Patent ID: 7870830

Claim:
A method of manufacturing a pontoon having an improved running surface, comprising the steps of: supplying a sheet material having a longitudinal axis, a transverse axis, a first longitudinal edge, a second longitudinal edge, a bow transverse edge, and a stern transverse edge; forming the sheet material by imprinting along the longitudinal axis of the sheet of material a concave running surface; further forming the sheet material by imprinting along the longitudinal axis of the sheet material two concave integrated lifting strakes each having a proximal lifting strake surface, proximal lifting strake edge, distal lifting strake surface, and distal lifting strake edge, such that the concave integrated lifting strakes join the concave main running surface at two sponsons; further forming the sheet material by imprinting along the longitudinal axis of the sheet material one or more flotation cavity walls, such that the flotation cavity wall joins the integrated lifting strakes at the distal lifting strake edges; forming one or more seams along the first and second longitudinal edges; adjoining to the bow transverse edge a nose; and adjoining to the stern transverse edge an end.