US2747204A

US2747204A - Duck hunter's boat

Info

Publication number: US2747204A
Application number: US403000A
Authority: US
Inventors: Charles J Erickson; Charles R Erickson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1954-01-08
Filing date: 1954-01-08
Publication date: 1956-05-29
Anticipated expiration: 1973-05-29

Description

May 29, 1956 c. J. ERICKSON Er AL 2,747,204

DUCK HUNTER 'S BOAT Filed Jan. 8, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet l :is k

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May 29, 1956 c. .1. ERICKSON Er AL 2,747,204

DUCK HUNTER'S BOAT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 8, 1954 A n n,

United States Patent O DUCK HUNTERS BOAT Charles J. Erickson and Charles R. Erickson, Salt Lake City, Utah Application January 8, 1954, Serial No. 403,000

3 Claims. (Cl. 9 5) The present invention relates to a small boat for duck hunters, fishermen, or the like who engage in their pastime or occupation along the shores of lakes and rivers where weed growth and shallow waters impede the use of conventional boats of deeper draft and design.

The present invention has for its principal object to provide 4a small boat of light weight and compactness so that the hunter or fisherman can easily transport it in his car and when used is easily carried to the waters edge and through the weeds or marsh grasses in the water.

Another object of the invention is to provide a boat for hunters which is unsinkable as ordinarily used and depends upon the occupant extending through a central well or aperture to support the occupants weight in such a balance as to result in a practically non-tipping water conveyance.

A still further object of the invention is to provide such a boat as would ride comparatively high in the water and has sides which resist the shipping aboard of waves.

Yet another object is to provide such a boat for hunters and fishermen which has compartments for the stowage of duifel, with easily operated hatch covers on each compartment.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a boat in which the occupant rides in an aperture and one which has adjustable means for supporting the occupant in the aperture, so that the occupant may shift his weight to overcome cramped standing in a single position.

These and other objects and advantages will be more fully apparent from consideration of the following description when taken in connection with the annexed drawings, in which:

Figure l is a top plan view of the present invention,

Figure 2 is a side view in section taken on line 2 2 of Figure 1 of the present invention, t

Figure 3 is an end view in section taken on line 3 3 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is an end view in section taken on line 4 4 of Figure 1,

Figure 5 is a top view in section of the present invention taken on line 5 5 of Figure 2,

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view in section and greater detail of the footrest of the present invention,

Figure 7 is a detailed view in section taken on line 7 7 of Figure 1 of the oarlock of the present invention, and

Figure 8 is a detailed view in section taken on line 8 8 of Figure 1.

Referring in greater detail to the drawing, in which like numbers indicate like parts throughout the several views, the body of the boat is indicated generally at 10, and is seen to have a top surface 11 and bottom surface 12 positioned in coplanar relation, the top surface 11 being dimensioned greater in width and length than said bottom surface 12 to provide a marginal overlap. A continuous border wall 13 is secured to the bottom sur- 2,747,204 Patented May 29, 1956 ICC face by its inwardly extending flange 14 and to the top surface 12 by its outwardly extending flange 1S.

A shoulder 16 is formed in the wall 13 and has a -reinforcing member 17 on it within vthe body 1'0. A partition or bulkhead 18 separates the body 10 into a forward compartment 21 and a rear compartment 22, in the latter of which are the vertically walled aperture 23 and the pipe 24, both extending all the way through and being open top and bottom. An oarlock 25 is positioned on each side of the top surface 11 in the marginal edge 26 thereof where the top surface 11 projects out over the 'wall 13.

The forward and

rear compartments

21 and 22 each have a hatch opening 27 in the top and are fitted with identical hatch covers 28 with hinges 29 and hasps 31. The pipe 24 carries within it the rudderpost 32 on the upper end of which is the removable cap 33, and on the lower end of which is the footrest 34, together with the rudder 35, which extends under the forward compartment 21, although it is expected that in use, the occupant (indicated at 20 in Figure 2) of the boat will use the loars provided (not here shown) in the conventional manner to propel the boat in the opposite direction to which he is facing. In use as a Iboat for hunting or fishing, however, the compartment directly to the front of the occupant, is here termed the forward compartment.

A collar 36 and thumb screw 37 are slidably positioned on the rudderpost 32 so that the relative height of the footrest 34 may be changed to accommodate different sized individuals, or to change the height of the hunter or fisher in the boat, for better balance or to accommodate adverse wave conditions. It is an advantage of the invention that this footrest may be shifted up or down to relieve the strain of standing in one position for any length of time, generally a discomfort to hunters and others having to maintain relative quiet positions. The rudderpost 32 turns readily in the pipe 24 by action of the feet, and serves to guide the boat where desired.

In action, the boat is entered while at the waters edge, and with the hands supporting the boat by the marginal overlap of the flange 15,'and the duffel is disposed in either or both of the forward and rear compartments Z1, 22, and guns or tackle disposed on the top surface 11 within the confines of the upstanding rim 38, the occupant carries the boat into the water until it fioats, and then when deeper water is reached, the rudderpost is lowered to whatever height is comfortable and the oars are unshipped for action.

A fish box 41 is attached to one side or the other of the boat, in order that fish caught may be kept fresh and in order that the compartments may remain clean. Similarly, fowl shot down by the hunter may be there contained, or in one of the compartments as desired. The cap 33 on the rudderpost 32 is easily removed and the rudderpost withdrawn from the pipe 24 for ready storage and ease of transport. The footrest is preferably Weighted with lead 42 and has upturned ends 43 for the comfort of the user. Preferably, the top and bottom surfaces ofthe boat are constructed of waterproof plywood, with a rim of a suitable hardwood, and the walls formed of aluminum or similar lightweight and easily worked metal.

The many advantages of the boat of the design of the present invention are obvious, although many changes and modifications are contemplated without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A duck hunters and fishermans boat comprising a body having a top surfaceV and a bottom surface positioned in coplanar relation, a continuous border wall connecting said top and bottom surfaces, a bulkhead in said body arranged to divide said body into a forward and a rear compartment, said rear compartment having a vertically walled aperture therethrough adapted to accommodiate an occupant, an upstanding pipe in said rear compartment extending through said top and bottom surfaces, a rudderpost slidably extending through said pipe, a rudder on the lower end of said rudder post, and foot rest means on said rudderpost adjacent the lower end to support an occupant in said aperture.

2. A duck hunters and iisherrnans boat comprising a hollow body having a top Surface and a bottom surface positioned in coplanar relation, a continuous border wall connecting said top and bottom surfaces, a bulkhead in said body arranged to divide said body into a forward and a rear compartment, a hatch opening in said top surface for each of said compartments, a cover for each hatch opening, said body further having a pair of walled apertures extending vertically therethrough, one of said apertures dimensioned to accommodate an occupant, a rudderpost adjustably positioned in the other of said apertures, and foot rest means on said rudderpost at the lower end thereof to support an occupant in said aperture.

3. A duck hunters and rishermans boat comprising a body having a top surface and a bottom surface positioned in spaced coplanar relation, said top surface being of greater dimension each way than said bottom surface to provide a marginal overlap on each edge, a vertical border wall on said body, said wall having an inwardly extending tlange connected to the marginal edge of said bottom surface and an outwardly extending ange connected to said top surface, at least one outwardly extending shoulder on said wall, a bulkhead in said body arranged to divide said body into a forward compartment and a rear compartment, said rear compartment having a vertically walled aperture therethrough, an upstanding pipe in said body extending through said top and bottom surfaces, a rudderpost slidable in said pipe and adjustably positioned with respect to said pipe, a rudder means on the lower end of said rudderpost, and footrest means on said rudderpost adjacent the lower end adapted to support an occupant in said aperture.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS