Pontoon Boat with Planing Panels

Abstract

A pontoon boat has a planing panel located between pontoons and configured such that a substantial portion of the planing panel planes or rides on top of the water while the boat is traveling at planing speeds, thus reducing friction and increasing efficiency and maneuverability. The boat may be a “tritoon” boat having three laterally spaced pontoons, in which case at least two planing panels are provided in the spaces or gaps between each pair of adjacent pontoons. Each planing panel may be segmented from front to rear, with the rear segment(s) being higher than the front segment to enhance the ability of the bow of the boat to ride out of the water while preventing water from impinging against the rear of the boat's underdeck. An inclined panel may be provided in front of the planing panel to reduce wave impact energy.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A boat comprising:
 a deck having a front end portion, a rear end portion, port and starboard sides, and an underdeck;   a motor supported on the rear end portion of the deck;   at least two longitudinally extending, laterally spaced pontoons mounted on the underdeck and being separated from one another by a space;   a longitudinally extending planing panel located in the space and having a downwardly-facing surface that is configured to ride along the surface of the water when the boat is underway, the planing panel extending at least 50% of the width of the space.   
     
     
         2 . The boat of  claim 1 , wherein the planing panel extends at least 75% of the width of the space. 
     
     
         3 . The boat as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the boat is a tritoon boat having three pontoons and two spaces, and wherein a planing panel is provided in each space. 
     
     
         4 . The boat as recited in  claim 1 , wherein a rear end portion of the planing panel is positioned closer to the underdeck than a front end portion of the planing panel. 
     
     
         5 . The boat as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the planing panel is stepped so as to have first and second segments separated by a step. 
     
     
         6 . The boat as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the planing panel has at least one additional step and at least one additional segment provided behind the second segment. 
     
     
         7 . The boat as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising an inclined panel extending upwardly and forwardly from a front end of the planing panel toward the underdeck. 
     
     
         8 . The boat as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the inclined panel extends at an angle of less than 45°. 
     
     
         9 . The boat as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the angle is between 15° and 25°. 
     
     
         10 . The boat as recited in  7 , wherein an opening is formed in the inclined panel for the passage of water impacting against the ramp. 
     
     
         11 . A system configured for mounting on an undersigned of a pontoon boat, the pontoon boat having a deck having a front end portion, a rear end portion, port and starboard sides, and an underdeck, a motor supported on the rear end portion of the deck, and at least first and second longitudinally extending, laterally spaced pontoons mounted on the underdeck and being separated from one another by a space, the system comprising:
 a longitudinally-extending planing panel located in the space and having a downwardly-facing surface that is configured to ride along the surface of the water when the boat is underway, the planing panel extending at least 50% of the width of the space.   
     
     
         12 . The system as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the system is configured for mounting on the underside of a tritoon boat having a first pontoon and second and third pontoons positioned on opposite sides of the first pontoon to define first and second spaces between the first and second pontoons and the first and third pontoons, respectively, and wherein the system comprises first and second planing panels, each of which is located in a respective one of the first and second spaces. 
     
     
         13 . The system as recited in  claim 11 , wherein a rear end portion of the planing panel is configured to be positioned closer to the underdeck than a front end portion of the planing panel. 
     
     
         14 . The system as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the planing panel is stepped so as to have first and second segments separated by a step. 
     
     
         15 . The system as recited in  claim 11 , further comprising an inclined panel that is configured to extend upwardly and forwardly from a front end of the planing panel toward the underdeck. 
     
     
         16 . A method comprising:
 accelerating a pontoon boat  1 ) from an at rest position in which substantial portions of pontoons and a planing panel positioned between the pontons are positioned on or beneath the surface of the water and the pontoon boat is supported solely by buoyancy  2 ) to a planing speed in which the boat is supported in at least a substantial part by hydrodynamic lifting forces, in which a front portion of the planing panel is positioned above the surface of the water, and in which a portion of the planing panel rides on the surface of the water.   
     
     
         17 . The method as recited in  claim 16 , wherein, at the planing speed, at least the majority of a first, front portion of the planing panel is positioned above the water and at least a substantial portion of a second, rear portion of the planing panel, located behind and above the first segment, rides on the surface of the water. 
     
     
         18 . The method as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the pontoon boat is a tritoon boat having first, second, and third laterally spaced, longitudinally pontoons defining first and second spaces therebetween, and having first and second planing panels, each of which is positioned in a respective one of the first and second spaces. 
     
     
         19 . A method of  claim 16 , wherein, during the acceleration, waves impact an inclined panel that extends upwardly and forwardly from a front end of the planing panel. 
     
     
         20 . A method of  claim 19 , wherein, during the acceleration, at least some of the water from the waves flows through an opening in the inclined panel.