Multihull watercraft

Abstract

The patent discloses a multihull watercraft with a unique hull configuration providing numerous benefits. Passenger cabins are enclosed within a separate upper hull, which allows the accommodation space and the float hulls to be independently optimized. The new configuration also provides reduced windage, and creates additional deck space for easier boarding, recreational use, and safer access to shore craft.

Claims

1. A multihull watercraft comprising: an upper hull; left and right float hulls; and four support structures supporting said upper hull above said left and right float hulls; wherein the left and right float hulls have fore and aft ends, and a lower deck space located above each of said left and right float hulls, and wherein said upper hull bridges the space between said left and right float hulls and comprises a mid-hull portion disposed between forward and aft hull portions, wherein the forward and aft hull portions of the upper hull extend laterally to positions beyond longitudinal centerlines of said left and right float hulls thereby maximizing passenger accommodation space, and wherein the mid-hull portion of the upper hull is positioned intermediate to the fore and aft ends of said float hulls and confined laterally to a region inboard of the longitudinal centerlines of said left and right float hulls, thereby facilitating safer and easier boarding of the upper hull and shore craft from the lower deck space of said left and right float hulls, and facilitating recreational activity closer to the water.

2. The multihull watercraft of claim 1 wherein each of the four support structures is comprised of two or more narrow beams that allow lateral flow of air thereby reducing windage on the watercraft.

3. The multihull watercraft of claim 2 wherein each of said narrow beams is a hollow tube made of metal or composite fiber material.

4. The multihull watercraft of claim 1 further comprising a dinghy storage compartment on an underside of the upper hull for storing a dinghy, a compartment door that covers the dinghy storage compartment, and means to lower the compartment door and the dinghy to a position adjacent one of the float hulls so that the dinghy may be moved out of the storage compartment, across the lower deck space of any one the float hulls, and into the water along an outboard edge of the respective float hull.

5. The multihull watercraft of claim 1 further comprising a dinghy storage compartment on an underside of the upper hull for storing a dinghy and including means to lower the dinghy directly beneath the upper hull into the water at a location inboard of the float hulls where the dinghy can be easily and safely boarded.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the multihull watercraft

(2) FIG. 2A is a perspective view of the multihull watercraft showing an improved embodiment of the upper hull support structures.

(3) FIGS. 2B and 2C are a cross-sectional view of the improved upper hull support structures.

(4) FIG. 3 is a top view of the watercraft that shows the upper hull and left and right float hulls.

(5) FIG. 4 is a rear view that shows the dinghy storage compartment door lowered to a position adjacent to the right float hull, whereby the dinghy can easily be moved out of the compartment, across the top side of the float hull and pushed into the water for boarding. The compartment door is illustrated as being hinged on the inboard side, however an alternative embodiment could lower the entire door (and dinghy) to an altitude matching the float hull deck.

(6) FIG. 5 is a perspective view depicting the deployment of a dinghy across the float hull and into the water where it may be boarded

(7) FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an alternate embodiment wherein the dinghy is lowered from the under-hull storage compartment directly into the water for boarding via the deck of the adjacent float hull.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(8) FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention in a powerboat configuration (without sails) however all claims of the invention are applicable to a watercraft with sails. A large upper hull 1 is suspended over a left float hull 2 and right float hull 3 by means of four support structures 4. The wide support structures shown in FIG. 1 may be improved by utilizing two or more narrow beams per support structure, which allows lateral air flow and thereby reduces lateral windage (drag). The improved support structure 4 is shown in FIG. 2A. The individual beams of said support structures may be either polygonal cross-section as shown in FIG. 2B, or cylindrical cross-section as shown in FIG. 2C.

(9) The top-view diagram in FIG. 3 shows the upper hull 1 which is composed of three distinct regions. The upper hull forward portion 7 and the upper hull aft portion 9 enclose the private passenger accommodation space, and extend laterally beyond the left float hull centerline 10 and the right float hull centerline 11 to maximize the accommodation space. The upper hull middle portion 8 encloses the common areas (salon, galley, storage, etc), and is constrained to a region inboard of the left float hull centerline 10 and the right float hull centerline 11. This unique configuration creates deck areas 5 and 6 on the top of both float hulls thereby making it safer and easier to board, dock, and access shore craft. The deck areas also serve as recreation space and swim platforms.

(10) FIG. 4 shows the preferred embodiment of the shore craft storage and deployment means which includes a dinghy storage compartment door 12 which can be lowered to provide access to the dinghy 14. The compartment door is opened by a lowering mechanism 13 attached to the door. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing how the dinghy 14 can be moved out of the storage compartment, and across the adjacent deck and into the water.

(11) FIG. 6 shows an alternate embodiment where the dinghy 14 is lowered directly into the water via a lowering mechanism 13, where it may be boarded via the inboard edge of the adjacent float hull deck 6. The lowering mechanism 13 in either embodiment is rope or synthetic line attached to a conventional manual winch, electric winch, or equivalent means such as a hydraulic piston.

CONCLUSION

(12) The patent discloses a multihull watercraft with a unique hull configuration providing numerous benefits, including an improved means for dinghy storage and deployment. The scope of the present invention is not limited to the examples provided in the specification, but is defined by the claims.