Abstract: A rescue boat capable of use on ice, strewn water, water, snow and dragged over rigid surfaces is described. The rescue boat comprises a hull fabricated from a lamination of fiber materials having a specific orientation to provide flexibility for shock absorbing. An inner keel beam is retained along a central longitudinal axis of the hull on an inner surface of the hull. A transom cowling extends across opposed sidewalls of the hull and merges into a transom wall laminated with the hull. One or more transverse seating frames are secured across the opposed sidewalls by connecting brackets and adapted to transfer impact forces with the sidewalls. One or more vertical rigid support posts are secured to the inner keel beam and an associated one of the one or more transverse seating frames for transmitting vertical impact forces between the inner keel beam and the one or more transverse seating frames.

Abstract: An improved grid-like construction boat (1), for use as a tender or trip boat, comprises a central tubular framework, a plurality of tubular elements coupled to the framework and one or more impermeable fabric plies (16, 17) also coupled to the central tubular framework, and encompassing the central tubular framework and tubular elements.

Abstract: A new boat hull support structure is provided in which a chevron rib support structure is used throughout the hull of an aluminum boat. This rib structure provides superior resiliency due to the increase of surface area contact between the boat hull and support ribs. The support ribs are constructed from a plurality of V-shaped ribs, having summit sections and trailing ends connected to transverse braces. The ribs are riveted to the hull, with each successive rib connected to the preceding rib at a point in the forward one quarter of the preceding rib and the center of the transverse brace through a connector plate. A continuous triangular structure is provided which distributes impact loading across the width, as well as, the length of the structure.

Abstract: A boat hull is constructed of inner and outer aluminum skin layers. A foam material and a plurality of spaced frame members are sandwiched between the two skin layers. The skin layers are directly welded to the spaced frame members, which preferably are spaced apart at close intervals, to ensure structural integrity and product performance. A preferred method of constructing a boat hull designed according to this invention includes providing a temporary support structure that is connected to longitudinal beams of the boat hull frame. After spaced frame members are connected to the longitudinal beams a first skin layer is attached. The temporary support structure is then removed and the aluminum skin layers are attached to the spaced frame members. A liquid, curable, closed cell foam preferably is injected into the spacing between the skin layers and the spaced frame members.

Abstract: A new boat hull support structure is provided in which a chevron rib support structure is used throughout the hull of an aluminum boat. This rib structure provides superior resiliency due to the increase of surface area contact between the boat hull and support ribs. The support ribs are constructed from a plurality of V-shaped ribs, having summit sections and trailing ends connected to transverse braces. The ribs are riveted to the hull, with each successive rib connected to the preceding rib at a point in the forward one quarter of the preceding rib and the center of the transverse brace through a connector plate. A continuous triangular structure is provided which distributes impact loading across the width, as well as, the length of the structure.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of boat hull construction. The method comprises mounting a former having an external configuration conforming to the internal configuration of the hull to a vacuum forming bed, heating a sheet of thermo-plastic material, supporting the heated sheet above the former by supporting one side of the sheet material on a first frame member, and supporting the opposed sides of the sheet to each side of the one side from a pair of second frame members. The second frame members are pivotally mounted to the first frame member about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the sheet material. On lowering the sheet over the former air is extracted from the space between the former and sheet material.

Abstract: A high strength impact resistant hull structure including method of manufacture is disclosed having inner and outer skins wherein the outer skin comprises a plurality of wearstrips keyed to one another and keyed to the inner skin.

Abstract: A method of making a boat comprises moulding a hull (6) with an external longitudinal recess (7), securing a folded inflatable bag (8) within the recess, and fitting a cover (9) into position over the recess such that it can be blown clear thereof when the bag is inflated to provide buoyancy during an emergency.

Abstract: A displacement hull is formed by making a series of cuts in a curves sheet or panel of semi-resilient material. At least one primary cut begins at one end of the panel, and extends in one direction for a substantial distance along the panel, but terminates within the panel. At least one primary cut in the other direction runs substantially-parallel to the primary cut in the one direction and overlaps it for a substantial length of the hull. The panel must have enough resilliency, and the cuts from opposing directions must be long enough to provide at least one, elongated, relatively-narrow, very-flexible strip, within which the panel develops from a flat surface, at the termination of each of the primary cuts, to any desired angle at the start of each cut. Secondary cuts, curving away from the primary cuts along the flexible strip, in either direction, can provide various cruves to the keel or chines.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making a boat, or similar vessel, having a hull section to be bonded to a deck section. Pairs of pivotal arms are located adjacent the hull and adapted to be rotated in a first direction towards each of the sides thereof. A plurality of vacuum assemblies, each assembly including a vacuum cup, are attached to the pivotal arms and movable therewith toward the sides of the hull. A vacuum line is connected in common with each of the vacuum cups by which to establish a vacuum for causing the cups to become firmly attached to opposite sides of the hull. When the pivotal arms are rotated in a second, opposite direction, the hull is correspondingly pulled into contact with a peripheral lip of the deck. A layer of glue is deposited around the peripheral lip of the deck, so that the deck and hull sections will be bonded together to form a complete hull.

Abstract: A boat hull is constructed of a plurality of unitary plates connected together along their edges and connected to an internal frame at the edges, such that the side deck and bottom plates of the hull are connected solely at their respective edges to the internal frame, with the plates being spaced outward from the frame intermediate the connections, and with an elastomer disposed in the space between the frame members and the hull plates.

Abstract: A convertible mould comprising a frame including bars and beams carrying movable heads supporting a lattice of slats in a desired configuration. A conforming sheet material is fixed to the slats to provide a mould surface.

Abstract: A method of forming a wood sandwich structure comprising the steps of peeling a bolt of natural wood in spiral form to form a web of wood veneer; forming the wood veneer web into a plurality of sheets of uniform size; forming a plurality of fiberglass sheets having a size corresponding to the size of the wood veneer sheets; and bonding alternate sheets of wood veneer and fiberglass together with a resin to form a remanufactured wood composite sandwich structure comprising alternate sheets of wood veneer and fiberglass bonded together by the resin. Also disclosed is a specific wood sandwich structure for use in boat building; another specific wood sandwich structure especially suitable for use in furniture building; a method of forming a boat hull utilizing a wood sandwich structure according to the invention; and a method of forming furniture utilizing a wood sandwich structure according to the invention.

Abstract: A frame section (20, 22) and method for a high performance flexible skin hull (12) of a kayak (10) is disclosed as including a thin moment resisting web (A) having dimensional rigidity in a vertical direction to resist bending moments surrounded by foam blocks (B) to provide dimensional rigidity in a lateral direction to prevent buckling of the web under stress. The composite weight of the frame section is light enough to not alter hull performance.

Abstract: A composite hull construction for boats and the like is disclosed. A rigid inner box-like structure of steel or aluminum is provided and acts as the main structural element of the hull, a rigid synthetic foam core being intimately bonded to the exterior surfaces thereof. The exterior surface of the foam material is easily formed as desired to define the outer configuration of the hull and a layer of resin impregnated glass fibers is layed-up over the foam to provide a protective outer skin for the hull.