Devices and methods for adjusting watercraft transom height

The invention provides devices and methods for providing a watercraft transom having an adjustable transom height feature allowing optimal matching with the drive shaft of the watercraft's motor. In one embodiment, the adjustable transom height feature comprises two transom height settings to accommodate long or extra long drive shafts or, alternatively short or long or, still more alternatively, short or extra long drive shafts. In another embodiment, the adjustable transom height feature comprises more than two transom height settings, preferably to include matching transom height to known and available outboard motor drive shafts in order to accommodate and virtually optimize any drive shaft length.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates generally to devices and methods for providing a watercraft transom having an adjustable height feature allowing optimal matching with the drive shaft of the watercraft's motor.

2. Description of the Related Art

Outboard watercraft motors are generally available in either a short, long or extra long drive shaft version as further described herein.

As used herein, a short drive shaft outboard may be approximately 15 inches in length. These short drive shafts may be found in use in, e.g. small boats, sailboats with movable brackets, small sailboats, inflatable boats and canoes. These short drive shafts may comprise the primary motor or be used as a trolling motor or other non-primary motor. Generally, the watercraft making use of the short drive shaft outboard motors comprise an aft transom that is approximately 15 to 17 inches in height.

Long drive shafts, as that term is used herein, for available outboard motors may comprise a drive shaft that is approximately 20 inches in length. Such long drive shaft outboard motors may be found in use with, without limitation, sailboats, and pontoons. The watercraft using the 20-inch long drive shaft outboard motors generally comprise an aft transom that is approximately 18 to 21 inches in height.

Finally, extra long drive shafts for available outdoor motors may comprise a drive shaft that is approximately 25 inches in length. Outboard motors comprising the long drive snail may be found in use with pontoons, catamarans, sailboats, large barges and other watercraft having a relatively high transom, i.e., wherein the transom is between 21 to 27 inches in height.

When a watercraft owner selects an outboard motor to match with the watercraft for optimal performance, it is critical to measure the watercraft's transom as well as the motor, specifically the drive shaft length, to make sure the motor will fit the watercraft's transom. With outboard motors, the most important measurement is the drive shaft length. Mismatching the outboard motor drive shaft length with the transom height can result in poor performance. For example, an outboard with a shaft length that is too short for the watercraft will cause the propeller to lift out of the water when the watercraft is on plane, compromising performance.

Outboard motor drive shafts are thus optimally individually fitted to a watercraft according to the boat's aft transom height. When a watercraft lifts under power and skims across the water, it performs and handles most efficiently when the propeller is the only engine part remaining in the water. For this reason, the shaft length must match the height of a watercraft's aft transom. This general and known concept is illustrated inFIG. 1. There the transom height T is indicated with an outboard motor having a matched, fixed non-adjustable drive shaft length S, wherein S≈T. Drive shaft length S is generally measured from the top of the transom to the cavitation plate. Transom height T is generally measured from the top to the bottom of the aft transom. Thus T is approximately equal to S in the optimal configuration ofFIG. 1. Currently, however, this optimized match between transom height and outboard motor drive shaft length S is, unfortunately, not easily achieved in many cases.

Table 1 below illustrates some available combinations of transom height and the closest available outboard motor drive shaft length:

Table 1 illustrates the basic problem: for many current applications, the transom height vs. drive shaft length is mismatched, resulting in sub-optimal watercraft performance.

To illustrate in terms of the state of the art, we refer now to the typical construction strategy on, e.g., a pontoon watercraft that is designed for use with an extra long drive shaft outboard motor, i.e., the drive shaft length is approximately 25 inches. This exemplary pontoon would optimally comprise an aft transom that is fixed at approximately 25 inches to provide optimal matching between drive shaft length and transom height. If, on the other hand, the exemplary pontoon watercraft is being designed for use with a long drive shaft outboard motor with a drive shaft, length of 20 inches, the fixed transom height will be designed to compensate with a height of approximately 20 inches to optimally match the drive shaft length and transom height. Thus, in both of these cases, S≈T as illustrated in exemplaryFIG. 1.

In these known cases, the transom height is always fixed, i.e., not adjustable in height, and is manufactured to fit an outboard motor comprising a known and specified drive shaft length that is also always fixed. At times, the watercraft user may subsequently wish to switch from a short drive shaft outboard motor to a long drive shaft outboard motor, from a long to an extra long drive shaft, etc. In this event, the fixed, non-adjustable transom height is no longer optimal with adverse impact on the watercrafts performance. Currently, correction of this mismatching between the transom height T and new drive shaft length S requires modifying the transom height T to re-optimize its match with the length S of the new outboard motor's drive shaft. Modification of the transom height T requires cutting and fabrication of components to make the conversion and adjustment. Such conversion is difficult and expensive.

The present invention addresses these problems.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides devices and methods for providing a watercraft transom having an adjustable transom height feature allowing optimal matching with the drive shaft of the watercraft's motor in one embodiment, the adjustable transom height feature comprises two transom height settings to accommodate long or extra long drive shafts or, alternatively short or long or, still more alternatively, short or extra long drive shafts. In another embodiment, the adjustable transom height feature comprises more than two transom height settings, preferably to include matching transom height to known and available outboard motor drive shafts in order to accommodate and virtually optimize any drive shaft length.

The figures and the detailed description which follow more particularly exemplify these and other embodiments of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION, INCLUDING THE BEST MODE

FIGS. 2A-2Cillustrate one embodiment of a lower member100of one embodiment of the present invention. Lower member100comprises a lower transom plate110with left and right hollow inner center channels120,122attached thereto. In addition, left and right outer vertical support members124,126are in fixed attachment with the lower transom plate110and with the left and right hollow center channels120,122.

Left and right hollow inner center channels120,122comprise a lower height HLwhile outer vertical support members124,126comprise an upper height HU. A lower mount ledge128is therefore provided disposed between the outer vertical support members124,126and with height matching that of the left and right hollow inner center channels120,122, i.e., HL. Left and right hollow inner center channels120,122may further comprise a series of through holes in matched pairs H, aligned horizontally and vertically for securement of an upper member to lower member100at varying heights as will be discussed further below.

The difference D between HLand HUcomprises in certain embodiments, the difference in outboard motor drive shaft lengths. For example, in various embodiments, HU−HLmay comprise one of the following exemplary configurations:

Thus, in each of these exemplary configurations shown in Table 2, the Upper Height HUmatches the longer of the two exemplary drive shafts, while the Lower Height HLmatches the shorter of the two exemplary drive shafts. The difference D, i.e., HU−HL, is therefore equal to the difference between the lengths of the two exemplary drive shafts in an optimal configuration where, as inFIG. 1, drive shaft length (S)≈transom height (T).

Turning now toFIGS. 3A-3C, one embodiment of the upper member200is illustrated. Upper member200comprises an upper transom plate210with right and left sides220,222, with right and left vertical guide channels224,226mounted on the right and left sides220,222, respectively, of upper member200. Upper member200further comprises a top side230and a bottom side240. Left and right vertical stakes,250,252are attached to the upper transom plate210. As illustrated, vertical stakes250,252are attached to the bottom side240of upper transom plate210. A plurality of matched pair throughholes H′ are provided in at least the vertical stakes250,252for securement within lower member100.

Vertical stakes250,252are configured so that left vertical stake250slidingly fits within left hollow inner center channel120of lower member100. Similarly, right vertical stake262is configured to slidingly fit within the right hollow inner center channel122of lower member100. As illustrated, the geometrical shape and profile of right and left hollow inner center channel120,122are complementary with right and left vertical stakes250,252, respectively.

Further, in the illustrated embodiment, right and left vertical guide channels224,226slidingly receive at least part of the right and left outer vertical support members126,124, respectively.

With continued reference toFIGS. 2A-2Cand3A-3C,FIG. 4illustrates the upper and lower members100,200just prior to lowering upper member100into engagement with lower member200. Similarly,FIG. 5illustrates the adjustable transom300with upper member100fully engaged with lower member200. InFIG. 5, lower member's matched throughhole pairs H are in full alignment with all of the upper member's matched throughhole pairs H′, allowing bolting securement therethrough, connecting and securing upper member100to lower member200in fixed position. This configuration is one exemplary position of the present invention, comprising a height from the lower transom plate110of the lower member100to the top side230of the upper member200as shown inFIG. 5. Thus, this illustrated height comprises the transom height T.

Further, the throughholes on right and left vertical stakes260,252are aligned with the througholes on the right and left hollow inner center channels120,122when the right and left vertical stakes250,252are fully engaged within inner center channels120,122. This full engagement results in the bottom side240of upper transom place210engaging the upper side of lower member100. As discussed above, this embodiment of the present invention may comprise a fixed transom height T, i.e., height that is customized to fit a particular drive shaft length for the proposed watercrafts outboard motor. In this case, the fixed transom height T is equal to the Upper Height HUthat is discussed supra, wherein the outboard motor rests on the top side230of upper member200.

Alternatively, as inFIG. 6, the upper member200may be omitted, creating a lower transom height T that is equal to the lower Height HLthat is discussed supra, wherein the outboard motor rests on lower mount ledge128of lower member100.

In this embodiment, the invention comprises two possible, but still fixed and otherwise non-adjustable transom height positions: a longer transom height T corresponding to HUand a shorter transom height T′ corresponding to HL.

Thus, one embodiment of the present invention comprises an adjustable height transom with at least two positions: a first position with the upper member200fully engaging and received within the lower member100, and a second position without the upper member200engaging the lower member100. The first position, with lower and upper members100,200in engagement, thus comprises a transom height that is higher than that of the second position, i.e., without the upper member200. The upper and lower heights for this embodiment of the present invention may comprise the transom heights illustrated above in Table 2 in order to capture the most common drive shaft lengths S and provide optimal performance.

As a result, the following optimal transom height combination pairs may be realized:

An upper transom height of 25 inches and a lower transom height of 15 inches;

An upper transom height of 25 inches and a lower transom height of 20 inches; and

An upper transom height of 20 inches and a lower transom height of 15 inches.

Additional transom height pairings are certainly possible and well within the scope of the present invention. The illustrated transom height pairing combinations are provided to match with the most commonly available outboard drive shaft lengths S as illustrated in Table 2.

Referring back to Table 1 which illustrates various combinations of outboard motor drive shaft length S and transom height T. In order to provide maximum, flexibility in matching the transom height H with the drive shaft length S, an additional embodiment of the present invention comprises multiple fixed transom height positions. Another embodiment of the present invention may provide selectably adjustable transom heights. We now describe this embodiment, with continued reference toFIGS. 2A-2C,3A-3C and4.

In the selectably adjustable embodiment, upper member200is at least partially engaged with, and received by, lower member100in the manner described above. The difference between the currently illustrated embodiment and the above-described embodiments is that there are more than two, and preferably a plurality, of transom heights that may be obtained with the current embodiment, dependent upon the outboard motor's drive shaft length S in order to provide optimal watercraft performance. This adjustability is achieved by the plurality of througholes pairs H′ on right and left stakes252and250of upper member200, at least one of such pairs H′ successively match with at least one of the throughholes H of right and left inner channels122,120. As the stakes252,250of upper member100are slidingly received within right and left inner channels122,120, the upper member throughhole pairs H′ will begin to match with at least one throughole pair H of the lower member200. Each such successive matching of H′ and H pairs corresponds with a variable transom height, as measured from the lower transom plate110to the top side230of upper member200as shown inFIG. 5.

The skilled artisan will now readily recognize that the upper member200may be lowered to a variety of positions slidingly engaged within the lower member100in order to achieve a selectable transom height that most closely matches the outboard motor's drive shaft length S. Sliding the upper member200further into the inner channels120,122of lower member100to the next successive matching of throughhole pairs H′ and H results in a correspondingly lowered transom height.

Consequently, this embodiment of the present invention may comprise a selectably variable transom height in the range of 15 inches to 25 inches in order to cover the most commonly available outboard motor drive shaft lengths of 15 inches, 20 inches and 25 inches, as well as selectable heights between 15 inches and 20 inches and between 20 inches and 25 inches. Further, the selectable variable transom height may be within a range of 14 inches to 27 inches, in order to cover not only the most common drive shaft lengths of 15, 20 and 25 inches, but also some older drive shaft lengths that may be utilized.

Further, in all embodiments, the skilled artisan will recognize that the upper member may be an optional element in the case where the drive shaft length is equal to that of the lower height in this case, the lower member is all that is required to optimize current performance. However, should the watercraft owner want to change outboard motors from, e.g., a 15 inch short shaft to a 20 inch or 25 inch, or other length, drive shaft, the upper member will be employed to provide a selectably variable upper height to accommodate the longer drive shaft length(s).

While the invention is amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specifics thereof are shown by way of example in the drawings and described in detail herein. It should be understood, however, that the intention is not to limit the invention to the particular embodiments described. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives failing within the spirit and scope of the invention.