Abstract Disclosed herein is a boat hull with a transom having therein an aperture, together with a stern drive unit mounted on the boat hull and having a part extending through the transom aperture, and a seal extending between the transom and the part and comprising a member which is inflated so as to sealingly circumferentially engage both the part and the transom to prevent passage of water through the aperture and around the part into the hull. Also disclosed herein is a method of sealing the transom of a boat having a stern drive unit extending through an opening in the transom and including the steps of placing an inflatable member around the circumference of the opening, inserting the stern drive unit part through an opening in the inflatable member, and inflating the member to sealingly engage the member with both the stern drive unit part and the boat transom. Alternatively, the inflatable member can be placed on the stern drive unit part and then the assembly of the stern drive unit and the inflatable member can be properly located in the transom opening prior to inflation.
A boat comprising a hull with a transom having therein an aperture and inner and outer margins surrounding said aperture, a stern drive unit having a part extending through said transom aperture and being bodily supported from said hull independently of supporting connection between said transom and said part, and a seal extending between said transom and said part and comprising inflatable means including a member inflated so as to sealingly circumferentially engage said part and so as to sealingly circumferentially engage said transom about said aperture to prevent passage of water through said aperture and around said part into said hull, said inflatable member being generally in the shape of a hollow torus and including a pair of spaced, parallel, and tangentially outwardly extending flanges engaging the inner and outer transom margins around said aperture.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
136 words
A boat comprising a hull with a transom having therein an aperture and inner and outer margins surrounding said aperture, a stern drive unit having a part extending through said transom aperture and being bodily supported from said hull independently of supporting connection between said transom and said part, and a seal extending between said transom and said part and comprising inflatable means including a member inflated so as to sealingly circumferentially engage said part and so as to sealingly circumferentially engage said transom about said aperture to prevent passage of water through said aperture and around said part into said hull, said inflatable member being generally in the shape of a hollow torus and including a pair of spaced, parallel, and tangentially outwardly extending flanges engaging the inner and outer transom margins around said aperture.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A boat in accordance with claim 1 wherein said inflatable member includes an inlet valve adapted to afford entry of air under pressure into said inflatable member.