Segmented boat

Portable boat which includes a pair of shells which may be connected end to end to form a boat, and which can be connected one atop the other to form a storage box, each shell being of double walled construction, and including a transom for connection of a propelling motor when the apparatus is used as a boat. The apparatus includes seat members which may be connected to form a storage compartment.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
It is likely that a number of boat structures have been devised, for boats 
which will fold or which can be taken apart, so that the boat can be 
stored in a smaller space, or more easily carried and transported. Insofar 
as is known, no completely satisfactory boat of this nature has been 
provided in the art. This invention seeks to provide an improved boat 
structure which will be more satisfactory than previously known boat 
structures, and which is convenient and light in weight, yet suitable for 
its intended purpose. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The invention provides a boat structure having two half parts in the form 
of shells, which are connected together to form a complete boat. The 
shells may be engaged together to form a box-like assembly, in which 
condition the boat may be transported, and which may alternatively be used 
as a storage box, or the like. One of the shells may be used alone as a 
smaller boat. The shells are formed to have internal sealed air spaces, to 
be unsinkable. The shells are formed of molded fibreglass, and are 
lightweight, strong and of pleasing appearance. The assembled boat may be 
driven over the water by a low-horsepower motor, either gasoline or 
battery powered, and have a reinforced transom area and transom fitting by 
which a motor may be readily connected. 
A principal object of the invention is to provide a sectional boat 
structure. Another object is to provide such a boat structure in which two 
shells are connected together end-to-end to form a boat twice the length 
of each shell. Another object is to provide such a boat structure having 
sealed buoyancy chambers rendering the boat virtually inpossible to sink. 
Yet another object of the invention is to provide such a boat structure 
which may also be used as a storage box. Another object is to provide such 
a boat structure which is light in weight, is strong and is economical, 
yet is durable in use. 
Other objects and advantages of the apparatus according to the invention 
will appear from the following description of a preferred embodiment, 
reference being made to the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring now to the drawings in detail, and first to FIGS. 1-2, a first 
shell element 10 has bottom 11, sides 12, 13, and ends 14, 15, being open 
at its top. A second shell element 20 has bottom 21, curved upwardly at 
its lefthand portion 21a, as shown best in FIG. 1, sides 22, 23, and end 
24, upwardly curved bottom portion 21a serving as the end opposite end 24. 
At the upper end of each of sides 12, 13, 22, 23, and ends 15, 21a, there 
is provided an outwardly extending narrow flange 27 terminating in an 
upstanding flange 28. The terminal edges of the upstanding flange 28, of 
shell element 10, and the terminal edge of end 14 form a rim 29a extending 
around the uppermost edge of shell element 10. Likewise, the terminal 
edges of the upstanding flange 28, of shell element 20, and the terminal 
edge of end 24 form a rim 29 extending around the uppermost edge of shell 
element 20. As is shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, rim 29a is slightly inward of 
rim 29 so that when shell element 20 is inverted and placed atop shell 
element 10, as indicated by dashed line 20a in FIG. 1, the rim 29 of shell 
element 20 will overlap the rim 29a of shell element 10 outwardly. Thus, 
when shell element 20 is placed on top of shell element 10 as described, 
the two shell elements form a box adapted to shed falling water such as 
rain or snow, and contents placed within the shells will be protected to 
remain dry. 
Each shell element 10, 20 has along its respective sides 12, 13 and 22, 23, 
inwardly spaced walls 30a-d. Referring now also to FIGS. 3-4 of the 
drawings, the sides 12, 13 and walls 30a, 30b form air spaces 31a-d which 
are sealed around their edges so that they form buoyancy chambers to 
prevent the shell elements from sinking in water. The spaces 31a-d may 
preferably be filled with a foam material the air spaces of which are 
sealed, so that should a water leak into a space 31a-d occur, the 
buoyancies of the shell elements will be retained. 
The walls 30a and 30b are deformed at 31 and 32, to form shoulders 33 and 
34. At each deformation 31, a strap bracket 34a is bolted to shell 10, as 
best shown in FIG. 4. Brackets 34a are also affixed to shell 20, at 
corresponding locations thereof. These brackets are used to connect shell 
elements 10, 20 together, as at the righthand portion of FIG. 1, the 
brackets 34a being shown schematically in FIG. 1, and the connecting 
straps are indicated by reference numerals 35. 
Shell elements 10, 20 are connected together by plural bolts, four such 
being indicated at 36 in FIG. 3. the elements 36 are, of course, bolt 
holes, which are aligned when end 14, 24 are placed together. Bolts are 
run through the aligned bolt holes and secured by nuts screwed thereon, it 
being preferred that resilient sealing washers be disposed against the 
undersides of the bolt heads and the corresponding sides of the nuts, to 
provide seals around the bolt holes. The washers may be bonded to the bolt 
heads and nuts so as to not be subject to being lost. 
Handles 37, similar in form to gate handles, are provided at the end of 
each shell element to facilitate handling thereof. 
At the transverse center of end 15 of shell element 10, a plate 40 is 
affixed in place by bolts and nuts, as best shown in FIG. 7 of the 
drawings. Plate 40 is flat and has a length of square tubing 41 welded 
thereto in vertical disposition. Tubing 41 has a circular hole 42 through 
its wall facing the interior of the boat structure. Square tubing 44 of a 
size to telescope within tubing 41 is connected at its upper end to 
another section of square tubing 45 disposed horizontally over the rear 
wall 15 of the boat structure, tubing 45 in turn being connected to a 
vertical length of square tubing 46. Tubing 46 is received into an opening 
47 of square cross section extending into the bottom of a plate 48, plate 
48 being secured to tubing 46 by screws 49, 50, as shown. 
Tubing 44, near its lower end within tubing 41, has a circular opening 44a 
through which a pin 44b is slidably disposed. Pin 44b is carried by a 
shaped plate spring 51 which resiliently bears against tubing 44 at its 
part adjacent pin 44b, and the ends of which are angled back to be 
resiliently bearing against the opposite wall of tubing 44, to that pin 
44b is resiliently biased into opening 44a and also into opening 42 of 
tubing 41, this securing tubing 44 against longitudinal movement within 
tubing 41. When pin 44b is resiliently depressed out of opening 42, tubing 
44 may be slid longitudinally within tubing 41 to be removed therefrom. 
Therefore, tubing 44 may be slid into tubing 41 when pin 44b is depressed 
and latched in place when pin 44b enters opening 42, and may be released 
and removed as described. 
Plate 48 serves as a mounting plate for connection of a small outboard 
motor or trolling motor to the rear wall or transom of the boat and is 
formed to have surfaces at both its back and front in order that an 
outboard motor, battery or gasoline powered, may be secured thereto by the 
customary clamps. 
In FIGS. 5 and 6 there is shown the structures of a pair of seats for the 
boat structure. Each molded fibreglass seat 60, 61 has a central plate 
portion 62, and a surrounding sidewall 63, an outturned flange 64, and a 
vertical flange or rim 65. The rim of seat element 60 is adapted to fit 
within the rim of seat element 61, so that the two elements may be engaged 
to form a storage box. The seat elements are preferably so engaged when 
the shell elements are engaged as shown at the righthand side of FIG. 1, 
to provide a container for the transom element. Other equipment may also 
be stored in this box. 
For use as seats, the elements 60, 61 are turned so that the central plate 
portions face upwardly, and are engaged in the recessed formations 32, 32 
shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings, being similarly disposed when the seat 
elements are engaged to form a box, as indicated at the righthand portion 
of FIG. 1 by dashed lines. 
The engaged shell portions may be used as a cartop storage box, or may be 
carried on a small trailer as a storage box. The apparatus is small enough 
that it may be readily transported in a pickup truck, in a station wagon, 
or even in the trunk of a large automobile. After the user has arrived at 
a point of use of the boat, the shell elements and transom elements may be 
quickly and easily assembled, to provide a boat of sufficient utility for 
use on any body of water which is sufficiently quiet and free of 
turbulence. As made, the assembled boat may be 10 feet or longer in 
length, may have a beam of anywhere between three and four feet, and a 
draft of from 12 to 16 inches. The boat may be powered by a motor of up to 
2 horsepower, and is approved for such use. 
Of course, boats larger than described may be made according to the 
concepts of the invention. 
The hull shells may be used as open or closed containers, and a single 
shell may be used alone as a smaller boat. Since the hull shells have 
built-in flotation chambers, use of the boat is quite safe. The shapes of 
the hull shells makes them not prone to tipping over. The double walled 
construction gives the boat a great deal of strength, yet the boat is 
light enough in weight that it may be assembled and launched by a single 
person. 
It will be realized that the inner and outer walls of the shell structures 
are bonded together at all contact points to provide a unitary strong and 
safe hull construction. Ribs 66 strengthen and stiffen the hulls 10, 20. 
The seat elements may be provided with folding legs so that they may be 
used as benches on land or other surfaces. 
While a preferred embodiment of the apparatus has been described and shown 
in the drawings, many modifications thereof may be made by a person 
skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention, and 
it is intended to protect by Letters Patent all forms of the invention 
falling within the scope of the following claims.