Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
  • B63B3/00—Hulls characterised by their structure or component parts
  • B63B3/14—Hull parts
  • B63B3/38—Keels
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
  • B63B3/00—Hulls characterised by their structure or component parts
  • B63B3/02—Hulls assembled from prefabricated sub-units
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
  • B63B5/00—Hulls characterised by their construction of non-metallic material
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
  • B63B5/00—Hulls characterised by their construction of non-metallic material
  • B63B5/24—Hulls characterised by their construction of non-metallic material made predominantly of plastics
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
  • B63B73/00—Building or assembling vessels or marine structures, e.g. hulls or offshore platforms
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
  • B63B73/00—Building or assembling vessels or marine structures, e.g. hulls or offshore platforms
  • B63B73/20—Building or assembling prefabricated vessel modules or parts other than hull blocks, e.g. engine rooms, rudders, propellers, superstructures, berths, holds or tanks

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a method and device disclosed in the preambles of the independent claims 1 to 8.
• Small boats are conventionally made of glass-fibre-reinforced plastic or other plastic using a mould.
• Water-craft of this kind include small motor boats, console boats, sport boats, ht-cabin boats, special boats made for various professional uses, and water scooters.
• the hull of such boats, comprising a deck, a bottom and sides, is made entirely of the same material by using a mould.
• US 3,871 ,043 discloses a boat comprised of two portions: a hull and a liner.
• the hull is constructed of aluminum, for instance, and the liner is made of plastic or glass fibre, for instance.
• the aim is to provide, by means of a liner, a functional interior construction in combination with a sturdy hull made of aluminum.
• the publication discloses how the hull and the liner both comprise vertical side walls.
• US 4,917,037 and US 4,821 ,667 also disclose a boat comprising two portions. In accordance with the publications, the boat is constructed of a metallic hull and a glass-fibre interior to be fitted therein.
• the portions are designed in such a manner that the interior and the hull only connect at the edges where the portions are also attached to each other.
• the durability of glass-fibre boats depends on how they are used.
• a boat made of reinforced plastic has a long life span and it is easy to maintain, provided that the boat is used in such a manner that no damage is caused to the surface made of reinforced plastic. If, however, the surface layer of a glass-fibre boat is damaged in connection with beaching, running aground or docking, the reinforced plastic may absorb water through the damaged spot. With time, the water causes embrittlements in the reinforced plastic. When the boat is damaged more seriously, for instance when it is scratched or torn, it is expensive to have the boat repaired since special craftsmanship is needed. For the above reasons, the glass-fibre boat must be handled with care.
• An object of the present invention is to provide a method which avoids the above drawbacks and enables a boat or the like to be built in a more reliable manner.
• the object can be achieved by the method of the invention, which is characterized in that the method comprises steps in which a blank of the boat is produced, the blank being arranged to form an inner bottom, a deck and inner and outer sides of the boat, a bottom structure to be fitted into the blank of the boat is produced, the bottom structure substantially covering the bottom area of the boat, and the bottom structure is combined with the blank of the boat in order to provide a boat or a corresponding device designed to travel across water.
• the method of the invention is based on the idea that a boat or the like is manufactured in several steps in such a manner that a blank of the boat, which comprises the an inner bottom and sides of the boat, and a bottom structure are manufactured separately.
• the bottom structure of the boat is combined with the blank of the boat, and the result is a boat with a strong structure.
• An advantage of the method of producing a boat in accordance with the invention is that production costs can be reduced. The costs can be reduced since every desired boat model does not require a new, expensive mould in which a hull made of reinforced plastic can be manufactured.
• Each bottom structure can be made as desired as long as motor power and the like are taken into account. This enables for instance the lifting strakes of a boat to be manufactured entirely individually into the bottom structure regardless of the shape of the blank made of reinforced plastic. Also, the V-shape of the bottom structure can be chosen as necessary.
• the method of the invention enables a quicker motor mounting, which makes a boat quicker to manufacture.
• the motor and power transmission equipment can be mounted already in the bottom structure, and the entire bottom structure in the blank of the boat. Fewer steps are thus needed in the mounting.
• the invention further relates to a boat or a corresponding device designed to travel across water, which is characterized in that it comprises a bottom structure manufactured separately and substantially covering the bottom area of the boat and arranged to be combined with the blank of the boat, the blank comprising an inner bottom, a deck and inner and outer sides of the boat.
• a boat in accordance with the invention is based on the idea that a bottom structure of a boat can be manufactured mechanically of a strong material, whereby the most vulnerable parts of the boat are protected most efficiently.
• An advantage of the boat in accordance with the invention is a considerable improvement in boating safety.
• boating there is always the risk that the boat hits a rock, drifting wood or the like.
• a bottom structure in accordance with the invention is used, the risk that the boat should sink is significantly reduced, thanks to the strength of the bottom structure, the safety bottom and the material, and to the fact that another entirely water-proof bottom is provided on top of the safety bottom.
• Figure 1 shows schematically how the blank and the bottom struc- ture of a boat are combined
• Figure 2 shows the shape of the bottom structure of a boat
• Figure 3 shows the shape of the bottom structure of another boat
• Figure 4 shows the shape of the bottom structure of another boat; and Figure 5 shows schematically how the blank and the bottom structure of a boat with an inboard motor are combined.
• a separately manufactured bottom structure 1 of a boat is combined with a blank 2 of the boat, the blank prefera- bly being manufactured of reinforced plastic.
• the blank made of reinforced plastic is typically manufactured by using a mould.
• the material of the blank can be wood and plywood, according to use.
• the separate bottom structure to be attached to the blank is preferably made of aluminum or steel.
• the bottom structure can be made of a strong type of plastic with high resistance to impact and abrasion, such as HD-polyethene.
• the separate bottom structure which, combined with the blank of the boat, forms a safety bottom 1 of the boat, is typically manufactured using a jig in which the bottom structures can be almost individually produced. When the jig is used, pieces of metal are preferably joined by welding.
• the separate safety bottom it is easier and considerably less expensive to change the shapes of the bottom structures 1 than to manufacture a new mould in which an entire boat made of reinforced plastic is conventionally built.
• the shapes of the safety bottom can be changed as nec- essary.
• the boat can thus be made suitable for different motor powers and uses by merely changing the bottom structure 1 of the boat, while the parts made of reinforced plastic need not be changed unless thus desired because of design.
• the bottom structure fitted in the blank is arranged to cover the bottom area of the blank, in which case the joint between the blank and the bottom structure is typically positioned below the water line when the boat in accordance with the invention is used. Hence, the blank of the boat forms both the outer and inner sides of the boat.
• the blank and the bottom structure of the boat can be combined in many ways.
• the bottom structure 1 of the boat is combined with the blank 2 of the boat at several different points.
• the bottom structure pieces can be secured to the blank of the boat in such a manner that they partly overlap each other to ensure a strong safety- bottom structure.
• the bottom structure 1 and the blank 2 can be attached as necessary.
• the attachment can be performed for instance by glueing, bolting or screwing the pieces together.
• the attachment can also be performed by means of resilient intermediate pieces to provide resilience and damping between an intermediate bottom 3 formed by the blank 2 and the bottom structure 1.
• the bottom structure can also comprise an attachment flange by means of which the bottom structure can be attached reliably to the blank of the boat.
• the strong metallic bottom may also be damaged or even punctured.
• the boat does not sink, however, since the blank which forms the inner bottom 3 is made entirely waterproof. Thanks to the safety bottom 1 , boating safety can thus be considerably improved.
• the space between the bottom structure 1 and the blank 2 comprises supporting structures 4 which carry and support the inner bottom.
• the supporting structure can be a separate framework attached to the blank of the boat and by means of which the inner bottom 3 of the boat becomes sturdier and stabler.
• the space be- tween the inner bottom 3 and the outer bottom 1 can also comprise cellular plastic or the like to provide an insulating layer.
• the junction of the bottom structure and the aft of the blank of the boat is left at least partly open.
• a free space 5 between the bottom struc- ture and the blank can be filled with water.
• the advantage of the lower space being filled with water is the high stability achieved, whereby potential acts onboard can be safely performed when the boat is stationary.
• the water flowed into the intermediate bottom is drained via the aft of the boat, so the structure with the open aft thus does not affect the char- acteristics of the boat when it is moving.
• a boat equipped with an inboard, outboard or jet motor is involved, several advantages can be achieved by using a method in which a bottom structure is attached to a blank of the boat.
• the devices in question can be first attached to a bottom structure 1 , whereupon the bottom structure can be com- bined with the blank of the boat.
• a boat with an inboard motor and a keel at the bottom is combined in accordance with the method of the invention. Thanks to the manner of mounting of said type, the motor of an inboard-motor boat can be mounted considerably quicker.
• the mounting of the motor of boats equipped with inboard motors or the like is cumbersome and ergonomically difficult.
• the mounting method of the invention the result of the mounting is better than by using the known methods.
• the motor is encapsuled in a cover made of aluminum or steel, which improves the important safety and convenience characteristics of boating.
• Changes related to the bottom structure 1 which affect the boat characteristics include the V-angle of the bottom, the lifting strakes and the keel. Thanks to these changes, optimal characteristics for use can be achieved by motors of different power.
• the changes in the bottom structure enable a similar blank of the boat to be used for various uses.
• Figures 2, 3 and 4 show a simplified cross-section of the bottom structures and blanks of a boat.
• the bottom structure in accordance with Figure 2 is suitable to be used particularly in console boats or the like designed for higher speeds.
• the bottom structure 1 in accordance with Figure 3 is highly suitable to be used in fishing boats or the like equipped with a keel, which require high stability in lateral direction.
• the bottom shape of a boat with a keel can also be round or a wide V.
• the bottom structure 1 shown in Figure 4 illustrates a bottom structure to be attached to the blank of the boat, the combination of these two yielding a rowing boat with a sturdy structure, to which a small outboard motor can also be

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
• Architecture (AREA)
• Structural Engineering (AREA)
• Making Paper Articles (AREA)
• Handcart (AREA)

Priority Applications (2)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=8550196

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (4)

Cited By (1)

Citations (3)

• 1997
  • 1997-12-22 FI FI974597A patent/FI974597A/sv unknown
• 1998
  • 1998-12-21 AU AU17614/99A patent/AU1761499A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1998-12-21 WO PCT/FI1998/001007 patent/WO1999032351A1/en active Application Filing
• 2000
  • 2000-06-21 SE SE0002321A patent/SE0002321D0/sv unknown

Patent Citations (3)

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