Patent ID: 8656855
Filing Date: 2014-02-25
Classification: B63B

Abstract:
1. A folding boat, comprising: a pair of stringer tubes assemblies, each of the stringer tubes assemblies having individual stringer tubes arranged for extending longitudinally when assembled; a waterproof skin for having the stringer tubes assemblies assembled therein as a frame; a plurality of stringer hinges connected between a plurality of adjacent stringer tubes, wherein the stringer hinges are located and configured such that the pair of stringer tubes assemblies can be folded in at least half while in the waterproof skin; bow tubes for connecting one of the pair of stringer tubes assemblies to the other of the pair at a bow of the boat within the skin, wherein the bow tubes are connected to the pair of stringer tubes assemblies by bow tube hinges; stern tubes for connecting one of the pair of stringer tubes assemblies to the other of the pair at a stern of the boat within the skin, wherein the stern tubes are connected to the pair of stringer tubes assemblies by stern tube hinges; frame members for connecting the pair of stringer tubes assemblies to each other when assembled; and inflatable tubes for being arranged within the skin and each having a seam configured for having each of the pair of stringer tubes assemblies nestled within, wherein the inflatable tubes are configured to substantially isolate and properly align the stringer tubes assemblies and provide tensioning of the frame and the waterproof skin around the frame when assembled in the frame and inflated.