Patent ID: 6044789
Filing Date: 2000-04-04
Classification: B63B

Abstract:
A rigid, inflatable dory, comprising:(a) a hull, said hull extending longitudinally from the stem to the stern of the dory and including(1) a rigid, longitudinally-elongated, substantially flat bottom having a forwardly and inwardly tapered front portion terminating in a front end and a rearwardly and inwardly tapered rear portion terminating in a rear end, said front and rear portions being joined by a relatively wide central portion, and said front, central and rear portions defining continuous left and right side edges;(2) left and right garboard planks oppositely and symmetrically disposed about a longitudinal axis defined by the front and rear ends of said bottom, said garboard planks extending from stem to stern and curved for mating engagement with the side edges of the bottom;(3) an upstanding, rearwardly canted, sternpost attached to a rear end of said bottom and having lower left and right side portions attached to the left and right garboard planks, respectively;(4) an upstanding, forwardly canted, stempost attached to a front end of said bottom and having lower left and right side portions attached to the left and right garboard planks, respectively; and(5) a flexible hull frame, extending from stem to stern, and including(i) a plurality of longitudinally spaced-apart, convexly bowed, lateral ribs, each rib being symmetrically disposed about the longitudinal axis and having lower convex edges in mating engagement with, and attached to, inner surfaces of the garboard planks; and(ii) a plurality of laterally spaced-apart stringers, each of said stringers extending from stem to stern and curved for mating engagement with, and attachment to, an outside surface of each of said ribs;(b) a pair of oppositely and symmetrically disposed gunwales extending from stem to stern along the left and right, upper edges of the hull;(c) a pair of longitudinally-extended, inflatable sponsons mounted to opposite sides of the hull;(d) a pair of water-impervious coverings, each of said coverings having a bottom portion attached to the hull adjacent a garboard plank, an intermediate portion wrapped around a sponson, and an upper portion attached to the hull adjacent a gunwale; and(e) a seat mounted to the dory over an interior portion of the hull.