Watercraft

Abstract

A watercraft includes a deck, a pontoon assembly, and a propulsion system. The pontoon assembly supports the deck, and includes a supporting structure connected to the deck, a center pontoon, a port pontoon and a starboard pontoon. The center pontoon is connected to the deck by the supporting structure. The port and starboard pontoons are connected to the deck, and are disposed to left and right of the center pontoon respectively. The propulsion system includes a battery, an electric motor and a propulsion unit. The battery is mounted on the supporting structure, and is disposed vertically between a lower surface of the deck and an upper surface of the center pontoon. The electric motor is electrically connected to and powered by the battery and is supported by at least one of the pontoon assembly or the deck. The propulsion unit is operatively connected to the electric motor.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A watercraft comprising:
 a deck;   a pontoon assembly supporting the deck, the pontoon assembly comprising:
 a supporting structure connected to the deck; 
 a center pontoon connected to the deck by the supporting structure; 
 a port pontoon connected to the deck, the port pontoon being disposed to a left of the center pontoon; and 
 a starboard pontoon connected to the deck, the starboard pontoon being disposed to a right of the center pontoon, and 
   a propulsion system comprising:
 a battery mounted on the supporting structure, the battery being disposed vertically between a lower surface of the deck and an upper surface of the center pontoon; 
 an electric motor electrically connected to and powered by the battery, the electric motor being supported by at least one of the pontoon assembly or the deck; and 
 a propulsion unit operatively connected to the electric motor. 
   
     
     
         2 . The watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the deck has a first stiffness; and   the center pontoon has a second stiffness, the second stiffness being higher than the first stiffness, and the second stiffness limiting deformation of the supporting structure.   
     
     
         3 . The watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein the supporting structure has a first height, the center pontoon has a second height, and the second height is smaller than the first height. 
     
     
         4 . The watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein the supporting structure includes a first vertical spacer extending from the lower surface of the deck to the upper surface of the center pontoon and a second vertical spacer laterally spaced from the first vertical spacer, and extending from the lower surface of the deck to the upper surface of the center pontoon. 
     
     
         5 . The watercraft of  claim 4 , wherein a majority of the battery is disposed laterally between the first vertical spacer and the second vertical spacer. 
     
     
         6 . The watercraft of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the supporting structure further includes:
 a first connecting member connected to the battery, and selectively connected to the first vertical spacer; and 
 a second connecting member connected to the battery, and selectively connected to the second vertical spacer. 
   
     
     
         7 . The watercraft of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the first vertical spacer defines a first side canal;   the second vertical spacer defines a second side canal;   the first connecting member is selectively slidingly received in the first side canal; and   the second connecting member is selectively slidingly received in the second side canal.   
     
     
         8 . The watercraft of  claim 6 , wherein the supporting structure further includes a tray extending between the first connecting member and the second connecting member for holding at least one component of the propulsion system. 
     
     
         9 . The watercraft of  claim 4 , wherein the supporting structure further comprises at least one wall connected to and extending laterally between the first vertical spacer and the second vertical spacer. 
     
     
         10 . The watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein a cross-section of the center pontoon taken along a lateral plane has a maximum width and a maximum height, wherein the maximum width is greater than the maximum height. 
     
     
         11 . The watercraft of  claim 10 , wherein the cross-section of the center pontoon has an upper side and a lower side, the upper side being flatter than the lower side. 
     
     
         12 . The watercraft of  claim 11 , wherein the cross-section of the center pontoon defines a gibbous shape. 
     
     
         13 . The watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein a highest point of the center pontoon is positioned vertically lower than a highest point of the port pontoon and a highest point of the starboard pontoon. 
     
     
         14 . The watercraft of  claim 13 , wherein the highest point of the center pontoon is positioned vertically lower than a vertical midpoint of the port pontoon and a vertical midpoint of the starboard pontoon. 
     
     
         15 . The watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein:
 a cross-section of the port pontoon taken along a lateral plane defines a circular shape; and   a cross-section of the starboard pontoon taken along a lateral plane defines a circular shape.   
     
     
         16 . The watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the center pontoon, the port pontoon or the starboard pontoon is tubular. 
     
     
         17 . The watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the center pontoon, the port pontoon or the starboard pontoon is filled with closed-cell foam.