Pontoon boat

This invention consists primarily of a catamaran type of boat, which includes a main frame upon which is a deck and two standard canoes for use as pontoons. The canoes are converted into pontoons by the addition of light weight cellular floatation material, which makes them virtually unsinkable. The canoes are pivotable between a position along each outer side of the main frame for wide spaced apart support upon the water. The arrangement includes a means whereby the canoe-pontoons are pivoted upward on top of the deck, so as to be out of the way and contracting the pontoon boat width, when being towed as a trailer upon the highway, the underside of the main frame supporting downwardly pivotable wheel assemblies, for travel on the highway surface.

This invention relates generally to catamaran or pontoon type boats. 
A principal object of the present invention is to provide a pontoon boat 
having a relatively wide deck, the pontoon boat being supported upon the 
water by side spread apart pontoons, so as to minimize boat rolling due to 
waves, and the pontoons being inwardly pivotable upon the deck, so that 
the boat is thus made narrower, for being towed as a trailer upon a 
highway. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide a pontoon boat which 
includes its own retractable and extendible wheel carriages, so as to 
eliminate the necessity of a separate boat trailer, when being towed on a 
highway. 
Still another object is to provide a pontoon boat, which is quickly and 
easily adjusted between a towed position and a utility position upon the 
water. 
Other objects are to provide a pontoon boat, which is simple in design, 
inexpensive to manufacture, rugged in construction, easy to use and 
efficient in operation.

Referring now to the drawings in greater detail, the reference numeral 10 
represents a pontoon boat, according to the present invention, wherein the 
same includes a rectangular deck 11, mounted upon a main frame 12, and 
which includes two longitudinally telescoping tubes 13 and 14, and four 
transverse telescoping tubes 15, 16, 17 and 18, and which may be locked in 
their extended position, by the insertion of eight strengtheners 19, one 
of which is inserted into each end of the transverse tubes. 
A set of four mounting frames 20, 21, 22 and 23 are affixed to each outward 
end of the transverse telescopic tubes 15, 16, 17 and 18, each mounting 
frame including suitable strengthening cross braces 24 and 25. The four 
mounting braces on each side are rigidly affixed to a canoe 26 and 27, as 
shown. The telescoping outward ends of the transverse tubes 15, 16, 17 and 
18 include a cut 28, so as to be pivotable about hinges 29, in order that, 
selectively, the pontoons can be pivoted upwardly, on top of the deck, as 
shown at A in FIG. 2, or else outwardly pivoted for resting upon the 
water, as shown at B in FIGS. 1 and 2. In this extended position, the 
strengtheners 19 bridge the inter-hinged components of the transverse 
tubes. 
A pair of wheel assemblies 30 and 31 are each pivotable about a hinge 32, 
on an underside of the main frame 12, so that the wheel assemblies can be 
upwardly retracted, as shown by dotted lines in FIG. 2, when not in use, 
or be downwardly extended, as shown by the solid lines in FIG. 2, in order 
that the pontoon boat can thus travel as a trailer upon a highway surface 
33. Suitable braces 34 retain the wheel assemblies in downward extended 
positions. 
The pontoon boat includes the deck railing 35, for purposes of safety to 
passengers, the railing being made up of separate sections 36, each of 
which includes vertical posts 37, removably insertable into receptacle 
openings 38 formed upon the deck, the posts supporting panels 39 and 40, 
pivotally together, by means of hinge means 41, formed around a center of 
a post 37 between two opposite end posts. 
A ladder 42, pivotable about a hinge 43, is also included, for providing 
access to the deck 11 from a boat, or else from a shore. 
The pontoon boat can include a helm 44 at one end, and other controls 
associated therewith, such as a winch 45, and cables 46 and 47 for winding 
thereupon, the cables controlling rudders 48 and 49, at the rear of the 
two pontoons. A conventional outboard motor 50 is secured to a rear end of 
the main frame, and is located close to the helm, so as to be controlled 
by a helmsman. 
A telescoping tongue 51 is forwardly extendible from the main frame 12, for 
the purpose of attachment to a towing vehicle, when the pontoon boat is 
transported upon a highway. In the retracted position, the ladder is 
dropped down over the tongue. 
In a preferred size, the pontoon boat will have a deck 6 feet wide and 
twelve feet long. The pontoons in an extended position will provide a 12 
foot width, so as to provide stability against rolling. 
Suitable pins, bolts or spring clips will be utilized in the construction, 
for locking movable parts together, such as the strengtheners to the 
transverse telescoping tubes, and the like, so that the craft can be thus 
quickly and easily converted between positions, that can be accomplished 
by any person without special skills. 
It shall also be noted, that the canoes are converted into pontoons by the 
addition of a suitable light weight cellular flotation material. After the 
canoes are completely filled, (level with the gunwales) covers are 
attached of the same material as the hulls of the canoes, in a water tight 
manner that will be strong enough to be used as decks thereon. 
While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it is 
understood that such changes will be within the spirit and scope of the 
present invention as is defined by the appended claims.