Transformable Sea Perch Platform Guardrail and Dock
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Solution Overview
Problem
Boaters face safety issues when disembarking or boarding a boat, particularly at stern decks without guardrails, and there is a need for a solution that facilitates easy access to and from dinghies and provides additional deck space for relaxation.
Innovation Solution
A multi-functional sea perch apparatus that can be elevated as a guardrail, transformed into a seat, and lowered as a swimming dock or tanning deck, using a platform supported by davits or stanchions, with a winch system for height adjustment and safety latches for secure positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a guardrail is installed at the stern to prevent falling overboard, then safety is improved, but the device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sea perch platform is designed to perform multiple functions: it serves as a guardrail when elevated, provides seating when in intermediate position, and acts as a swimming dock when lowered. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by eliminating the need for separate safety railings, seating arrangements, and docking facilities, thereby improving safety without proportionally increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The platform is made movable between elevated and lowered positions through a winch system, allowing it to dynamically adapt to different operational needs. This dynamic capability enables the same structure to provide safety as a guardrail during navigation and transform into a docking platform when stationary, resolving the contradiction between safety requirements and device complexity
2Reliability
If the platform is elevated to serve as a guardrail, then safety is improved, but the ease of embarking and disembarking deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The platform's ability to move between elevated and lowered positions resolves this contradiction. When the boat is in motion, the platform is elevated to provide safety as a guardrail. When the boat is anchored and passengers need to board or disembark, the platform is lowered to within inches of the water surface, making it easy to step onto the boat or access a dinghy
Solution Approach 2:
The same platform structure serves dual purposes: as a safety guardrail during navigation and as an easy-access docking platform when anchored. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate safety railings and docking facilities, resolving the contradiction between safety and ease of operation
3Ease of operation
If the platform is lowered to facilitate embarking and disembarking, then ease of operation is improved, but safety protection deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The dynamic positioning capability allows the platform to be lowered only when the boat is anchored and safe to do so, and elevated when the boat is in motion or in areas where falling overboard would be dangerous. This temporal separation of functions resolves the contradiction between ease of operation and safety protection
4Area of stationary object
If additional deck space is provided for relaxation and tanning, then the area available for passengers is improved, but the device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sea perch platform provides additional deck space for relaxation and tanning when lowered, while also serving as a guardrail, seating arrangement, and docking facility. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by providing additional space without requiring separate structures for each function, thereby increasing deck space without proportionally increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The platform extends the usable deck space vertically and horizontally by being positioned between davits or stanchions, utilizing three-dimensional space rather than only the horizontal deck surface. This dimensional approach provides additional relaxation space without requiring the boat's overall size to increase
Data Source
AI summary
A sea perch apparatus includes a platform configured to be located between a pair of spaced-apart sea perch support members located along a side or end of a boat. The platform is designed to be elevated so as to be in an upright position between the sea perch support members and lowered so as to be in a horizontal lower position near a waterline in which the boat is flowing when in the water. The platform serves as a guardrail between the sea perch support members, and when the platform is in the lower position, it serves as a swimming dock, tanning deck and further serves to facilitate easier embarking and disembarking to and from another boat. The platform is transformable into a seat when upright with arm rest. When upright, it is locked in place on either side of the upper side of the platform.