Patent Document

This is a Continuation of patent application, Ser. No. 10/145,346, filed May 13, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,508,194 B2, which is a Continuation-in-Part of patent application, Ser. No. 10/072,495, filed Feb. 4, 2002, now abandoned, which is a Continuation-in-part of patent application, Ser. No. 09/660,997, filed Sep. 13, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,343,560 B1. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field 
     This invention relates to an individual watercraft. More specifically, the invention is directed to inflatable pontoon watercraft, and provides several enhancements for such boats. 
     2. State of the Art 
     Typically, boats or watercrafts designed for individuals are powered by the action of swim fins on the user&#39;s feet or of oars supported on the framework of the watercraft. Small motors may also be used on these boats. Such boats are popularly used as fishing platforms, but they are also used more generally for water transport, such as in connection with hunting, touring or white water rafting. 
     These watercraft generally comprise two inflatable cylindrical pontoons harnessed together by means of a rigid mainframe. The mainframe functions as the support for seating or decking, and also serves as the attachment point for any optional equipment; such as foot rests, frame extensions, motors, oars, rod holders, beverage holders, fish finders, stripping aprons, cargo containers, anchors, etc. 
     Mainframes have typically been constructed of aluminum. In general practice, assembly of the mainframe to the pontoons requires that the mainframe rest directly on the pontoon surfaces. Significant problems have been associated with such direct contact between the mainframe and pontoons. Friction between the surfaces of a pontoon and a frame during use of the boat causes black oxide to rub off of the mainframe and stain the pontoons and anything else coming in contact with the oxide. Aluminum mainframes also are easily scratched and dented during use, transportation and storage. Pontoon surfaces are subject to puncture and abrasion because of the conventional materials of construction of the pontoons, typically PVC, rubber, rubberized fabric or similar polymeric materials. Raised or rough areas on the mainframe cause cuts and abraded areas in the pontoon surfaces. To avoid staining, puncture and abrasion problems, boat owners require considerable time in maintaining the boat. The aluminum frame must be kept painted to avoid any direct surface contact between the mainframe and the pontoons; and any dents or nicks must be smoothed out before the mainframe can be attached to the pontoons. 
     Historically, these boats have been designed with wrap around mainframes supported on a pair of inflatable pontoons. The mainframe harnesses the pontoons in spaced parallel arrangement. The major portion of the frame is thus suspended between the pontoons as a support structure having side members, front and rear cross members and a central platform. Any additional boat components and accessories are attached to this support structure. Misalignment of the pontoons and mainframe create undesired operational problems in controlling the boat. 
     The bending moments generated in conventional mainframes have been observed to have a negative impact on the durability of the frame. The largest bending moments generated in the mainframe occur where the side members are joined to the central platform. Breakage often occurs in this area, especially under conditions causing the pontoons to bounce or the load to fluctuate (in rough water, for example). Overstress failures have also been observed to occur in the regions where foot rest and cargo bay accessories are attached to a frame. 
     Accessories are typically attached to side members of a mainframe, to be convenient to a boater&#39;s hand during boating. Unfortunately, any strap used to attach an accessory to a side member of the mainframe is inherently pushed into the pontoon surfaces when a mainframe is mounted on the pontoons. Other fastener systems and accessory surfaces moving against the pontoons also cause problems associated with wear. Vibration due to wind or rough water, or the transport of an assembled boat, causes abrasion of the pontoon surfaces under these pressure points. 
     Another commonly used method used to attach accessories to the mainframe side members is to fasten or integrally form a clevis at one end of the accessory. The clevis slips over a side member and is fixed in place. Oar locks, fishing rod holders, and beverage holders are examples of accessories that may be attached to a mainframe in this manner. Conventionally, clevis and side members have been made of aluminum. Galling between the clevis and side member surfaces has been found to present a significant problem after short usage times. 
     Wrap around mainframes are intended to provide stability along the full length of each pontoon and maintain the pontoon pair in parallel position even in relatively rough water conditions. Unfortunately, some conventional wrap around design obstructs a user&#39;s entry and exit from the vessel. This problem increases with increasing water depth. Historically, the front cross member of a mainframe has acted as a footrest. A footrest provides many practical advantages; for example, for generally relaxing, for resting and stretching finning muscles, or for supporting a user&#39;s feet in an elevated position to clear bottom hazards. It also may serve as a foot brace for more efficient rowing action. 
     A framing system which eliminates front cross members offers convenient walk-in access to the vessel&#39;s seating area, but with the accompanying loss of the footrest. “L”-shaped foot rest extensions have thus been attached to the side members of certain mainframes lacking a front cross member. Neither the conventional front cross member nor the newer foot rest extension is continuously adjustable to comfortably accommodate various leg lengths. 
     It is recognized that it would be beneficial to provide adequate leg support above the surface of a kick boat&#39;s foot rest. Such leg support would be expected to alleviate leg strain when the feet are elevated. Hypothetically, a cross member could provide additional leg support with the use of a foot rest attachment suspended from and located forward of the member, but only if the user&#39;s legs, through serendipity, happened to be of the correct length to take advantage of such a feature. 
     Many pontoon boat accessories are available to enhance user comfort and convenience. Historically, it has been difficult to attach accessories to the mainframe in a manner avoiding entanglement of the boater or abrasion of the pontoons, and to avoid clutter, while allowing the accessory to be easily accessed when wanted. Historically, accessories are provided to serve a single function. It would be of benefit to provide adaptable accessories that can meet a variety of needs, to eliminate clutter. 
     Conventional boat models are provided with the aim of meeting the needs of boaters primarily interested in one particular type of application. Boats configured for lake fishing are not necessarily convenient for river fishing or river running for example. A versatile boat that can be configured to meet a variety of needs would be highly advantageous. 
     Storage of inflatable pontoon boats has been inconvenient for those, such as apartment dwellers, having limited storage space. These boats have generally been bulky, even when disassembled for storage or transport. Duffle bags and bags with attached back pack straps have been used to increase boat portability. 
     Swept pontoons are being offered to replace the previously favored cylindrical pontoons in some applications. When viewed in a longitudinal cross section, cylindrical pontoons have parallel walls over the water contact area, that rest flat on the water. Swept pontoons may include a cylindrical midsection, but are otherwise characterized by converging walls that curve up away from the plane of the water surface. Fully swept pontoons have no cylindrical sections and are offered with varying radii of curvature. 
     Swept pontoons greatly decrease the water resistance of the boats and allow for greater maneuverability and easy propulsion action. However, boats utilizing swept pontoons are less stable in the water and so are less forgiving of longitudinal load imbalances. Therefore, there is an increased need for adjustability in situating the mainframe longitudinally along the pontoons, to balance the load carried by the pontoons. Further, there is an increase necessity in maintaining the frame attached to the pontoons at a precise and repetitive location for each assembly of the craft. 
     Various attempts have been made to accommodate the needs and desires of boaters to provide individual watercrafts for various types of activities, such as fishing, sightseeing or exploring rivers and streams, separately or together. Often, families will have two or more individual watercrafts to satisfy the desires of the family members. On occasions, only one person may want to go boating and/or fishing and at other times two members may want to go boating together and perhaps take turns rowing and fishing. Such occasions would require either an individual boat or a two-person boat. Likewise, family friends and neighbors may have the same interest as families in boating separately or together. This presents a dilemma with families and friends as to whether they should acquire single-person boats or two-person boats. Further, on such occasions, families and friends on reaching the recreational area for boating and fishing, may then decide to fish or explore, separately or together, again providing a dilemma as to whether they should have a two-person boat or a one-person boat. 
     The joining of two individual watercrafts to act as one is a desirable arrangement. However, prior attempts have suggested that one pontoon boat can be arranged to have parallel seating arrangements to accommodate one or two boaters. Others have suggested longitudinal linking of modular sections between fore and aft sections to accommodate several individuals. Such arrangements do not permit individuals to separate the watercraft into two separate boats because the modular sections require a bow and stern section to be a usable craft. 
     The ideal situation would be the ability to join two individual watercrafts as one for use by two individuals or maintain the watercrafts separate with each individual using one boat. The joining of two separate boats to provide a two-person boat also allows one person to maneuver the craft while the other concentrates on fishing or other activities without concern of navigating streams or rivers. 
     There remains a need for a versatile boat with adjustable and secure foot, leg and seat support structures, improved storage, and reduced maintenance requirements. There further remains a need for a boat assembly capable of more efficient storage and transport, and for a safe, durable, and collapsible design that provides rigid stability when reassembled. There is also a need for improved load balancing capabilities for swept pontoon boats. Elimination of the need for tools and loose hardware for assembly and disassembly would eliminate a major source of inconvenience, and would help reduce weight, thereby enhancing portability. Improved accessory storage and an adjustable and safe stripping apron are also needed. 
     Further, there remains a need for joining two versatile boats by simple means whereby the bow of one boat is coupled to the stern of another boat in such a manner as to form a two-person craft from two individual crafts that retain all the amenities and accessories of a single craft, which allow for joining the crafts as one in the field for various periods of time with the ability to disjoin the craft to accommodate navigation of smaller waterway or tributaries of a larger body of water where the craft coupled in tandem are readily maneuverable. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is an improved pontoon watercraft which includes inflatable pontoons and a yoke assembly for spacing the pontoons in a parallel orientation with a central support for mounting a seat, cargo rack, motor support and anchor mounting and a pair of foot rests. The yoke assembly may be assembled and disassembled without any special tools. The yoke assembly has gunwales for supporting oar locks and oars. The high-rise pontoons provide appropriate contact with the water. 
     The present invention provides a personal pontoon watercraft that may be assembled and disassembled with no special tools and minimum of equipment for inflating the pontoons. When disassembled the watercraft may be stored in a relatively small canvass or other suitable bag having a length of four (4) feet and a girth of six to seven (6-7) feet. The watercraft comprises two inflatable pontoons which may be twin bladder pontoons to provide extra puncture protection; a yoke frame having two yoke members contoured to and encircle the top surface of the pontoons, which are spaced-apart by a central support; each yoke member is retained secured to the central support by struts projecting from the yoke member with snap button locks that seat in apertures in cross bars of the central support; the yoke frame accommodates an integrated load leveling system, as well as, oar locks, oars, trolling motor and anchor mount. 
     Further, the present invention provides a personal pontoon watercraft which includes twin bladders in each pontoon for inflating the pontoons and minimize catastrophic puncture of both pontoons. The pontoons are held by a yoke frame in which the yoke members encircle the top side of the pontoons and are contoured thereto. This maintains the pontoons upright when properly secured. The yoke frame includes D-ring tie downs for securing the pontoon straps which encircle and are secured to the under side of the pontoons, and in conjunction with the D-ring tie downs maintain the pontoons parallel and symmetrical with respect to each other in order to maintain balance and stability of the personal pontoon watercraft. 
     In order to accomplish this symmetry, the straps, generally of nylon webbing, are sewn or otherwise affixed to each of the pontoons precisely the same. First, a long strap, which is sufficient to encircle the underside of the pontoon and extend through the D-ring tie downs, back down and thread through a buckle, is sewn or otherwise secured along the underside of each pontoon oriented in a circular plane through the pontoon such that the longitudinal axis of the pontoon is perpendicular to the circular plane. Next, with the same orientation as the long strap, a shorter strap with a buckle attached to each end, is sewn or otherwise affixed over the long strap along the under side. Additionally, a strip of same material as the pontoons is over sewn or secured covering the web straps along the underside to protect them from underwater and shore line damage. Each pontoon has two sets of these straps appropriately spaced for attachment to the D-ring tie downs on the yoke frame. The positioning of the straps with the longitudinal axis of the pontoons perpendicular to the circular plane of the straps assures that with repeated assembly and disassembly of the pontoon watercraft, the pontoons will always be properly aligned when attached to the yoke frame. The yoke frame with the D-ring tie downs will always maintain the pontoons of the watercraft symmetrical and parallel. 
     Further, the present invention provides the personal pontoon watercraft with an integrated load leveling system whereby the individual can adjust leg rests to multiple positions, adjust the seat forward or backward in several positions, provide gunwales with oar locks that may be adjusted to several forward or rearward positions, and adjust the motor and anchor mount to several forward or rearward positions, for the purpose of individual comfort and maintaining the watercraft level in the water such that the center of gravity will prevent the watercraft from constantly turning around to seek the direction of water flow with the end sitting deeper in the water, turning down stream. Likewise, the center of gravity may be adjusted to maintain the bow deeper in the water to follow the stream flow. 
     The two piece oars are designed to snap together with two snap button locks oriented with the buttons in separate circular planes and angularly displaced from each other by ninety (90°) degrees which prevents inadvertent separation of the two sections by the user or from the oar snagging on an underwater or narrow watercourse obstruction. 
     Other features include a reinforced tubular motor and anchor mount at a convenient height above the water line, a slide out mesh fish basket, a wire mesh storage compartment, Velcro fastener retained nylon side storage boxes, and the like. 
     In another aspect of the invention, the design of the personal pontoon watercraft is modified to provide the removal of the foot rest from the bow of one boat and the removal of the motor and anchor mount from the stern of another boat. In addition, the pontoons of each craft are designed with a zipper, one side encircling the fore end and the other encircling the aft end of the pontoons, in such a fashion that the aft ends of the pontoons of one craft may be slightly deflated along with the for end of the other craft&#39;s pontoons, which can then be mated together forming unitary pontoons between the two boats. In this manner, the pontoons of two separate watercrafts may be joined and a coupling frame can join the frames of the two watercrafts to form a single rigid frame with the rear boat retaining the motor and anchor mount and the forward boat retaining the foot rest. The coupling frame may be several horizontal struts to provide foot rests for the rear craft when joined with the forward craft. 
     In a further arrangement, the watercraft when paired in tandem will accommodate a standing fishing platform by removing the foot rest from the central support of the yoke assembly of the forward craft and inserting the standing platform with railing in the central support of the yoke assembly where the foot rest was removed. This change requires no special tools as the assembly uses snap-button lock for ease of assembly and disassembly. In addition the swivel seat of the watercraft may readily be removed and a pedestal seat of adjustable height and swivel may be attached by unthreading wing nuts and bolts that hold the seat in place and securing the pedestal seat with wing nuts and bolts. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of the pontoon watercraft fully assembled and ready for launching. 
     FIG. 2 is a top view of the yoke frame assembled with foot rests and motor mount in place. 
     FIG. 3 is a front view yoke frame with motor mount. 
     FIG. 4 is an exploded fragmented view of the motor support and anchor mount illustrating the mounting. 
     FIG. 5 is a back view of the yoke frame with motor mount. 
     FIG. 6 illustrates the gunwales with oar lock and oar mounting. 
     FIG. 7 illustrates the oar lock and security clip. 
     FIG. 8 illustrates a partial sectional view of the seat mount illustrated in FIGS. 18 and 19 with the seat latching mechanism unlocked. 
     FIG. 9 illustrates a partial sectional view of the seat mount illustrated in FIGS. 18 and 19 with the seat latching mechanism locked. 
     FIG. 10 illustrates the two piece oar. 
     FIG. 11 is a cross section taken along lines of  11 — 11  in FIG. 10 illustrating the snap button locks for maintaining the two pieces of the oar connected. 
     FIG. 12 is a partial top view of the oar in FIG. 10 illustrating the displacement of the snap locks. 
     FIG. 13 is a partial sectional view taken of the pontoon along lines  13 — 13  in FIG. 1 illustrating the construction of the pontoon. 
     FIG. 14 illustrates the buckle and strap arrangement for securing the yoke frame to the pontoons. 
     FIG. 15 illustrates a fish basket which is extended from under the seat illustrated in FIG.  18 . 
     FIG. 16 is a cross sectional view taken along lines  16 — 16  in FIG.  15 . 
     FIG. 17 is a front view of the fish basket in FIG.  15 . 
     FIG. 18 is an exploded view of the seat and swivel mounting oriented with the central part of the yoke frame. 
     FIG. 19 is a top view illustrating the movement of the swivel mount of the seat. 
     FIG. 20 is a perspective view of the composite watercraft with the telescoping pedestal seat on the forward watercraft. 
     FIG. 21 is a plan view of an individual boat with the attaching devices encircling the aft ends of the pontoons. 
     FIG. 22 is a plan view of an individual boat with the attaching devices encircling the fore ends of the pontoons. 
     FIG. 23 illustrates the lattice work for linking the watercraft in FIG. 21 with the watercraft in FIG.  22 . 
     FIG. 24 is a partial view of the pontoon in FIG. 21 with the fastener and collar exposed. 
     FIG. 25 is partial view of the pontoon in FIG. 22 with the fastener and collar exposed. 
     FIG. 26 a plan view similar to FIG. 21 with the motor mounting removed and the pontoons partially deflated. 
     FIG. 27 is plan view similar to FIG. 22 with the foot rest removed and the lattice work in place and the pontoons slightly deflated. 
     FIG. 28 illustrates the individual watercraft in FIG.  26  and the watercraft in FIG. 27 with the aft and fore pontoons partially engaged. 
     FIG. 29 illustrates the individual watercraft of FIG.  21  and the watercraft of FIG. 22 fully linked with the lattice work engaged and the pontoons nestled. 
     FIG. 30 is a perspective view of the adjustable pedestal with the seat removed. 
     FIG. 31 is an exploded view of the standing platform and stripping apron. 
     FIG. 31 a  is a detail is sectional view taken along lines  31   a — 31   a.    
     FIG. 31 b  is a detail of circular fragment  31   b  in FIG.  31 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 19, and in particular FIGS. 1 through 12, a pontoon watercraft  10  is illustrated. The watercraft  10  has a pair of inflatable pontoons  11 , having a yoke frame generally  13 . Yoke frame  13  is seated on pontoons  11  on reinforcing strips  14  and held in place by straps  15  with buckles  21  as more fully described later. Folding seat  23  is mounted on yoke frame  13 . Gunwales  25  which are part of yoke frame  13  mount two piece oars  26 . Motor and anchor mount  28  is attached to the rear of yoke frame  13 . Cargo basket  29  is positioned over the rear portion of yoke frame  13 . Storage compartments  30  are detachably mounted to pontoons  11  by Velcro fastener or the like. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 2 through 5, yoke frame  13  includes yoke members  31 , one on the port side and one on the starboard side of watercraft  10 . Each yoke member  31  is contoured to seat on reinforcing strips  14  of each pontoon  11 . Yoke members  31  are spaced apart by a central support or seat mount  32 . Inmost rails  37  of yoke members  31  include struts or side butts  35  with snap button locks  43  which seat in cross members  33  of seat mount  32  with snap button locks  43  seated in apertures  34 . The forward cross member  33  may include padding  36  to cushion contact of users legs when maneuvering the craft. Yoke members  31  support D-rings  20  and gunwales  25 . Inmost rails  37  of yoke mount  31  have six apertures  38  that accommodate snap button locks  43  on foot rest  39  which are inserted in inmost rails  37  and provide six positions for adjusting the footrests  39 . Likewise, gunwales  25  oar lock mounting inserts  41  which provide two positions for mounting the oar locks  40 . If desired the oar lock mounting inserts  41  could be provided with more than two positions by increasing the length of gunwales  25 , see FIG.  6 . The oar locks  40  are held in oar lock mounting inserts  41  by oar lock clips  42 . Motor and anchor mount  28  have feet  44  that adjustably seat in rear projections  45  of inmost rails  37  and have apertures  46  to receive snap button locks  43  mounted on feet  44 . For extra stability motor and anchor mount  28  has struts  47 . Motor and anchor mount  28  has a motor mount  28   a  and an anchor mount  28   b.    
     Referring now, in particular, to FIGS. 8,  9 ,  18  and  19 , the swivel arrangement for folding seat  23  is best illustrated. Seat swivel  48  consists of upper plate  49  and lower plate  50  which is secured on central pivot  51  with ball bearings  52 . Upper plate  49  has an aperture  53  which seats locking pin  55  when the swivel seat is in the locked position. The seat swivel  48  locking arrangement includes locking pin  55 , spring  56  with spring retainer  59 , knob  57 , sleeve  58  with a short slot  60  and deep slot  61 . Locking pin  55  has lugs  62  adapted to seat in short slot  60  or deep slot  61  to allow seat  23  to swivel or to lock seat  23  in place. Seat swivel  48  is attached to seat mount  32  in aperture  63  of seat mount  32 . Suitable fasteners such as bolts  54  with wing nuts  65  may be used to attach seat swivel  48  to seat mounts  32 . Seat  23  is secured to upper plate  49  by suitable fasteners. Seat back  23   a  and seat bottom  23   b  are hinged by sex bolt  64  secured on each side of seat bottom  23   b  and seat back  23   a.    
     The two piece oars are best illustrated in FIGS. 10,  11  and  12 . Each oar  26  has shank end  66  and blade member  67 . Shank member  66  has snap button locks  68  which seat in aperture  69 . Snap button locks  68  are in different planes and spaced apart to maintain oars  26  connected without inadvertent separation by accidentally pushing one of the snap button locks  68  or the oar  26  being snagged on something in the water. 
     Referring to FIGS. 15,  16  and  17 , fish basket  71  slideably mounts beneath seat mount  32 . Bracket  72  slideably mounts fish basket  71 . Bracket  72  has stops  73  which engage rims  74  on fish basket  71  to prevent it from inadvertently being pulled completely out from under seat  23 . Rim  74  has stops  75  which engage cross members  33  at the back of seat mount  32  to prevent fish basket  71  from sliding out of bracket  72  at the rear of seat frame  32 . 
     Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 13, each pontoon  11  has twin bladders  17  with air valves  17   a  for inflating and deflating pontoons  11 . Pontoon  11  is nylon PVC coated material which is seam welded along lines  17   b . Pontoons  11  have nylon web strap  15  which extends beneath pontoon  11  between D-ring brackets  20  on the outboard and inboard side of pontoon  11 . A short second strap  16  extends beneath pontoon  11  on top of strap  15 . Strap  16  retains each buckle  21  attached approximately just above the water line of pontoon  11 . Straps  15  and  16  are sewn to bottoms of pontoon  11  and a covering  18  of the same nylon PVC coated material as used for pontoon  11  is sewn thereover to provide protection for straps  15  and  16  when the watercraft  10  engages underwater objects or the bottom, as well as, moving the watercraft in and out of the water along the shoreline. Straps  15  also have Velcro fasteners to hold the ends of strap  15  against itself once the pontoons  11  have been properly secured to the yoke frame  13 . The forward ends of each pontoon  11  have a convenient attachment loop  19  such that the watercraft could be hauled or otherwise towed as desired. 
     The pontoon watercraft  10  is assembled in the following manner, the main parts of yoke frame  13  are yoke members  31  and seat mount  32 . The twin bladders  17  of pontoons  11  are inflated through valves  17   a  with sufficient air to fully inflate pontoons  11  which should be relatively firm. Once the pontoons  11  have been inflated the yoke frame  13  is assembled by depressing the snap button locks  43  used throughout the assembly and inserting the struts  35  in cross members  33  of seat mount  32 . Prior to this assembly the seat swivel  48  is secured through aperture  63 . Lower plate  50  of seat swivel  48  is bolted in the desired position in aperture  63  of seat mount  32 . Upper plate is likewise attached in any suitable manner to seat bottom  23   b . Once yoke frame  13  is assembled, then it is placed over pontoons  11  and pontoons  11  adjusted so that the yoke members  31  seat on reinforcing strips  14  and D-rings  20  on yoke members  31  are oriented in alignment with straps  15  on either side of pontoons  11 . Straps  15  are threaded through D-rings  20  then down through the bottom slot and back through the top slot in buckles  21 . Straps  15  are tightened by pulling up on straps  15  which engage serrated edges of buckles  21  to hold pontoons  11  securely to yoke frame  13 . 
     The preferred embodiment of composite watercraft  100  is best understood with referenced to FIGS. 20 through 29. Composite watercraft  100  combines watercraft  110  in FIG.  21  and watercraft  120  in FIG.  22 . It should be noted that watercraft  110  is almost identical with pontoon watercraft  10  and includes yoke frame  13 , illustrated in FIG. 2, foot rest  29  and motor and anchor mount  28 . Moreover, watercraft  120  is also similar to pontoon watercraft  10  and includes yoke frame  13 , illustrated in FIG. 2, foot rest  29  and motor and anchor mount  28 . Further referring to FIGS. 23,  24  and  25 ; however, watercraft  110  has zippers  112  hidden by collar  113  on aft ends  115 . Likewise, watercraft  120  has zippers  122  hidden by collar  123  on fore ends  125 . 
     In order to assemble individual watercraft  110  with individual watercraft  120  to form composite watercraft  100 , motor and anchor mount  28  is removed by depressing snap-button locks  43  from apertures  46 . Likewise, on watercraft  120 , snap-button lock  43  on footrest  39  are depressed from apertures  38  and foot rest  39  is removed. 
     Pontoon watercraft  110  and pontoon watercraft  120  are now ready to be joined. In order to do so, aft ends  115  of pontoons  111  are slightly deflated along with fore ends  125  of pontoons  121 . Next, lattice work, generally referred to as  130 , includes two parallel bars  131  spaced by two horizontal bars  132 . Bars  131  have long ends  134  and short ends  136 . With pontoons  111  and  121  slightly deflated, long ends  134  of lattice work  130  are inserted in innermost rails  37  of yoke member  31 , in apertures  46  until snap-button locks  137  engage apertures  46  (see FIG.  2 ). Likewise, foot rest  39  is removed by pressing snap-button locks  43  and pulling foot rest  39  out of innermost rails  37  with longs ends  134  of lattice work  130  remaining locked in innermost rails  37 , with snap-button locks  137  engaged in apertures  38 . Short ends  136  of side rails  131  are inserted into innermost rails  37  until snap-button locks  137  engage apertures  38 , such that fore ends  125  of pontoons  121  are fully mated with aft ends  115  of pontoons  111 . Once lattice work  130  is fully engaged with watercrafts  110  and  120 , zippers halves  112  and  122  are mated to physically fasten aft ends  115  of pontoons  111  to aft ends  125  of pontoons  121 . Collar  113  is then overlaid on top of collar  123  to provide a smooth juncture between aft ends  115  of pontoons  111  with fore ends  125  of pontoons  121 . 
     In assembling watercraft  110  with watercraft  120  to form composite watercraft  100 , fore ends  125  of pontoons  121  may be left inflated and aft ends  115  of pontoons  111  would be deflated sufficiently for fore ends  125  on pontoons  121  to nestle into aft ends  115  of pontoons  111 . Further it should be understood that lattice work  130  is alone sufficient to maintain pontoons  111  nestled with pontoons  121 , but for convenience, the possibility of rough water causing the pontoons to be distorted and separated is prevented by meshing zipper half  112  with zipper half  122  to secure aft ends  115  of pontoons  111  with fore ends  125  of pontoons  121 . This could be accomplished with Velcro fasteners in which zipper half  122  is replaced with male Velcro strip, zipper  112  eliminated and collar  112  having its inside formed with female Velcro strip. 
     Referring to FIG. 20, FIG.  30  and FIG. 31, pedestal seat  140  is similar to the arrangement for supporting folding seat  23  and seat swivel  48  as shown in FIGS. 18 and 19. Lower plate  50  (seen in FIG. 18 and 30) is supported and attached to pedestal post  150 . Inner tubular housing  151  has longitudinal slots  152  with cross slots  153 , which lock inner tubular housing  151  with pin  155  engaged in upper end  156  of slots  153  to adjust the height of seat  23 . It is raised and turned until pin  155  projects in slots  152  with pin  155  oriented with longitudinal slot  152 . Inner tubular housing  151  is raised and lowered in pedestal well  157  until the desired height is obtained and inner tubular housing  151  is rotated until pin  155  engages one of cross slots  153  and is lowered so that pin  155  is secured in upper end  156  of slot  153 . Pedestal well  158  is attached by bolts  54  with wing nuts  65 , the same as in FIG.  18 . 
     Referring now to FIGS. 29,  31 ,  31   a  and  31   b , stand-up platform or deck, generally referred to as  160 , includes tubular framework  161  having mounting extension  163  and preferably forming an acute angle of approximately 80° with the deck. Tubular extensions  163  maybe slightly towed in to provide clearance between parallel arms  164 , which are attached to vertical section  165  of tubular framework  161 . Braces  166  are secured to parallel arms  164  and vertical section  165  to provide additional strength to parallel arms  164 . Platform or deck  162  is attached to mounting extensions  163  by bolts  168  and nuts  169 . At the free end of extension  163 , platform  162  is secured to mounting extensions  163  by J-hook  171  secured by nut  172 . 
     Stand-up platform  160  may be mounted to either the fore or aft end of watercraft  10  or joined watercrafts  110  and  120  and may be mounted either by removal of footrests  39  or motor mount  28 . In order to attach stand-up platform  160  at the fore end of watercraft  10 , footrests  39  are removed, parallel arms  164  are inserted in innermost rails  37  of yoke members  31  until snap-button locks  43  are secured in apertures  38 . J-hooks  171  are loosened and rotated out of the way of yoke member  31  until parallel arms  164  are seated in innermost rails  37  after which J-hooks are rotated back and tightened down to provide additional support for platform  162  from innermost rails  37 . 
     Likewise if it is desired to mount stand-up platform  160  at the aft end of watercraft  10  or joined watercrafts  110  and  120 , motor mount  28  is removed and parallel arms  164  are inserted in innermost rails  37  of yoke members  31  until snap-button locks  43  are secured in apertures  46 . In mounting stand-up platform  160 , adjustments may be made by changing the positions of oar locks  40 , seat mount  32  and motor mount  28  of the integrated load leveling system. The optimum load leveling can be made to accommodate a person standing on stand-up platform  160 . 
     The upper section of stand-up platform  160  includes U-shaped tubular member  175  with open ends  176 , which include a series of apertures  178  that engage snap-button locks  177  in mounting extensions  161 , which permits adjustments of the height of tubular member  175  above platform  162 . Tubular member  175  includes padded handle bars  181  welded or otherwise secured to tubular member  175 . Support rod  182  is positioned through apertures  183  in tubular member  175  held by clips  184 . Stripping apron  185  is attached to support rod  182  by ties  186 . Tubular member  175  has tie down loops  188 . Stripping apron  185  is secured over tubular member  175  and tied to support rod  182  and tie down loops  188 . Stripping apron  185  is provided with safety belt  190 . The arrangement is such that a fisher standing on the platform can position safety belt  190  around his/her midsection and hold on to handle bars  181 , thus to prevent the fisher from being caught off balance from rough waters and obstructions that cause the watercraft to lurch or bounce unexpectedly. 
     It should be recognized that stand-up platform  160  may be mounted to the individual watercraft at either end and if desired to either or both ends of the composite watercraft. Thus the watercrafts can be suitably tailored to the desires of the individual users.

Technology Category: 7