Storage system for a boat
A boat including a hull, a floor supported within the hull and a storage region positioned beneath the floor. An opening is provided through the floor for accessing the storage region. The opening is covered by a hatch. A component carrier is positioned within the storage region. The component carrier rides along a guide structure that guides the component carrier between first and second positions within the storage region.
The present invention relates generally to storage systems for boats. More particularly, the present invention relates to storage systems for storing items such as deep cell batteries.
BACKGROUNDImprovements have been made in fishing boats to enhance deck organization. An important aspect of deck organization relates to maximizing the amount of usable storage space, and efficiently using the storage space that is available. Storage systems have been developed for promoting the efficient use of storage space in a boat. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,586,515 discloses a storage system for storing fishing rods. Also, U.S. Pat. No. 6,574,911 discloses a storage system for efficiently storing tackle. Other systems for promoting the effective use of storage space in a boat are needed.
SUMMARYOne aspect of the present invention relates to a storage system for a boat that promotes the more efficient use of space and facilitates accessing components stored within the storage space.
Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to a boat including a storage region, a component carrier positioned within the storage region, and a guide structure for guiding the component carrier between first and second positions within the storage region.
Examples of a variety of aspects in addition to those described above are set forth in the description that follows. It is to be understood that both the forgoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the broad inventive aspects that underlie the examples disclosed herein.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Referring still to
Referring still to
Because the storage region 61 is large relative to the size of the access opening 60, portions of the storage region 61 can be difficult to access through the opening 60. To make the storage space distant from the opening 60 more readily usable, the boat includes a component carrier 80 (see
In the depicted embodiment, the component carrier 80 is adapted for carrying a pair deep cell marine batteries 91a and 91b. The marine batteries 91a, 91b are electrically connected to a power panel 100 located at the bow of the boat. In the depicted embodiment, the power panel 100 is an electric trolling motor power panel having a voltage port for plugging in an electric trolling motor 111. The panel 100 can also include other features such as a trim/tilt switch for the main motor and a battery voltage indicator.
The batteries 91a and 91b are shown wired to the panel 100 by cables 105 routed between the hull and the floor. For example, the cables 105 are shown routed beneath the front platform 32 along the compartment 43 and to the bow. A cable conduit 106 can be provided for receiving the cables 105. Preferably, the cables 105 have sufficient slack to allow the component carrier 80 to be moved between the rearward and forward positions 81a, 81b without restriction from the cables 105.
In the depicted embodiment of
The boat 20 preferably includes structure for guiding the component carrier 80 between the rearward and forward positions 81a, 81b. Examples of structures include tracks, rails, slots, guides, rails or other structures. As depicted in
Referring to
When the component carrier 80 is at the position 81a, the batteries can be readily accessed through the opening 60 defined through the cockpit floor. When the component carrier 80 is in the forward position 81b, the batteries are stored beneath the front storage compartment in a region that would typically otherwise be difficult to access.
While the component carrier has been shown as a tray with through-holes for receiving batteries, other carriers such as trays with raised edges, movable containers, movable platforms, baskets or other movable structures. Also, while the carrier 80 is shown moving beneath the front platform, carriers in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure can be used at any location where improved access to a remote storage location is desired.
Retaining structures can be provided for restricting vertical movement of the batteries relative to the component carrier. For example, as shown in
With regard to the forgoing description, changes may be made in detail, especially with regard to the shape, size and arrangement of the parts. It is intended that the specification and depicted aspects be considered illustrative only and not limiting with respect to the broad underlying concepts of the present disclosure.
Claims
1. A boat comprising:
- a hull;
- a front platform positioned within the hull;
- a cockpit having a cockpit floor that is recessed relative to the front platform;
- a lower storage region beneath the cockpit floor;
- an opening provided through the cockpit floor for accessing the lower storage region;
- a component carrier mounted within the lower storage region, the component carrier being movable between a rearward position wherein the component carrier is located beneath the opening and a forward position where the component carrier is located beneath the front platform.
2. The boat of claim 1, further comprising a track structure for slidably mounting the component carrier within the storage region.
3. The boat of claim 2, wherein the storage region is defined within the hull of the boat, wherein the track structure includes two generally parallel tracks secured to the hull of the boat, and wherein the component carrier includes edges captured between the tracks and the hull.
4. The boat of claim 1, wherein the component carrier includes a battery tray.
5. The boat of claim 4, further comprising a track structure for slidably mounting the battery tray within the storage region.
6. The boat of claim 5, wherein the battery tray defines a through-hole sized for receiving a battery, and wherein a recessed region is provided beneath the battery tray for receiving a lower portion of the battery when the battery is placed in the through-hole to reduce the height the battery extends above the tray.
7. The boat of claim 6, wherein the lower storage region is defined by the hull, wherein the track structure includes generally parallel tracks secured to the hull, and wherein the recessed region is located between the tracks and extends along a keel line of the hull.
8. The boat of claim 1, further comprising a compartment positioned beneath the front platform, wherein the component carrier is located beneath the compartment when in the forward position.
9. The boat of claim 8, wherein the component carrier defines at least one through-hole for receiving a battery, and wherein a recessed region is located beneath the component carrier for receiving a lower portion of the battery when the battery is placed in the through-hole to reduce the height the battery extends above the component carrier.
10. The boat of claim 9, wherein the component carrier defines at least 2 through-holes for receiving batteries.
11. The boat of claim 9, further comprising a track structure for slidably mounting the component carrier within the lower storage region.
12. The boat of claim 1, wherein at least one deep cell battery is carried by the component carrier.
13. The boat of claim 12, wherein at least 2 deep cell batteries are carried by the component carrier.
14. The boat of claim 12, wherein the deep cell battery is wired to a voltage port located at a bow of the boat.
15. The boat of claim 14, wherein the voltage port is part of an electric trolling motor power panel.
16. The boat of claim 12, further comprising a track structure for slidably mounting the component carrier within the storage region.
17. A boat comprising:
- a hull;
- a floor supported within the hull;
- a storage region positioned beneath the floor;
- a first opening provided through the floor for accessing the storage region;
- a component carrier positioned within the storage region; and
- a guide structure for guiding the component carrier between first and second positions within the storage region.
18. The boat of claim 17, wherein the component carrier is located beneath the first opening when in the first position and is displaced from beneath the first opening when in the second position.
19. The boat of claim 17, wherein the component carrier comprises a deep cell battery carrier.
20. The boat of claim 17, wherein the guide structure includes first and second tracks secured to the hull.
21. The boat of claim 19, wherein the component carrier includes at least one through-hole sized to receive a deep cell battery.
22. The boat of claim 17, wherein the floor includes a raised floor and a recessed floor, the recessed floor being recessed relative to the raised floor, the first opening being defined through the recessed floor, and the first position of the component carrier being primarily beneath the recessed floor and the second position of the component carrier being primarily beneath the raised floor.
23. The boat of claim 22, wherein the raised floor defines a second opening, and wherein the boat further comprises a compartment accessible through the second opening, the compartment including a bottom wall, the storage region extending beneath the bottom wall, and at least a portion of the component carrier being beneath the bottom wall when the component carrier is in the second position.
24. The boat of claim 17, wherein the floor defines a second opening, and wherein the boat further comprises a compartment accessible through the second opening, the compartment defining a bottom wall, the storage region extending beneath the bottom wall of the compartment, and at least a portion of the component carrier being located beneath the bottom wall when the component carrier is in the second position.
25. The boat of claim 24, further comprising at least one battery carried by the component carrier.
26. The boat of claim 25, wherein the component carrier includes a through-hole for receiving the battery.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 17, 2004
Publication Date: Sep 22, 2005
Inventors: Keith Dykes (Raleigh, NC), Michael Bernhard (Morrisville, NC)
Application Number: 10/781,049