Patent ID: 7861662

Claim:
An inflatable boat comprising: a. an inflatable flotation structure comprising upper and lower flotation structure layers with upper and lower flotation surfaces and further comprising front and rear flotation structure portions, and right and left flotation structure side portions spaced laterally from one another, said flotation structure defining a seating region located between the front and rear flotation structure portions and between the flotation structure side portions; b. said flotation structure being arranged to comprise: i. a drop stitch structure which comprises upper and lower drop stitch layers, with a core of threads connected to and extending between said upper and lower drop stitch layers, and which extends substantially throughout the flotation structure, with said upper and lower drop stitch layers comprising at least a substantial portion of upper and lower layers of the flotation structure; ii. a flexible, water proof and air impervious outer wall section with upper and lower edge portions of the outer wall section to outer edge portions of the upper and lower drop stitch layers, respectively, of the drop stitch structure to enclose at least a substantial portion of the outer front, rear and side portions of the flotation structure; iii. a flexible, water proof and air impervious inner wall section with upper and lower edge portions of the inner wall section bonded to inner edge portions of the upper and lower layers, respectively, of the drop stitch structure to enclose at least a substantial portion of the inner portion of the flotation structure that defines the seating compartment; c. said upper and lower layers of the drop stitch structure, said outer wall section and said inner wall section defining an inflation chamber which extends throughout substantially the length of the flotation structure, with said inflation chamber being arranged to be inflated to a sufficiently high level to cause the flotation structure to function as a substantially rigid flotation structure.