Patent ID: 6058869
Filing Date: 2000-05-09
Classification: B63B,E02B

Abstract:
A pontoon structure adapted to float on the surface of a body of water, comprisinga lower section having a hull with a bottom and sidewalls connected to said bottom and extending upwardly therefrom, and a lower deck connected to said sidewalls so as to fully close said hull around a hollow interior thereof;an upper section having an upper deck disposed above and generally parallel to said lower deck and separated therefrom, and a structural framework interconnected between said lower deck of said lower section and said upper deck such that the space between said lower deck and said upper deck is substantially open;a hollow ballast tank disposed in said hollow interior of said lower section;filling means for selectively filling said ballast tank with water drawn from the body of water upon which said pontoon is floating so as to cause said lower section to sink in the body of water upon which said pontoon is floating and increase the draft of said pontoon in said water; andemptying means for selectively emptying water from said ballast tank so as to cause said lower section to rise in the body of water upon which said pontoon is floating and decrease the draft of said pontoon in said water.