AU701049B2

AU701049B2 - Watercraft, in particular to be propelled by wind

Info

Publication number: AU701049B2
Application number: AU67843/96A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Vittorio Del Basso
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-09-06
Filing date: 1996-09-04
Publication date: 1999-01-21
Anticipated expiration: 2016-09-04
Also published as: WO1997009231A1; AU6784396A; EP0788445A1

Description

WATERCRAFT, IN PARTICULAR TO BE PROPELLED BY WIND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The invention relates to a watercraft, in particular to be propelled by wind, with two floating hulls connected together in parallel and an arrangement for catching the wind. Watercraft with two hulls and a sail, known also as a catamaran, act however as a displacement boat hull and generally are mostly rather heavy and unwieldy to be easily transported on land.

Since moorings on inland waters are rarely obtainable and rather expensive, water sportsmen like to be able to drive with a suitable equipment to the water.

Therefore one can find a very large number of surfboards transportable by automobile. Windsurfing demands considerable dexterity and good physical condition and, with exceptions, it is reserved predominantly for a group of young people. Often strength is over estimated which results in unforeseen dangers. Also a surfboard is used exclusively for windsurfing unless paddled.

*Thus the object of the present invention is to make a versatile practical device for easier access to the known water sports, which is easily transported on the roof of an automobile, and is able to be erected speedily and easily. Also unpractised persons shall be able to develop without too much trouble the skills to enjoy a water sport.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the invention the floating hulls have the form of longitudinal halves of a surfboard which are coupled to one another by at least one bridge forming crossmember and, on the longitudinal middle of the boat hull, means is provided for the longitudinally adjustable fixing of a sailing rig .Preferably on the boat hull and usable as one chooses are installable supports for retaining the mast, a rudder and at the least a centreboard mounting device for sailing. Preferably there are also installable on the boat hull, and usable as one chooses, a seat, and rowlocks for oars.

Also wheels or runners may easily be installed on the boat hull. Thus the same watercraft can be used for surfing, sailing or for rowing, and also for riding on land or on ice and is of hard wearing and easily transportable light construction from fibre reinforced synthetic plastics material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 0 A detailed explanation of an embodiment, of the invention is given with 0 reference to the accompanying drawings showing: Fig. I a a first embodiment of the one piece watercraft boat hull in top plan view with equipment suitable for sailing with mast and supports, rudder and seats.

Fig. lb a second embodiment divided along the longitudinal centreline of the boat hull in top plan view it shows the parts moved apart.

Fig. 2 the embodiment of the boat hull according to Fig. lb in top plan view it shows the separate partsjoined.

Fig. 3 the watercraft in Fig. I a or Fig. 2 in side view.

SFig. 4a a vertical section of the two joined parts of the boat hull in larger scale.

Fig. 4b both parts as in Fig. 4a shown separated.

Fig. 5 a cut away longitudinal section of the boat hull in top view and in larger scale.

Fig. 6 and 7 the known fixing arrangement in Fig. 4a for the mast heel, in front view and side view shown separated.

Fig. 8 the watercraft in front view fitted out for windsurfing.

Fig. 9 the watercraft in side view fitted out for sailing.

Fig. IO a top view of the watercraft fitted out for rowing.

Fig. I I a top view of the watercraft for travelling on land with wheels and wind power.

Fig. 12 and Fig. 13 a side view and front view of the watercraft of Fig. 11 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERED EMBODIMENT In the firstembodiment in Fig.la the watercraft has a boat hull 1 which consists of two floating hulls 3 each having substantially the form of a longitudinal half of a surf- board, said floating hulls being arranged parallel to one another and combined in one piece by means of a middle cross member 4 and a rear cross member 7.

A modified second embodiment of the watercraft shown in Fig. Ib has a boat hull 1 which is separable along the longitudinal centre plane 2 into parts, each part comprising a floating hull 3 and half of a cross member 4 being formed in one piece with the floating hull, which halves of cross member together form the bridge between the floating hulls. Both parts, each comprising a floating hull 3, are joined together by a one piece connector web 4 formed from two halves which together form the bridge between the hulls and for the time being both parts are coupled 'rigidly along the longitudinal plane and actually interlock with each other by means of shaped ends. For this purpose, a longitudinal running groove 5 is formed in one part and, in the other part, a corresponding projection 6 is formed to interlock in the manner of tongue and groove. This is depicted in top view in Fig. 2. Also at the rear end of the boat hull 1, two halves of a cross member 7 form a bridge between both floating hulls and serves for the mounting of the rudder. Also, with this bridge, there is provided in the separation plane a joint according to the same tongue 6 and groove 5 principle. It is seen from Figs. 4a, 4b and Fig. 5 that the tongue and groove joint is conical. For the purpose of having more secure fitting parts, vertically extending pins 9 are located through the tongue and groove joints in at least three places. To have stronger joints,the parts are provided with screw connectors in at least three places by which both the parts of the separable boat hull can be drawn together in the direction under 90 0 to the separable vertical plane and fixed adjacent one another.

The embodiment according to Fig. lb and Fig. 2 has more features and is more expensive but in return for the additional parts it is easier to handle than the one piece embodiment according to Fig. Ia.

The following description of further details applies to both embodiments. The upperside of the boat hull I is provided with a non-slip coating, shown as the crosshatched marked surface. Both floating hulls 3 which float in the water and are responsible for the buoyancy, are formed as hollow bodies between the lines I I and 12 so that a tight closing topside access lid 13 is made possible, enabling placement S• °in the hollow area of essential equipment, e.g. sail and oars.

According to Fig. la on the longitudinal middle of the boat hull I or along the longitudinal centre plane of the separable boat hull, a longitudinally extending rail 14 is set into a part of the upperside area. This rail is used for fixing the mast heel as shown to Fig. 4a and in Figs. 6 and 7, which can be fixed along the rail at any position. For the fixing is used a mast heel base 16 and two screw retainers 17 extending through the mast heel base each with a hook formed on the end of the screw bolt 18, which laterally grip in the rail 14 so that the mast heel 15 is jammed fast by the tightening of the screw.

Two further rails 19 running parallel to the longitudinal middle plane 2 in each of the floating hulls serve as mountings for a movable seat 20, shown in Fig.

if the boat hull is used for rowing. As shown in Fig. I 0, the oars 21 needed for rowing are held in two fixed oarlocks 22. As shown in Fig. I oarlocks 22 are able to be inserted into holes 23 provided in both floating hulls 3. As shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 5, an angled elevated and contoured part 24 provided on each of the connecting cross-member 4 on both sides of the longitudinal middle serves as a support for a user's foot when rowing.

When using the boat hull, consisting of the two floating hulls,for surfing, a mast 25 of a rigging 26 can be erected in the mast heel 15 in the conventional way as shown in Fig. 8 In addition to rowing and surfing, the boat hull I can also be used for sailing.

In this case, the sailing mast is held on the mast heel 15 on the boat hull with the help of two props 30 functioning as rigidly fixed stays. These props 30, extending inclined downwards connect the mast with the front ends of both floating hulls 3.

The props are secured at the mast with easily releasable connectors 31 embracing the mast and at the front ends of both floating hulls 3 by easily coupled gadgets 32 so that easy mounting and demounting is possible. This fixing method has the advantage that it allows the sail to swivel over a large area freely around the lower fixed point, namely about 300from one prop 30 to the other.

With sailing, at least two sitting persons can ride on the watercraft and for this purpose a seat 33 is installed on each floating hull 3, which seat is removable when using the boat hull in another mode.. Further, in the longitudinal middle plane on the boat hull I a centre board 34 is fixable, which is necessary for sailing. The watercraft can also be provided with two centreboards 34 i.e. one in each floating hull. Further a rudder 35 operated by the tiller 36 is provided in the partable back cross-member 7 of the boat hull. The rudder blade 35 can be swiveled around the axis 37. For the operation of the sail, a sheet 38 connects the boom 39 with the rear cross-member 7.

As shown in Figs. II, 12 and 13, a pair of spaced wheels 40 are arranged on the boat hull I at the front, and a closer pair of wheels 41 are located at the rear by means of respective suspensions 42 and 43 which in turn are fixed on the boat hull with easily releasable straps 44.. In this way, the boat hull is able to travel and sail

I

on land, preferably on the seashore. Instead of the pairs of wheels it is possible to attach to the suspensions runners 45 to be installed as is indicated in Fig. 12, for travelling with the wind on ice surfaces.

The advantage of the watercraft is in the convenient transportability on the roof of an automobile and the quick erection and dismantling, as well as the problem free storage by non-utilization of the partable embodiment, and finally in the possibility of locomotion in various ways including by a battery powered motor.

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Claims

1. A watercraft, in particular to be propelled by wind, with a boat hull comprising two floating hulls arranged parallel to one another and a device for catching the wind, wherein the floating hulls have the form of longitudinal halves of a surfboard which are coupled to one another,by at least one bridge forming cross member and, on the longitudinal middle of the boat hull, means is provided for the longitudinally adjustable fixing of a sailing rig.

2. A watercraft according to claim 1, wherein the boat hull Is provided with a large central cross member between the floating hulls and is provided In a space behind with a narrow cross member for the reception of a rudder used for sailing.

3. A watercraft according to claim 1, wherein the longitudinal halves of surfboard forming the floating hulls and the at least one cross member are a one piece boat hull

4. A watercraft according to claim 1, wherein the boat hull in the longitudinal middle plane is able to be parted and the parts each consisting of a floating hull and of the half of at least one cross member extending between the floating hulls are able to be secured 09* rigidly with one another A watercraft according to claim 4, wherein the parts of the divisible boat hull each consisting in one piece of a floating hull and of the half of at least one cross member are connected by interlocking fitting preferably by tongue and groove.

6. A watercraft according to claim 5, wherein the parts of the boat hull coupled by interlocking fitting, are connected by pins and are pressed against one another by means of screws.

7. A watercraft according to any one of the preceding claims wherein on one of the parts of the boat hull along the longitudinal middle line, a rail is arranged for the longitudinally adjustable fixing of a mast heel for a sail mast and that the hooked ends of clamping screws grip into the rail to securely clamp a mast heel supporting socket on the rail.

8. A watercraft according to any one of the preceding claims wherein there are :006 •installed on the boat hull and usable at will supports for securely holding a mast, a rudder •and at least a mounting for a centreboard for sailing. 0 S.9. A watercraft according to any one of the preceding claims wherein two supports acting as stays for securely holding the sailing mast connects the front ends of each of the floating hulls rigidly with a mast and are easily releasable.

10. A watercraft according to any one of the preceding claims wherein a seat is S.0. installable on each of the floating hulls for a person to use the boat hull for sailing.

11. A watercraft according to any one of the preceding claims wherein a seat and *00. oarlocks are installable on the boat hull for purpose of using the boat hull for rowing.

12. A watercraft according to any one of the preceding claims wherein there are installable on the boat hull forward and rearward, pairs of wheels or runners preferably by straps on fixed suspensions on the boat hull for the purpose of using the boat hull for travelling on land or on ice surfaces.

13. A watercraft according to any one of the preceding claims wherein at least a part of the floating hull is formed as a watertight sealed hollow body for receiving accessories such as oars, rudders, sail etc. and also a battery for an electric motor driven boat hull.

14. A watercraft substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings. I