructure 112, and in some examples, the rocket launcher 121 is attached or coupled to the portion of the railing 115 that is behind the opening 116 toward the aft side of the hull 102 or arranged on one or both sides of the opening 116 around a perimeter of the top surface 114 of the superstructure 112. As used herein, a rocket launcher is so named due to the shape and configuration thereof, and may be used to hold one or more fishing rods. More particularly, a circumferential surface of a rod receiver of the rocket launcher 121 may be affixed to the railing 115, which acts as a crossbar, while a bottom end of the rod receiver is affixed to the top surface 114 of the superstructure 112. For example, the rod receivers may be welded to the railing 115 or otherwise be affixed such that the rod receivers are not moveable with respect to the railing 115. Otherwise, the rod receivers may be movably attached to the railing 115 to allow for control over the angle at which the fishing rods are arranged.

[0052] FIGS. 4A-4C illustrate, for example, a boat or watercraft 200 according to another example embodiment of the present disclosure. The boat 200 may comprise and/or exclude one or more of the elements described in relation to the boat 100. For example, the boat 200 may include a hull 202 at least partially covered by a main deck 203, one or more engines, which may be inboard or outboard, a lower steering station 205, and an upper steering station 206. The lower steering station 205 may comprise a frame 207 extending from the main deck 203 and a lower control console 208 disposed on and attached to the frame 207. The frame 207 may form an open cockpit, with two vertical side portions and a forward portion arranged therebetween, where the forward portion forms a glass windscreen 209. A seat formed by a support 210 may be arranged on the main deck 203 behind the lower control console 208 and toward an aft side of the hull 202. Accordingly, each of these elements of the boat 200 may have a structure, shape, function, material, etc., similar to or different than that described with regard to the boat 100.

[0053] In some implementations, the boat 200 may differ from the boat 100 in that the support 210 comprises tubing or pipework 211 that extends from the main deck 203 or, as shown, from the support 210 to a superstructure 212 installed over the frame 207. The superstructure 212 may comprise a bottom surface 213 and an opposing top surface 214, wherein the bottom surface 213 of the superstructure 212 is attached to the frame 207 above the lower control console 208. A railing 215 may at least partially surround an opening 216 extending through the bottom and top surfaces 213, 214 of the superstructure 212 and aligning with a first surface 217 of the support 210 elevated above the main deck 203. The first surface 217 may be attached to the support 210 via pipework, which is separate from or formed integrally with the pipework 211 extending from the main deck 203 and/or the support 210. In other words, pipework may be arranged relative to the first surface 217 to extend therefrom and onto the support 210. The pipework may be attached to the first surface 217 and/or the support 210 in any known manner such as welding, bolting, integrated fiberglass structural elements that are connected by chemical bonding, etc.

[0054] Optionally, and not shown, the pipework of the seat and/or the pipework 211 extending from the main deck 203 and/or support 210 may extend to form one or more stationary rocket launchers arranged toward the aft edge of the superstructure 212. The pipework 211 may be fixedly attached at the support 210, the main deck 203, and/or any portion of the superstructure 212 by welding, bolting, integrated fiberglass structural elements that are connected by chemical bonding, or any other known attachment means. Otherwise, one or more portions of the pipework may be removable at one or more attachment points on the support 210, the main deck 203, the first surface 217, and/or any portion of the superstructure 212. The pipework may be comprised of stainless steel, aluminum, teak and/or nylon. Other materials are also contemplated that are strong enough to support a user, but also corrosion-resistant in marine environments.

[0055] More particularly, in the example embodiment shown in FIGS. 4A-4C, the pipework 211 is designed so that there are supports to be gripped by hand for safer and easier ascent to and descent from the upper steering station 206. To that end, the structure of the pipework 211 may be described as having separate sections that together form the complete framework of the pipework 211. However, referring to the pipework 211 as having sections is merely for the purpose of describing the structure and function of the pipework in this example embodiment, as the framework of the pipework 211 itself may be considered as one integral unit. To that end, each of the described sections may be fixedly or removably attached to one another in one or more different manners or locations along the pipework 211.

[0056] In this example, the pipework 211 is described as comprising three sections: a first section 211A, a second section 211B, and a third section 211C. However, the pipework 211 may also be described as being an integral unit, having two separate sections, four separate sections, etc. Accordingly, in this example embodiment, the first section 211A comprises two poles 219A, 219B extending in parallel to one another from the attachment point at the main deck 203 and/or support 210 to the first surface 217 of the support 210. In some examples, such as the one shown in FIGS. 4A-4C, the two poles are vertically arranged so that they are substantially perpendicular to the main deck 203. In some embodiments, the two vertical poles may have other shapes defined along a length thereof, such as, for example, including hand grips that extend outward therefrom. The pipework of the first section 211A comprises at least one step which may extend between the two poles of the first section 211A at a location between the first surface 217 and the attachment point at the main deck 203 and/or support 210 to allow a person to climb onto the first surface 217 therefrom. As shown in FIGS. 4A-4C, there are two steps 218A and 218B extending between the two vertical poles, though there may be one step, three steps, four steps, etc. The number of steps may depend on the distance between the lower steering station 205 and the upper steering station 206. The steps 218A and/or 218B may be formed of the same material as the poles of the first section 211A or may be a separate material, such as, for example, teak. The steps 218A and/or 218B may bow outwardly from in between the two vertical poles 219A, 219B of the first section 211A or may lie within the same plane thereof.

[0057] The second section 211B may extend upwards from the first section 211A and toward the superstructure 212. The second section 211B may comprise two poles each extending from a respective one of the two vertical poles 219A, 219B of the first section 211A. The two poles of the second section may each comprise two portions, with a first portion 220A being angled toward the forward side of the boat 200 at an angle between 25 degree and 90 degrees relative to the first surface 217. In other examples, each of the first portions 220A of the two poles is substantially vertical at 90 degrees relative to the first surface 217, or extends upward and toward the aft side of the boat 200. A second portion 220B of each of the two poles of the second section 211B is bent as they extend upwards and toward the forward side of the boat 200. The second portion 220B may be bent so that the second portion 220B is substantially parallel to the main deck 203.

[0058] The third section 211C may comprise two poles extending in parallel to one another from respective ones of the second portion 220B of the second section 211B to superstructure 212. The two poles may each have a horizontal portion 221A that may be attached to a respective one of the second portion 220B of the poles of the second section 211B in any number of ways. For example, and as shown in FIGS. 4A-4C, the horizontal portion 221A of each one of the poles and the second portion 220B of each one of the poles may respectively converge together. In another example, the horizontal portion 221A may stack on top of a respective one of the second portions 220B of the second section 211B. Regardless, the intersection of the horizontal portions 221A of each pole of the third section 211C with the respective second portion 220B of the poles of the second section 211B results in a horizontal portion of the pipework 211 to allow a user to hold onto.

[0059] In between the intersection of the horizontal second portion 220B of the second section 211 and the horizontal portion 221A of the third section 211C is a crossbar 222 that extends therebetween. The crossbar 222 may be arranged so that it is in a plane substantially parallel to the first surface 217 and/or the superstructure 212. Otherwise the crossbar 222 may be curved or shaped to accommodate a user ascending/descending the pipework 211. The crossbar 222 may be integrally formed with the horizontal second portion 220B of the second section 211B and/or the horizontal portion 221A of the third section 211C or may be separately formed and integrally or removably attached thereto.

[0060] An upright portion 221B of each of the two poles 221 may extend from the horizontal portion 221A and towards the superstructure 212. As shown in FIGS. 4A-4C, each of the two poles may be curved upward and toward the aft side of the boat from the horizontal portions 221A thereof until they reach the superstructure 212. The upright portions 221B may be fixedly or removably attached to the bottom surface 213 of the superstructure 212, or may extend through the bottom surface 213 to the top surface 214, where the pipework 211 then forms a portion or an entirety of the railing 215 around a perimeter of the top surface 214 of the superstructure. The curve or bend of the pipework 221B may be between 90 degrees and 180 degrees relative to the horizontal portion 221A. Other angles are also contemplated.

[0061] Accordingly, the design of the pipework 211 in FIGS. 4A-4C may allow a person to climb onto the first surface 217 of the support 210 without interfering with any operator at the lower control console 208. The steps 218A, 218B may enable an easy transition from the main deck 203 to the first surface 217. In this manner, the support 210 and pipework 211 arrangement provides the dual function of acting as the seat support for an operator at the lower steering station 205 and the standing support for an operator at the upper steering station 205, without impacting visibility for either operator.

[0062] Moving now to FIGS. 5A and 5B, an upper seat 223 shown in a down position and separately in a closed position, respectively, for a dual steering system on a boat according to a further example embodiment of the present disclosure is provided. A seat such as the upper seat 223 may be utilized in any dual steering system described herein. The upper seat may comprise a bottom portion 223A movable relative to a top portion 223B so that the bottom portion 223A is movable between an open position that allows for sitting thereon and a closed position to allow for standing on the first surface 217 in which the bottom portion 223A is moved adjacent to the top portion 223B. In either the open or closed position, the top portion 223B of the upper seat 223 is arranged so that it is adjacent to the railing 215, which may or may not be formed as separate from the pipework 211. In FIG. 5A, for example, the upper seat 223 is shown in the open position with the bottom portion 223A of the upper seat 223 being opened so that it is arranged substantially parallel to the top surface 214 of the superstructure. Should the user at the upper control console 224 not wish to sit, then, and as shown in FIG. 5B, the bottom portion 223A of the upper seat 223 may be closed so that the bottom portion 223A and the top portion 223B are adjacent to or in close proximity to one another. In this way, the bottom portion 223A of the upper seat 223 may be movable with respect to the top portion 223B via any known mechanism, such as a hinge, a pivot joint, etc. The upper seat 223 may further be arranged so that it remains in the open position while the user is standing on the first surface a the upper control console 224.

[0063] Many modifications and other embodiments of the disclosure will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which this disclosure pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the 10 disclosure is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.