Watercraft with interchangeable modules

Abstract

A watercraft and method of assembling thereof. The watercraft including a hull and a deck supported by the hull. The deck has an upper surface with support members connected to the deck. An interchangeable module rests on the upper surface of the deck. The interchangeable module has at least one of a seat and a storage compartment. The watercraft includes a mating member disposed on the interchangeable module and removably engages the support member.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A watercraft comprising:
 a hull;   a deck supported by the hull, the deck having an upper surface;   a support member connected to the deck;   an interchangeable module resting on the upper surface of the deck, the interchangeable module having at least one of:
 a seat; and 
 a storage compartment; and 
   a mating member disposed on the interchangeable module and removably engaging the support member.   
     
     
         2 . The watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the support member comprises at least one bracket connected to the upper surface of the deck;   the interchangeable module comprises a front edge; and   the mating member is disposed on the front edge and is received in the at least one bracket.   
     
     
         3 . The watercraft of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one bracket is a Z-shaped bracket. 
     
     
         4 . The watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein the deck comprises a rear portion and the interchangeable module is disposed at the rear portion. 
     
     
         5 . The watercraft of  claim 4 , wherein the rear portion comprises a rigging area and the interchangeable module is disposed adjacent to the rigging area. 
     
     
         6 . The watercraft of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the rigging area comprises:
 a front wall having a rear face, the front wall defining an aperture; and 
 the support member disposed on the rear face proximate the aperture; and 
   the mating member extends through the aperture and is removably connected to the support member.   
     
     
         7 . The watercraft of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the support member comprises a first right angle bracket; and   the mating member comprises a second right angle bracket, fastened to the first right angle bracket.   
     
     
         8 . The watercraft of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the interchangeable module comprises a rear surface;   the mating member is disposed on the rear surface of the interchangeable module; and   the mating member extends rearwardly away from the rear surface.   
     
     
         9 . The watercraft of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the aperture of the front wall is a first aperture;   the support member is a first support member disposed proximate the first aperture;   the mating member is a first mating member extending through the first aperture and being removably connected to the first support member;   the front wall defines a second aperture laterally spaced from the first aperture;   the rigging area comprises a second support member being disposed proximate the second aperture; and   the interchangeable module comprises a second mating member extending through the second aperture and being removably connected to the second support member.   
     
     
         10 . The watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the support member is a front support member connected to the upper surface of the deck;   the mating member is a front mating member configured to removably engage the front support member;   the deck comprises a rigging area;   
       the rigging area comprises a rear support member connected to the rigging area; and
 the interchangeable module comprises a rear mating member configured to removably engage the rear support member. 
 
     
     
         11 . The watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein the interchangeable module extends laterally across a majority of the deck. 
     
     
         12 . The watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein the interchangeable module comprises:
 a top surface defining three openings;   at least two storage compartments disposed on opposing ends of the interchangeable module,   
       a first of the two storage compartments being disposed beneath a first of the three openings, and 
       a second of the two storage compartments being disposed beneath a second of the three openings;
 a live-well disposed laterally between the two storage compartments and beneath a third of the three openings; 
 a door configured to selectively close the third of the three openings; and 
 two seats, each of the two seats being connected to top surface and being disposed at opposing ends of the interchangeable module, 
 
       a first of the two seats being configured to selectively close the first of the three openings; and 
       a second of the two seats being configured to selectively close the second of the three openings. 
     
     
         13 . The watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein the interchangeable module comprises:
 a top surface defining two openings;   a first door connected to the interchangeable module and configured to selectively close a first of the two openings;   a second door connected to the interchangeable module and configured to selectively close a second of the two openings;   
       a live-well disposed beneath the two openings; and
 a bait bucket holder disposed in one of the two openings. 
 
     
     
         14 . The watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein the interchangeable module comprises:
 a top surface defining two openings disposed at opposing ends of the interchangeable module;   a live-well disposed beneath a first of the two openings;   the storage compartment being disposed beneath a second of the two openings;   a first door connected to the interchangeable module and configured to selectively close the first of the two openings; and   a second door connected to the interchangeable module and configured to selectively close the second of the two openings.   
     
     
         15 . The watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein the storage compartment comprises a live-well. 
     
     
         16 . A method for assembling a watercraft the method comprising:
 providing a deck;   providing a support member on the deck;   
       selecting an interchangeable module from at least:
 a first interchangeable module; and 
 a second interchangeable module, 
 
       the first interchangeable module having a different configuration from the second interchangeable module, 
       each of the first and second interchangeable modules having at least one of:
 a seat; and 
 a storage compartment; 
 
       in response to selecting the first interchangeable module: 
       engaging a first mating member disposed on the first interchangeable module with the support member; 
       in response to selecting the second interchangeable module: 
       engaging a second mating member disposed on the second interchangeable module with the support member. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the first interchangeable module and the second interchangeable module have the same width and the same length; and   the first mating member and the second mating member are substantially identical.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the deck comprises:
 a rear portion; and   a rigging area disposed in the rear portion, the rigging area comprising:
 a front wall having a rear face, the front wall defining an aperture; and 
 the support member being disposed on the rear face proximate the aperture; 
   the method further comprising:
 in response to selecting the first interchangeable module:
 inserting the first mating member through the first aperture; 
 
   connecting a first mating member to the support member;
 in response to selecting the second interchangeable module:
 inserting the second mating member through the first aperture; and 
 
   
       connecting the second mating member to the support member. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein:
 selecting the interchangeable module from at least the first interchangeable module and the second interchangeable module comprises:
 selecting the interchangeable module from at least:
 the first interchangeable module; 
 the second interchangeable module; and 
 
   a third interchangeable module having a different configuration from the first and second interchangeable modules, the third interchangeable module having at least one of:   
       the seat;
 the storage compartment; and 
 a live-well; 
 
       and
 in response to selecting the third interchangeable module: 
 
       engaging a third mating member disposed on the third interchangeable module with the support member, the third interchangeable module having the same length and width as the first and the second interchangeable modules, and the third mating member being identical to the first and the second mating members. 
     
     
         20 . A method for replacing an interchangeable module on a deck a watercraft, the method comprising:
 disengaging a first mating member of a first interchangeable module from a support member provided on the deck;   removing the first interchangeable module from the deck;   placing a second interchangeable module on the deck, the second interchangeable module having a different configuration from the first interchangeable module; and   engaging a second mating member of the first interchangeable module with the support member, the second mating member being substantially identical to the first mating member,   
       each of the first and second interchangeable modules having at least one of:
 a seat; and 
 a storage compartment.