Patent ID: 6460477
Filing Date: 2002-10-08
Classification: B63B

Abstract:
A rigid inflatable boat, comprising:a rigid boat hull having a sidewall with an outer surface; and at least one sponson mounted on the outer surface of the sidewall of the hull, wherein the at least one sponson comprises: a non-inflatable buoyant component; an inflatable buoyant component removably secured to the non-inflatable buoyant component, wherein the inflatable buoyant component is adapted to receive and selectively store a volume of gas in an internal chamber, wherein the inflatable buoyant component is selectively inflatable between a deflated configuration and an inflated configuration, and further wherein the inflatable buoyant component includes a valve through which gas may be selectively inserted into and removed from the chamber; restraining structure removably coupling the inflatable buoyant component to the non-inflatable buoyant component; and a sheath adapted to removably secure the non-inflatable buoyant component and the inflatable buoyant component to the hull of a boat.