US3887952A

US3887952A - Modular constructed fiberglass reinforced paperboard boat

Info

Publication number: US3887952A
Application number: US420839A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jr Frank S Nicoll
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1973-12-03
Filing date: 1973-12-03
Publication date: 1975-06-10
Anticipated expiration: 1992-06-10

Abstract

A complete boat formed of modular abutting and joined units, has high structural rigidity and waterproofness, with each modular unit being formed of fiberglass reinforced, resin treated, waterproof paperboard. A plurality of end to end joined, bent planar unitary hull units of U-shaped cross section have a transom spanning the end of the rearmost hull unit and a bow unit spans the end of the foremost hull unit. A plurality of V-shaped bottom panels are edge joined in a longitudinal array with their sides joined to the bottom of the hull unit sidewalls. The bow unit includes at least one V-shaped bow panel fixed at its rear edge to the leading end of the foremost hull unit and to the leading edge of the foremost V-shaped bottom panel. The bow unit may comprise two V-shaped panels defining a cathedral hull cooperating with a dual V-shaped bottom panel.

Description

[ June 10, 1975 ABSTRACT MODULAR CONSTRUCTED FIBERGLASS REINFORCED PAPERBOARD BOAT n m a BWCIWHCMD 30 mm U mewwD- lm md mm hh u mro flt b o fi w a mvc I. ammmm M mw w .m r. .po o n m m ll dd ht mane t rut f fw 6:10 camo M Md wwdn n m mu m e m a cl .1 hS hc I ae Sg 8 f D. 8 m mu h .l m n eswi a .9... P .l. e U ilns W pU A 0 8 m m .y .D O hd a eo ra n wuuw re n n Ai pbbuna 60 9m d H R M M6 6 "B m H 0H w B1 m n r H JW m m M .mH B H W w m S a. m mm a m I FO D 4 Wm WW II o N l m o e d m. v k P S .m P A Uh N m 1 1 U 2 2 55 it .I. [it

Field of Search...... 9/6. 2 R, 2 s, 2 F;

A plurality of V-shaped bottom panels are edge joined joined to the 114/77 R, 65 R, 65 A in a longitudinal array with their sides bottom of the hull unit sidewalls. The bow unit includes at least one V-shaped bow panel fixed at its rear edge to the leading end of the foremost hull unit and to the leading edge of the foremost V-shaped bottom panel. The bow unit may comprise two V-shaped panels defining a cathedral hull cooperating with a dual V-shaped bottom panel.

MM 99 u .m M m S u r. 8 T m m N U m0 E %R an MuBe B 1 ML e S. a TN 6 S n eg m 6 V gr Tee G t. y m SSH SW1 D H Jm la W99 an, ill. vl U mmm .l. GXOO a 79 [i 50 ynQ 500 ra ,ctlt flm M 23 mnm 5 1 rs 33 FAA 12 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures Zinn and Macpeak SHEET PATENTEDJUH 10 ms lllllllllllllllll J MODULAR CONSTRUCTED F IRGLASS REINFORCED PAPERBOARE, iOAT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a modular constructed boat and more particularly to such boats having hull configurations permitting movement through the water with minimum resistance, and wherein the modular units making up the boat are inexpensively prefabricated, have high structural integrity and maintain their waterproof capabilities over extensive time periods.

2. Description of the Prior Art The advent of the fiberglass boat has both reduced the cost of marine construction and reduced the maintenance involved, due to the natural ability of the fiberglass hull to withstand the effect of salt water environment, solar radiation and the like. Conventionally, fiberglass boats are manufactured by employing hand laid fiberglass sheets in layer form and treating the layers to a curable resin which form a structural entity of high structural integrity, which is waterproof. The surfaces may be very smooth and uniform depending upon the molds employed in the hand laying operation.

Such fiberglass manufacture is relatively expensive and requires the formation ofa mold, either male or female having the exact configuration of the boat hull, deck or cabin top and is not readily useful in the manufacture of marine craft wherein the configuration and size may be readily changed by the employment of modular units which are sealably joined to each other in a varied fashion to create a completed marine craft of given size, configuration and performance characteristics.

Within the building field, applicant has manufactured modular building structures formed of a plurality of prefabricated, abutting paperboard panels having their abutting panel sides fastened together by suitable adhesive or the like to form a complete building sidewall, with similar roof truss panels being fastened to the upper ends of corresponding side panels and wherein the sidewall panels and roof truss panels are prefabricated from fiberglass reinforced, resin treated paperboard sheets. Buildings constructed in this manner are the subject matter of U.S. application Ser. No. 212,340, filed Dec. 27, 1971, entitled Building Formed of Precut Foldable Site Erected Paperboard Panels, now US. Pat. No. 3,774,593. In the case of the building structures, the individual panels are formed of a single sheet of paperboard material such as kraft paper which is configured and provided with fold lines defining center walls, edge walls, extension portions, flaps, and the like, with the center walls, edge walls, extension portions and flaps being readily folded back and overlapped to form multiple ply portions for increased structural rigidity, particularly at the points where the panels are edge joined to each other to form a complete sidewall or roof truss as the case may be.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to the formation of a modular, fiberglass reinforced paperboard boat which employs as basic elements, unitary modular units of paperboard sheet material such as kraft board, which are cut or configured and provided with fold lines and forming hull units, bow units and single or double V-shaped bottom panels which are adhesively and sealably joined in end to end or edge to edge abut ting fashion to complete a marine hull or the like, whose size, configuration and seaworthy characteristics may be readily varied.

Preferably, the boat is formed of a plurality of prefabricated modular units adhesively and sealably fastened together to form a complete boat hull with the improvement residing in each unit being formed of fiberglass reinforced resin treated waterproof paperboard and wherein said hull includes a number of end to end joined unitary bent planar hull units of U-shaped cross section including vertical sidewalls joined by an integral horizontal base portion, a transom spanning the end of the rearmost hull unit, a plurality of single or double V-shaped bottom panels having their fore and aft transverse edges joined together and their sides joined to the sidewalls and/or to the base portion of the hull units and a bow unit including at least one V- shaped bow p anel fixed at its rear edges to the leading end of the foremost hull unit and to the leading edge of the foremost bottom panel.

Preferably, the bow unit comprises at least one V- shaped inclined bow panel and an L-shaped rear panel including vertical and horizontal panel portions terminating respectively in a lower V-shaped edge conforming to the V-shaped bottom panel, and a front V- shaped edge conforming to the upper edge of the V shaped bow panel and being sealably and adhesively fixed, respectively, thereto. A V-shaped bow reinforcing panel may be provided to the rear of the V-shaped bow panel in contact therewith over at least a portion ofthe surface near the center of the bow panel and may include vertical sidewalls terminating in flanges which in turn are fixed to a vertical, lateral bulkhead interme diate of the foremost bow hull unit and the bow panel. T-shaped reinforcing bulkheads preferably are affixed to the lateral bulkhead intermediate the sides of the marine hull and span the area between the lateral bulkhead and the bow panel and are fixed at the forward edge to the apex of the bow panel. The lateral bulkhead wall may be oblique to the vertical portion of the rear panel for the bow unit. The hull units include edge walls which are bent at right angles to the center wall of each unit to form deck and sidewalls which may preferably be filled with lightweight plastic foam material for structural rigidity and buoyancy. Further, the space formed by the base of the U-shaped hull units and the V-shaped hull panels may further be filled with plastic foam in a similar manner. Fiberglass reinforced inner sidewall and deck sheeting overlies the walls to finish off the hull interior and increase the structural rigidity of the completed hull. The transom may comprise one or more layers of fiberglass reinforced resin treated paperboard, or may employ plywood sheets sandwiching single or multiple fiberglass reinforced resin treated paperboard sheets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view, partially broken away, of the improved marine craft of the present invention formed of prefabricated end to end adhesively and sealably fastened modular units formed of fiberglass reinforced resin treated waterproof paperboard.

FIG. 2 is a sectional elevational view taken about line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the craft of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an exploded, perspective view of portions of the craft of FIG. 1, illustrating the modular construction thereof.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a portion of the transom of the craft of FIG. 1, taken about line 5-5.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of the prefabricated, modular fiberglass reinforced paperboard craft of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 6 taken about lines 7-7.

FIG. 8 is an exploded view of a portion of the craft construction of the embodiment of FIGS. 6 and 7 showing the makeup of the bow unit.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a modified transom employed in embodiment of FIG. 1 or the embodiment of FIG. 6.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT One embodiment of a high integrity completely fiberglass reinforced resin coated paperboard boat or marine craft of modular construction of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 1, and consists essentially of a plurality of end to end joined U-shaped hull units 10, a paperboard or partially paperboard transom 12, a bow unit 14, and a plurality of single hull panels 16. In this respect, the material forming at least modular units 10, bow unit 14, and hull panels 16 comprises paperboard such as kraft board, which consists of a corrugated board formed of paper or its equivalent and suitably waterproofed by being fiberglassed and resin impregnated, resin coated or treated by similar means.

The present invention is not directed to the particular board forming the panel material, but rather to the structural and configurational details of the units and panels themselves and the arrangement of fastening the units and panels together. If necessary, subsequent to their formation as prefabricated units and/or panels and prior to or subsequent to their assembly into a completed marine craft or boat, the outer surfaces of hull unit 10, hull panels 16, bow unit 14 and transom 12, may be further reinforced and treated with resin impregnated fiberglass matting to make the units both waterproof and weatherproof. Further, as desired, the interior or well of hull units 10, bow unit 14, and the space between the hull panels 16 and the base of the U-shaped hull units may be filled with plastic foam material either in the form of inserted sheets or blocks or foamed in place as desired to increase the structural integrity of the marine craft or boat and to provide the buoyancy necessary to make the boat unsinkable regardless of whether the boat is stove in or whether it has capsized or overturned.

The special nature and construction of the hull units 10 as well as the other units and panels and the fiberglass reinforced resin coated paperboard sheet material making up the same, may be best seen by further reference to FIGS. 2-4 inclusive. In that respect, it is seen that each of the modular hull units 10 consist essentially of identically configured and formed sheets 26 of fiberglass reinforced, resin coated paperboard, included in terms of the longitudinal axis of the marine craft or boat which they form,

longitudinal fold lines

18, 20, 22, and 24, for sheet 26, forming planar end flaps or rails 42, planar sidewalls 44 and planar center wall or base 46. In addition, at respective lateral ends, and as extensions of

fold lines

32 and 34, sheet 26 is slit as at 40, to define edges of end flaps 42 and which extend beyond sidewalls 44. Sidewalls 44 as formed by

bend lines

22 and 24 are integral with and at right angles to the base or center wall 46 of the U-shaped hull unit 10. Further,

bend lines

32 and 34 define unit planar edge walls 48, the edge walls being severed at 50, and bent along 45 diagonal lines as at 52 to produce triangular shaped tabs 54 which are adhesively affixed to each other and to position the sidewalls 44 at right angles to base 46, in FIG. 4. At each of the corners between base 46 and sidewalls 44, the construction illustrated in the left rear corner of hull unit 10 is identical. A suitable adhesive connection is achieved between the triangular shaped paperboard tabs 54, to effect a water sealed, rigid connection supporting the right angle connection between sidewalls 44 and base 46 at

fold lines

20 and 22. In similar fashion, edge walls 48 are folded inwardly about fold lines 56 to form tabs 58 which lie beneath the end flap 42 with their edges in abuttment, these portions of unit 10 being adhesively fixed to each other to form multi-ply outer edge or rail, further promoting structural integrity for the individual modular hull units. The units 10 are all identically configured and sized in the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 1, but the longitudinal dimension (with respect to the longitudinal axis of the hull) may be varied as desired. It is to be noted in this case, that transom 12 is adhesively fixed to the rearmost hull unit 10 such that the periphery of panel 12 abuts edge wall 48 about three sides thereof and these units are sealably affixed to each other by suitable adhesive means. As desired, throughout the marine craft, paperboard portions may be additionally fixed to each other by staples or the like.

While three hull panels 16 are illustrated in the exploded view of FIG. 4, and while each is designated at 16, they are somewhat different in configuration only to the extent of the V angle given to the V-shaped hull panels. Each hull panel consists of a single sheet of f1- berglass reinforced resin coated paperboard which may be of corrugated or kraft board construction sheet 60 of modified rectangular form, being provided at its center with a fold line 62 and additional fold lines 64 inwardly of the lateral edges 66 to define inclined sidewalls 68 and mounting flaps or flanges 70 as integral extensions of the same. In this respect, the mounting flaps 70 are preferably adhesively affixed to the respective sidewalls 44 of given hull units 10 and the included angle a between the inclined sidewalls 68 of the hull panel increases from the bow towards the stern, such that the rearmost hull panel 60, at its rear edge is essentially flat and may include an end tab (not shown) which extends vertically upward and overlaps the bottom edge of the transom 12 at the outside or inside thereof. This may best be seen in the sectional elevation of FIG. 2, wherein a very shallow cavity 72 exists between the rearmost panels 16 and base 46 of the rearmost hull unit 10.

Turning next to bow unit 14 and assuming in FIG. 4 that the most forward of the two hull units 10 com prises that unit shown just behind the bow unit 14. It is seen that the bow unit 14 consists of a bow unit rear panel 74, a lateral bulkhead 76, a pair of triangular sidewall assemblies 78, a T-shaped, reinforcing longitudinal bulkhead 80, a bow reinforcing panel 82 and the bow panel 84. These elements which form the modular bow unit 14 are all formed of corrugated paperboard or its equivalent suitably waterproofed as by being fiberglassed and resin impregnated, resin coated or the like. The bow unit rear panel 74 is L-shaped in configuration including a vertical portion 86 whose lower edge 88 is V-shaped at angle a to conform to front edge 90 of the foremost hull panel 16 and is joined thereto.

In this respect, it should be noted, that the hull panels 16 are not truly rectangular in configuration but are somewhat chevron shaped to provide for an increasing draft from the stern of the vessel forward towards the bow.

A horizontal deck portion 92 of the rear panel 74 terminates in its forward edge 94 being V-shaped to facilitate the formation of a V-bow to the marine craft. The vertical section 86 of the bow unit rear panel 74 is affixed to the edge wall 48 of the hull unit in much the same manner as transom 12, but in addition, as mentioned previously, the lower V-shaped edge 88 of the vertical wall is adhesively fixed to the leading edge 90 of the most forward hull panel 16. The fold line 96 which defines the right angle deck portion 92 and vertical wall portions 86 of the bow unit rear panel 74 is coplanar with the fold lines 56 for the edge wall 48 of the hull unit 10. The bow unit 14 has its pair of triangular reinforcing assemblies 78 fitted at respective sides to rear panel 74. In this respect, the triangular assemblies 78 are formed of a single sheet of fiberglass reinforced, resin impregnated or resin coated kraft board having

fold lines

98, 100, 102 and 104 and severance lines at 106 and 108 to define a sidewall 110, end walls 112 and 114 and a two-ply upper wall 116. Triangular assemblies 78 are relatively stiff and particularly aid in maintaining the right angle position of deck portions 92 and wall portions 80 of the rear panel 74.

In like fashion to the rear panel 74, the lateral reinforcing bulkhead 76 extends the width and the height of the hull at the bow end thereof, and lateral bulkhead 76 consists of a V-shaped lower wall 118 which is af fixed to the lower end of vertical wall 86 of rear panel 74 by suitable adhesive or the like, and is provided with a rectangular wall portion 120 which is inclined forwardly and upwardly, that is oblique to wall 86 and terminates at its upper end in a mounting flap or flange 122 which is affixed to the bottom surface of deck portion 92 of the bow unit rear panel 74. Further, at the lateral edges of the oblique wall portion 120, this member is affixed to the end walls 112 of the triangular assemblies 78, thus providing an extremely rigid mounting for those elements of the bow unit forward of this point. Mounted on the forward side of the lateral bulkhead 76, is the bow reinforcing panel 82 and the bow panel 84. In this respect, the bow reinforcing panel 82 does not extend the full width of the lateral bulkhead 76 but does extend the full height of the same, the bow reinforcing panel 82 is of single sheet form and is configured and bent such that central fold line 124 forms two oblique walls 126 to either side thereof which terminate in sidewalls 128 running parallel to the longitudinal axis and which in turn terminate in right angle end flaps 130, these end flaps permit mounting of the bow reinforcing panel 82 to the oblique wall 120 of the lateral bulkhead 76. In addition thereto, the bow panel 84 which is also of irregular hexagonal configuration includes a center fold line 132, is formed of a single sheet of paperboard and center fold line 132 defines oppositely inclined bow sidewalls 134 which extend the full height of the hull and whose lower edges 136 abut the lower edges 138 of the reinforcing panel 82. These, are

in turn edge sealed to the leading edge of the foremost hull panel 16. Fold line 124 of the reinforcing panel 82 corresponds with the fold line 132 of bow panel 134, which acts as the cutting edge for the marine vessel and to this extent, at least over the surface area of panel walls 126 there is a two-ply layer of fiberglass reinforced resin impregnated paperboard. The bow panel 84 terminates at its rear edges in flaps 138 which abut the front of the oblique wall portion of the lateral bulkhead 76 and to which they are adhesively affixed, further flaps 140 extend rearwardly from the bottom edge 136 of the bow panel and are adhesively affixed to the triangular wall portion 118 of the same member.

For longitudinal reinforcement and to insure rigidity of the bow unit 14, the T-shaped longitudinal reinforcing bulkhead 80 is further formed essentially of a single sheet 141 of paperboard, the sheet 141 being bent along a center line 142 forming dual vertical walls 144 which terminate in right angle end flaps 146 defining a base which is affixed adhesively to the lateral bulkhead 176 at the center thereof while the leading edge of the longitudinal bulkhead 80 as defined by fold line 142 is adhesively fixed to the bow reinforcing panel 82 at its center fold line 124. While only one longitudinal bulkhead 80 is shown forming a part of the bow unit 14, and although this bulkhead is illustrated as falling on the longitudinal center line of the marine vessel, it is apparent that additional longitudinal bulkheads may be employed laterally spaced from bulkhead 80 and extending between the bow reinforcing panel 82 and the lateral bulkhead 76 in a similar manner for rigidity. Further, additional triangular shaped longitudinal bulkheads (not shown) may be employed intermediate of the lateral bulkhead 76 and the bow unit rear panel 74 and affixed to the walls of these members in much the same manner as the triangular sidewall assemblies 78 to each side thereof. Preferably, at least the wells within wall units 10 are filled with plastic foam material to impart structural rigidity to the marine vessel and to increase the buoyancy of the same as best seen in FIG. 2. In addition, as further seen in FIG. 2, a unitary interlining 192 of rectangular configuration constituting a single sheet of suitably waterproofed paperboard extends the complete width and length of the joined hull units 10, constituted by a deck or floor section 194, inner sidewalls 196 and terminating in edge flaps 198 which overlie and are suitably affixed to end flaps 40 of the individual hull units 10 to define a threeply rail.

FIG. 5 illustrates in cross section a transom in its most elementary form including an inner corrugated paper sheet 200 sandwiched by non-corrugated sheets 202 of paper and being suitably fiberglassed reinforced and resin impregnated. In contrast, FIG. 9 shows a section of an alternate transom construction in this case transom 12'-. comprises corrugated paperboard sheet 200, non-corrugated paperboard sheets 202, and plywood panels 204 sandwiching sheets 202 to increase the strength of the transom and to permit outboard motors and the like (not shown) to be mounted thereon depending upon the boat size and method of propulsion. It should be further pointed out in FIG. 2 which is a cross section of the marine vessel of FIG. 1 at right angles to the longitudinal axis, the outer sidewalls 44 of the hull unit 10 taper outwardly and upwardly, thus the walls 44 are generally at right angles to the base 46 but preferably flare outwardly slightly in conformance with conventional hull design.

Turning next to FIGS. 6, 7, and 8, a second embodiment of the invention is shown with respect to a cathedral hull marine craft or boat which employs essentially the same hull units 10 as the first embodiment and a transom 12 or 12' as seen more clearly in FIGS. and 9, but which employs different hull panel 216 and a different bow unit 214 to provide a double V configuration to both the bow and the bottom of the hull, characteristic of cathedral hull type boats.

In this respect, reference to FIG. 8 illustrates the makeup of the bow unit 214 and in which case all of the parts are formed of paperboard preferably corrugated kraft board or the like which is fiberglassed and resin impregnated or resin coated for reinforcement and waterproofing of the same in similar fashion to the prior embodiment. The bow unit 214 consists essentially of a bow unit rear panel 218, a lateral bulkhead 220, a bow panel 222, a bottom panel 224, a deck insert panel 226. a pair of T-shaped longitudinal bulkheads 228 and triangular sidewall assemblies 230, these elements acting as extensions of hull units as illustrated in FIG. 8, and lying above horizontal panel 232. In this respect, the bow unit rear panel 218 includes an essentially vertical bulkhead or wall portion 234, which joins an integral deck portion 236, as defined by fold line 238, the edge configuration to the deck section 236 being irregular but conforming to that of the bow panel 222. The vertical wall 234 of the rear panel 218 is adhesively and sealably affixed to the leading end of the foremost hull unit 10 in the same manner as the prior embodiment. Also fixed appropriately to the bow unit rear panel, that is, both to the under side of the deck portion 236 and the forward side of the vertical wall 234 are triangular sidewall assemblies 230 which are configured identicially to assemblies 78 of the prior embodiment. There is also provided an oblique lateral bulkhead 220 which is essentially rectangular in configuration and terminates at its upper end in a mounting flap 240 which is affixed to the underside of the deck portion 236 of rear panel 218. A specially configured bow panel 222 constituting side by side V-shaped portions is affixed to the forward side of the lateral bulkhead 220, the bow panel being formed of a single sheet of specially configured and bent fiberglass reinforced and resin impregnated paperboard sheet 241 with

fold lines

242, 244, 246, 248, 250 and 252 defining

walls

243, 245. 247, 249, 251, 253 and 255 bent into multiple V form to provide two deep V bow portions. In this respect, fold

lines

254 and 256 permit triangular deck sections 258 to be joined at apices 260 and held in position by a deck insert panel 226, panel 226 being generally diamond shaped in plan configuration. In this respect, triangular portions 258 of the bow panel 220 and the deck insert panel 226 are provided with integral depending tabs 262 which may be adhesively fixed to each other to securely locate the deck unit insert panel within opening 264. Further, preferably. the deck insert panel 226 cooperates with triangular panel walls 258 to form a two-ply deck portion at the extreme forward end of the bow when the deck portion 236 of bow unit rear wall 218 overlies the same and is suitably adhesively affixed thereto by a resin adhesive or the like.

A bottom panel 224 which consists essentially of two triangular shaped wall portions 266, joined together by a vertical flange or tab 268, spans the lateral width of the hull. The triangular shaped wall portions 266 fit within the V-shaped opening defined by edges 288 of the bow panel 222 at the bottom thereof, with frustotriangular tabs 270 being fixed to respective

bow panel walls

243, 245, 253, and 255 on the inside thereof and held by suitable adhesive. In turn, the bottom panel 124 rests on subflooring sheet 232 which is affixed to the bottom of hull units 10.

Sheet 232 forms part of double V hull panel 216. In this respect, reference to FIGS. 6 and 7 more clearly illustrates the nature and makeup of hull panel 216. Sheet 232 is provided with fold lines 274 at each lateral edge and further fold lines at 276 and 278 such that this single sheet of fiberglass reinforced and resin impregnated paperboard is folded back on itself with its edges 280 merging as seen in FIG. 6. Longitudinal mounting flanges or tabs 282 formed thereby permit the single sheets to be affixed to itself to define parallel V-shaped cavities 283 of varying depth which increase from the aft end of the boat forward. At the forward end, the hull panel 216 is provided with integral, oblique sidewalls 284 which meet at a center line 286 corresponding to fold

lines

242 and 252 and merge into the V- shaped portions of bow panel 220. With respect thereto, the oblique wall portions 284 of hull panel 216 may be provided with integral tabs at their edges which abut to form center line 286 and at their edges 28! to permit the hull panel 216 at this point to be affixed to its base wall in like manner to the prior embodiment. Foamed plastic fills both the hull unit walls and also both cavities 283 of the double V hull panel 216 to impart structural rigidity and provide buoyancy to the boat. Preferably, epoxy adhesive or similar glue or the like which is waterproof is liberally spread on the surfaces to be joined to achieve adhesive coupling by curing the same.

It is evident from the above description that marine craft such as boats may be readily constructed in a modular manner in which the modular components may be precut and preferably prefabricated remote from the site of assembly or alternatively precut but set up on site to reduce the expense of shipping the modular components. On site construction may be made by persons of limited skill for added savings in the construction of commercial and pleasure craft. The paperboard sheet material forming the panels and units may be treated after die cutting to insure that the panels are waterproof, fireproof and/or fire resistant and may have their exterior surfaces precoated or otherwise treated so that no exterior finishing is required once the panels are set up and the units assembled in longitudinally serial abutting fashion.

What is claimed is:

1. In a marine craft formed of a plurality of separate prefabricated modular units adhesively and sealably fastened together to form a complete hull, the improvement wherein:

each unit is formed of fiberglass reinforced, resin treated waterproof paperboard,

and wherein said units include a number of end to end longitudinally joined unitary hull units, each hull unit being bent into U-shaped cross section including planar, generally vertical sidewalls joined by an integral horizontal planar base portion, a transom spanning the aftmost hull unit, at least one bottom panel commonly underlying said hull units and having its sides overlying and joined to respective planar sidewalls of the hull uns and a bow unit including at least one V-shaped be. panel fixed at its rear end to the leading end of the foremost hull unit and at its bottom to the leading end of the foremost bottom panel,

and wherein, each of said longitudinally joined unitary hull units of U-shaped cross section include right angle, integral planar edge walls at longitudinally forward and rear ends of said units which extend at right angles to the sidewalls and horizontal base portion for each hull unit, and wherein said horizontal base portion forms a center wall between said edge walls, and means for mutually sealably coupling the planar edge walls of adjacent abutting units together,

and wherein said bow unit panel includes sidewalls inclined outwardly with respect to the longitudinal center line of the craft, and said bow unit further includes an inverted L-shaped rear panel including vertical and horizontal panel portions terminating in a frontal V-shaped edge and said frontal V- shaped edge conforms to the V-shaped sidewalls of the bow panel, and means for adhesively fixing said panals together to form a watertight hull.

2. The marine craft as claimed in claim 1, wherein said V-shaped bow panel has a fold line defining the inclined sidewalls of said bow panel, said craft further comprising at least one T-shaped reinforcing panel with its base fixed to said bow unit vertical panel portions and having an oblique leading edge intersecting the fold line of said V-shaped bow panel and being adhesively fixed thereto.

3. The marine craft as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of the said hull units comprises a single sheet of figerglass reinforced paperboard having lateral fold lines at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the marine craft forming edge walls which are bent at right angles to the center wall extending therebetween, longitudinal fold lines defining end flaps and sidewalls for said U-shaped hull unit, severance lines parallel to said lateral fold lines through said edge walls, said edge walls being folded along fold lines at 45 to the fold line between the sidewalls and the center wall and intersecting the same to form triangular shaped tabs, said tabs being fixedly joined together at respective corners to maintain the sidewalls generally at right angles to the base, and fold lines for the terminal ends of said edge walls forming flaps, said end flaps overlapping said edge flaps and forming a two-ply upper rail for both sidewalls of said hull unit and wherein said edge walls of adjacent abutting units are adhesively coupled together to form a unitary hull.

4. The marine craft as claimed in claim 3, wherein the edge walls and sidewalls define wells within each unit, and said wells are filled with foamed plastic to reinforce said unit and to provide buoyancy to the same.

5. The marine craft as claimed in claim 3, wherein said bow unit comprises a bow panel having multiple pairs of laterally spaced upwardly and forwardly oblique oppositely directed sidewalls forming a double V- shaped bow and said bottom panel comprises lateral edge portions folded back on themselves and bent into V-shape respectively with their edges terminating in the vicinity of the craft horizontal centerline in mutually confronting fashion, and wherein said V-shaped bottom panel portions merge into said bow panel sidewalls to form a streamlined cathedral hull.

6. The marine craft as claimed in claim 2 wherein each of the said hull units comprises a single sheet of fiberglass reinforced paperboard having lateral fold lines at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the marine craft forming edge walls which are bent at right angles to the center wall extending therebetween, longitudinal fold lines defining end flaps and sidewalls for said U-shaped hull unit, severance lines parallel to said lateral fold lines through said edge walls, said edge walls being folded. along fold lines at 45 to the fold line between the sidewalls and the center wall and intersecting the same to form triangular shaped tabs, said tabs being fixedly joined together at respective corners to maintain the sidewalls generally at right angles to the base and fold lines for the terminal ends of said edge walls forming edge flaps, said end flaps overlapping said edge flaps and forming a two-ply upper rail for both sidewalls of said hull unit and wherein said edge walls of ad jacent abutting units are adhesively coupled together to form a unitary hull.

7. The marine craft as claimed in claim 6, wherein the edge walls and sidewalls define wells within each unit, and said wells are filled with foamed plastic to reinforce said unit and to provide buoyancy to the same.

8. The marine craft as claimed in claim 1, wherein the edge walls and sidewalls define wells within each unit, and said wells are filled with foamed plastic to reinforce said unit and to provide buoyancy to the same,

9. The marine craft as claimed in claim 8 wherein said bow unit comprises a bow panel having multiple pairs of laterally spaced upwardly and forwardly oblique oppositely directed sidewalls forming a double V- shaped bow and said bottom panel comprises lateral edge portions folded back on themselves and bent into V-shape respectively with their edges terminating in the vicinity of the craft horizontal centerline in mutually confronting fashion, and wherein said V-shaped bottom panel portions merge into said how panel sidewalls to form a streamlined cathedral hull.

10. The marine craft as claimed in claim 8 further comprising an inner liner overlying the well of said hull units, said liner being formed of a rectangular sheet of fiberglass reinforced resin treated waterproof paperboard including a central base overlying the base of said hull units, right angle inner wall portion extending vertically therefrom and outwardly directed flanges which overlie the upper end of said hull unit sidewalls to form a three-ply paperboard rail structure for said marine craft.

[1. The marine craft as claimed in claim 10 wherein said bow unit comprises a bow panel having multiple pairs of laterally spaced upwardly and forwardly oblique oppositely directed sidewalls forming a double V- shaped bow and said bottom panel comprises lateral edge portions folded back on themselves and bent into V-shape respectively with their edges terminating in the vicinity of the craft horizontal centerline in mutually confronting fashion, and wherein said V-shaped bottom panel portions merge into said bow panel sidewalls to form a streamlined cathedral hull.

12. The marine craft as claimed in claim 1 wherein said bow unit comprises a bow panel having multiple pairs of laterally spaced upwardly and forwardly oblique oppositely directed sidewalls forming a double V- shaped bow and said bottom panel comprises lateral edge portions folded back on themselves and bent into V-shape respectively with their edges terminating in the vicinity of the craft horizontal centerline in mutually confronting fashion, and wherein said V-shaped bottom panel portions merge into said bow panel side walls to form a streamlined cathedral hull.

Claims

1. In a marine craft formed of a plurality of separate prefabricated modular units adhesively and sealably fastened together to form a complete hull, the improvement wherein: each unit is formed of fiberglass reinforced, resin treated waterproof paperboard, and wherein said units include a number of end to end longitudinally joined unitary hull units, each hull unit being bent into U-shaped cross section including planar, generally vertical sidewalls joined by an integral horizontal planar base portion, a transom spanning the aftmost hull unit, at least one bottom panel commonly underlying said hull units and having its sides overlying and joined to respective planar sidewalls of the hull units and a bow unit including at least one V-shaped bow panel fixed at its rear end to the leading end of the foremost hull unit and at its bottom to the leading end of the foremost bottom panel, and wherein, each of said longitudinally joined unitary hull units of U-shaped cross section include right angle, integral planar edge walls at longitudinally forward and rear ends of said units which extend at right angles to the sidewalls and horizontal base portion for each hull unit, and wherein said horizontal base portion forms a center wall between said edge walls, and means for mutually sealably coupling the planar edge walls of adjacent abutting units together, and wherein said bow unit panel includes sidewalls inclined outwardly with respect to the longitudinal center line of the craft, and said bow unit further includes an inverted L-shaped rear panel including vertical and horizontal panel portions terminating in a frontal V-shaped edge and said frontal Vshaped edge conforms to the V-shaped sidewalls of the bow panel, and means for adhesively fixing said panals together to form a watertight hull.

3. The marine craft as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of the said hull units comprises a single sheet of figerglass reinforced paperboard having lateral fold lines at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the marine craft forming edge walls which are bent at right angles to the center wall extending therebetween, longitudinal fold lines defining end flaps and sidewalls for said U-shaped hull unit, severance lines parallel to said lateral fold lines through said edge walls, said edge walls being folded along fold lines at 45* to the fold line between the sidewalls and the center wall and intersecting the same to form triangular shaped tabs, said tabs being fixedly joined together at respective corners to maintain the sidewalls generally at right angles to the base, and fold lines for the terminal ends of said edge walls forming flaps, said end flaps overlapping said edge flaps and forming a two-ply upper rail for both sidewalls of said hull unit and wherein said edge walls of adjacent abutting units are adhesively coupled together to form a unitary hull.

5. The marine craft as claimed in claim 3, wherein said bow unit comprises a bow panel having multiple pairs of laterally spaced upwardly and forwardly oblique oppositely directed sidewalls forming a double V-shaped bow and said bottom panel comprises lateral edge portions folded back on themselves and bent into V-shape respectively with their edges terminating in the vicinity of the craft horizontal centerline in mutually confronting fashion, and wherein said V-shaped bottom panel portions merge into said bow panel sidewalls to form a streamlined cathedral hull.

6. The marine craft as claimed in claim 2 wherein each of the said hull units comprises a single sheet of fiberglass reinforced paperboard having lateral fold lines at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the marine craft forming edge walls which are bent at right angles to the center wall extending therebetween, longitudinal fold lines defining end flaps and sidewalls for said U-shaped hull unit, severance lines parallel to said lateral fold lines through said edge walls, said edge walls being folded along fold lines at 45* to the fold line between the sidewalls and the center wall and intersecting the same to form triangular shaped tabs, said tabs being fixedly joined together at respective corners to maintain the sidewalls generally at right angles to the base and fold lines for the terminal ends of said edge walls forming edge flaps, said end flaps overlapping said edge flaps and forming a two-ply upper rail for both sidewalls of said hull unit and wherein said edge walls of adjacent abutting units are adhesively coupled together to form a unitary hull.

8. The marine craft as claimed in claim 1, wherein the edge walls and sidewalls define wells within each unit, and said wells are filled with foamed plastic to reinforce said unit and to provide buoyancy to the same.

9. The marine craft as claimed in claim 8 wherein said bow unit comprises a bow panel having multiple pairs of laterally spaced upwardly and forwardly oblique oppositely directed sidewalls forming a double V-shaped bow and said bottom panel comprises lateral edge portions folded back on themselves and bent into V-shape respectively with their edges terminating in the vicinity of the craft horizontal centerline in mutually confronting fashion, and wherein said V-shaped bottom panel portions merge into said bow panel sidewalls to form a streamlined cathedral hull.

11. The marine craft as claimed in claim 10 wherein said bow unit comprises a bow panel having multiple pairs of laterally spaced upwardly and forwardly oblique oppositely directed sidewalls forming a double V-shaped bow and said bottom panel comprises lateral edge portions folded back on themselves and bent into V-shape respectively with their edges terminating in the vicinity of the craft horizontal centerline in mutually confronting fashion, and wherein said V-shaped bottom panel portions merge into said bow panel sidewalls to form a streamlined cathedral hull.

12. The marine craft as claimed in claim 1 wherein said bow unit comprises a bow panel having multiple pairs of laterally spaced upwardly and forwardly oblique oppositely directed sidewalls forming a double V-shaped bow and said bottom panel comprises lateral edge portions folded back on themselves and bent into V-shape respectively with their edges terminating in the vicinity of the craft horizontal centerline in mutually confronting fashion, and wherein said V-shaped bottom panel portions merge into said bow panel sidewalls to form a streamlined cathedral hull.