Multi-person racing canoe

Abstract

A multi-person racing canoe that can be assembled in sections to make different canoe configurations for different numbers of people. When the sections are disassembled, they pack for storage and/or transportation. A particular embodiment of the present invention uses a common tail section with an optional middle section and different bow sections to configure as a 2 -man, 4 -man or 6 -man racing canoe. The sections can be coupled to form the various configurations with a rhino horn fastener. An outrigger or AMA can be mounted at several different positions fore and aft in the different configurations.

1 . A multi-section outrigger canoe configurable for different numbers of people comprising: 
 a plurality of separable canoe sections, at least one of these sections being a tail section and having a rudder and rudder pedal control;    a plurality of fasteners coupling at least one of said canoe sections to another of said canoe sections, said fasteners being inserted into each of said sections to be coupled together, said fasteners being attached at each end to said respective canoe section with an attachment means for holding said canoe sections together, said attachment means being part of said fasteners;    an outrigger coupled to said canoe sections with a pair of struts, said struts removably attachable to said outrigger and removably attached to said canoe sections at a plurality of different positions fore and aft.    
   
   
       2 . The multi-section canoe of  claim 1  wherein said attachment means comprises a nut and a threaded post.  
   
   
       3 . The multi-section canoe of  claim 1  further comprising a 2-man, 4-man and 6-man canoe, said 2-man canoe formed by coupling a first bow section to a tail section, said 4-man canoe formed by coupling a second bow section to said tail section, said 6-man canoe formed by coupling said second bow section to a middle section and said middle section to said tail section.  
   
   
       4 . The multi-section canoe of  claim 1  wherein a 2-man canoe is formed by coupling a bow section to said tail section.  
   
   
       5 . The multi-section canoe of  claim 1  wherein a 4-man canoe is formed by coupling a bow section to said tail section.  
   
   
       6 . The multi-section canoe of  claim 1  wherein a 6-man canoe is formed by coupling a bow section to a middle section and said middle section to said tail section.  
   
   
       7 . The multi-section canoe of  claim 1  wherein said struts are curved.  
   
   
       8 . The multi-section canoe of  claim 1  wherein said attachment means is steel.  
   
   
       9 . (canceled)  
   
   
       10 . A method of producing a multi-person canoe comprising the steps of: 
 producing a plurality of canoe sections with at least one tail section and one bow section, said tail section including a rudder controlled with rudder pedals;    coupling said canoe sections together in pairs using a plurality of elongated fasteners for coupling canoe sections together wherein said fastening means are inserted into receiving chambers in each of said sections,    attaching an outrigger at to said canoe sections using a pair of struts at a chosen position fore and aft.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said fastener includes a nut and a threaded post.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said struts are curved.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said outrigger can be attached to said canoe at a plurality of different positions fore and aft.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising the step of placing a middle section between said bow section and said tail section.  
   
   
       15 . A combination multi-person racing canoe comprising: 
 a bow section;    an optional middle section;    a tail section with a pedal controlled rudder;    said bow section coupled to said tail section or optionally to said middle section with a first removable fastener;    said optional middle section, if used, coupled to said tail section with a second removable fastener, said first and second fasteners being elongated structures with threaded posts on each end.    
   
   
       16 . The combination multi-person racing canoe of  claim 15  further comprising an outrigger.  
   
   
       17 . The combination multi-person racing canoe of  claim 16  wherein said outrigger can be mounted in a plurality of positions fore and aft.  
   
   
       18 . The combination multi-person racing canoe of  claim 15  wherein a bow section is coupled to said tail section to form a 2-man or 4-man configuration, and a bow section is coupled to said middle section with said middle section coupled to said tail section to form a 6-man configuration.  
   
   
       19 . The combination multi-person racing canoe of  claim 15  wherein said threaded posts are fiberglass.  
   
   
       20 . The combination multi-person racing canoe of  claim 15  further comprising a pair of nuts engaging said threaded posts.