Pontoon Mounting of Rotary Blade and Attitude Control for Multi-Hull Vessels

Abstract

The pontoons of a pontoon boat are modified to provide a flat transom surface to which electromechanical control surface systems are mounted. A lower portion of the aft end of each pontoon, and a bottom section of a cylindrical wall toward the aft of each pontoon, are removed and replaced with flat panels, which may be welded in place. Upon detection using onboard sensors that the pontoon boat is involved in a turn, and the direction of that turn, a controller associated with the electromechanical control surface system signals the electromechanical control surface mounted on the outboard pontoon to increase deployment.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims the benefit of the filing date, under 35 USC § 119(e), of US Provisional Application No. 63 / 765,494, filed Feb. 28, 2025, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference.FIELD

[0002] This disclosure relates generally to watercraft, marine vessel and boat motion control and stability systems and, more specifically, to modifications of pontoons to accommodate actuatable electromechanical control surfaces for active attitude control, and to methods for controlling actuatable electromechanical control surfaces on pontoons and other multi-hull vessels.BACKGROUND

[0003] Multi-hull vessels, such as pontoon boats and catamarans, tend to turn flat, or maintain a relatively level orientation in the water during turns, in contrast to monohull boats, which typically lean into turns. The flat turning characteristic of multi-hull vessels can cause discomfort to riders, and can limit the vessel’s ability to execute sharp maneuvers.

[0004] While great strides have been made in improving monohull vessel stability using actuatable electromechanical control surfaces, there have been practical impediments to successful deployment of such solutions on pontoon boats. One of these impediments is the shape of the rear of the pontoons, which is typically dome-shaped or frustoconical, and therefore lacks a flat surface to which actuatable electromechanical control surfaces can be mounted.

[0005] Another challenge to using actuatable electromechanical control surfaces in multi-hull vessels is that the signals used aboard monohull boats to sense that the boat has entered a turn or is otherwise in a situation that would call for operation of the control surface, namely Heading Rate and Heading Acceleration (based on Course Over Ground Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) or Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signals, are too slow to detect commencement of a turn, and it is found that actuation of the control surfaces based on such signals results in an artificial sensation to riders. Additionally, there are challenges to providing an actuator that moves fast enough to provide the desired stabilization effects. Various other considerations that are different in the control and operation of electromechanical control surfaces for pontoon boats and other dual-hulled vessels, as opposed to monohull boats, are also described herein.SUMMARY

[0006] In order to mount a rotary blade or electromechanical control surface, such as the SEAKEEPER RIDETM, by Seakeeper, Inc., of California, Maryland, the assignee of the present application, to each pontoon of a dual-pontoon boat, it is often necessary to modify the pontoons. When mounting a rotary blade or electromechanical control surface to a transom of a monohull boat, the transom is typically flat, such that there is a suitable mounting surface. Since the aft end of a pontoon is typically dome-shaped or frustoconical, it is necessary to first remove a large section of the aft portion of both port and starboard pontoons and reconstruct the aft portion of each of the pontoons to provide a flat surface to which the transom plate, used for mounting the interceptor blade or electromechanical control surface components, can be secured with setscrews and a suitable watertight adhesive, such as Plexus® adhesive from ITW Performance Polymers, Danvers, Massachusetts. The reconstructed aft portion of each pontoon must be configured so as to provide sufficient surface area under the waterline to secure the transom plate, with sufficient clearance to permit the full range of movement of the electromechanical control surface, or blade, which is secured to the transom plate via a kit of components including a seal plate, an actuator, an actuator plate, and one or more angled wedge plates intermediate the actuator plate and the transom plate.

[0007] A bottom generally cylindrical surface near the aft end of each pontoon is also preferably removed and replaced with an inclined planar surface leading up to the reconstructed flat portion of the aft end of the pontoon.

[0008] Because pontoons and other multi-hulled boats turn flat, as opposed to leaning into turns, the electromechanical control surfaces are preferably operated differently on pontoons and other multi-hulled vessels as compared to similar attitude control surfaces provided on monohull boats. When a turn is detected, the electromechanical control surfaces of the pontoons are actuated in a manner to push the actuators out. The faster the rate or higher the acceleration, the more the actuators are active. Because turn detection using Course Over Ground GPS or GNSS signals is slower than desired, it is found that turn detection is best effected by using onboard internal sensors to detect yaw rate and / or yaw acceleration. Turn detection is tuned such that natural roll or yaw motions and sensor noise do not trigger detection algorithms to signal undesired or unnecessary actuation of the electromechanical control surfaces.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of an interceptor blade associated actuator and mounting assembly for a electromechanical control surface system;

[0010] FIG. 2 is a left side view illustrating a starboard side of a pontoon retrofitted or reconfigured with surfaces to facilitate mounting and operation of an interceptor blade and mounting assembly of the electromechanical control surface system of FIG. 1, mounted to the planar surface at the lower aft end of the pontoon;

[0011] FIG. 3 is a rear view of the lower aft portion of the retrofitted pontoon of FIG. 2, with the interceptor blade and mounting assembly of the electromechanical control surface system of FIG. 1 mounted thereto;

[0012] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 4-4 of FIG. 3;

[0013] FIG. 5 is a bottom view of an aft portion of the retrofitted or reconfigured pontoon with the interceptor blade and mounting assembly of the electromechanical control surface system of FIG. 1 mounted thereto;

[0014] FIG. 6 is a lower, right, rear perspective view of an aft end of a retrofitted or reconfigured pontoon with a transom plate of the mounting assembly of the electromechanical control surface system of FIG. 1 mounted thereto;

[0015] FIG. 7 is a lower, left, rear perspective view of the aft end of the retrofitted or reconfigured pontoon with the transom plate of the mounting assembly of the electromechanical control surface system of FIG. 1 mounted thereto;

[0016] FIG. 8 is a rear view of a pontoon boat, with each of its two pontoons retrofitted or reconfigured to receive a transom plate of the mounting assembly of the electromechanical control surface system of FIG. 1;

[0017] FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a control loop for operating interceptor blades mounted to a transom in response to a turn aboard a monohull vessel;

[0018] FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a control loop for operating a pair of interceptor blades mounted to a modified aft portion of each pontoon, in response to a turn aboard a pontoon boat or multi-hull vessel;

[0019] FIG. 11 is an exemplary lookup table based on yaw rate and yaw acceleration;

[0020] FIG. 12 is a bottom, rear perspective view of a pontoon, illustrating a domed end cap of the pontoon replaced with a flat aft surface, and a portion of the bottom of the generally cylindrical aft portion of the pontoon adjacent the aft end of the pontoon is removed and replaced with a flat, angled bottom panel extending from a bottom of the pontoon to the flat aft surface that replaced the domed end cap of the pontoon;

[0021] FIG. 13 is a bottom, rear perspective view of the pontoon of FIG. 12, with a bracket mounted to the flat aft surface;

[0022] FIG. 14 is a top, rear perspective view of a pontoon similar to that of FIG. 12, after removal of a rear bottom portion of the cylindrical aft portion thereof, but with only a lower section of the dome-shaped end cap removed;

[0023] FIG. 15 is a bottom, right, rear perspective view of a pontoon of FIG. 14, provided with a prismatic insert to provide a flat bottom at the rear of the pontoon as well as a generally vertical surface at the rear or aft end of the pontoon on which a water engagement device may be mounted, and the pontoon is arranged as a starboard side pontoon with a center pontoon, and a portion of a port side pontoon similar to the starboard side pontoon is also visible on an opposite side of the center pontoon;

[0024] FIG. 16 is a bottom view of the pontoon of FIG. 14, with the prismatic insert received therein;

[0025] FIG. 17 is an enlarged bottom view of an aft portion of the pontoon as illustrated in FIG. 16;

[0026] FIG. 18 is an aft view (looking forward) of the pontoon of FIG. 14, with the prismatic insert received therein;

[0027] FIG. 19 is a forward view (looking aft) of the pontoon of FIG. 14, with the prismatic insert received therein;

[0028] FIG. 20 is a top, right, rear perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the present disclosure, with an alternate prismatic insert received over the bottom and dome-shaped end cap of a starboard-side pontoon with a flat strake, the prismatic insert including a flat rear surface to which a WED is mounted, the cavity and prismatic insert provided predominantly on a starboard side of the pontoon;

[0029] FIG. 21 is a top, right, rear perspective view of the prismatic insert of FIG. 20, at an aft end of the starboard-side pontoon;

[0030] FIG. 22 is a top, right, rear perspective view of the prismatic insert similar to FIG. 21, with a WED mounted to the flat rear surface of the prismatic insert;

[0031] FIG. 23 is a top, right, rear perspective view of an aft portion of the starboard-side pontoon of FIG. 20, with the prismatic insert and WED mounted to the flat rear surface of the prismatic insert;

[0032] FIG. 24 is a top, front perspective view of the prismatic insert of FIG. 20;

[0033] FIG. 25 is a top, rear perspective view of the prismatic insert of FIG. 20;

[0034] FIG. 26 is a top, rear perspective view of the starboard pontoon and WED of FIG. 20, with the prismatic insert removed;

[0035] FIG. 27 is a side and rear perspective view of an aft portion of the starboard-side pontoon with prismatic insert received thereon and the WED mounted to the flat rear surface of the prismatic insert;

[0036] FIG. 28 is a top, rear, side perspective view of the aft portion of the starboard-side pontoon with prismatic insert received thereon and the WED mounted to the flat rear surface of the prismatic insert;

[0037] FIG. 29 is a side, rear perspective view of the starboard-side pontoon, prior to securement of the prismatic insert;

[0038] FIG. 30 is a front (bow-facing) view of the starboard-side pontoon with prismatic insert secured to the aft end thereof;

[0039] FIG. 31 is a rear (aft) view of the starboard-side pontoon with the prismatic insert secured thereto;

[0040] FIG. 32 is a rear view of the starboard-side pontoon with a WED mounted to the flat surface of the prismatic insert;

[0041] FIG. 33 is a top, side, rear perspective view of a further alternate embodiment of the present disclosure,

[0042] FIG. 34 is a top, side, rear perspective view of a conversion insert that is received in a cutout region of the rear of the pontoon and dome-shaped end cap;

[0043] FIG. 35 is a rear, top, side perspective view of another embodiment of the present disclosure, including a pontoon with an adapter tray received in a complementary horizontal slot provided in an aft end of the pontoon and through a domed end cap of the pontoon, and a WED secured to a flat mounting surface of the adapter tray;

[0044] FIG. 36 is another rear, top, side perspective view of the pontoon with adapter tray and WED of FIG. 35;

[0045] FIG. 37 is a top, rear, side perspective view of the adapter tray of FIG. 35;

[0046] FIG. 38 is a top, front, side perspective view of the adapter tray of FIG. 35;

[0047] FIG. 39 is a top, side, front perspective view of a winged adapter of an alternate embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0048] FIG. 40 is a rear, side, bottom perspective view of the winged adapter of FIG. 39;

[0049] FIG. 41 is a top, side, rear view of the winged adapter of FIG. 39;

[0050] FIG. 42 is a top view of the winged adapter of FIG. 39;

[0051] FIG. 43 is a port side view of the winged adapter of FIG. 39;

[0052] FIG. 44 is a starboard side view of the winged adapter of FIG. 39;

[0053] FIG. 45 is a front view of the winged adapter of FIG. 39; and

[0054] FIG. 46 is a rear view of another embodiment of the present disclosure, in which two WEDs are mounted to adapters on an aft end of a single pontoon.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0055] Referring to FIG. 1, a rotary blade 10 and mounting assembly of the electromechanical control surface system 12, also referred to herein as a transom mounted trim / stabilization system or water engagement device (abbreviated WED), is illustrated. In addition to the interceptor blade 10, the electromechanical control surface system 12, or WED, includes a seal plate 14, an actuator 16, an actuator plate 18, one or more angled wedge plates, such as a 3-degree wedge plate 20, a 4-degree wedge plate 22, and a 5-degree wedge plate 24 (which may include more than one of one or more of any of wedge plates 20, 22, and / or 24), and a transom plate 26. In selecting the wedge plates 20, 22, and / or 24 to be included, it is found beneficial to select a combination that achieves a wedge pack angle that aligns with the deepest running section of the pontoon 30, as opposed to the modified area of the pontoon 30. The wedge plates 20, 22, 24 are collectively referred to herein as a wedge pack, which is used or adjusted to align the seal plate 14 with the running surface (the modified section) of the pontoon 30.

[0056] As illustrated in FIGS. 2-7, an aft section of a pontoon 30 is illustrated. A dome-shaped aft end cap 32 of the pontoon 30 was modified to remove its lower portion and replace the removed material with a flat transom surface 34 to which the transom plate 26 of the electromechanical control surface system 12 is mounted. A portion of the bottom of the generally cylindrical aft portion of the pontoon 30 adjacent the aft end of the pontoon 30 is removed and replaced with a flat, angled bottom panel 36 (for example at a5° angle from the horizontal) extending from a bottom of the pontoon 30 to the transom surface 34. While a retrofit of an existing pontoon 30 is described herein, it is to be understood that a pontoon could instead be constructed in such a manner that it is built to the configuration described herein with respect to the reconstructed pontoons 30, without requiring reconstruction.

[0057] Just above the flat transom surface 34, a flat horizontal plate 38 is provided, extending between a bottom of the dome-shaped aft end cap 32 of the pontoon 30 and the flat transom surface 34. A sufficient portion of the dome-shaped aft end cap 32 is removed to provide enough vertical clearance above the blade 10 and mounting assembly of the electromechanical control surface system 12, or water engagement device, for the system to retract and to be actuated along its full amplitude. The seams between the dome-shaped aft end 32, the flat horizontal plate 38, the flat transom surface 34, the flat, angled bottom 36, and the rest of the pontoon 30 are welded. Where screw holes are drilled, such as to secure the transom plate 26 to the flat transom surface 34, the flat transom surface 34 is first sanded and thoroughly cleaned with acetone, and PLEXUS® adhesive is applied, to ensure the surfaces remain uncontaminated and achieve a watertight mounting. FIG. 8 illustrates a vessel having two such pontoons 30.

[0058] The logic or flow of a control loop for signaling actuation of interceptor blades 10 mounted to a transom in response to a turn aboard a monohull vessel is illustrated in FIG. 9. The logic or flow of a control loop for signaling actuation of a pair of interceptor blades 10 mounted to a modified aft portion of each pontoon 30 is illustrated in FIG. 10. As indicated therein, in contrast to the manner in which interceptor blades 10 are actuated in a turn of a monohull vessel, namely decreasing deployment of inboard water engagement device (WED) (to minimize list angle correction when the boat is in a turn based on a lookup table based on heading rate and heading acceleration from GPS data), when a turn of a pontoon is detected, there is an increased deployment of the outboard WED (to minimize list angle correction when the boat is in a turn based on a lookup table based on yaw rate and yaw acceleration from internal measurement unit (IMU) sensor data, such as the lookup table provided in FIG. 11). A controller is provided that receives data from the IMU sensor(s) indicative of the pontoon boat being in a turn, as well as the direction of the turn, and signals the interceptor blade 10 mounted on the outboard pontoon 30, relative to the turn, to increase its deployment.

[0059] Regardless of whether trying to stabilize a monohull or a pontoon boat, when turning, the yaw rate gain is actively trying to deploy the outboard controller. Depending on where on a lookup table, which may be stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium associated with the controller, the controller finds the signals, detected from onboard sensors, indicative of the pontoon boat being in a turn, and the direction of that turn, the value on the table is multiplied by a gain (which, for example, may be a gain of 2), and then that value is subtracted from the controller associated with the electromechanical control surface system 12, or water engagement device, mounted to the inboard pontoon (i.e., the inboard controller) and added to the controller associated with the electromechanical control surface system 12, or water engagement device, mounted to the outboard pontoon (i.e., the outboard controller). For example, if the pontoon boat is detected to be in a turn to port, and the value read from the lookup table is 0.1, then 0.1 is multiplied by a gain of 2, which then subtracts 0.2” from the inboard controller (the controller associated with the electromechanical control surface system 12 mounted on the port-side pontoon) output and adds 0.2” of deployment to the outboard controller(the controller associated with the electromechanical control surface system 12 mounted on the starboard side pontoon).

[0060] As an alternate method of, and apparatus for, modifying a pontoon to accommodate mounting of a transom mounted trim / stabilization system or water engagement device (WED), a portion of the cylindrical pontoon is cut away and a flat aft surface is formed to which the WED may be adhered, via a bracket mounted to the flat aft surface, as illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 13. A rear bottom portion of the cylindrical pontoon 100 is also cut away and replaced with a flat, angled bottom panel 102 that is preferably welded to an arch-shaped exposed edge 104 of the remaining cylindrical pontoon from which the rear bottom portion was removed, and also to a bottom edge of the flat aft surface 106. A bracket 108 (to which the WED is installed) is mounted to the flat aft surface 106, and the bracket 108 may include a planar bottom portion 110 that is either coplanar with, or shares a common edge with, the flat, angled bottom panel 102, and a generally vertical (but not necessarily completely vertical) plate 112 to which a transom plate 26 associated with the WED is secured.

[0061] Other configurations and methods of converting a conventional pontoon to securely receive a WED include modifying a pontoon by removing a portion of the cylindrical pontoon and a portion of the domed end cap. Rather than welding flat plates directly to the edges of the remaining portions of the pontoon exposed by cutting away those segments of the cylindrical pontoon and domed end cap, an adapter is secured in the slot or cavity exposed by those cutaway portions. For instance, in a pontoon 120 such as that illustrated in FIG. 14, an arch-shaped bottom rear portion of the cylindrical pontoon and a lower region (such as a lower half) of the domed end cap of the pontoon are cut away. By way of example, this may include making a cut along a plane at about a 5° angle from a bottom of the cylindrical pontoon, starting at a distance such as 66 inches, and upward toward the stern of the pontoon 120, to remove an arcuate portion of the bottom and aft of the cylindrical pontoon. An adapter 124 can then be inserted in the cavity 122 at the aft end of the pontoon 120 exposed by the cut away portions of the cylindrical pontoon and domed end cap. The adapter could be provided with a flat generally vertical surface 126 to which the transom plate 26 associated with a WED can be mounted.

[0062] In FIG. 15, the pontoon 120 of FIG. 14 is illustrated (without an adapter 124) as the port side pontoon of a 3-pontoon arrangement. While the starboard side pontoon 120 of the 3-pontoon arrangement may have the same configuration as the port side pontoon 120, in this figure the starboard side pontoon has a somewhat different configuration, in that less material, or no material, is removed from the domed end cap, and an adapter 124 having a prismatic shape slides into a lower (vertical) profile cavity than the cavity 122 of FIG. 14, or alternatively, the prismatic-shaped adapter 124 has a configuration that accommodates securement to an exterior of the cylindrical pontoon without penetrating into the interior of the pontoon 120. As illustrated in FIGS. 16-19, the prismatic-shaped adapter 124 is arranged centrally along the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical pontoon 120, and has a generally vertical aft wall plate 126. By way of example, the prismatic-shaped adapter may extend approximately 60-70 inches along an aft portion of the cylindrical pontoon, preferably about 65 inches, with a rectangular end portion below the domed end cap of the pontoon having a length of about 5 to 7 inches, preferably about 6 inches. The generally vertical aft wall plate 126 may have a height of about 6 inches (such as 6.25 inches) and a width of about 21.75 inches. As illustrated in FIG. 19, in a forward view looking aft, the prismatic-shaped adapter 124 is exposed beneath the pontoon and to the sides of a bottom center of the pontoon, providing additional surface area that projects into the flow as the pontoon passes through water.

[0063] Turning to FIGS. 20-32, a further alternate embodiment is presented in which a generally prismatic adapter 134 is mounted to an aft section of a starboard pontoon 130 without cutting away any of the pontoon 130 to provide a flat span along which a WED 136 may be mounted. Such a prismatic adapter can be easily fabricated and advantageously avoids destructive alteration of the pontoon structure. The geometry of the generally prismatic adapter 134 is selected such that a WED 136 mounted to an exposed generally vertical rear flat surface 132 thereof is above a hull bottom of the pontoon vessel. The prismatic adapter is asymmetrical, and mounts to a predominantly starboard side of the starboard pontoon 130. A port pontoon (not shown) would have a prismatic adapter having a mirror image to that of FIGS. 20-25, 27 and 30-32, and would mount to a predominantly port side of that port pontoon. Having a predominantly starboard-mounted WED 136 on a starboard side pontoon 130 and a predominantly port-mounted WED 136 on a port side pontoon increases buoyancy of the pontoon boat. It is believed that due to an increased moment arm from each of the port and starboard WEDs respectively mounted in a manner favoring their respective sides, operation of the WEDs enhances roll authority, i.e., provides a pontoon and WED configuration in which undesired roll can be more effectively mitigated as compared to WEDs that are centrally mounted on port and starboard-side pontoons.

[0064] The generally prismatic adapter may be mounted such that much of the bow-facing surface area of the prismatic adapter is behind a starboard strake(s) 138 of the pontoon 130, although the prismatic adapter 134 may still project laterally beyond the starboard strake(s) and into the flow as the pontoon 130 advances through the water. The strakes may provide additional surface to which the WED 136 may be secured, or may reinforce an upstanding flat surface of the prismatic adapter to which a WED is secured, but this installation may inhibit performance of the WED to some extent as compared to other installation configurations disclosed herein, inasmuch as the blade of the WED is more obstructed in this configuration than other configurations.

[0065] Rather than removing substantial material from the cylindrical bottom and domed end plate of a pontoon to accommodate a generally prismatic adapter, as illustrated in FIGS. 24-45, an adapter may be constructed in a manner that requires minimal, or even no, pontoon modifications prior to securement of the adapter thereto. The pontoon adapter 140 of FIGS. 24-32 includes a vertical rear wall 142 to which a WED transom plate 26 may be secured, a bottom plate 144 projecting forwardly of the vertical rear wall 142, a side plate 146 also projecting forwardly of the vertical rear wall 142 and perpendicular to the bottom plate 144. The pontoon adapter 140 is further provided with a top shroud 148 and a side shroud 150 extending forwardly of the vertical rear wall 142 opposite the side plate 146, but not extending as long as the bottom plate 144 or the side plate 146. Alternatively, as illustrated in FIGS. 33 and 34, the pontoon adapter may take the form of a generally arch-shaped pan 160. Rather than removing a complimentary arch-shape from the aft portion of the pontoon, the pontoon may be modified by simply cutting an arch-shaped slit through the cylindrical bottom of the pontoon, and cutting two vertical slits in the domed end cap of the pontoon, the two vertical slits in the end cap being in direct communication with ends of the arch-shaped slit through the cylindrical bottom of the pontoon. The arch-shaped adapter is then inserted such that the arch-shaped pan portion 160 is received in the arch-shaped slit, with side walls 162, 164 of the arch-shaped pan portion received in the vertical slits in the domed end cap of the pontoon. The arch-shaped adapter may be secured, such as by welding, to the dome-shaped end cap and cylindrical bottom of the pontoon. A WED is then mounted to the exposed aft side of a generally vertical end plate or wall 166 of the arch-shaped adapter.

[0066] Turning to FIGS. 35-38, an alternate adapter may be in the form of a tray 170 with angled side walls 172, 174. To accommodate the adapter of this embodiment, the pontoon modifications may include a horizontal slit through the domed end cap, in communication with a pair of angled slits through the domed end plate, the angled slits extending along the sides of the cylindrical bottom of the pontoon a distance adequate to fully receive the angled side walls of the adapter. The tray adapter may be secured, such as by welding, to the dome-shaped end cap and cylindrical bottom of the pontoon. A WED is then mounted to the exposed aft side of a generally vertical end plate or wall 176 of the tray adapter.

[0067] As yet a further embodiment, the adapter may avoid both removal of material from the pontoon as well as cutting into the pontoon at all. As illustrated in FIGS. 39-45, the adapter 180 may have a concave front face 182 that complements a pontoon’s domed end cap, and rather than a floor and side walls that must penetrate the pontoon, the adapter may be provided with a pair of spaced-apart tynes or forks 184, 186, each of which has a concave curvature complementary to the cylindrical bottom of the pontoon on an interior (pontoon-facing) surface. The adapter 180 may be secured, such as by welding, to the dome-shaped end cap and cylindrical bottom of the pontoon when the aft portion of the pontoon is essentially seated in the adapter. A WED is then mounted to the exposed aft side of a generally vertical end plate or wall 188 of the adapter 180 opposite the concave front face 182 of the adapter 180.

[0068] According to a further embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 46, multiple stabilization controllers or WEDs 224, 226 may be provided on the aft of a single pontoon 30.

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0055]Referring to FIG. 1, a rotary blade 10 and mounting assembly of the electromechanical control surface system 12, also referred to herein as a transom mounted trim / stabilization system or water engagement device (abbreviated WED), is illustrated. In addition to the interceptor blade 10, the electromechanical control surface system 12, or WED, includes a seal plate 14, an actuator 16, an actuator plate 18, one or more angled wedge plates, such as a 3-degree wedge plate 20, a 4-degree wedge plate 22, and a 5-degree wedge plate 24 (which may include more than one of one or more of any of wedge plates 20, 22, and / or 24), and a transom plate 26. In selecting the wedge plates 20, 22, and / or 24 to be included, it is found beneficial to select a combination that achieves a wedge pack angle that aligns with the deepest running section of the pontoon 30, as opposed to the modified area of the pontoon 30. The wedge plates 20, 22, 24 are collectively referred to herein as a wedge pack, whi...

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims the benefit of the filing date, under 35 USC § 119(e), of US Provisional Application No. 63 / 765,494, filed Feb. 28, 2025, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference.FIELD

[0002] This disclosure relates generally to watercraft, marine vessel and boat motion control and stability systems and, more specifically, to modifications of pontoons to accommodate actuatable electromechanical control surfaces for active attitude control, and to methods for controlling actuatable electromechanical control surfaces on pontoons and other multi-hull vessels.BACKGROUND

[0003] Multi-hull vessels, such as pontoon boats and catamarans, tend to turn flat, or maintain a relatively level orientation in the water during turns, in contrast to monohull boats, which typically lean into turns. The flat turning characteristic of multi-hull vessels can cause discomfort to riders, and can limit the vessel’s ability to execute sharp maneuvers.

[0004] While great strides have been made in improving monohull vessel stability using actuatable electromechanical control surfaces, there have been practical impediments to successful deployment of such solutions on pontoon boats. One of these impediments is the shape of the rear of the pontoons, which is typically dome-shaped or frustoconical, and therefore lacks a flat surface to which actuatable electromechanical control surfaces can be mounted.

[0005] Another challenge to using actuatable electromechanical control surfaces in multi-hull vessels is that the signals used aboard monohull boats to sense that the boat has entered a turn or is otherwise in a situation that would call for operation of the control surface, namely Heading Rate and Heading Acceleration (based on Course Over Ground Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) or Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signals, are too slow to detect commencement of a turn, and it is found that actuation of the control surfaces based on such signals results in an artificial sensation to riders. Additionally, there are challenges to providing an actuator that moves fast enough to provide the desired stabilization effects. Various other considerations that are different in the control and operation of electromechanical control surfaces for pontoon boats and other dual-hulled vessels, as opposed to monohull boats, are also described herein.SUMMARY

[0006] In order to mount a rotary blade or electromechanical control surface, such as the SEAKEEPER RIDETM, by Seakeeper, Inc., of California, Maryland, the assignee of the present application, to each pontoon of a dual-pontoon boat, it is often necessary to modify the pontoons. When mounting a rotary blade or electromechanical control surface to a transom of a monohull boat, the transom is typically flat, such that there is a suitable mounting surface. Since the aft end of a pontoon is typically dome-shaped or frustoconical, it is necessary to first remove a large section of the aft portion of both port and starboard pontoons and reconstruct the aft portion of each of the pontoons to provide a flat surface to which the transom plate, used for mounting the interceptor blade or electromechanical control surface components, can be secured with setscrews and a suitable watertight adhesive, such as Plexus® adhesive from ITW Performance Polymers, Danvers, Massachusetts. The reconstructed aft portion of each pontoon must be configured so as to provide sufficient surface area under the waterline to secure the transom plate, with sufficient clearance to permit the full range of movement of the electromechanical control surface, or blade, which is secured to the transom plate via a kit of components including a seal plate, an actuator, an actuator plate, and one or more angled wedge plates intermediate the actuator plate and the transom plate.

[0007] A bottom generally cylindrical surface near the aft end of each pontoon is also preferably removed and replaced with an inclined planar surface leading up to the reconstructed flat portion of the aft end of the pontoon.

[0008] Because pontoons and other multi-hulled boats turn flat, as opposed to leaning into turns, the electromechanical control surfaces are preferably operated differently on pontoons and other multi-hulled vessels as compared to similar attitude control surfaces provided on monohull boats. When a turn is detected, the electromechanical control surfaces of the pontoons are actuated in a manner to push the actuators out. The faster the rate or higher the acceleration, the more the actuators are active. Because turn detection using Course Over Ground GPS or GNSS signals is slower than desired, it is found that turn detection is best effected by using onboard internal sensors to detect yaw rate and / or yaw acceleration. Turn detection is tuned such that natural roll or yaw motions and sensor noise do not trigger detection algorithms to signal undesired or unnecessary actuation of the electromechanical control surfaces.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of an interceptor blade associated actuator and mounting assembly for a electromechanical control surface system;

[0010] FIG. 2 is a left side view illustrating a starboard side of a pontoon retrofitted or reconfigured with surfaces to facilitate mounting and operation of an interceptor blade and mounting assembly of the electromechanical control surface system of FIG. 1, mounted to the planar surface at the lower aft end of the pontoon;

[0011] FIG. 3 is a rear view of the lower aft portion of the retrofitted pontoon of FIG. 2, with the interceptor blade and mounting assembly of the electromechanical control surface system of FIG. 1 mounted thereto;

[0012] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 4-4 of FIG. 3;

[0013] FIG. 5 is a bottom view of an aft portion of the retrofitted or reconfigured pontoon with the interceptor blade and mounting assembly of the electromechanical control surface system of FIG. 1 mounted thereto;

[0014] FIG. 6 is a lower, right, rear perspective view of an aft end of a retrofitted or reconfigured pontoon with a transom plate of the mounting assembly of the electromechanical control surface system of FIG. 1 mounted thereto;

[0015] FIG. 7 is a lower, left, rear perspective view of the aft end of the retrofitted or reconfigured pontoon with the transom plate of the mounting assembly of the electromechanical control surface system of FIG. 1 mounted thereto;

[0016] FIG. 8 is a rear view of a pontoon boat, with each of its two pontoons retrofitted or reconfigured to receive a transom plate of the mounting assembly of the electromechanical control surface system of FIG. 1;

[0017] FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a control loop for operating interceptor blades mounted to a transom in response to a turn aboard a monohull vessel;

[0018] FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a control loop for operating a pair of interceptor blades mounted to a modified aft portion of each pontoon, in response to a turn aboard a pontoon boat or multi-hull vessel;

[0019] FIG. 11 is an exemplary lookup table based on yaw rate and yaw acceleration;

[0020] FIG. 12 is a bottom, rear perspective view of a pontoon, illustrating a domed end cap of the pontoon replaced with a flat aft surface, and a portion of the bottom of the generally cylindrical aft portion of the pontoon adjacent the aft end of the pontoon is removed and replaced with a flat, angled bottom panel extending from a bottom of the pontoon to the flat aft surface that replaced the domed end cap of the pontoon;

[0021] FIG. 13 is a bottom, rear perspective view of the pontoon of FIG. 12, with a bracket mounted to the flat aft surface;

[0022] FIG. 14 is a top, rear perspective view of a pontoon similar to that of FIG. 12, after removal of a rear bottom portion of the cylindrical aft portion thereof, but with only a lower section of the dome-shaped end cap removed;

[0023] FIG. 15 is a bottom, right, rear perspective view of a pontoon of FIG. 14, provided with a prismatic insert to provide a flat bottom at the rear of the pontoon as well as a generally vertical surface at the rear or aft end of the pontoon on which a water engagement device may be mounted, and the pontoon is arranged as a starboard side pontoon with a center pontoon, and a portion of a port side pontoon similar to the starboard side pontoon is also visible on an opposite side of the center pontoon;

[0024] FIG. 16 is a bottom view of the pontoon of FIG. 14, with the prismatic insert received therein;

[0025] FIG. 17 is an enlarged bottom view of an aft portion of the pontoon as illustrated in FIG. 16;

[0026] FIG. 18 is an aft view (looking forward) of the pontoon of FIG. 14, with the prismatic insert received therein;

[0027] FIG. 19 is a forward view (looking aft) of the pontoon of FIG. 14, with the prismatic insert received therein;

[0028] FIG. 20 is a top, right, rear perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the present disclosure, with an alternate prismatic insert received over the bottom and dome-shaped end cap of a starboard-side pontoon with a flat strake, the prismatic insert including a flat rear surface to which a WED is mounted, the cavity and prismatic insert provided predominantly on a starboard side of the pontoon;

[0029] FIG. 21 is a top, right, rear perspective view of the prismatic insert of FIG. 20, at an aft end of the starboard-side pontoon;

[0030] FIG. 22 is a top, right, rear perspective view of the prismatic insert similar to FIG. 21, with a WED mounted to the flat rear surface of the prismatic insert;

[0031] FIG. 23 is a top, right, rear perspective view of an aft portion of the starboard-side pontoon of FIG. 20, with the prismatic insert and WED mounted to the flat rear surface of the prismatic insert;

[0032] FIG. 24 is a top, front perspective view of the prismatic insert of FIG. 20;

[0033] FIG. 25 is a top, rear perspective view of the prismatic insert of FIG. 20;

[0034] FIG. 26 is a top, rear perspective view of the starboard pontoon and WED of FIG. 20, with the prismatic insert removed;

[0035] FIG. 27 is a side and rear perspective view of an aft portion of the starboard-side pontoon with prismatic insert received thereon and the WED mounted to the flat rear surface of the prismatic insert;

[0036] FIG. 28 is a top, rear, side perspective view of the aft portion of the starboard-side pontoon with prismatic insert received thereon and the WED mounted to the flat rear surface of the prismatic insert;

[0037] FIG. 29 is a side, rear perspective view of the starboard-side pontoon, prior to securement of the prismatic insert;

[0038] FIG. 30 is a front (bow-facing) view of the starboard-side pontoon with prismatic insert secured to the aft end thereof;

[0039] FIG. 31 is a rear (aft) view of the starboard-side pontoon with the prismatic insert secured thereto;

[0040] FIG. 32 is a rear view of the starboard-side pontoon with a WED mounted to the flat surface of the prismatic insert;

[0041] FIG. 33 is a top, side, rear perspective view of a further alternate embodiment of the present disclosure,

[0042] FIG. 34 is a top, side, rear perspective view of a conversion insert that is received in a cutout region of the rear of the pontoon and dome-shaped end cap;

[0043] FIG. 35 is a rear, top, side perspective view of another embodiment of the present disclosure, including a pontoon with an adapter tray received in a complementary horizontal slot provided in an aft end of the pontoon and through a domed end cap of the pontoon, and a WED secured to a flat mounting surface of the adapter tray;

[0044] FIG. 36 is another rear, top, side perspective view of the pontoon with adapter tray and WED of FIG. 35;

[0045] FIG. 37 is a top, rear, side perspective view of the adapter tray of FIG. 35;

[0046] FIG. 38 is a top, front, side perspective view of the adapter tray of FIG. 35;

[0047] FIG. 39 is a top, side, front perspective view of a winged adapter of an alternate embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0048] FIG. 40 is a rear, side, bottom perspective view of the winged adapter of FIG. 39;

[0049] FIG. 41 is a top, side, rear view of the winged adapter of FIG. 39;

[0050] FIG. 42 is a top view of the winged adapter of FIG. 39;

[0051] FIG. 43 is a port side view of the winged adapter of FIG. 39;

[0052] FIG. 44 is a starboard side view of the winged adapter of FIG. 39;

[0053] FIG. 45 is a front view of the winged adapter of FIG. 39; and

[0054] FIG. 46 is a rear view of another embodiment of the present disclosure, in which two WEDs are mounted to adapters on an aft end of a single pontoon.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0055] Referring to FIG. 1, a rotary blade 10 and mounting assembly of the electromechanical control surface system 12, also referred to herein as a transom mounted trim / stabilization system or water engagement device (abbreviated WED), is illustrated. In addition to the interceptor blade 10, the electromechanical control surface system 12, or WED, includes a seal plate 14, an actuator 16, an actuator plate 18, one or more angled wedge plates, such as a 3-degree wedge plate 20, a 4-degree wedge plate 22, and a 5-degree wedge plate 24 (which may include more than one of one or more of any of wedge plates 20, 22, and / or 24), and a transom plate 26. In selecting the wedge plates 20, 22, and / or 24 to be included, it is found beneficial to select a combination that achieves a wedge pack angle that aligns with the deepest running section of the pontoon 30, as opposed to the modified area of the pontoon 30. The wedge plates 20, 22, 24 are collectively referred to herein as a wedge pack, which is used or adjusted to align the seal plate 14 with the running surface (the modified section) of the pontoon 30.

[0056] As illustrated in FIGS. 2-7, an aft section of a pontoon 30 is illustrated. A dome-shaped aft end cap 32 of the pontoon 30 was modified to remove its lower portion and replace the removed material with a flat transom surface 34 to which the transom plate 26 of the electromechanical control surface system 12 is mounted. A portion of the bottom of the generally cylindrical aft portion of the pontoon 30 adjacent the aft end of the pontoon 30 is removed and replaced with a flat, angled bottom panel 36 (for example at a5° angle from the horizontal) extending from a bottom of the pontoon 30 to the transom surface 34. While a retrofit of an existing pontoon 30 is described herein, it is to be understood that a pontoon could instead be constructed in such a manner that it is built to the configuration described herein with respect to the reconstructed pontoons 30, without requiring reconstruction.

[0057] Just above the flat transom surface 34, a flat horizontal plate 38 is provided, extending between a bottom of the dome-shaped aft end cap 32 of the pontoon 30 and the flat transom surface 34. A sufficient portion of the dome-shaped aft end cap 32 is removed to provide enough vertical clearance above the blade 10 and mounting assembly of the electromechanical control surface system 12, or water engagement device, for the system to retract and to be actuated along its full amplitude. The seams between the dome-shaped aft end 32, the flat horizontal plate 38, the flat transom surface 34, the flat, angled bottom 36, and the rest of the pontoon 30 are welded. Where screw holes are drilled, such as to secure the transom plate 26 to the flat transom surface 34, the flat transom surface 34 is first sanded and thoroughly cleaned with acetone, and PLEXUS® adhesive is applied, to ensure the surfaces remain uncontaminated and achieve a watertight mounting. FIG. 8 illustrates a vessel having two such pontoons 30.

[0058] The logic or flow of a control loop for signaling actuation of interceptor blades 10 mounted to a transom in response to a turn aboard a monohull vessel is illustrated in FIG. 9. The logic or flow of a control loop for signaling actuation of a pair of interceptor blades 10 mounted to a modified aft portion of each pontoon 30 is illustrated in FIG. 10. As indicated therein, in contrast to the manner in which interceptor blades 10 are actuated in a turn of a monohull vessel, namely decreasing deployment of inboard water engagement device (WED) (to minimize list angle correction when the boat is in a turn based on a lookup table based on heading rate and heading acceleration from GPS data), when a turn of a pontoon is detected, there is an increased deployment of the outboard WED (to minimize list angle correction when the boat is in a turn based on a lookup table based on yaw rate and yaw acceleration from internal measurement unit (IMU) sensor data, such as the lookup table provided in FIG. 11). A controller is provided that receives data from the IMU sensor(s) indicative of the pontoon boat being in a turn, as well as the direction of the turn, and signals the interceptor blade 10 mounted on the outboard pontoon 30, relative to the turn, to increase its deployment.

[0059] Regardless of whether trying to stabilize a monohull or a pontoon boat, when turning, the yaw rate gain is actively trying to deploy the outboard controller. Depending on where on a lookup table, which may be stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium associated with the controller, the controller finds the signals, detected from onboard sensors, indicative of the pontoon boat being in a turn, and the direction of that turn, the value on the table is multiplied by a gain (which, for example, may be a gain of 2), and then that value is subtracted from the controller associated with the electromechanical control surface system 12, or water engagement device, mounted to the inboard pontoon (i.e., the inboard controller) and added to the controller associated with the electromechanical control surface system 12, or water engagement device, mounted to the outboard pontoon (i.e., the outboard controller). For example, if the pontoon boat is detected to be in a turn to port, and the value read from the lookup table is 0.1, then 0.1 is multiplied by a gain of 2, which then subtracts 0.2” from the inboard controller (the controller associated with the electromechanical control surface system 12 mounted on the port-side pontoon) output and adds 0.2” of deployment to the outboard controller(the controller associated with the electromechanical control surface system 12 mounted on the starboard side pontoon).

[0060] As an alternate method of, and apparatus for, modifying a pontoon to accommodate mounting of a transom mounted trim / stabilization system or water engagement device (WED), a portion of the cylindrical pontoon is cut away and a flat aft surface is formed to which the WED may be adhered, via a bracket mounted to the flat aft surface, as illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 13. A rear bottom portion of the cylindrical pontoon 100 is also cut away and replaced with a flat, angled bottom panel 102 that is preferably welded to an arch-shaped exposed edge 104 of the remaining cylindrical pontoon from which the rear bottom portion was removed, and also to a bottom edge of the flat aft surface 106. A bracket 108 (to which the WED is installed) is mounted to the flat aft surface 106, and the bracket 108 may include a planar bottom portion 110 that is either coplanar with, or shares a common edge with, the flat, angled bottom panel 102, and a generally vertical (but not necessarily completely vertical) plate 112 to which a transom plate 26 associated with the WED is secured.

[0061] Other configurations and methods of converting a conventional pontoon to securely receive a WED include modifying a pontoon by removing a portion of the cylindrical pontoon and a portion of the domed end cap. Rather than welding flat plates directly to the edges of the remaining portions of the pontoon exposed by cutting away those segments of the cylindrical pontoon and domed end cap, an adapter is secured in the slot or cavity exposed by those cutaway portions. For instance, in a pontoon 120 such as that illustrated in FIG. 14, an arch-shaped bottom rear portion of the cylindrical pontoon and a lower region (such as a lower half) of the domed end cap of the pontoon are cut away. By way of example, this may include making a cut along a plane at about a 5° angle from a bottom of the cylindrical pontoon, starting at a distance such as 66 inches, and upward toward the stern of the pontoon 120, to remove an arcuate portion of the bottom and aft of the cylindrical pontoon. An adapter 124 can then be inserted in the cavity 122 at the aft end of the pontoon 120 exposed by the cut away portions of the cylindrical pontoon and domed end cap. The adapter could be provided with a flat generally vertical surface 126 to which the transom plate 26 associated with a WED can be mounted.

[0062] In FIG. 15, the pontoon 120 of FIG. 14 is illustrated (without an adapter 124) as the port side pontoon of a 3-pontoon arrangement. While the starboard side pontoon 120 of the 3-pontoon arrangement may have the same configuration as the port side pontoon 120, in this figure the starboard side pontoon has a somewhat different configuration, in that less material, or no material, is removed from the domed end cap, and an adapter 124 having a prismatic shape slides into a lower (vertical) profile cavity than the cavity 122 of FIG. 14, or alternatively, the prismatic-shaped adapter 124 has a configuration that accommodates securement to an exterior of the cylindrical pontoon without penetrating into the interior of the pontoon 120. As illustrated in FIGS. 16-19, the prismatic-shaped adapter 124 is arranged centrally along the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical pontoon 120, and has a generally vertical aft wall plate 126. By way of example, the prismatic-shaped adapter may extend approximately 60-70 inches along an aft portion of the cylindrical pontoon, preferably about 65 inches, with a rectangular end portion below the domed end cap of the pontoon having a length of about 5 to 7 inches, preferably about 6 inches. The generally vertical aft wall plate 126 may have a height of about 6 inches (such as 6.25 inches) and a width of about 21.75 inches. As illustrated in FIG. 19, in a forward view looking aft, the prismatic-shaped adapter 124 is exposed beneath the pontoon and to the sides of a bottom center of the pontoon, providing additional surface area that projects into the flow as the pontoon passes through water.

[0063] Turning to FIGS. 20-32, a further alternate embodiment is presented in which a generally prismatic adapter 134 is mounted to an aft section of a starboard pontoon 130 without cutting away any of the pontoon 130 to provide a flat span along which a WED 136 may be mounted. Such a prismatic adapter can be easily fabricated and advantageously avoids destructive alteration of the pontoon structure. The geometry of the generally prismatic adapter 134 is selected such that a WED 136 mounted to an exposed generally vertical rear flat surface 132 thereof is above a hull bottom of the pontoon vessel. The prismatic adapter is asymmetrical, and mounts to a predominantly starboard side of the starboard pontoon 130. A port pontoon (not shown) would have a prismatic adapter having a mirror image to that of FIGS. 20-25, 27 and 30-32, and would mount to a predominantly port side of that port pontoon. Having a predominantly starboard-mounted WED 136 on a starboard side pontoon 130 and a predominantly port-mounted WED 136 on a port side pontoon increases buoyancy of the pontoon boat. It is believed that due to an increased moment arm from each of the port and starboard WEDs respectively mounted in a manner favoring their respective sides, operation of the WEDs enhances roll authority, i.e., provides a pontoon and WED configuration in which undesired roll can be more effectively mitigated as compared to WEDs that are centrally mounted on port and starboard-side pontoons.

[0064] The generally prismatic adapter may be mounted such that much of the bow-facing surface area of the prismatic adapter is behind a starboard strake(s) 138 of the pontoon 130, although the prismatic adapter 134 may still project laterally beyond the starboard strake(s) and into the flow as the pontoon 130 advances through the water. The strakes may provide additional surface to which the WED 136 may be secured, or may reinforce an upstanding flat surface of the prismatic adapter to which a WED is secured, but this installation may inhibit performance of the WED to some extent as compared to other installation configurations disclosed herein, inasmuch as the blade of the WED is more obstructed in this configuration than other configurations.

[0065] Rather than removing substantial material from the cylindrical bottom and domed end plate of a pontoon to accommodate a generally prismatic adapter, as illustrated in FIGS. 24-45, an adapter may be constructed in a manner that requires minimal, or even no, pontoon modifications prior to securement of the adapter thereto. The pontoon adapter 140 of FIGS. 24-32 includes a vertical rear wall 142 to which a WED transom plate 26 may be secured, a bottom plate 144 projecting forwardly of the vertical rear wall 142, a side plate 146 also projecting forwardly of the vertical rear wall 142 and perpendicular to the bottom plate 144. The pontoon adapter 140 is further provided with a top shroud 148 and a side shroud 150 extending forwardly of the vertical rear wall 142 opposite the side plate 146, but not extending as long as the bottom plate 144 or the side plate 146. Alternatively, as illustrated in FIGS. 33 and 34, the pontoon adapter may take the form of a generally arch-shaped pan 160. Rather than removing a complimentary arch-shape from the aft portion of the pontoon, the pontoon may be modified by simply cutting an arch-shaped slit through the cylindrical bottom of the pontoon, and cutting two vertical slits in the domed end cap of the pontoon, the two vertical slits in the end cap being in direct communication with ends of the arch-shaped slit through the cylindrical bottom of the pontoon. The arch-shaped adapter is then inserted such that the arch-shaped pan portion 160 is received in the arch-shaped slit, with side walls 162, 164 of the arch-shaped pan portion received in the vertical slits in the domed end cap of the pontoon. The arch-shaped adapter may be secured, such as by welding, to the dome-shaped end cap and cylindrical bottom of the pontoon. A WED is then mounted to the exposed aft side of a generally vertical end plate or wall 166 of the arch-shaped adapter.

[0066] Turning to FIGS. 35-38, an alternate adapter may be in the form of a tray 170 with angled side walls 172, 174. To accommodate the adapter of this embodiment, the pontoon modifications may include a horizontal slit through the domed end cap, in communication with a pair of angled slits through the domed end plate, the angled slits extending along the sides of the cylindrical bottom of the pontoon a distance adequate to fully receive the angled side walls of the adapter. The tray adapter may be secured, such as by welding, to the dome-shaped end cap and cylindrical bottom of the pontoon. A WED is then mounted to the exposed aft side of a generally vertical end plate or wall 176 of the tray adapter.

[0067] As yet a further embodiment, the adapter may avoid both removal of material from the pontoon as well as cutting into the pontoon at all. As illustrated in FIGS. 39-45, the adapter 180 may have a concave front face 182 that complements a pontoon’s domed end cap, and rather than a floor and side walls that must penetrate the pontoon, the adapter may be provided with a pair of spaced-apart tynes or forks 184, 186, each of which has a concave curvature complementary to the cylindrical bottom of the pontoon on an interior (pontoon-facing) surface. The adapter 180 may be secured, such as by welding, to the dome-shaped end cap and cylindrical bottom of the pontoon when the aft portion of the pontoon is essentially seated in the adapter. A WED is then mounted to the exposed aft side of a generally vertical end plate or wall 188 of the adapter 180 opposite the concave front face 182 of the adapter 180.

[0068] According to a further embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 46, multiple stabilization controllers or WEDs 224, 226 may be provided on the aft of a single pontoon 30.

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0055]Referring to FIG. 1, a rotary blade 10 and mounting assembly of the electromechanical control surface system 12, also referred to herein as a transom mounted trim / stabilization system or water engagement device (abbreviated WED), is illustrated. In addition to the interceptor blade 10, the electromechanical control surface system 12, or WED, includes a seal plate 14, an actuator 16, an actuator plate 18, one or more angled wedge plates, such as a 3-degree wedge plate 20, a 4-degree wedge plate 22, and a 5-degree wedge plate 24 (which may include more than one of one or more of any of wedge plates 20, 22, and / or 24), and a transom plate 26. In selecting the wedge plates 20, 22, and / or 24 to be included, it is found beneficial to select a combination that achieves a wedge pack angle that aligns with the deepest running section of the pontoon 30, as opposed to the modified area of the pontoon 30. The wedge plates 20, 22, 24 are collectively referred to herein as a wedge pack, whi...

Claims

1. A method of modifying a pontoon to accommodate an electromechanical control surface system, comprising:removing a lower portion of an aft end of the pontoon;removing a portion of a bottom of a generally cylindrical aft portion of the pontoon adjacent the aft end of the pontoon;affixing a flat, angled bottom panel along the bottom of the generally cylindrical aft portion of the pontoon to cover the opening created by removing the portion of the bottom of the generally cylindrical aft portion of the pontoon adjacent the aft end of the pontoon;affixing a flat transom panel to cover a vertical portion of the opening created by removing the portion of the bottom of the aft end of the pontoon; andaffixing a horizontal plate extending between the remaining portion of the aft end of the pontoon and a top of the flat transom panel.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising securing a transom mounting plate to the flat transom panel.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein one or more of the affixing operations includes welding.

4. A method for controlling a pair of electromechanical control surface systems, one mounted on a flat transom panel of each of a pair of pontoons of a pontoon boat, comprising:communicating data from one or more internal sensors aboard the pontoon boat indicative of the boat being in a turn;communicating data from one or more internal sensors aboard the pontoon boat indicative of a direction of the turn; andbased on a yaw rate and yaw acceleration lookup table stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium, signalling via controllers associated with the electromechanical control surfaces, increased deployment of the electromechanical control surface mounted on the outboard pontoon.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein in signalling via controllers associated with the electromechanical control surfaces, increasing deployment of an electromechanical control surface system associated with the pontoon on an outboard side of the pontoon boat and reducing deployment of an electromechanical control surface system associated with the pontoon on an inboard side of the pontoon boat.

6. A pontoon for a watercraft, comprising:a substantially cylindrical main body; andan aft section having a substantially flat surface to accommodate a transom mounted trim / stabilization system or water engagement device.

7. The pontoon of claim 6, wherein the aft section further includes a semi-domed end cap above the substantially flat surface.

8. The pontoon of claim 6, wherein the aft section further includes a domed end cap and the substantially flat surface is spaced rearwardly from a lower portion of the domed end cap.

9. The pontoon of claim 8, further comprising at least one strake extending longitudinally along the cylindrical main body, and the substantially flat surface is provided on a prismatic adapter received on the aft section of the pontoon.

10. The pontoon of claim 8, wherein the substantially flat surface is provided on an adapter received on the aft section of the pontoon.

11. The pontoon of claim 10, wherein the adapter includes a tray from which the substantially flat surface extends, the tray received in a horizontal slit in the domed end cap.

12. The pontoon of claim 11, wherein the adapter further includes a pair of angled sidewalls extending upward from the tray, and the horizontal slit through the domed end cap being in communication with a pair of angled slits through the domed end plate, the angled slits extending along the sides of the cylindrical main body of the pontoon a distance adequate to fully receive the angled side walls of the adapter.

13. The pontoon of claim 10, wherein the adapter is a generally arch-shaped pan received in a complementary arch-shaped slit through the cylindrical main body of the pontoon, and two vertical slits in the domed end cap of the pontoon, the two vertical slits in the domed end cap being in direct communication with ends of the arch-shaped slit through the cylindrical main body of the pontoon.

Images