Abstract:
A boat having inflatable pontoons connected therewith by rotatable support assemblies is described. The structure is capable of collapsing to a small size for transport on a trailer, but provides a wide base for stable operation when deployed on water. A foldable deck assembly provides an expanded deck surface and further enhances stability of the boat when in use on water.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates generally to watercraft and, more particularly, to expandable watercraft transportable by trailer. 
   2. Description of Related Art 
   Recreational watercraft are in popular use on today&#39;s lakes and rivers. Recreational watercraft include small craft such as rowboats, low-powered fishing boats, high-powered boats for pulling water skiers, and the like. Other recreational watercraft, which may be classified as large watercraft, include houseboats with facilities sometimes found in manufactured homes used on dry land. Still other watercraft, classified as intermediate-sized watercraft, and which may be referred to as camper watercraft, provide facilities analogous to those found in camping tents and trailers. These camper watercraft, which may comprise pontoons mounted on an underside of a deck structure, attempt to strike a balance between a large size and a small size. The large size may be preferred for stability when in use on water, while a small size may be preferred for convenience in transporting the watercraft on a highway or storing the watercraft in a garage. Generally, an intermediate-sized watercraft small enough to be transported on a highway has pontoons spaced closely enough together that the watercraft does not enjoy a high degree of stability on water. Conversely, an intermediate-sized watercraft large enough to be stable on water may be too large to be conveniently transported by trailer. 
   In an attempt to compromise between the conflicting requirements of stability on water and ease of transport on land, Valliere, U.S. Pat. No. 6,003,458 describes an expandable pontoon boat that is retractable into a configuration suitable for trailering and expandable to provide additional passenger room. The Valliere invention includes three passenger hull shells and three pontoon assemblies as well as a rack gear mechanism, drive motor, and slip clutch that are used to retract the pontoon assemblies. Another compromise is described in Stokes, U.S. Pat. No. 6,164,238, which discloses a lightweight folding boat having dual hulls that are capable of being folded together, one on top of another, for transport by trailer. Neither of these devices satisfies a need for a low-cost camper watercraft that can be conveniently converted from a form transportable by trailer to a form that provides stable operation on water. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   An embodiment of the present invention provides a boat having inflatable pontoons that can be conveniently retracted for transporting the boat on a trailer. When in use on water, the pontoons may be extended beyond the sides of the boat, thereby providing a wide base of support that may enhance stable operation. The invention herein disclosed comprises, according to an exemplary embodiment, a primary deck. A plurality of support assemblies is connected to a lower surface of the primary deck, and a plurality of inflatable pontoons is connected to the plurality of support assemblies. When extended, and with the plurality of inflatable pontoons inflated, the plurality of support assemblies in this exemplary embodiment is capable of supporting the boat. When the plurality of inflatable pontoons is deflated and the plurality of support assemblies is retracted, the boat is capable of being transported on a trailer. 
   Another embodiment of the present invention comprises an outrigger assembly having a first hollow tube that includes a first beveled end. This embodiment further comprises a second hollow tube aligned with and rotatably secured to the first hollow tube, the second hollow tube having a second beveled end capable of mating with the first beveled end. The embodiment still further comprises a support bar slidably disposed within the first hollow tube and the second hollow tube, the support bar having a third beveled end oriented at a nominal right angle to the second beveled end. 
   The present invention further includes a method, an exemplary variation of which comprises providing a boat having a primary deck. This variation of the method further comprises providing a plurality of support assemblies connected to an underside of the primary deck. A plurality of inflatable pontoons also is provided, the plurality of inflatable pontoons being connected to the plurality of support assemblies. This variation of the method still further comprises extending the plurality of support assemblies and inflating the plurality of inflatable pontoons, thereby rendering the boat usable on water. The variation also includes retracting the plurality of support assemblies and deflating the plurality of inflatable pontoons, thereby rendering the boat transportable by a trailer. 
   While the apparatus and method has or will be described for the sake of grammatical fluidity with functional explanations, it is to be expressly understood that the claims, unless expressly formulated under 35 U.S.C. 112, are not to be construed as necessarily limited in any way by the construction of “means” or “steps” limitations, but are to be accorded the full scope of the meaning and equivalents of the definition provided by the claims under the judicial doctrine of equivalents, and in the case where the claims are expressly formulated under 35 U.S.C. 112 are to be accorded full statutory equivalents under 35 U.S.C. 112. 
   Any feature or combination of features described herein are included within the scope of the present invention provided that the features included in any such combination are not mutually inconsistent as will be apparent from the context, this specification, and the knowledge of one skilled in the art. For purposes of summarizing the present invention, certain aspects, advantages and novel features of the present invention are described herein. Of course, it is to be understood that not necessarily all such aspects, advantages or features will be embodied in any particular embodiment of the present invention. Additional advantages and aspects of the present invention are apparent in the following detailed description and claims that follow. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       FIG. 1  is a pictorial diagram showing an example of a concept of a pontoon boat constructed according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a partial pictorial diagram of an embodiment of a boat having a plurality of pontoons; 
       FIG. 3  is a partial pictorial diagram illustrating detail of a portion of an embodiment of a pontoon and a support assembly configured in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a side view of an exemplary embodiment of a portion of a representative outrigger assembly selected from the plurality of outrigger assemblies shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a pictorial diagram of the representative outrigger assembly shown in  FIG. 4  showing a support bar in an extended position; 
       FIG. 6  is a pictorial diagram of the representative outrigger assembly of  FIG. 4  showing a support bar in a retracted position; 
       FIG. 7  is a pictorial diagram of a representative outrigger locked in a retracted, position suitable for supporting a deflated pontoon according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 8  is a partial pictorial diagram of a fore portion of a boat having a foldable deck assembly including a foldable wing deck assembly constructed according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 9  is a partial pictorial diagram illustrating a wing saddle secured to wing deck outriggers of the foldable wing deck assembly illustrated in  FIG. 8 ; 
       FIG. 10  is a partial pictorial diagram showing an embodiment employing a longer pontoon than that shown in  FIG. 2  in order to provide support for the foldable deck assembly illustrated in  FIG. 9 ; 
       FIG. 11  is a pictorial diagram illustrating a support assembly in a retracted position with restraining material arranged to hold a deflated pontoon; 
       FIG. 12  is a partial pictorial diagram depicting a deflated pontoon wrapped in restraining material including additional restraining material; 
       FIG. 13  is a partial pictorial diagram illustrating a foldable wing deck assembly in a partially folded position; 
       FIG. 14  is a partial pictorial diagram of a front corner of a boat illustrating a pontoon and a foldable deck assembly in a folded position suitable for transporting the boat on a trailer; 
       FIG. 15  is a flow diagram illustrating an implementation of the method of the present invention; 
       FIG. 16  is a flow diagram depicting an illustrative variation of a method for providing a plurality of support assemblies according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 17  is a flow diagram describing a variation of a method for providing a plurality of outriggers according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 18  is a flow diagram illustrating an implementation of a method of retracting an outrigger assembly according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 19  is a flow diagram describing an illustrative variation of a method of extending an outrigger assembly according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 20  is a flow diagram describing an implementation of a method of extending a foldable deck assembly according to the present invention; and 
       FIG. 21  is a flow diagram depicting a variation of a method of retracting a foldable deck assembly in accordance with the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same or similar reference numbers are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts. It should be noted that the drawings are in simplified form and are not to precise scale. In reference to the disclosure herein, for purposes of convenience and clarity only, directional terms, such as fore, top, bottom, left, right, up, down, over, above, below, beneath, rear, and front, are used with respect to the accompanying drawings. Such directional terms should not be construed to limit the scope of the invention in any manner. 
   Although the disclosure herein refers to certain illustrated embodiments, it is to be understood that these embodiments are presented by way of example and not by way of limitation. The intent of the following detailed description, although discussing exemplary embodiments, is to be construed to cover all modifications, alternatives, and equivalents of the embodiments as may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. It is to be understood and appreciated that the process steps and structures described herein do not cover a complete process flow for the manufacture and operation of inflatable pontoon boats. The present invention may be practiced in conjunction with various manufacturing techniques that are conventionally used in the art, and only so much of the commonly practiced process steps are included herein as are necessary to provide an understanding of the present invention. The present invention has applicability in the field of watercraft in general. For illustrative purposes, however, the following description pertains to a pontoon boat with inflatable pontoons and to a method of operating the boat in order to transport the boat on land or to deploy the boat on water. 
   Referring more particularly to the drawings,  FIG. 1  is a pictorial diagram showing an example of a pontoon boat constructed according to the present invention. The illustrated embodiment comprises a boat  100 , to which is secured pontoons  185  and  186  that support the boat  100  as it floats in water  101 . The pontoons  185  and  186  are connected with the boat  100  in a manner more particularly described below. A typical embodiment of the boat  100  comprises a primary deck  175  having sidewalls  110 . A foldable deck assembly  205  may be rotatably secured to the primary deck  175  with hinges (not shown). In typical embodiments, the boat  100  may further comprise a cover such as a collapsible fold-out tent (not shown). As an example, the illustrated embodiment shows the foldable deck assembly  205  disposed on a fore end  180  of the boat  100 . 
     FIG. 2  is a partial pictorial diagram of another embodiment of a boat  100  having a plurality of support assemblies to which is secured a plurality of pontoons. Although typical embodiments may include two support assemblies and two pontoons as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , only a single support assembly  165  and a single pontoon  185  are illustrated in  FIG. 2  for simplicity. The support assembly  165  comprises a plurality of outrigger assemblies  141 , a plurality of parallel rods  170 , and restraining material  150  according to the present invention. The embodiment of the support assembly  165  illustrated in  FIG. 2  comprises two parallel rods  170 . The two parallel rods  170  are secured to the pontoon  185  with a plurality of fastening loops  120  that may be provided as part of commercially available pontoons. The plurality of outrigger assemblies  141  is oriented generally perpendicular to and overlying the plurality of parallel rods  170 . An outrigger assembly  241  representative of the plurality of outrigger assemblies  141  comprises a nominally square first hollow tube (not shown) secured to an underside of the primary deck  175 . A likewise nominally square second hollow tube  240 , which, as is true of the first hollow tube, may be made of steel, is rotatably secured to the first hollow tube as is more particularly described below with reference to  FIGS. 4–7 . The second hollow tube may have secured (e.g., welded) thereto a plurality of pontoon alignment spacers  160 . 
   The restraining material  150  illustrated in  FIG. 2  is disposed between the plurality of outrigger assemblies  141  and the pontoon  185  to form a saddle  145  that may distribute weight of the boat  100  over a length of the pontoon  185 . In the illustrated embodiment, restraining material  150  also supports the two parallel rods  170 , which lie on an underside of the plurality of outrigger assemblies  141  in a position adjacent to the plurality of pontoon alignment spacers  160 . According to a representative embodiment, about half of the restraining material  150  is used to form the saddle  145 , and the remaining restraining material is designated as additional restraining material  155 . The additional restraining material  155  may lie beneath the primary deck  175  when the boat  100  is in water. When the boat  100  is configured for transport, the additional restraining material  155  may aid in securing deflated pontoons in a manner more particularly described below is a discussion of  FIGS. 11 and 12 . According to a representative embodiment, the restraining material  150  is composed of plastic of a type sometimes used to form bed liners for pickup trucks. Fasteners, e.g., a plurality of wire loops  135 , may fasten the saddle  145  to the plurality of outrigger assemblies  141 . 
   The plurality of outrigger assemblies  141  may be secured to an underside of the boat  100  in the illustrated embodiment, e.g., by welding. The plurality of outrigger assemblies  141  may be locked in an extended, nominally horizontal position in a manner more particularly described below. When in water, the pontoon  185  may support the support assembly  165  (with the plurality of outrigger assemblies  141  horizontally locked), and, thereby, partially support the boat  100 . In a typical embodiment, the boat  100  is supported on a side thereof by at least one such pontoon, and at least one support assembly. The typical embodiment further has support on another side of the boat  100  provided by at least one other pontoon and at least one other support assembly. In diagrams to follow, only one side of a boat  100  is shown for convenience. It will be understood that an opposite side of the boat  100  normally may be configured according to a mirror image of the illustrations shown in the diagrams. 
     FIG. 3  is a partial pictorial diagram illustrating detail of a portion of an embodiment of a pontoon  185  and a support assembly  165  ( FIG. 2 ) configured in accordance with the present invention. Two pontoon alignment spacers  160  that are secured to the second hollow tube  240 , e.g. by welding, and adjacent to which the two parallel rods  170  may be placed, are shown in detail in  FIG. 3 . The second hollow tube  240  may have a support bar  265  disposed therein as illustrated below in  FIGS. 4–6 . The support bar  265  further may have an attached connecting means  285 , itself attached to a pull handle  295  as shown in  FIG. 3  and as described in more detail below with reference to  FIGS. 5 and 6 . 
     FIG. 4  is a side view of an exemplary embodiment of a portion of a representative outrigger assembly  241  selected from the plurality of outrigger assemblies  141  shown in  FIG. 2 . The portion of the representative outrigger assembly  241  illustrated in  FIG. 4  comprises a nominally square first hollow tube  260  having a first beveled end  270  and mounted on an underside  176  of a primary deck  175 . The representative outrigger assembly  241  further comprises a second hollow tube  240  having a nominally square cross-section and a second beveled end  275 . A cross-section  4 – 4 ′ ( FIG. 2 ) of the primary deck  175  and a sidewall  110  is shown in  FIG. 4  as defined by an imaginary plane  102  ( FIG. 2 ) that makes a corresponding imaginary cut  103  ( FIG. 2 ) in the primary deck  175  and sidewall  110 . The cross-section is taken along a plane defined by a vertical edge of the first hollow tube  260 . 
   According to an exemplary embodiment, an upper surface  261  of the first hollow tube  260  is secured to the underside  176  of the primary deck  175  by welding. The first beveled end  270  of the first hollow tube  260  may mate with the second beveled end  275  of the second hollow tube  240 . The second hollow tube  240  aligns with and may be separated from the first hollow tube  260  by a small gap  272 , the size of which may range from about 0.01 inch to about 0.05 inch in a typical embodiment. A pair of brackets  300  (only one bracket  300  is illustrated in  FIG. 4 ) and associated hardware—more particularly described below with reference to FIGS.  5 – 7 —may act to align the second hollow tube  240  and the first hollow tube  260 . The representative outrigger assembly  241  still further comprises a supporting bar  265  that fits snuggly, but is free to slide back and forth, inside the first hollow tube  260  and the second hollow tube  240 . The supporting bar  265  has a third beveled end  266  oriented at a nominal right angle with respect to the second beveled end  275 . It should be noted that the second hollow tube  240  may be allowed to rotate about an axis of a pin  305  connected to the pair of brackets  300  when the supporting bar  265  is moved to a position far enough to the right that the supporting bar  265  no longer contacts the first hollow tube  260 . 
     FIG. 5  is a pictorial diagram of the representative outrigger assembly  241  shown in  FIG. 4  showing the support bar  265  in an extended position. A pair of brackets  300  may be secured (e.g., by welding) to sides of the first hollow tube  260 , the pair of brackets  300  extending over an upper surface  242  of the second hollow tube  240 . A sleeve  310  may be secured (e.g., by welding) to the upper surface  242  of the second hollow tube  240  with mounting brackets  315 . A pin  305  secured to both of the pair of brackets  300  may be disposed in the sleeve  310 . In a typical embodiment, the upper surface  261  of the first hollow tube  260  is secured to the underside  176  of the primary deck  175  as illustrated in  FIG. 4  (not shown in  FIG. 5 ). An end of a connecting means  285  such as a cord, rope, chain, or the like may be secured to an end of the support bar  265  using methods well known in the art, and a pull handle  295  may be fastened to another end of the connecting means  285 . According to a representative embodiment, the pull handle  295  is fashioned of material such as wood or plastic and has a hole passing therethrough. An end of the connecting means  285 , e.g., an end of a rope, may be passed through the hole, and a knot may be formed in the end of the rope, the knot acting to secure the pull handle  295  to the connecting means  285 . 
   As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the support bar  265  may assume a position partially within the first hollow tube  260  and partially within the second hollow tube  240 . For example, about half of the length of the support bar  265  may be disposed within the first hollow tube  260 , and about half of the length of the support bar  265  may be disposed within the second hollow tube  240 . In the illustrated position, the support bar  265  may be said to occupy an extended position, and the second hollow tube  240  may be said to be locked in an extended, nominally horizontal position. 
   The second hollow tube  240  may comprise an end plate  142  having a hole  143  therein through which the connecting means  285  may protrude. The hole  143  may include a slot  144  on an edge of the hole  143 . A spring  280  is interposed between an end  267  of the support bar  265  and the end plate  142  in the illustrated embodiment. The support bar  265  has a length that permits movement in response to tension applied to the connecting means  285 . Tension may be applied to the connecting means  285 , for example, by grasping the pull handle  295  and pulling in a direction that causes the spring  280  to compress. The length of the support bar  265  may be chosen such that the third beveled end  266  of the support bar  265  is able to move clear of the first hollow tube  260  when sufficient tension is applied to the connecting means  285 . When the support bar  265  is positioned clear of the first hollow tube  260 , the support bar  265  may be said to be in a retracted position. 
     FIG. 6  is a pictorial diagram of the representative outrigger assembly  241  of  FIG. 4  showing the support bar  265  in a retracted position. In order to maintain the retracted position, a portion of the connecting means  285  may be fabricated to have a larger cross-section than the remainder of the connecting means  285 . For example, when the connecting means  285  comprises a rope or cord, the larger cross-section may be provided by a knot  290  disposed in the rope or cord that prevents the connecting means  285  from entering the second hollow tube  240  when the connecting means  285  is placed in the slot  144 . 
   Operation of the mechanism illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6  can proceed as follows. Beginning with the support bar  265  in an extended position as shown in  FIG. 5 , force may be applied on the pull handle  295  to apply tension to the connecting means  285 . The applied force may move the support bar  265  to the retracted position illustrated in  FIG. 6 . Then, by moving the pull handle  295  downward, the connecting means  285  may be made to pass through the slot  144 . The spring  280  may be compressed by the retracted position of the support bar  265 , thereby causing tension to be maintained on a portion of the connecting means  285 . The tension on the portion of the connecting means  285  may hold the portion of the connecting means  285  having a larger cross-section (e.g., the knot  290 ) in place outside the slot  144 . When held in place outside the slot  144 , the larger cross-section portion of the connecting means  285  may prevent the support bar  265  from returning to the extended position shown in  FIG. 5 . 
   To extend the support bar  265  when beginning from the retracted position illustrated in  FIG. 6 , tension may be applied to the connecting means  285  by means of the pull handle  295 , and the connecting means  285  may be removed from the slot  144 . Releasing tension on the connecting means  285  then may permit the compressed spring  280  to expand. Force from the spring  280  may cause the support bar  265  to move to the extended position shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     FIG. 7  is a pictorial diagram of the representative outrigger assembly  241  locked in a retracted, nominally vertical position suitable for supporting a deflated pontoon according to the present invention. As described above with respect to  FIGS. 4–6 , the second hollow tube  240  may have secured to the upper surface  242  thereof a sleeve  310  connected with the second hollow tube  240  by mounting brackets  315 . The pin  305  may be disposed within the sleeve  310 , ends of the pin  305  being secured to brackets  300 , which are mounted to sides of the first hollow tube  260 . The upper surface  261  of the first hollow tube  260 , according to a typical embodiment, is secured to the underside  176  ( FIG. 4 ) of the primary deck  175  of a boat  100  ( FIG. 2 , not shown in  FIG. 7 ). When the support bar  265  is in a retracted position as shown in  FIG. 6 , a combination of the second hollow tube  240  and the support bar  265  may be free to rotate about an axis of the pin  305  to a retracted, nominally vertical position as shown in  FIG. 7 . Once the second hollow tube  240  is in the retracted, nominally vertical position, the tension on the connecting means  285  may be released, e.g., by removing the connecting means  285  from the slot  144  as described above, thereby allowing the support bar  265  to partially extend through action of gravity and of force from the spring  280 . In the partially extended position shown in  FIG. 7 , the third beveled end  266  of the support bar  265  may contact and mate with the first beveled end  270  of the first hollow tube  260 . The configuration illustrated in  FIG. 7  is substantially rigid. Accordingly, when, for example, clockwise torque is applied to the second hollow tube  240 , the beveled end  270  of the first hollow tube  260  applies a reaction force to the beveled end  266  of the support bar  265 , thereby preventing the combination of the second hollow tube  240  and support bar  265  from rotating. The combination comprising the second hollow tube  240  and the support bar  265  is thereby locked with the second hollow tube  240  in a retracted, nominally vertical position. The force applied by the beveled end  270  of the first hollow tube  260  to the beveled end  266  of the support bar  265  also prevents movement of the support bar  265  in a downward direction when the representative second hollow tube  240  is placed in the retracted, nominally vertical position illustrated in  FIG. 7 . 
   Conversely, when the support bar  265  is in the extended position (cf.  FIG. 5 ), i.e., about half inside the first hollow tube  260  and about half inside the second hollow tube  240 , the combination of first hollow tube  260  and second hollow tube  240  may be held in substantially rigid relative positions by the support bar  265  although the support bar  265  may be free to move. The support bar  265 , when extended, thereby effectively locks the second hollow tube  240  in an extended, nominally horizontal position when the first hollow tube  260  is secured to the underside  176  ( FIG. 4 ) of a primary deck  175  as already described. In the locked horizontal position, the representative outrigger assembly  241  is capable of supporting weight pushing or pulling upward or downward on the representative outrigger assembly  241 . In particular, as shown in  FIG. 2 , a plurality of outrigger assemblies  141 , each of which is configured as illustrated in  FIGS. 4–6 , may form a portion of a support assembly  165  capable of supporting a portion of weight of a boat  100 . Locking each of the plurality of outrigger assemblies  141  in an extended, nominally horizontal position in the manner just outlined for the representative outrigger assembly  241  may lock the support assembly  165  in an extended, nominally horizontal position as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . Conversely, the support assembly  165  may be locked in a nominally vertical position, as illustrated below in FIGS.  8  and  10 – 13 , by locking each of the plurality of outrigger assemblies  141  in a retracted, nominally vertical position in the manner indicated above for the representative outrigger assembly  241  with reference to  FIG. 7 . 
     FIG. 8  is a partial pictorial diagram of a fore portion of a boat  100  illustrating a support assembly  165  oriented in a nominally vertical position according to the present invention and further illustrating a foldable deck assembly  205  rotatably secured to the primary deck  175 . In the illustrated embodiment, the foldable deck assembly  205  comprises a foldable main deck  220  and at least one foldable wing deck assembly  230 . Although only one foldable wing deck assembly  230  is illustrated in  FIG. 8 , a typical embodiment further comprises a similar foldable wing deck assembly located on an end of the foldable main deck  220  opposite to the foldable wing deck assembly  230  shown. The foldable wing deck assembly  230  comprises a wing deck  250  to which is secured a plurality of wing deck outriggers  210  having pontoon alignment spacers  161  secured thereto, e.g., by welding or bolting. As an example, two wing deck outriggers  210  are illustrated in  FIG. 8 . The wing deck outriggers  210  may be rotatably secured to the wing deck portion  220  with pins  240  placed in brackets  235 . (Only one pin/bracket combination is shown in  FIG. 8 .) Place holders  245  (only one is shown in  FIG. 8 ) may be inserted between an underside of the wing deck  220  and the wing deck outriggers  210  in order to that an upper surface of the wing deck  220  approximately aligns with a bottom surface of the foldable main deck  220 . 
   The foldable main deck  220  of the foldable deck assembly  205  may be secured to the primary deck  175  by support bars  215  and hinges  225 . In a typical embodiment, the support bars  215  extend out from an underside of the primary deck  175  by a few inches in order to provide space for a portion of a deflated pontoon when the foldable deck assembly  205  is in a folded configuration as is more particularly described below with reference to  FIGS. 12–14 . 
     FIG. 9  is a partial pictorial diagram illustrating a wing saddle  255  formed of restraining material and secured to the wing deck outriggers  210  of the foldable wing deck assembly illustrated in  FIG. 8 . According to the illustrated embodiment, the wing saddle  255  is secured to wing deck outriggers  210  with bolts  130 . Alternatively, the wing saddle  255  may be secured to wing deck outriggers  210  by means of a plurality of wire loops similar to the plurality of wire loops  135  as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . 
     FIG. 10  is a partial pictorial diagram showing an embodiment employing a longer pontoon  185  than that shown in  FIG. 2  in order to provide support for the foldable deck assembly  205  illustrated in  FIG. 9 . The embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 10  comprises a boat  100  having a primary deck  175  with sidewalls  110 , the sidewalls  110  having ends  115 . An inflatable pontoon  185  is secured to a support assembly  165  as described above with reference to  FIG. 2 . Additionally, the foldable wing deck assembly  230 , including wing deck outriggers  210  and the wing saddle  255 , is aligned with the support assembly  165  and with the pontoon  185 . When in the water, the foldable wing deck assembly  230  may rest on an upper surface of the pontoon  185 , thereby being supported by the pontoon  185 . The foldable deck assembly  205  may be secured to the primary deck  175  with hinges  225  and support bars  215  as described above with reference to  FIGS. 8 and 9 . Braces  190  may be used to stabilize the position of the foldable deck assembly  205  relative to the primary deck  175 . The braces  190  may be secured to brackets  195  mounted on the ends  115  of the sidewalls  110  and to brackets  200  mounted on an upper surface of the foldable main deck  220  of the foldable deck assembly  205 . According to an exemplary embodiment, the braces  190  are secured to the brackets  195  by bolts. 
     FIGS. 8 and 9  illustrate the support assembly  165  (the saddle  145  and pontoon  185  illustrated in  FIG. 2 , are not shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9  for clarity) placed in a retracted, nominally vertical position. A procedure for retracting the support assembly  165  is described above with reference to  FIGS. 5–7 . 
     FIG. 11  is a pictorial diagram illustrating a support assembly  165  in a retracted, nominally vertical position with restraining material  150  arranged to hold a deflated pontoon. Although the pontoon is not illustrated in  FIG. 11 , it should be clear that a pontoon (not shown) occupying a volume  162  can be substantially surrounded by restraining material  150  including additional restraining material  155 . 
     FIG. 12  is a partial pictorial diagram depicting a deflated pontoon  185  wrapped in restraining material  150  including additional restraining material  155 . As described above with reference to  FIG. 2 , about half of the restraining material  150  forms the saddle  145  ( FIG. 2 ). The rest of the restraining material  150 , designated as additional restraining material  155 , may be used to substantially surround the deflated pontoon  185 . In another embodiment, additional restraining material  155  is not used, and the deflated pontoons may be secured by alternative means, e.g., by bungee cords, rope, wire, or the like. It should be noted that a portion of the deflated pontoon  185  may be folded across the fore end  180  of the boat  100 . The extending of the support bars  215  from the primary deck  175 , as described above with reference to  FIG. 8 , may provide space for placing the folded portion of the pontoon  185  across the fore end  180  of the boat when the foldable deck assembly  205  is in a folded position as described below with reference to  FIGS. 13 and 14 . The braces  190  illustrated in  FIG. 11  may be removed in order to allow the folded portion of the pontoon  185  to be placed across the fore end  180  of the boat. 
   Once the pontoon  185  has been deflated and the braces  190  ( FIG. 11 ) have been removed as illustrated in  FIG. 12 , a portion of the pontoon  185  may be folded across the fore end  180  of the boat as already described. The foldable main deck  220  of the foldable deck assembly  205  then may be folded to a nominally vertical position as illustrated in  FIG. 13 . It should be noted that the foldable main deck  220  can aid in restraining the folded portion of the pontoon  185  for transport, for example, on a trailer. The foldable wing deck assembly  230  then may be rotated according to rotation indication  263  about the pins  240  in brackets  235  to a folded position. The foldable wing deck assembly  230  is illustrated in  FIG. 13  as being partially folded. 
     FIG. 14  is a partial pictorial diagram of a front corner of a boat  100  that illustrates the pontoon  185  and the foldable deck assembly  205  in a position suitable for transporting the boat  100  on a trailer. It should be understood that a typical embodiment includes a second pontoon placed on a sidewall opposite the sidewall  110  illustrated in  FIGS. 1–2 , and  8 – 14 . The foldable deck assembly  205  in such a typical embodiment also may include a second foldable wing deck assembly mounted on an end of the foldable main deck  220  opposite the end of the foldable main deck  220  illustrated in  FIG. 14  as already mentioned. 
   The present invention further comprises a method of extending support assemblies in a manner that facilitates operating a boat on water with a wide configuration. A variation of the method further provides for retracting the support assemblies to achieve a narrow configuration suitable for trailering the boat on a highway.  FIG. 15  is a flow diagram that illustrates one implementation of the method of the present invention. According to this implementation of the method, and with reference to  FIG. 1 , a boat  100  is provided at step  400 , the boat  100  comprising a primary deck  175 . This implementation of the method of the present invention further provides a plurality of support assemblies  165  connected to an underside of the primary deck  175  at step  410 . The implementation of the method further provides a plurality of inflatable pontoons  185  and  186  connected to the plurality of support assemblies  165  at step  430 . The plurality of support assemblies  165  may comprise a plurality of outrigger assemblies  141 , an example of which is a representative outrigger assembly  241  illustrated in  FIG. 3 . The representative outrigger assembly  241  may be connected, e.g., by welding, to an underside  176  of the primary deck  175  as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . The plurality of support assemblies  165  may be extended, and the pontoons  185  and  186  inflated at step  440 .  FIGS. 2 and 3  depict an inflated pontoon  185  connected with an extended support assembly  165 . A boat  100  with inflated pontoons and an extended plurality of support assemblies may be advantageously operated on water owing to the relatively wide stance afforded by the extension of the support assemblies and associated pontoons. The inflated pontoon  185  illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3  comprises a plurality of fastening loops  120  that hook over two parallel rods  170  of the support assembly  165 . The two parallel rods  170  shown in, e.g.,  FIG. 2 , underlie a plurality of outrigger assemblies  141  secured to the underside  176  ( FIG. 4 ) of the primary deck  175 , e.g., by welding. 
   Preparatory to transporting the boat  100  on a trailer, the plurality of inflatable pontoons  185  and  186  may be deflated and the plurality of support assemblies  165  retracted at step  450 . For example,  FIGS. 11–14  illustrate the support assembly  165  in a retracted position. The pontoon  185  is shown in deflated condition in  FIGS. 12–14 . A boat with deflated pontoons and a plurality of support assemblies in retracted position may be capable of being transported on a highway by trailer. 
     FIG. 16  is a flow diagram depicting an illustrative variation of a method for providing a plurality of support members according to the present invention. A plurality of outrigger assemblies is provided at step  402 , the plurality of outrigger assemblies being connected to the underside  176  of the primary deck  175  as illustrated by the representative outrigger assembly  241  shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . Restraining material  150  ( FIGS. 2 and 3 ) may be disposed between the plurality of outrigger assemblies and the plurality of pontoons at step  404 .  FIG. 2  illustrates a saddle  145  formed of restraining material  150  overlying a pontoon  185  according to the method of the present invention. According to another variation of the method of the present invention, a plurality of parallel rods  170  may be provided, the parallel rods  170  overlying the saddle  145  and underlying the plurality of outriggers  141  as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
   An implementation of the method of the present invention may provide a plurality of outriggers as described by a flow diagram presented in  FIG. 17 . A representative outrigger  241  illustrated in  FIGS. 3–7  may be formed by providing at step  412  a first hollow tube having a first beveled end and connected to a bottom surface of primary deck  175 , e.g., by welding. A second hollow tube aligned with and rotatably connected with the first hollow tube may be provided at step  414 , the second hollow tube having a second beveled end.  FIG. 4  illustrates an example of a first hollow tube  260  connected to a bottom surface  176  of a primary deck  175  as well as a second hollow tube  260 . The first hollow tube  260  has a first beveled end  270 ; the second hollow tube  240  has a second beveled end  275 . Returning to  FIG. 17 , a support bar slidably disposed within the first and second hollow tubes is provided at step  416 , the support bar having a third beveled end. For example,  FIG. 4  illustrates a support bar  265 . The support bar  265 , slidably disposed within the first hollow tube  260  and within representative second hollow tube  240 , has third beveled end  266 . An alternative view of the support bar  265  is shown in  FIGS. 5–7 . 
   A plurality of support assemblies (e.g. support assembly  165  illustrated in  FIG. 2 ) may be retracted by retracting each of the plurality of outrigger assemblies individually, each support assembly including a plurality of outrigger assemblies as already described above with reference to  FIG. 2 . The retracting of each outrigger assembly may be accomplished, according to an implementation of the method of the present invention, as summarized by a flow diagram presented in  FIG. 18 . The support bar (e.g. support bar  265  as shown in  FIG. 5 ) may be moved at step  442  to a position inside the second hollow tube whereby the support bar is clear of the first hollow tube.  FIG. 6  provides an illustration of the support bar  265  disposed entirely within the second hollow tube  240  and not making contact with the first hollow tube  260 . The support bar  265  may be moved, as already described above, by pulling on the handle  295 , thereby applying force through the connecting means  285  to the end  267  of the support bar  265 . With the support bar  265  in the position illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the second hollow tube  240  may be rotated to a retracted position at step  444 . After rotation, the second hollow tube  240  appears as illustrated in  FIG. 7 . The support bar  265  then may be allowed to move downward to a position where the third beveled end makes contact with the first beveled end at step  446 . For example, as illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the third beveled end  266  mates with and makes contact with the first beveled end  270  thereby making the outrigger  241  essentially rigid and locking the second hollow tube  240  in the retracted, position. Repeating the locking procedure with all of the plurality of outrigger assemblies may effectively lock the plurality of support assemblies in a nominally vertical position. The support bar  265  may be moved to the locking position as described above with reference to  FIG. 7 . 
   A typical implementation of the method of the present invention may include deflating the plurality of pontoons connected with the plurality of support assemblies before the plurality of support assemblies is retracted. The deflating may be accomplished using techniques well known in the art. According to another variation of the method of the present invention, the plurality of pontoons may be substantially surrounded as illustrated, e.g., in  FIGS. 12–14 , by restraining material  150 , including additional restraining material  155  after the plurality of pontoons has been deflated. The surrounding of pontoons with restraining material may protect the plurality of pontoons when the boat is transported by trailer on a highway. 
   Beginning in the nominally vertical position illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the representative outrigger  241  may be extended. When each outrigger assembly in the plurality of outrigger assemblies  141  illustrated, e.g., in  FIG. 2  is so extended, the support assembly  165  also is extended.  FIG. 19  is a flow diagram describing an illustrative variation of a method of extending an outrigger assembly according to the present invention. This variation commences by sliding the support bar of an outrigger assembly to a position inside the second hollow tube such that the support bar does not contact the first hollow tube at step  452 . For example, pulling upward on the handle  295  illustrated in  FIG. 7  may apply force to the end  267  of the support bar  265  through the connecting means  285 , thereby raising the support bar  265  to make it clear of the first hollow tube  260 . The second hollow tube  240  then may be rotated to an extended position at step  454 . After the rotation, the outrigger assembly  241  may appear as illustrated in  FIG. 6  with the support bar  265  disposed entirely within the second hollow tube  240  and not making contact with the first hollow tube  260 . The second hollow tube then may be locked in the extended position at step  456  by moving the support bar  265  to a position substantially half inside the first hollow tube  260  and substantially half inside the second hollow tube  240  as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . The moving may be accomplished by moving the connecting means  285  to a position not within the slot  144  described above with reference to  FIG. 5 . Releasing force on the handle  295  then may permit force from the spring  280  to move the support bar  265  to a position partially within first hollow tube  260  and partially within second hollow tube  240 . Extending all of the plurality of outrigger assemblies  141  ( FIG. 2 ) effectively extends the plurality of support assemblies  165  ( FIG. 2 ). With the plurality of support assemblies  165  extended, a variation of the method of the present invention includes inflating the plurality of pontoons  185  and  186  ( FIG. 1 ) connected to the plurality of support assemblies  165 . Procedures are well known in the art for inflating the plurality of pontoons  185  and  186 . 
   Referring again to  FIG. 15 , another implementation of the method of the present invention comprises providing a foldable deck assembly rotatably connected with the primary deck of the boat at step  460 .  FIGS. 8–14  illustrate an exemplary embodiment of a foldable deck assembly  205 . The providing of a foldable deck assembly  205  may comprise, according to a typical variation of the method, providing a foldable main deck, e.g. the foldable main deck  220  illustrated in  FIG. 8 . This variation of the method further may provide at least one foldable wing deck assembly such as the foldable wing deck assembly  230  likewise illustrated in  FIG. 8 . Another variation of the method still further may comprise extending the foldable deck assembly at step  470  and retracting the foldable deck assembly at step  480 . Typically, the foldable deck assembly is retracted for transporting the boat by trailer. Conversely, the foldable deck assembly normally is extended when the boat is operated on water. 
     FIG. 20  is a flow diagram that describes a variation of a method of extending a foldable deck assembly according to the present invention. With reference to the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 8 ,  10 ,  12 ,  13 , and  14 , the foldable deck assembly  205  may be extended by beginning with the foldable deck assembly  205  retracted as illustrated in  FIG. 14 . The at least one foldable wing deck assembly  230  may be extended at step  471  by rotating the foldable wing deck assembly  230  in a direction opposite to rotation direction  263 . In typical embodiments, two foldable wing deck assemblies may be provided, although only one foldable wing deck assembly  230  is shown in  FIGS. 8 ,  10 ,  12 ,  13 , and  14  for simplicity. With the foldable wing deck assembly  230  fully extended, the foldable deck assembly  205  may be partially extended at step  473  by rotating the foldable deck assembly  205  downward from a top of the boat  100 . Typically, any portion of pontoons (e.g. the pontoon  185  illustrated in  FIG. 12 ) then may be moved at step  475  from the fore end  180  of the boat  100  so that the pontoons are parallel with the sides (e.g. side  110  in  FIG. 12 ) of the boat  100 . Normally, the plurality of support assemblies  165  ( FIG. 2 ) is then extended as described above. The plurality of pontoons  185  and  186  ( FIG. 1 ) then may be inflated at step  477 . The foldable deck assembly  205  then may be fully extended at step  479  by rotating the foldable main deck  220  to a nominally horizontal position as illustrated in  FIG. 10 . Optionally, braces  190  may be connected to the extended foldable deck assembly  205  to stabilize the foldable deck assembly  205 . 
   The foldable deck assembly  205  may be retracted by substantially reversing the steps just outlined for extending the foldable deck assembly  205  as illustrated in the flow diagram of  FIG. 21 . A normal variation of the method of the present invention comprises partially raising the foldable deck assembly  205  (see, e.g.,  FIG. 10 ) at step  481 , thereby exposing the inflated plurality of pontoons, e.g., pontoon  185 . If braces  190  are employed, they may be removed before the foldable deck assembly  205  is partially raised. The plurality of pontoons then may be deflated at step  483  using methods well understood in the art. For convenience in transporting the boat  100  on a trailer, a portion of pontoons (e.g. pontoon  185 ) may be folded across the fore end  180  of the boat  100  as illustrated in  FIG. 12 . The foldable deck assembly  205  then may be fully raised at step  487  to a nominally vertical position as illustrated in  FIG. 13 . The at least one foldable wing deck assembly  230  then may be folded by rotating the foldable wing deck assembly  230  according to rotation indication  263  as illustrated in  FIGS. 13 and 14  to a position nominally adjacent to the foldable main deck  220 . Retracting the foldable deck assembly  205  may further facilitate the transportation of the boat  100  on a trailer. 
   In view of the foregoing, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the methods of the present invention can facilitate fabrication and operation of collapsible watercraft. The above-described embodiments have been provided by way of example, and the present invention is not limited to these examples. Multiple variations and modification to the disclosed embodiments will occur, to the extent not mutually exclusive, to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the foregoing description. Additionally, other combinations, omissions, substitutions and modifications will be apparent to the skilled artisan in view of the disclosure herein. Accordingly, the present invention is not intended to be limited by the disclosed embodiments, but is to be defined by reference to the appended claims.