Watercraft and method of fabricating the same

Claim 2

A watercraft which comprises: a hull including a narrow elongated flat planing surface formed along its keel with substantially parallel edges and a transverse dimension greater than one-fifth but less than onehalf of the transverse hull dimension; substantially planar hull surfaces extending laterally upwardly from opposite sides of said planing surface at shallow angles; and means forming a step up from each edge of said planing surface to the adjacent edge of said shallow-angled hull surfaces, each step being dimensionally much smaller than the width of said elongated planing surface.

Claim 3

A watercraft according to claim 1 which comprises, chine sections angled upwardly at steep angles from the outer edges of said shallow-angled hull surfaces.

Claim 4

A watercraft according to claim 2 wherein, said central planing surface, said shallow-angled hull surfaces, and the adjacent surfaces of said chine sections gradually merge in a single V-shaped surface at the bow portion of the hull.

Claim 5

A watercraft according to claim 3 wherein, said V-shaped bow surface slightly rises toward the foremost extremity thereof.

Claim 6

A watercraft according to claim 4 wherein, said hull has a horizontal outline which tapers outwardly from a point at its bow end thereafter has a beam dimension considerably in excess of its draft dimension.

Claim 7

A watercraft according to claim 1 which comprises: a flat elongated keel; and said hull being formed by a single molded element of fiberglass with the portion over said keel forming said planing surface.

Claim 8

A watercraft according to claim 1 which comprises, a superstructure joined to said hull along its perimeter and including a central pedestal adapted to provide a seat for an occupant.

Claim 9

A watercraft according to claim 7 which comprises: a swivel chair on said pedestal; and means adapted to connect said chair to a steering unit for the watercraft.

Claim 10

A watercraft according to claim 1 wherein, the undersurface of said hull has a shallow longitudinal V-shape.

Claim 11

A watercraft according to claim 9 wherein, the apex of said V is substantially centered longitudinally of said hull undersurface.

Claim 12

A watercraft according to claim 1 wherein, said lateral hull surfaces extend rearwardly further than said central planing surface thereby to form sponsons adjacent the stern portion of the watercraft.

Claim 13

A watercraft according to claim 11 which comprises, means adapted to mount a motor between said sponsons.

Claim 14

A watercraft according to claim 12 which comprises: a superstructure joined to said hull and carrying said motor-mounting means; and steering means mounted on said superstructure and including cables adapted for connection to the motor and extending laterally outboard from their connection to said motor.

Claim 15

A watercraft according to claim 13 wherein, said steering means includes a steering post mounted on said superstructure to extend forwardly and downwardly adjacent the bow portion thereof.

Claim 16

A watercraft according to claim 1 wherein, the undersurface of said hull includes a concave hook adjacent the stern portion thereof.

Claim 17

A watercraft according to claim 1 which further comprises, sponsons substantially outboard of said narrow planing surface to provide stabilizing flotation to said hull on the lower side of said hull during a turn.

Claim 18

A hull configuration for effecting safe controlled turns of a shallow draft substantially flat-bottom planing watercraft comprising: a narrow elongated planing surface formed along the keel of said hull with substantially parallel edges and a transverse dimension greater than one-fifth but less than one-half of the transverse hull dimension; hull surfaces extending laterally upwardly from opposite sides of said planing surface at shallow angles; means forming a step up from each of the opposite edges of said planing surface to the adjacent shallow angled hull surface which is substantially smaller than the width of said planing surface to pile up water on the side of said hull opposite a turn; and sponsons on said hull substantially outboard from said planing surface to provide flotation for that side of the hull upon which water is not piled up by the step during said turn.

Claim 19

A hull configuration for effecting safe controlled turns of a shallow draft substantially flat-bottom planing watercraft comprising: a narrow elongated planing surface formed along the keel of said hull with substantially parallel edges and a transverse dimension greater than one-fifth but less than one-half of the transverse hull dimension; hull surfaces extending laterally upwardly from opposite sides of said planing surface at shallow angles; means forming a step up from each of the opposite edges of said planing surface to the adjacent shallow angled hull surface which is substantially smaller than the width of said planing surface to pile up water on the side of said hull opposite a turn; and sponsons on said hull substantially outboard from said planing surface to provide flotation for that side of the hull upon which water is not piled up by the step during said turn.

Claim 20

A watercraft comprising: a hull having a planing surface formed along its keel having parallel edges with a transverse dimension more than one-fifth and less than one-half of the transverse hull dimension, lateral surfaces joined to said planar surface by shallow steps on both sides and extending laterally upwardly at shallow angles and transom means for mounting an outboard motor at its stern; a pedestal carrying a driver''s seat mounted on said hull; an outboard motor secured to said transom means; means for steering the watercraft including a pivoted handlebar forward of said driver''s seat, lever means at the lower end of said handlebar within said hull; and a flexible steering cable attached at its midlength to said lever means and at its ends to said motor, all of said steering cable except its ends being enclosed within said hull and pedestal.

Claim 21

A watercraft comprising: a hull having a planing surface formed along its keel having parallel edges with a transverse dimension more than one-fifth and less than one-half of the transverse hull dimension, lateral surfaces joined to said planar surface by shallow steps on both sides and extending laterally upwardly at shallow angles and transom means for mounting an outboard motor at its stern; a pedestal carrying a driver''s seat mounted on said hull; an outboard motor secured to said transom means; means for steering the watercraft including a pivoted handlebar forward of said driver''s seat, lever means at the lower end of said handlebar within said hull; and a flexible steering cable attached at its midlength to said lever means and at its ends to said motor, all of said steering cable except its ends being enclosed within said hull and pedestal.

Claim 22

The watercraft of claim 18 wherein, the ends of said steering cable first extend laterally outboard from their points of connection to said motor and then from the outboardmost point of each cable portion into the interior of said pedestal and hull to said lever means.