Inflatable kayak-type boat

Abstract

Kayak-type inflatable boat The invention relates to a kayak-type inflatable boat, comprising a hull (2) with a longitudinal bottom. The longitudinal bottom comprises an inflatable envelope (16) comprising two walls, upper (16a) and lower, superimposed, and a peripheral wall connecting, in a sealed manner, the periphery of the two superimposed walls together and forming a peripheral edge of the longitudinal bottom. Said two superimposed walls each comprise a textile sheet and are connected to each other by a multitude of connecting threads distributed over the entire surface of said sheets, forming a structure adapted to be inflated to a pressure capable of stiffening said structure. The longitudinal bottom has two lateral longitudinal edges and a central longitudinal edge so as to have a curved cross-section.At least one of said superimposed walls of the inflatable envelope (16) of the longitudinal bottom comprises at least one cutout (22) made at a distance from the peripheral wall and a sealing means (20) connecting the sides of the cutout (22) together, said at least one cutout (22) being positioned and dimensioned in the inflatable envelope (16) so as to obtain the curved cross-section of the longitudinal bottom. Figure for abstract: Fig. 4.

Description

Title of the invention: Inflatable kayak-type boat Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of sports equipment and in particular to the field of inflatable boats. More particularly, the present invention relates to inflatable boats of the kayak type, in particular racing kayaks. Prior art

[0002] Inflatable boats for kayaking already exist. Such boats are for example described in document US 9,452,809. Such boats are formed from a plurality of inflatable elements, for example made of so-called "dropstitch" materials, assembled together so as to obtain a boat having the general shape of a kayak.

[0003] However, such boats, due to their inflatable structure, require an architecture leading to a shape which is not always suitable or which is not the most favorable for the practice of kayaking. Thus, document US 9,452,809 discloses an inflatable boat having a flat bottom which is not suitable in particular for practicing kayaking on a sea with swell. In addition, the boat also does not have a hydrodynamic hull allowing efficient behavior of the boat on the water.

[0004] There are also boat-type vessels, in which only the floor is formed by a so-called "dropstitch" material, and in which the sides of the vessel are formed by cylindrical inflatable elements. Such vessels are described in particular in documents FR 2 795 040 or FR 2 722 758.

[0005] However, such structures most often concern motorized boats, and not kayaking boats. In particular, the cylindrical inflatable elements arranged on the sides and forming the main buoyancy elements of the boat, generally have a significant bulk in order to give the boat sufficient rigidity and buoyancy.

[0006] Application WO 2019 / 215409 relates to an inflatable kayak-type boat, in which the longitudinal bottom has a V-shaped cross-section and is made with inflatable envelopes made of dropstitch material. In particular, a central stiffening structure makes it possible to reinforce the mechanical strength of the inflatable longitudinal bottom, when the user sits in the middle of the boat.

[0007] Such a boat makes it possible to overcome the problems of the boats mentioned previously, and gives full satisfaction for so-called use of "leisure". However, such a boat remains relatively unsuitable for so-called "racing" use, for which performance is sought. Statement of the invention

[0008] The present invention aims to solve the various technical problems stated above. In particular, the present invention aims to provide a kayak-type boat having an improved hydrodynamic shape, while retaining the advantages of inflatable boats.

[0009] Thus, according to one aspect, there is provided an inflatable boat of the kayak type, comprising a hull with a longitudinal bottom. The longitudinal bottom comprises an inflatable envelope, or even a single inflatable envelope, the inflatable envelope comprising two walls, upper and lower, superimposed, and a peripheral wall connecting, in a sealed manner, the periphery of the two superimposed walls together and forming a peripheral edge of the longitudinal bottom. Said two superimposed walls each comprise a textile sheet and are connected together by a multitude of connecting threads distributed over the entire surface of said sheets, forming a structure adapted to be inflated to a pressure capable of stiffening said structure.

[0010] The longitudinal bottom has two lateral longitudinal edges, for example formed by at least a portion of the peripheral wall, and a central longitudinal edge so as to have a curved cross-section, for example in a V.

[0011] At least one of said superimposed walls of the inflatable envelope of the longitudinal bottom comprises at least one cutout made at a distance from the peripheral wall and a sealing means connecting the sides of the cutout together, said at least one cutout being positioned and dimensioned in the inflatable envelope so as to obtain the curved cross-section of the longitudinal bottom.

[0012] The structure of the inflatable boat according to the present invention, and in particular the longitudinal bottom of the hull, thus comprises at least one volume formed from a “dropstitch” type material. The volume makes it possible in particular, thanks to the high inflation pressure which can be used with the “dropstitch” material, to obtain a longitudinal bottom having high rigidity despite the inflatable nature of the envelope.

[0013] Thus, and despite the use of an inflatable dropstitch envelope to form the longitudinal bottom of the boat, the latter nevertheless has a hydrodynamic curved shape thanks to a specific pattern. Thus, at least one of the walls of the dropstitch material has a cutout made at a distance from the edge and thus forming two sides which join together at their ends. Such a cutout allows, after re-closing, a modification of the planar geometry of the dropstitch material, and in particular to obtain a curvature of the longitudinal bottom allowing the obtaining of a desired cross-section for the hull of the boat.

[0014] Indeed, the dropstitch material is conventionally a flat-shaped material, with two main flat walls parallel to each other connected by wires and a peripheral wall. Unlike the boats of the prior art, it is not the assembly of the inflatable dropstitch envelopes, but the specific patterning of one or more inflatable dropstitch envelopes, which makes it possible to obtain the desired curved cross-section of the boat according to the present invention. It is then possible to obtain in particular a smoother lower surface of the longitudinal bottom, thanks to the use of a single inflatable envelope forming said lower surface, and not several envelopes connected to each other with the added connecting elements.

[0015] Preferably, the upper wall comprises a central cutout and a central sealing means, for example positioned opposite the central longitudinal edge of the longitudinal bottom, and / or two lateral cutouts and two lateral sealing means, positioned on either side of the central longitudinal edge of the longitudinal bottom.

[0016] According to such an embodiment, the cutouts are made on the upper wall of the dropstitch envelope, so as to leave the lower wall of the envelope, on which the water will slide when using the boat, smooth to improve the hydrodynamics of the boat.

[0017] Furthermore, the cutouts are positioned to have a curved shape of the longitudinal bottom with: a longitudinal central edge obtained by the central cutout closed by the central sealing means to have a V-shaped bottom while having sufficient space to accommodate the user, and / or lateral edges brought together by the lateral cutouts which make it possible to provide an additional curvature, or chines, beyond a certain distance from the central cutout, so as to surround the user's pelvis. This gives a hydrodynamic longitudinal bottom, and can delimit an interior space sufficient to accommodate a user.

[0018] Preferably, the upper wall comprises a central cutout and a central sealing means, and two lateral cutouts and two lateral sealing means, and the boat also comprises at least one seat, said seat and said two lateral cutouts being present in at least one same cross-section of the boat.

[0019] The lateral cutouts are thus provided to raise, preferably vertically or substantially vertically, the edges of the longitudinal bottom on the sides of the user, according to a cross-section of the longitudinal bottom. Thus, when the longitudinal bottom is sufficiently wide to accommodate the user, and a corresponding seat, it is then advantageous to provide the two lateral cutouts so as to that, in a cross-section, the longitudinal bottom extends, from the edges of the seat, rather upwards than laterally. This limits the overall width of the boat, for the same width of the longitudinal bottom, while better delimiting the space surrounding the user. In other words, the branches of the V-shaped cross-section of the longitudinal bottom are not straight but on the contrary broken, with substantially vertical, and possibly parallel, ends.

[0020] Thus, in the cross sections of the longitudinal bottom at which there will be only the central cutout, the longitudinal bottom will have a V-shaped cross section, while, in the cross sections of the longitudinal bottom at which there will be the central cutout and the lateral cutouts, the longitudinal bottom will have a V-shaped cross section whose branches are broken with substantially vertical ends forming chines.

[0021] Preferably, said at least one cutout is obtained by removing a portion, preferably tapered, of said wall.

[0022] To obtain the geometric deformation of the inflatable envelope, and to allow a pronounced curvature, the cuts are not limited to a cut of the wall of the dropstitch material, but involve a removal of a portion of the wall of the dropstitch material. Such a portion is in particular of tapered shape, so as to obtain a deformation of the dropstitch envelope which is progressive. In particular, the removal of said portion also involves a break in the threads linking it to the lower wall, which implies that the corresponding portion of the lower wall is no longer connected to the upper wall when the inflatable envelope is inflated. This induces in particular a deformation, or protrusion, on the lower wall, also making it possible to obtain additional hydrodynamic elements on the surface of the lower wall of the inflatable envelope, without adding an additional element on the surface of said lower wall.

[0023] According to one embodiment, the removal of said portion of said wall forms an opening in said wall, with two longitudinal sides, in particular connected to each other by their ends, and the two longitudinal sides of the opening are brought together and assembled edge to edge by said sealing means.

[0024] The removal of the portion makes it possible to create a protrusion on the opposite wall, during inflation. Furthermore, by bringing the sides of the cutout left by the removal of the portion together edge to edge, it is also possible to curve the upper wall of the envelope, the surface area of ​​which is reduced compared to that of the lower wall.

[0025] Preferably, the cutout(s) are present on the upper wall of the inflatable envelope of the longitudinal bottom.

[0026] Making the cutouts on the upper wall of the inflatable envelope allows to keep a lower wall that is both hydrodynamic and perfectly smooth.

[0027] According to another embodiment, the removal of said portion of said wall forms an opening in said wall, and the opening is covered by said sealing means.

[0028] Alternatively, the opening created by the removal of the portion can be closed by a sealing means, without deformation of the wall: in this case, the connecting wires between the two walls of the inflatable envelope are essentially removed, in a well-defined area, in order to locally modify the shape of said walls of the envelope after inflation.

[0029] Preferably, the cutout(s) are present on the lower wall of the inflatable envelope of the longitudinal bottom.

[0030] Such cutouts are in particular provided on the lower wall of the inflatable envelope, so as to allow it to be shaped, without however inducing a curvature tending to widen the longitudinal bottom of the boat.

[0031] Preferably, the boat also comprises two longitudinal lateral inflatable envelopes, each lateral inflatable envelope being mounted on one of the lateral longitudinal edges of the longitudinal bottom.

[0032] In order to complete the construction of the boat, the latter may also comprise, in the extension of the longitudinal bottom, two additional inflatable envelopes, each mounted on a longitudinal edge of the longitudinal bottom, and intended to form the side walls of the boat.

[0033] Preferably, the lateral inflatable envelopes each comprise two superimposed walls each comprising a textile sheet and being connected to each other by a multitude of connecting threads distributed over the entire surface of said sheets, forming a structure adapted to be inflated to a pressure capable of stiffening said structure.

[0034] In order to keep the boat as rigid as possible, the side inflatable envelopes can also be made of dropstitch material.

[0035] The longitudinal bottom may extend in a longitudinal direction, and the central cutout and / or the lateral cutouts may extend in said longitudinal direction. Brief description of the drawings

[0036] [Fig-1] [Fig.l] schematically represents a kayak with a bottom inflatable longitudinal, according to the present invention, seen from the side;

[0037] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] schematically represents the pattern of the wall on upper part of the longitudinal bottom and the lateral inflatable envelopes, of the kayak illustrated in [Fig.l];

[0038] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] schematically represents the patterning of the lower wall of the longitudinal bottom and the lateral inflatable envelopes of the kayak illustrated in [Fig.l];

[0039] [Fig.4] [Fig.4] schematically represents the hull of the kayak illustrated in [Fig.l], seen from above, and

[0040] [Fig.5] [Fig.5] schematically represents the hull of the kayak illustrated in [Fig.l], seen from below. Description of the embodiments

[0041] [Fig.l] schematically illustrates an inflatable boat 1 of the kayak type.

[0042] The inflatable boat 1 comprises in particular a hull 2, which is formed by a longitudinal bottom 4 and two lateral inflatable envelopes 6 (see figures 4 and 5). The inflatable boat 1 may also comprise a deck 8 with a coaming, and a seat (not shown). The inflatable boat 1 comprises in particular a bow at the front and a stern at the rear arranged at the two longitudinal ends of the boat, and in particular of the hull 2.

[0043] As can be seen in [Fig. 5], the longitudinal bottom 4 has, in the middle, a central longitudinal edge 12 and, on the outer sides, two lateral longitudinal edges 14. The longitudinal bottom 4 thus has a curved cross-section, in particular a V-shape.

[0044] The angle of the longitudinal bottom 4, at the central longitudinal edge 12, may vary depending on whether the cross-section in question is located near a longitudinal end of the longitudinal bottom 4 or near the middle part of the longitudinal bottom 4. Thus, near the ends, the cross-section of the longitudinal bottom 4 may have a V-shape with an acute angle, less than 90°. Conversely, the middle cross-section of the longitudinal bottom 4 may have a V-shape with an obtuse angle, i.e. greater than 90°, making it possible to provide more space, in particular in width, to accommodate the user. Furthermore, at the longitudinal ends of the longitudinal bottom 4, i.e. at the front end and the rear end of the hull 2, the two longitudinal sides 14 may join to form respectively the bow at the front of the hull 2 ​​and the stern at the rear of the hull 2.

[0045] As will be detailed below, the longitudinal bottom 4 may also have, in cross-section, a V-shape whose branches are not straight but broken with ends oriented substantially vertically forming chines 15. Thus, in the presence of lateral cutouts on the longitudinal bottom 4, the latter may also have, in certain cross-sections at the level of which said lateral cutouts are present, a narrower V-shape and raised.

[0046] According to a preferred embodiment, the longitudinal bottom 4 is formed by a single inflatable envelope 16, so as to be able in particular to be inflated or deflated using a single inflation valve. The inflatable envelope used to form the longitudinal bottom 4 is preferably a dropstitch inflatable envelope, that is to say an inflatable envelope comprising two superimposed walls, an upper wall 16a and a lower wall 16b, said walls each comprising a textile sheet and being connected to each other by a multitude of connecting threads distributed over the entire surface of said sheets, forming a structure adapted to be inflated to a pressure capable of stiffening said structure. A peripheral wall 16c (see [Fig.5]) is mounted on the peripheral periphery of each of the upper 16a and lower 16b walls of the inflatable envelope 16, in order to connect them to each other and form a closed volume.

[0047] The use of the dropstitch material makes it possible in particular to use a high inflation pressure of the envelope, and therefore to obtain a high rigidity of the envelope in the inflated state. In the case of the longitudinal bottom 4, such rigidity makes it possible to facilitate the flow of water along the submerged surface of the bottom, and therefore to limit the efforts required by the user to move the kayak forward.

[0048] In addition, the dropstitch material makes it possible to obtain inflatable volumes with the desired shapes, and in particular substantially flat shapes with the upper and lower walls substantially parallel to each other, and not cylindrical, thus limiting the size of the kayak.

[0049] Figures 2 and 3 illustrate the patterning, respectively, of the upper wall 16a and the lower wall 16b of the longitudinal bottom 4 of the hull 2. The upper wall 16a of the longitudinal bottom 4 has a central cutout 18. The central cutout 18 has a longitudinal tapered shape delimited by two longitudinal sides 18a meeting at their two ends 18b: a first end near a first end of the longitudinal bottom 4, for example on the bow side, and a second end near a second end of the longitudinal bottom 4, for example on the stern side. The two ends of the central cutout 18 however remain at a distance from the ends of the longitudinal bottom 4, that is to say that the central cutout 18 is a cutout having a closed contour, in the upper wall 16a.As indicated previously, the central cutout 18 makes it possible to obtain a longitudinal bottom 4 having, in cross section, a general V shape, the point of the V being located at the level of said central cutout 18.

[0050] The central cutout 18 may correspond to the cutting and removal of a tapered portion of the upper wall 16a, thus leaving an opening in the upper wall 16a. In this case, the surface area of ​​the upper wall 16a is thereby reduced by relative to that of the lower wall 16b. Furthermore, the tapered portion in question can be removed from the inflatable envelope 16, after cutting the connecting wires connecting said tapered portion to the lower wall 16b. Alternatively, the tapered portion can simply be positioned inside the inflatable envelope 16, the corresponding portion of the lower wall 16b then no longer being connected to the upper wall 16a.

[0051] Once the tapered portion has been cut and separated from the rest of the upper wall 16a, the longitudinal sides 18a of the central cutout 18 can then be positioned edge to edge and then covered by a central sealing means 20 (see [Fig.4]). This then produces, on the one hand, an upper wall 16a with a smaller surface area, and on the other hand, a portion of the lower wall 16b which is no longer connected, by wires, to the upper wall 16a. Thus, the inflation of such an inflatable envelope makes it possible to obtain a longitudinal bottom 4 having at least a V-shaped cross-section, with possibly, at the level of the central longitudinal edge 12 present on the lower wall 16b, a deformation of the lower wall 16b in the form of a protrusion.

[0052] Alternatively, it is also possible to envisage a cutout of the lower wall 16b, at the central longitudinal edge 12, and to separate the longitudinal sides of such a cutout before covering such a cutout with a sealing means. In such a case, a lower wall 16b is then obtained with a larger surface area than that of the upper wall 16a, thus allowing the V-shaped configuration of the longitudinal bottom 4, in cross-section.

[0053] Furthermore, as illustrated in [Fig.2], the upper wall 16a of the longitudinal bottom 4 also has lateral cutouts 22, for example two positioned on either side, and substantially parallel, to the central cutout 18. In particular, in the case of a longitudinal bottom 4 extending in a longitudinal direction, the central cutout 18 and / or the lateral cutouts 22 preferably extend in said longitudinal direction. The lateral cutouts 22 have a longitudinal tapered shape delimited by two longitudinal sides 22a meeting at their two ends 22b.Unlike the central cutout 18 which extends substantially from the bow to the stern of the boat 1, the two lateral cutouts 22 extend only over a portion of the longitudinal bottom 4: for example, each lateral cutout 22 can extend over a length substantially equal to half, or even a third or even a quarter, of the length of the longitudinal bottom 4. The two ends of the lateral cutouts 22 also remain at a distance from the ends of the longitudinal bottom 4, that is to say that the lateral cutouts 22 are cutouts having a closed contour, in the upper wall 16a. As indicated previously, the lateral cutouts 22 make it possible to obtain a longitudinal bottom 4 having, in cross section, a general V-shape in which the branches. of the V are broken at the level of the lateral cutouts 22 to allow a more vertical inclination of the ends of the branches of the V and therefore the obtaining of chines 15 between the lateral cutouts 22 and the lateral inflatable envelopes. It is then possible to reduce the width of the boat 1 while improving its hydrodynamics.

[0054] The lateral cutouts 22 may correspond to the cutting and removal of tapered portions of the upper wall 16a, thus leaving openings in the upper wall 16a. In this case, the surface area of ​​the upper wall 16a is further reduced compared to that of the lower wall 16b. Furthermore, the tapered portions in question may be removed from the inflatable envelope 16, after cutting the connecting wires connecting said tapered portions to the lower wall 16b. Alternatively, the tapered portions may simply be positioned inside the inflatable envelope 16, the corresponding portions of the lower wall 16b then no longer being connected to the upper wall 16a.

[0055] Once the tapered portions have been cut and separated from the rest of the upper wall 16a, the longitudinal sides 22a of the lateral cutouts 22 can then be positioned edge to edge and then covered by a central sealing means 24 (see [Fig.4]). This then produces, on the one hand, an upper wall 16a with a smaller surface area, and on the other hand, two corresponding portions of the lower wall 16b which are no longer connected, by wires, to the upper wall 16a. Thus, the inflation of such an inflatable envelope 16 makes it possible to obtain a longitudinal bottom 4 having at least one V-shaped cross-section with broken branches, with possibly, at the level of the line of breakage of the branches of the V, a deformation of the lower wall 16b in the form of lateral protrusions 26 (see [Fig.5]). Such lateral protrusions 26 make it possible to improve the hydrodynamics of the boat 1 and are provided, preferably in the bow part of the boat 1.In other words, the lateral cutouts 22 and the corresponding sealing means 24 are preferably provided in the front portion of the boat 1, that is to say on the bow side of the boat 1.

[0056] Alternatively, it is also possible to envisage cutouts in the lower wall 16b, on either side of the central longitudinal edge 12, and to separate the longitudinal sides of such cutouts before covering them with a sealing means. In such a case, a lower wall 16b is then obtained with an even larger surface area than that of the upper wall 16a, thus allowing the presence of lateral protrusions at the level of said cutouts.

[0057] Figures 2 and 3 also illustrate the patterning, respectively, of the upper wall 6a and the lower wall 6b of the two lateral inflatable envelopes 6 of the hull 2. The lateral inflatable envelopes 6 are also formed from a dropstitch material, i.e. inflatable envelopes comprising two superimposed walls 6a, 6b, said walls each comprising a textile sheet and being connected to each other by a multitude of connecting threads distributed over the entire surface of said sheets, forming a structure suitable for being inflated to a pressure capable of stiffening said structure. The lateral inflatable envelopes 6 are intended to be mounted on a lateral longitudinal edge 14 of the longitudinal bottom 4.

[0058] The lateral inflatable envelopes 6 are substantially flat, that is to say they do not include a specific cutout for three-dimensional shaping, but on the contrary form substantially straight walls on the sides of the hull 2 ​​of the boat 1.

[0059] Each lateral inflatable envelope 6 may have a longitudinal length substantially equal to, or even greater than, the length of the longitudinal bottom 4. The ends of the lateral inflatable envelopes 6 therefore meet at the ends of the hull 6, and then form at least in part the bow and the stern of the boat 1. The lateral inflatable envelopes 6 may also have a height which varies along the longitudinal direction of the boat 1. For example, the lateral inflatable envelopes 6 may have a smaller height at the portion of the longitudinal bottom 4 without a lateral cutout, for example on the side of the stern of the boat 1. This gives a boat 1 having a bow whose height is much greater than that of the stern (see [Fig.l]), due, on the one hand, to the shape of the longitudinal bottom 4 whose lateral longitudinal edges 14 rise more upwards at the level of the bow due to the lateral cutouts 22, and on the other hand to the shape of the lateral inflatable envelopes 6 whose height is greater at the level of the bow. Conversely, the stern of the boat is lower and thinner towards the rear of the boat 1. .

[0060] Figures 4 and 5 illustrate the hull 2 ​​of the kayak with the longitudinal bottom 4 and the two lateral inflatable envelopes 6. The two lateral inflatable envelopes 6 are positioned substantially vertically on the lateral longitudinal edges 14 of the longitudinal bottom 4. The two inflatable envelopes 6 thus make it possible to limit the buckling of the longitudinal bottom 4, in particular when a user applies his weight on the middle part of the hull 2. More particularly, at least at the level of the portions of the longitudinal bottom 4 without lateral cutouts 22, the two lateral inflatable envelopes 6 are not oriented, in cross-section, like the longitudinal bottom 4 on which they are mounted, but are oriented more vertically. Thus, the lateral inflatable envelopes 6 are inclined relative to the longitudinal bottom 4.

[0061] Thus, thanks to the design of the hull, and in particular the patterning of the longitudinal bottom, it becomes possible to manufacture an inflatable kayak with hydrodynamics similar to that of rigid kayaks. In particular, the V-shape of the hull, with chines and lateral protrusions, makes it possible to approach the hydrodynamic performance of rigid kayaks, while being inflatable and having a limited number of inflatable envelopes.

Claims

Claims

1. Inflatable boat (1) of the kayak type, comprising a hull (2) with a longitudinal bottom (4), in which the longitudinal bottom (4) comprises an inflatable envelope (16), or even a single inflatable envelope, the inflatable envelope (16) comprising two walls, upper (16a) and lower (16b), superimposed, and a peripheral wall (16c) connecting, in a sealed manner, the periphery of the two walls (16a, 16b) superimposed on each other and forming a peripheral edge of the longitudinal bottom (4), said two superimposed walls (16a, 16b) each comprising a textile sheet and being connected to each other by a multitude of connecting threads distributed over the entire surface of said sheets, forming a structure adapted to be inflated to a pressure capable of stiffening said structure, in which the longitudinal bottom (4) has two lateral longitudinal edges (14), for example formed by at least a portion of the peripheral wall (16c),and a central longitudinal edge (12) so as to have a curved cross-section, for example V-shaped, characterized in that at least one of said superimposed walls (16a, 16b) of the inflatable envelope (16) of the longitudinal bottom (4) comprises at least one cutout (18, 22) made at a distance from the peripheral wall (16c) and a sealing means (20, 24) connecting the sides (18a, 22a) of the cutout (18, 22) together, said at least one cutout (18, 22) being positioned and dimensioned in the inflatable envelope (16) so as to obtain the curved cross-section of the longitudinal bottom (4).,

2. Boat (1) according to claim 1, in which the upper wall (16a) comprises a central cutout (18) and a central sealing means (20), for example positioned opposite the central longitudinal edge (12) of the longitudinal bottom (4), and / or two lateral cutouts (22) and two lateral sealing means (24), positioned on either side of the central longitudinal edge (12) of the longitudinal bottom (4).

3. Boat (1) according to claim 2, in which the upper wall (16a) comprises a central cutout (18) and a central sealing means (20), and two lateral cutouts (22) and two lateral sealing means (24), and in which the boat (1) also comprises at least one seat, said seat and said two lateral cutouts (22) being present in at least one same section transverse of the boat (1).

4. Boat (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said at least one cutout (18, 22) is obtained by removing a portion, preferably tapered, of said wall (16a).

5. A vessel (1) according to claim 4, wherein the removal of said portion of said wall (16a) forms an opening in said wall (16a) with two longitudinal sides (18a, 22a), and wherein the two longitudinal sides (18a, 22a) of the opening are brought together and joined edge to edge by said sealing means (20, 24).

6. Boat (1) according to the preceding claim, in which the cutout(s) (18, 22) are present on the upper wall (16a) of the inflatable envelope (16) of the longitudinal bottom (4).

7. A vessel (1) according to claim 4, wherein the removal of said portion of said wall (16a) forms an opening in said wall (16a), and wherein the opening is covered by said sealing means (20, 24).

8. Boat (1) according to the preceding claim, in which the cutout(s) are present on the lower wall of the inflatable envelope of the longitudinal bottom.

9. Boat (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, also comprising two longitudinal lateral inflatable envelopes (6), each lateral inflatable envelope (6) being mounted on one of the lateral longitudinal edges (14) of the longitudinal bottom (4).

10. Boat (1) according to the preceding claim, in which the lateral inflatable envelopes (6) each comprise two superimposed walls (6a, 6b) each comprising a textile sheet and being connected to each other by a multitude of connecting threads distributed over the entire surface of said sheets, forming a structure suitable for being inflated to a pressure capable of stiffening said structure.

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