Catam aran -type pl ea sure boat havin g simplified. modul ar bodywork .
The subject of the present invention is a catamaran-type pleasure boat having simplified, modular bodywork. The invention has a particular and convenient, although not exclusive, application for use in outboard motorization.
Catamaran-type pleasure boats are known in the present state of art, see for example French patent application n. 8701 156 dated 30/1/87. This solution similarly foresees a modular boat in several parts which, in practice, consists of: - two lateral floats, preferably in plastic material; - means to connect the two floats having: - a connecting board, preferably in plastic material; - a driving seal superstructure; - a rear, strutted structure for connection and motor support; - further transversal and longitudinal connection means.
This solution presents inevitable advantages for substitution of eventually deteriorated parts, reduction of overall dimensions during transport and storage, etc . , but presents a great inconvenience in the high number of parts which decrease the structural solidity, in addition to involving high manufacturing costs. The conformation of the driving seat structure is a further serious limitation as il cannot be modified, with inevitable discomfort for
the user deriving from the well-known dimensional differentiation of the users.
The scope of the present invention is to eliminate the above- mentioned inconveniences. This and other scopes are achieved by the present invention as per the characteristics given in the attached claims, solving the above-mentioned problems with a catamaran-type pleasure boat having simplified, modular structure of the type consisting of a pair of intermediate, lateral floats, means of connection of the two floats by an intermediate, central, connecting board, a driving seat superstructure and transversal, bar means of connection where: - the said intermediate, central connecting board: - extends substantially over the length of the two lateral floats or is slightly shorter; - presents a vertical lift wall integrated at the rear for an outboard motor structure; - rises at the front to support means of driving; - said driving seat superstructure is separated from the preceding one, and is fastened above it in an adjustable position, having the function of seat only; - said floats and said central, connecting board present at least one pair of coinciding, transversal drilled holes; - the bar-type, transversal means of connection consists of at least one pair of bars passing transversely through said floats and said connecting board through said transversal drilled holes which are associated to lateral, stretching means of screw clamping.
The advantages obtained from these characteristics consist essentially in that considerable simplicity in construction, maximum functionality and complete reliability is obtained, while maintaining the concept and advantages of the structure's separation into parts.
These and other advantages can be seen from the following detailed description of preferential solutions for realization, with the help of the attached drawings, the execution details of which are not to be held as limiting but only as examples. Figure 1 gives an exploded, schematic prospect of the main structural components. Figures 2 and 3 give respectively a side and front view of the assembled watercraft, where the front view shows in transparency the component parts of the respective connection system by means of transversal bars. Figure 4 shows an enlarged part of the section as in Fig. 3, visualizing the respective stretching system of the transversal connection bars, which are metallic tubes.
With reference to the above figures, it can be seen that the craft consists of two floats (A, A') which are connected together by means of a central board (B) with two rises: the front one for steering wheel (9) and the rear one (10) to support outboard motor (E). The connection is made by transversal, passing drilled holes (12 ) in which two tubes (D,D') are inserted. The tubes are kept under tension at the ends by means of the tension diagram in Fig. 4 where the use of a tension screw (1 ) is foreseen which co-operates
with three nuts (2,3,4) and three washers (5,6,7), the first two nuts having a positionable diameter inside the connection tube (D.D') and the third one being outside and in contact with the floating structure (A, A'). The clamping is made by first swelling a rubber shim (8) inside the tube (D-D') by screwing opposed nuts (2,3) and then tightening it all with the outside nut (4) which will also serve as an element of further clamping, in case of loosening, in co-operation with the screw (1), without necessitating disassembly, as the friction of the shim (8) determines further clamping upon rotation of said screw (1) with the tube (D-D') too. The seating element (C) can be fastened by the known screw means above this rigidly connected structure, and has the scope of seating accommodation (11), in the opportune position. It results evident that an assembly of this type is extremely simple and does not necessitate special equipment.
The same floats (A, A') can also be used independently for windsu rfine .