GB2403690A

GB2403690A - Floating marina storage device

Info

Publication number: GB2403690A
Application number: GB0415362A
Authority: GB
Inventors: William Henry Twine
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-07-11
Filing date: 2004-07-08
Publication date: 2005-01-12
Also published as: WO2005007974A1; GB0316298D0; WO2005007974A8; GB0415362D0

Abstract

Floating storage device (4) for mooring to a marina pontoon between a hull of a yacht and the pontoon. The device includes a buoyant body (8) which may have first and second sides (10, 12) which are substantially perpendicular to each other and a third side 14 which is obliquely disposed relative thereto and provided with rotatably mounted fenders (62) for confronting the hull. An interior of the body (8) may be divided by a partition into separate compartments which are sealed from each other. A solar or wind powered fan (52) may be provided for ventilation. A lower region of the body (8) may comprise a separate damping chamber, into and out of which surrounding water can flow via holes. The interior of the body is accessible through an access hatch 28 and 30.

Description

FLOATING STORAGE DEVICE

The present invention relates to a floating storage device suitable for use in a marina.

Yachts are customarily stored in marinas composed of main pontoons with so-called finger pontoons projecting therefrom. Each yacht is moored with one side secured to a finger pontoon and its bows secured to an adjacent main pontoon. Usually two yachts are moored in a space between two finger pontoons. A yacht user wishing to use the yacht without some of the equipment on board needs to take the equipment ashore for storage in a vehicle, shore based store etc since it is generally not acceptable to leave items obstructing the pontoons and such an arrangement would provide no security. Such a situation may arise for example if the yacht is equipped with cruising equipment which needs to be off-loaded for the purpose of racing.

The invention exploits the fact that a roughly triangular space exists between the bow of a yacht moored in the manner described above and the main and finger pontoons to which it is moored.

According to the invention there is provided a floating storage device suitable for use in a marina comprising a hollow buoyant body, an access hatch for permitting access to an interior of the body and a mooring means for connecting the device to a marina pontoon. Such a device can conveniently be moored in the substantially triangular space referred to above and provide a readily - 2 accessible storage space close to a yacht moored to the pontoons.

Preferably the device includes ballast in order that stability of the device and the draft of the device is not affected unduly by a load placed in the device.

Since a small amount of water may accumulate in the device as a result of leakage and water entering the access hatch while open for the purpose of loading and unloading, the device preferably includes a bilge situated below a load supporting structure in the buoyant body.

When such a bilge is provided any ballast will conveniently be situated in the bilge.

The device preferably also includes a bilge pump for pumping water from the device to an exterior thereof.

To increase the stability of the device and damp rolling movement thereof, the device may include a damping chamber situated externally of a load carrying interior of the buoyant body into and out of which surrounding water can flow through apertures.

The device preferably also includes fender means.

Such fender means can be configured to prevent the device from damaging the hull of a yacht moored adjacent to the device. s \ - 3

Since it is desirable for one design of device to be usable with yachts of a variety of hull shapes, the fender means preferably includes a movable fender member which is positionable to seat against a portion of a hull of an adjacent yacht as a result of being pivotably connected to the buoyant body so as to accommodate a variety of hull shapes.

Preferably the fender means is rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis in order that hull portions having a variety of overhang angles can be accommodated.

As it may be necessary to accommodate items which need to be separated from each other, such as fuel and foodstuffs, the device preferably includes a plurality of separate compartments which may be substantially sealed from each other.

Since the device may be left closed up for prolonged periods of time and may contain items which are damp, the device preferably includes a ventilation means. Such ventilation means may comprise a vent which permits natural circulation of air or may include some form of forced ventilation such as an electric fan which may be solar or wind powered and connected to a solar panel or fan generator forming part of the device. The electric fan may alternatively be connected to a supply of electricity provided on one of the pontoons.

The device may include a plurality of access hatches each possibly leading into a separate compartment of the - 4 device. More that one access hatch may alternatively lead into a single compartment of the device.

Conveniently the device includes first and second sides which are substantially perpendicular to each other and a third side which is obliquely disposed relative to the first and second sides and adapted to confront a hull portion of an adjacent yacht. Such a form efficiently uses the space between the yacht and the adjacent pontoons.

The storage device will generally be moored to two adjacent pontoons which may be secured to a pile where the pontoons meet. In order to accommodate such a pile, preferably the first and second sides are joined by a fourth side which is also obliquely disposed relative to the first and second sides.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a yacht mooring arrangement comprising a mooring pontoon with a storage device as mentioned above moored thereto.

The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings in which: Fig 1 shows a plan view of a device according to the invention; Fig 2 shows a cross-section of the device on the line 2-2 in fig 1; - 5 - Fig 3 shows a cross-section similar to fig 2 of an alternative device according to the invention; Fig 4 shows a cross-section similar to fig 2 of a still further device according to the invention; Fig 5 shows a plan view of a portion of a marina showing two moored yachts and four devices according to the invention; and Fig 6 shows cross-section on the line 6-6 in fig 5 through a device according to the invention moored next to a finger pontoon.

Figure 1 shows a plan view from above of a storage device according to the invention which includes a generally prismatic buoyant body 8 defined by vertical sides. The sides include a first side 10, a second side 12 which is perpendicular to the first side 10 and a third side 14 which is disposed at an oblique angle to the first side 10. Since the corner region 16 adjacent to the device may be occupied by a pontoon securing pile when the device is in use, the first and second sides may not meet but be joined by a fourth side 18 also disposed obliquely to the first and second sides. Similarly the corner regions 20 and 22, where projections of the third side would intersect the first and second sides, may be occupied by mooring lines when the device is in use.

Accordingly the third side is connected to the first and second sides by fifth and sixth sides 26 and 24 so as to leave these corner regions unobstructed. The top of the - 6 device is defined by a deck 27 in which two access openings 32 and 34 are provided around each of which a raised lip 36 is provided. The openings are covered by an access hatches 28 and 30 each of which has a downwardly depending lip 38 which surrounds the raised lip 36. Each access hatch may be hinged to the deck 27 by a hinge 31 or liftable away from the opening and may be provided with one or more locks for securing the hatch in a closed position.

Lower edges of the sides are connected to a bottom 40. Adjacent to the bottom 40 the sides are inwardly stepped thereby defining a ledge 42 which extends around the inner perimeter of the device which supports a platform 80 on which loads eta in the device are placed.

A continuous storage compartment floor 44 extends between the ledges 42 and is sealed to the sides to prevent ingress of water. The ledge is an optional feature and the platform 80 may be connected directly to the sides. A region between the platform 80 and the storage compartment floor 44 constitutes a bilge 46 in which ballast 48 is situated.

A pump 50 is provided in the device for pumping water from the bilge 46 to an exterior of the device.

The region below the storage compartment floor 44 and about the bottom 40 constitutes a damping chamber 49 having holes 51 in its sides which allow surrounding water to enter and leave the damping chamber 49. - 7

A fan 52 is situated in the deck 27 for providing forced ventilation of the device which is connected by a power supply wire 56 to a solar panel 54.

Mooring points 58 are provided around the perimeter of the device in the region of the deck 27. Lower mooring points 60 are also provided part way down the sides to make it easier to moor the device in a variety of ways.

The oblique or third side 14 is provided adjacent its upper edge with fenders 62. Each fender is supported be at least one plate 64 which projects from the side 14.

The fender includes a roller fender 70 supported for rotation about an axis 72 in a frame 68 which frame is supported for rotation about a horizontal axis defined by a pivot pin 66 borne by the plate 64. The pivot axis 72 of each roller fender 70 can accordingly adopt a variety of orientations from being vertically disposed, as shown in figure 1, to an inclined position, as shown in figure 2, and thereby accommodate a variety of hull overhang angles. The provision of roller fenders will guide a yacht approaching the device into its final mooring position.

A vertical partition 74 is provided in the device dividing it into first and second storage compartments 76 and 78.

An alternative arrangement is shown in figure 3 in which no damping chamber 49 is included. 8 -

A further alternative is shown in figure 4 in which no damping chamber is included and external ballast 84 is provided below the storage compartment floor 44 rather than in the bilge.

Figure 5 shows a portion of a marina in which storage devices 4 and 5 in accordance with the invention are installed in the spaces defined by yachts 92 moored to finger pontoons 94 which are in turn connected to a main pontoon 90 and in the space between the bows of the moored yachts. The devices are secured by means of main pontoon mooring points 96 and finger pontoon mooring points 98.

As shown generally at 100 two of the devices may be secured to each other in a back-to-back arrangement for positioning between the bows of two adjacent yachts. An alternative shape for the device 5 with access hatches 29 is shown in figure 5. The fenders and mooring lines have been omitted from figure 5 for the purpose of clarity.

Figure 6 shows a schematic cross-section on the line 6-6 in figure 5 and depicts the storage device 4 moored to a finger pontoon 94.

The buoyant body 8 may be made from any suitable material such as: glass reinforced plastic (GRP); roto- moulded polyethylene; steel; aluminium; or wood.

The access hatches may be designed to be watertight.

While specific examples of the invention have been described, variations thereof will be apparent to the skilled person in the art.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. Floating storage device suitable for use in a marina comprising

a hollow buoyant body, an access hatch for permitting access to an interior of the body and a mooring means for connecting the device to a marina pontoon.
2. The device according to claim 1 further including ballast.
3. The device according to claim 1 or 2 further including a bilge situated below a load supporting structure in the buoyant body.
4. The device according to claims 2 and 3 wherein the ballast is situated in the bilge.
5. The device according to any preceding claim further including a bilge pump for pumping water from the device to an exterior thereof.
6. The device according to any preceding claim further including a damping chamber situated externally of a load carrying interior of the buoyant body into and out of which surrounding water can flow through apertures.
7. The device according to any preceding claim further including fender means.
8. The device according to claim 7 wherein the fender means includes a moveable fender member which is pivotably connected to the buoyant body so as to accommodate a variety of confronting hull shapes.
9. The device according to claim 7 or 8 wherein the fender means is rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis.
10. The device according to any preceding claim wherein an interior of the device is divided into separate compartments which are at least substantially sealed from each other.
11. The device according to any preceding claim further including ventialtion means.
12. The device according to claim 11 wherein the ventilation means is solar or wind powered.
13. The device according to any preceding claim including a plurality of access hatches.
14. The device according to any preceding claim wherein the device includes first and second sides which are substantially perpendicular to each other and a third side which is obliquely disposed relative to the first and second sides and adapted to confront a hull portion of an adjacent yacht.
15. A device according to claim 14 wherein the first and second sides are joined by a fourth side which is also obliquely disposed relative to the first and second sides for accommodating a mooring pile.
16. A yacht mooring arrangement comprising a mooring pontoon with a storage device as claimed in any preceding claim secured thereto.