Pontoon assembly with lift members, and watercraft having same

Abstract

A pontoon assembly includes center, port and starboard pontoons, a port lift member, which is connected to and extends laterally between the center and port pontoons, and a starboard lift member, which is connected to and extends laterally between the center and starboard pontoons. The port and starboard lift members are positioned vertically below a vertical midpoint of the center pontoon, and are configured to provide lift to the pontoon assembly as it moves forward in the body of water. A port channel, which extends over the port lift member, is defined by the center and port pontoons, and the port lift member. A starboard channel, which extends over the starboard lift member, is defined by the center and starboard pontoons and the starboard lift member. The port and starboard channels are at least partially filled with water with the pontoon assembly at rest on a body of water.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A watercraft comprising:
 a deck;   a pontoon assembly supporting the deck, the pontoon assembly including:
 a center pontoon connected to the deck; 
 a port pontoon connected to the deck, the port pontoon being disposed to a left of the center pontoon; 
 a starboard pontoon connected to the deck, the starboard pontoon being disposed to a right of the center pontoon; 
 a port lift member connected to and extending laterally between the center pontoon and the port pontoon, the port lift member being positioned vertically below a waterline of the watercraft at rest; 
 a port volume being defined vertically between the port lift member and the deck; 
 a starboard lift member connected to and extending laterally between the center pontoon and the starboard pontoon, the starboard lift member being positioned vertically below the waterline of the watercraft at rest; 
 a starboard volume being defined vertically between the starboard lift member and the deck; 
 the port volume and the starboard volume being at least partially filled with water with the watercraft at rest on a body of water, and 
 the port lift member and the starboard lift member being configured to provide lift to the pontoon assembly as the pontoon assembly moves forward in the body of water, and 
   a propulsion system supported by at least one of the pontoon assembly and the deck.   
     
     
         2 . The watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein the port lift member and the starboard lift member are at least partially angled relative to a horizontal plane. 
     
     
         3 . The watercraft of  claim 2 , wherein:
 a right side of the port lift member is vertically lower than a left side of the port lift member; and   a left side of the starboard lift member is vertically lower than a right side of the starboard lift member.   
     
     
         4 . The watercraft of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the port lift member has a port leading portion angled such that a forward end of the port leading portion is vertically higher than a rearward end of the port leading portion; and   the starboard lift member has a starboard leading portion angled such that a forward end of the starboard leading portion is vertically higher than a rearward end of the starboard leading portion.   
     
     
         5 . The watercraft of  claim 4 , wherein the port leading portion and the starboard leading portion are curved leading portions. 
     
     
         6 . The watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein the port lift member has a port body portion extending generally linearly, and the starboard lift member has a starboard body portion extending generally linearly. 
     
     
         7 . The watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein a vertically highest point of the port lift member and a vertically highest point of the starboard lift member are disposed vertically lower than a vertical midpoint of the center pontoon. 
     
     
         8 . The watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein a vertically lowest point of the port lift member is disposed vertically higher than a vertically lowest point of the port pontoon, and a vertically lowest point of the starboard lift member is disposed vertically higher than a vertically lowest point of the starboard pontoon. 
     
     
         9 . The watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein a length of the port lift member is greater than half of a length of the center pontoon, and a length of the starboard lift member is greater than half of the length of the center pontoon. 
     
     
         10 . The watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein the propulsion system includes:
 a battery supported by at least one of the pontoon assembly and the deck; and   an electric motor electrically connected to and powered by the battery.   
     
     
         11 . The watercraft of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the port lift member and the starboard lift member comprises a cooling system comprising:
 a heat exchanger; and   a cooling path in thermal contact with the heat exchanger and with at least one of the battery and the electric motor.   
     
     
         12 . The watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the port volume is further partially defined by the center pontoon, the port pontoon and the port lift member; and   the starboard volume is further partially defined by the center pontoon, the starboard pontoon and the starboard lift member.   
     
     
         13 . A pontoon assembly for a watercraft, the pontoon assembly comprising:
 a center pontoon;   a port pontoon disposed to a left of the center pontoon;   a starboard pontoon disposed to a right of the center pontoon;   a port lift member connected to and extending laterally between the center pontoon and the port pontoon, the port lift member being positioned vertically below a vertical midpoint of the center pontoon;   a port channel extending over the port lift member, the port channel being defined by the center pontoon, the port lift member, and the port pontoon;   a starboard lift member connected to and extending laterally between the center pontoon and the starboard pontoon, the starboard lift member being positioned vertically below the vertical midpoint of the center pontoon;   a starboard channel extending over the starboard lift member, the starboard channel being defined by the center pontoon, the starboard lift member, and the starboard pontoon;   the port channel and the starboard channel being at least partially filled with water with the pontoon assembly at rest on a body of water, and   the port lift member and the starboard lift member being configured to provide lift to the pontoon assembly as the pontoon assembly moves forward in the body of water.   
     
     
         14 . The pontoon assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the port lift member and the starboard lift member are at least partially angled relative to a horizontal plane. 
     
     
         15 . The pontoon assembly of  claim 14 , wherein:
 a right side of the port lift member is vertically lower than a left side of the port lift member; and   a left side of the starboard lift member is vertically lower than a right side of the starboard lift member.   
     
     
         16 . The pontoon assembly of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the port lift member has a port leading portion angled such that a forward end of the port leading portion is vertically higher than a rearward end of the port leading portion; and   the starboard lift member has a starboard leading portion angled such that a forward end of the starboard leading portion is vertically higher than a rearward end of the starboard leading portion.   
     
     
         17 . The pontoon assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the port leading portion and the starboard leading portion are curved leading portions. 
     
     
         18 . The watercraft of  claim 13 , wherein the port lift member has a port body portion extending generally linearly, and the starboard lift member has a starboard body portion extending generally linearly. 
     
     
         19 . The pontoon assembly of  claim 13 , wherein a vertically lowest point of the port lift member is disposed vertically higher than a vertically lowest point of the port pontoon, and a vertically lowest point of the starboard lift member is disposed vertically higher than a vertically lowest point of the starboard pontoon. 
     
     
         20 . The pontoon assembly of  claim 13 , wherein a length of the port lift member is greater than half of a length of the center pontoon, and a length of the starboard lift member is greater than half of the length of the center pontoon.