Boat hull construction

Claim 1

In a boat construction having a rear cockpit bounded in part by hull side walls and a transversely extending rear wall, said hull side walls having forward and rearward outer surface portions, said rearward outer surface portions being characterized as being essentially vertically disposed, the improvement of a ladder associated with at least one of said rearward outer surface portions for assisting a swimmer in climbing from the water directly into said cockpit, which comprises in combination: at least one slot recess formed in said one of said rearward outer surface portions and arranged below the water line of said boat when at rest in the water, said recess being horizontally elongated and having lower tread, upper and rear surfaces, said recess having a forwardly disposed end thereof characterized as being of progressively reduced cross-sectional area in a direction towards one of said forward outer surface portions associated with said one rearward outer surface portion for affording smooth water flow transition therebetween, said recess having a rearwardly disposed end thereof opening through an outer surface of said rear wall for allowing unobstructed flow of water rearwardly through said recess, and said recess is characterized as having a generally rectangular cross-sectional configuration and as being dimensioned to at least receive the fingers/toes of a swimmer and as extending forwardly of said rear wall through a distance at least approximating shoulder width of said swimmer in order to facilitate entry of said swimmer directly into said cockpit.