Folding boat

Abstract

A folding boat can comprise a forward hull portion provided by a first molded plastic shell, an aft hull portion provided by a second molded plastic shell, a sprayskirt detachably attached to the forward hull portion, and a waterproof joint detachably attached to the cockpit end of the forward hull portion cockpit and to the cockpit end of the aft hull portion. The boat can be in an assembled state or in a folded state.

1 . A folding boat comprising:
 a forward hull portion provided by a first molded plastic shell, said forward hull portion including a bow end, a forward hull portion cockpit end, a forward hull portion internal surface, and a forward hull portion external surface;   an aft hull portion provided by a second molded plastic shell, said aft hull portion including an aft hull portion cockpit end, a stern end, an aft hull portion internal surface, and an aft hull portion external surface;   a sprayskirt detachably attached to said forward hull portion; and   a waterproof joint detachably attached to at least one of: said forward hull portion cockpit end and said aft hull portion cockpit end;   wherein said boat is configured to be in one of: an assembled state, a folded state.   
   
   
       2 . The folding boat of  claim 1 , wherein said boat is a kayak. 
   
   
       3 . The folding boat of  claim 1 , wherein said waterproof joint is provided by a strip having an H-shaped cross-section. 
   
   
       4 . The folding boat of  claim 1 , wherein said waterproof joint is provided by a strip made of a polymer plastic material. 
   
   
       5 . The folding boat of  claim 1 , wherein said waterproof joint is configured to be secured to said forward hull portion and to said aft hull portion by at least one compression buckle when said boat is in said assembled state. 
   
   
       6 . The folding boat of  claim 1 , wherein when said boat is in said folded state, said aft hull portion is configured to be inserted into said forward hull portion so that said aft hull portion external surface is facing said forward hull portion internal surface. 
   
   
       7 . The folding boat of  claim 1 , further comprising a backpack frame insert including a set of backpack straps, said backpack frame insert attached to said aft hull portion internal surface. 
   
   
       8 . The folding boat of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a backpack frame insert including a set of backpack straps, said backpack frame insert attached to said aft hull portion internal surface; and   a storage compartment occupying a space defined by said aft hull portion internal surface and said backpack frame insert.   
   
   
       9 . The folding boat of  claim 8 , wherein said storage compartment is waterproof. 
   
   
       10 . The folding boat of  claim 1 , wherein said forward hull portion includes a forward hull portion gunnel;
 wherein said aft hull portion includes an aft hull portion gunnel; and   wherein said forward hull portion gunnel is detachably attached to said aft hull portion gunnel.   
   
   
       11 . A method of transforming a boat into a backpack form factor, said boat comprising a forward hull portion including a bow end and a forward hull portion cockpit end, an aft hull portion including an aft hull portion cockpit end and a stern end, a sprayskirt detachably attached to said forward hull portion, and a waterproof joint detachably attached to at least one of: said forward hull portion cockpit end and said aft hull portion cockpit end, said method comprising the steps of:
 detaching at least one of: said forward hull portion, said aft hull portion from said waterproof joint;   detaching said sprayskirt from said forward hull portion; and   inserting said aft hull portion into said forward hull portion so that an external surface of said aft hull portion is facing an internal surface of said forward hull portion.   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said boat is a kayak. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said waterproof joint is configured to be secured to said forward hull portion and said aft hull portion by at least one compression buckle, and wherein said method further comprises a step of opening said at least one compression buckle preceding the step of detaching at least one of: said forward hull portion, said aft hull portion from said waterproof joint.