Pontoon planer
The pontoon planer is a planer assembly for a pontoon boat that includes a pair of planer foils attached to the undersurface of the boat. Each foil presents a wedge-shaped profile, and a respective foil is disposed between the motor mount and a respective pontoon. The planers function to channel water in a downward direction to provide a lifting force to allow the pontoons to plane at lower speeds.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to watercraft accessories, and particularly to a pontoon planer assembly for attachment to the bottom of a pontoon boat to allow the boat to plane out in the water at lower RPMs with higher gas mileage and at greater speeds.
2. Description of the Related Art
Pontoon boats conventionally comprise a pair of floatation units (pontoons), spaced in parallel relationship and attached to the undersurface of the boat. The pontoon units are elongate, usually circular and extend from adjacent the bow of the boat toward and adjacent the stern. The pontoons function to provide stability to the boat especially in rough waters. However, pontoons tend to create drag at lower engine RPM, thereby decreasing efficiency (mpg) and maneuverability and increasing operational costs. Heretofore, planer structures have been provided for pontoon boats to alleviate the above conditions. However, none of these devices has proven entirely satisfactory. Thus, a pontoon planer solving the aforementioned problems is desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe pontoon planer is a planer foil assembly for attachment to the bottom or hull of a pontoon boat. The structure comprises a pair of planer foils attached to the undersurface of the boat. Each foil presents a wedge-shaped profile, and a respective foil is disposed between the motor mount and a respective pontoon. The planers function by channeling water in a downward direction to provide a lifting force and allow the pontoons to plane at lower speeds with higher miles per gallon and attain higher top end speeds.
Accordingly, the invention presents planer foils for pontoon boats that function to plane the boat out in the water more efficiently at lower speeds. The foils also function to increase speed, fuel efficiency and maneuverability at all speeds. The invention provides for improved elements thereof in an arrangement for the purposes described that are inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing their intended purposes.
These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.
Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTReferring to
As best seen in
In use, the planer foils 10 are attached in the positions indicated above to the undersurface of boat 12 via self-tapping bolts (or any suitable fasteners) inserted through flanges 24. The foils 10 are positioned so that the rear ends 20b open adjacent the stern of the boat 12. The configurations of the flanges 24 insure that the front end 20a will stay up so that all water will flow under the planer foil. As indicated above, the planers 10 function to channel water in a downward direction to provide a lifting force and allow the pontoons to plane at lower speeds with higher miles per gallon and attain higher top end speeds.
It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.
Claims
1. A pontoon planer for a pontoon boat, comprising a foil having:
- a base having a first side, a second side, a front end, and a rear end;
- a first sidewall attached to the first side of the base and extending perpendicularly therefrom, the first sidewall having a top edge;
- a second sidewall attached to the second side of the base and extending perpendicularly therefrom, the second sidewall having a top edge;
- a first flange formed at the top edge of the first sidewall; and
- a second flange formed at the top edge of the second sidewall.
2. The pontoon planer according to claim 1, wherein said base is planar and of rectangular configuration.
3. The pontoon planer according to claim 1, wherein said first sidewall and said second sidewall are planar and of triangular configuration.
4. The pontoon planer according to claim 1, wherein said planer is fabricated from metal.
5. The pontoon planer according to claim 1, wherein each said flange forms a generally inverted U-shape, the flanges being adapted for attaching said foil to the boat's hull, the flanges and sidewalls keeping the front end of the base up towards the hull, whereby water flows under said foil to lift the boat's hull as the boat accelerates through the water.
6. A pontoon planer for a pontoon boat, comprising a foil having:
- a planar base of rectangular configuration, the base having a first side, a second side, a front end, and a rear end;
- a first planar sidewall of triangular configuration, the first sidewall being attached to the first side of the base and extending perpendicularly therefrom, the first sidewall having a top edge;
- a second planar sidewall of triangular configuration, the second sidewall being attached to the second side of the base and extending perpendicularly therefrom, the second sidewall having a top edge;
- a first flange formed at the top edge of the first sidewall; and
- a second flange formed at the top edge of the second sidewall.
7. The pontoon planer according to claim 6, wherein said planer is fabricated from metal.
8. The pontoon planer according to claim 6, wherein each said flange forms a generally inverted U-shape, the flanges being adapted for attaching said foil to the boat's hull, the flanges and sidewalls keeping the front end of the base up toward the hull, whereby water flows under said foil to lift the boat's hull as the boat accelerates through the water.
9. A pontoon boat and planer combination, comprising:
- a pontoon boat having an undersurface, a bow and a stern;
- a pair of pontoons disposed on the undersurface, the pontoons being spaced apart and extending in parallel from adjacent the bow to adjacent the stern;
- a motor mount attached to the stern, the motor mount being disposed between the pair of pontoons;
- a first planer foil, the first planer foil being positioned between a first of the pair of pontoons and the motor mount; and
- a second planer foil, the second planar foil being positioned between a second of the pair of pontoons and the motor mount.
10. The pontoon boat and planer combination according to claim 9, wherein each of said planer foils comprise:
- a base having a first side, a second side, a front end, and a rear end, the rear end being positioned adjacent the stern of said pontoon boat;
- a first sidewall attached to the first side of the base and extending perpendicularly therefrom, the first sidewall having a top edge;
- a second sidewall attached to the second side of the base and extending perpendicularly therefrom, the second sidewall having a top edge;
- a first flange formed at the top edge of the first sidewall; and
- a second flange formed at the top edge of the second sidewall.
11. The pontoon boat and planer combination according to claim 10, wherein said base is planar and of rectangular configuration.
12. The pontoon boat and planer combination according to claim 11, wherein said first sidewall and said second sidewall are planar and of triangular configuration.
13. The pontoon boat and planer combination according to claim 12, wherein each said flange forms a generally inverted U-shape, the flanges being adapted for attaching said foil to the boat's hull, the flanges and sidewalls keeping the front end of the base up toward the hull, whereby water flows under said foil to lift the boat's hull as the boat accelerates through the water.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 3, 2009
Publication Date: Jun 9, 2011
Inventor: Keith V. Wilson (Westrninster, SC)
Application Number: 12/591,894
International Classification: B63B 1/00 (20060101); B63B 1/16 (20060101);