Patent ID: 8438986

Claim:
A boat comprising: an outer cover having a first rigidity; a frame assembly located in the outer cover, the frame assembly having a plurality of elongated structural members oriented from bow to stern, the frame assembly having a second rigidity greater than the first rigidity; an interconnection between at least two of the elongated structural members, wherein the interconnection includes a portion of the outer cover, wherein the interconnection has a rigidity less than the second rigidity, and wherein the interconnection is the only coupling between the two elongated structural members; inflatable bladders positioned along each side of the boat and positioned proximate to the structural members; an inflatable front thwart located forward of a kayak seat; a cover over a top of the inflatable front thwart; and an inflatable rear thwart located rearward of the seat and extending between the inflatable bladders positioned along each side of the boat, wherein sufficiently inflating the thwarts generates pressure on the bladders and structural members to make the outer cover taut.