Multi-hull boats

Claim 1

A multi-hull boat comprising a pair of inflatable hulls interconnected by a central structure, wherein the central structure comprises a central longitudinal tubular torsion beam to which are rigidly secured hull connecting beams extending outwards from the central torsion beam to at least three spaced attachment points on each hull, each hull comprising an upper inflatable tube, a lower inflatable tube and a pair of side walls respectively located on opposite sides of the hull and each interconnecting the upper and lower tubes, said side walls as seen in cross section defining a pair of generally upstanding straight lines laterally spaced by said tubes with each line extending substantially tangent to both tubes on its respective side of the hull, such that said side walls, the upper surface of the upper tube and the lower surface of the lower tube enclose the hull and form a continuous smooth oval hull outer cross section, the heights of the free portion of the side walls extending between the tubes being small enough to partly vertically compress the tubes one against the other when inflated, thereby to hold the side walls in tension, wherein the bow end of each tube tapers off towards the bow substantially to a point to form a tapered nose portion, said tapered nose portions being spaced apart from each other by a vertical spacer wherein a said spacer is inserted between the tapered nose portions of the tubes, said nose portions of said tubes and said spacer being covered by the side walls wherein said side walls continue forward to cover said spacer and produce a substantially conventional sharp yet upstanding bow on the inflatable hull.