BOAT HULL WITH CHANNEL FORMING MEMBER AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE

Abstract

A molded boat hull is provided having a channel forming member extending between a motor mounting transom and an aft riser that forms a step in the bottom portion of the boat hull. The channel forming member has at least one open side and at least an opening in another side to provide a fluid flow communication channel from the atmosphere to the underside of the boat in the step area. The channel forming member is formed as an integral part of the boat hull during forming of the boat hull by molding.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a boat hull as viewed from the top of the boat hull showing the boat hull interior.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the boat hull as viewed from the bottom and stern portion of the boat hull.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the stern portion of the boat hull as seen from the inside of the hull.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged end view of the stern portion of the boat hull as seen from the outside of the hull.

Claims

1. A boat hull including: a bow portion;a stern portion with a transom;a pair of sidewall portions;a bottom portion having a step portion adjacent the stern portion, said bow portion, stern portion sidewall portion and bottom portion defining an upwardly opening cavity; anda channel forming member integral with the transom and the bottom portion and forming a flow path therebetween, said channel forming member being an integrally molded part of the bottom portion and transom and being positioned at least partially in the cavity, said channel forming member having a first side at the bottom portion and a second side at the transom, at least one of the first side and second side being open along at least a substantial portion of its length.

2. The boat hull as set forth in claim 1 wherein both of the first and second sides being open along at least a substantial portion of their respective length.

3. The boat hull as set forth in claim 2 wherein the channel forming member having an interior channel defined at least partially by a pair of spaced sidewalls, said sidewalls each extending between a respective side edge of each of the first and second open sides, said channel being oriented and shaped to receive a male mold plug therein during molding of the boat hull.

4. The boat hull as set forth in claim 1 wherein the channel forming member extending between the transom and a wall member portion of the step portion.

5. The boat hull as set forth in claim 4 wherein the wall member being generally horizontal.

6. The boat hull as set forth in claim 5 wherein the channel forming member defining a channel opening on the transom exterior and the wall member exterior along first and second sides of the channel forming member respectively.

7. The boat hull as set forth in claim 6 wherein the channel opening on the transom along at least substantially the entire length of the first side.

8. The boat hull as set forth in claim 7 wherein the channel opening on the wall member along at least substantially the entire length of the second side.

9. The boat hull as set forth in claim 8 wherein the channel forming member including a pair of spaced apart second sidewalls extending between the transom and the wall member in the cavity.

10. The boat hull as set forth in claim 9 wherein the channel forming member including a bight member extending between and integral with the second sidewalls.

11. The boat hull as set forth in claim 10 wherein the channel being sealed from the cavity.

12. The boat hull as set forth in claim 1 wherein the channel being sealed from the cavity.

13. A method of making a molded boat hull, said method including: placing fibrous material on a mold surface of a mold component including covering a male mold plug extending between a transom molding surface and a bottom molding surface;infusing polymeric resin into the fibrous material before or after placement of the fibrous material; andhardening the resin to form a rigid boat hull with a transom, bottom with a step and an integral member forming a flow channel having at least two sides, said channel extending from the transom to the step and having an side open at said transom and an side open at said step.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the male mold plug being fixed to the mold component.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the male mold plug being fixed to a female mold component.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein the male mold plug forming a channel opening on the transom and a generally horizontal wall member forming part of step adjacent a stern portion of the boat hull.