Pontoon boat with modular fencing

Abstract

A pontoon boat with a fencing defining the passenger region on a deck of the pontoon boat. The fencing comprising a plurality of fencing sections, each fencing comprising a plurality of fencing sections, each fencing section comprising a fencing framework and paneling secured to the fencing framework. The fencing framework of each fencing section comprises a plurality of aluminum tubular extrusion segments with opposing open ends, a plurality of segment connectors interconnecting the tubular extrusion segments, each segment connector having a main body portion and a plurality of insert portions extending from and unitary with the respective main body portion, the plurality of tubular extrusion segments including a plurality of panel holding tubular extrusion segments, each with edge panel retainer strips attached thereto that secure an edge portion of the paneling to the respective tubular extrusion segment.

1 . A pontoon boat having a bow, a stern, a port side, a starboard side, the pontoon boat comprising:
 a deck, the deck having a periphery;   a starboard pontoon and a port pontoon secured to a bottom side of the deck;   pontoon boat furniture mounted on the top of the deck;   fencing mounted to the deck, the fencing defining a passenger area on the deck which includes the pontoon boat furniture, the fencing extending along the deck periphery at the starboard side and the port side of the deck, the fencing spaced from or positioned at the deck periphery at the bow, and the fencing spaced from or positioned at the deck periphery at the stern;   wherein the fencing comprising a plurality of fencing sections, each fencing section comprising a fencing framework and paneling secured to the fencing framework;   wherein fencing framework of each fencing section comprises a plurality of aluminum tubular extrusion segments with opposing open ends, a plurality of segment connectors interconnecting the tubular extrusion segments, each segment connector having a main body portion and a plurality of insert portions extending from and unitary with the respective main body portion, the insert portions sized for and received in the open ends of the tubular extrusion segments connecting thereto; the body portion of each segment connector outwardly exposed and having an outer peripheral contour that is substantially flush with outer peripheral contours of the tubular extrusion segments connected thereto, the plurality of tubular extrusion segments including a plurality of panel holding tubular extrusion segments, each with edge panel retainer strips attached thereto that secure an edge portion of the paneling to the respective tubular extrusion segment.   
     
     
         2 . The pontoon boat of  claim 1 , wherein the edge panel retainer strip of each fencing framework is formed of a resilient polymer and have, when viewed from an end, a T-shape with the lower leg of the T being an insertion portion that is inserted into a slot in the respective panel holding tubular extrusion segment and one of the upper legs of the T sandwiches the edge portion of the paneling between said one of the upper legs and an outer surface of the respective panel holding tubular extrusion segment. 
     
     
         3 . The pontoon boat of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of segment connectors of each fencing framework includes an inline segment connector, the inline segment connector having two insert portions that are coaxial. 
     
     
         4 . The pontoon boat of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of segment connectors of each fencing framework includes an T-segment connector, the T-segment connector having three insert portions, two of which are coaxial. 
     
     
         5 . The pontoon boat of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of segment connectors of each fencing framework includes an L-segment connector, the L-segment connector having two non-coaxial insert portions. 
     
     
         6 . The pontoon boat of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of tubular extrusion segments of each fencing framework comprise a lowermost segment defining a lower margin of the respective fencing framework, and an upper most segment defining an uppermost margin of the respective fencing framework. 
     
     
         7 . The pontoon boat of  claim 1 , wherein the segment connectors of each fencing framework comprises polyvinylchloride. 
     
     
         8 . The pontoon boat of  claim 1 , wherein each connector insert of each segment connector of each fencing framework is secured to the respective tubular extrusion segment to which it is connected by at least one screw or rivet extending through a wall of the tubular extrusion segment into the respective connector insert. 
     
     
         9 . The pontoon boat of  claim 1 , wherein each of the fencing frameworks do not have any welded joints. 
     
     
         10 . A fencing section system for pontoon boat decks, the fencing section system comprising:
 a plurality of aluminum extrusion segments, each extrusion segment having a pair of open ends,   a plurality of sets of segment connectors, each segment connector comprising a main body portion and a plurality of insert portions extending therefrom and integral with the main body portion, each of the plurality of insert portions sized for insertion into the open ends of the plurality of aluminum extrusion segments;   a plurality of panel edge portion retainer strips;   wherein a plurality of the plurality of aluminum extrusion segments having a connection portion extending lengthwise on the respective aluminum extrusion segments for receiving one of the panel edge portion retainer strips;   and a plurality of panels with an edge portion extending therearound.   
     
     
         11 . The fencing system of  claim 10 , wherein the body portion of each segment connector has an outer contour that matches outer contours of a plurality of the aluminum extrusion segments. 
     
     
         12 . The fencing system of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of segment connectors include inline connectors where two insert portions are in coaxial alignment, and a plurality of L connectors where two insert portions are not coaxially aligned. 
     
     
         13 . The fencing system of  claim 10 , wherein the connection portion extending lengthwise on the plurality of aluminum extrusion segments is configured as a slot defined by two confronting wall edge portions of the each respective aluminum extrusion segment. 
     
     
         14 . The fencing system of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of panel edge retainer strips have a exposed flat portion that seats on an exterior surface of one of the plurality of aluminum extrusion segments with an edge portion sandwiched between the exposed flat portion and the respective aluminum extrusion to which it is attached. 
     
     
         15 . The fencing system of any of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of segment connectors of each fencing framework comprises polyvinylchloride. 
     
     
         16 . A method of assembling a fencing section for a pontoon boat deck without any welded joints, the method comprising:
 building a fencing framework having a plurality of framework corners comprising providing a plurality of aluminum tubular extrusion segments, each segment having open ends, connecting the plurality of aluminum tubular extrusion segments together at the plurality of framework corners with a plurality of polymer segment connectors, one segment connector at each of the plurality of framework corners, inserting a insert portion of each segment connector into an open end of one of the plurality of aluminum tubular extrusion segments; and   attaching a paneling section to the fencing framework.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising attaching the paneling section to the framework by sandwiching an edge portion of the paneling section between a polymer retainer strip retained in a respective one of the aluminum tubular extrusions and an exterior surface of the respective one of the aluminum tubular extrusions. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising securing the polymer retainer strip to the respective one of the aluminum tubular extrusions by insertion of an insert leg of the retainer strip into a slot on the respective one of the aluminum tubular extrusions. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising attaching a corner cap to each framework corner to the respective segment connector at the corner, the corner cap covering at least one end portion of one of the plurality of resilient strips. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising securing each of the plurality of segment connectors to respective ones of the aluminum tubular extrusions with a plurality of screws.