Enclosure system for a pontoon boat
A pontoon boat with a fencing defining the passenger region on a deck of the pontoon boat. The fencing comprising a plurality of fencing sections, each fencing section comprising a fencing framework and paneling secured to the fencing framework. The system may include detachable rail caps and/or rail attachments that hold the skin against the rail. The fencing framework of each fencing section may comprise a plurality of aluminum tubular extrusion segments with opposing open ends, a plurality of segment connectors interconnecting the tubular extrusion segments, each segment connector having a main body portion and a plurality of insert portions extending from and unitary with the respective main body portion, the plurality of tubular extrusion segments including a plurality of panel holding tubular extrusion segments, each with edge panel retainer strips attached thereto that secure an edge portion of the paneling to the respective tubular extrusion segment.
1 . A pontoon boat having a bow, a stern, a port side, a starboard side, the pontoon boat comprising:
a deck, the deck having a deck periphery;
a starboard pontoon and a port pontoon secured to a bottom side of the deck;
pontoon boat furniture mounted on a top of the deck; and
a fencing mounted to the deck, the fencing defining a passenger area on the deck which includes the pontoon boat furniture, the fencing extending along the deck periphery at the starboard side and the port side of the deck, the fencing spaced from or positioned at the deck periphery at the bow, and the fencing spaced from the deck periphery at the stern;
wherein the fencing comprises a plurality of fencing sections, each fencing section comprising a fencing framework and paneling secured to the fencing framework;
wherein the fencing framework of each fencing section comprises a plurality of aluminum tubular extrusion segments with opposing open ends, a plurality of segment connectors interconnecting the plurality of aluminum tubular extrusion segments, each segment connector having a main body portion and a plurality of insert portions extending from and unitary with the main body portion, the plurality of insert portions each sized for and received in the opposing open ends of each aluminum tubular extrusion segment of the plurality of aluminum tubular extrusion segments connecting thereto; the main body portion of each segment connector outwardly exposed and having an outer peripheral contour that is substantially flush with outer peripheral contours of each aluminum tubular extrusion segment connected thereto, the plurality of aluminum tubular extrusion segments including a plurality of panel-holding tubular extrusion segments, the fencing framework of each fencing section further comprising a plurality of edge panel retainer strips, each edge panel retainer strip attached to a respective panel-holding tubular extrusion segment of the plurality of panel-holding tubular extrusion segments that secures an edge portion of the paneling to the respective panel-holding tubular extrusion segment.
2 . The pontoon boat of claim 1 , wherein each edge panel retainer strip of the plurality of edge panel retainer strips is formed of a resilient polymer and has, when viewed from an end, a C-shape that engages three sides of a respective aluminum tubular extrusion segment of the plurality of aluminum tubular extrusion segments to which a respective edge panel retainer strip of the plurality of edge panel retainer strips is engaged.
3 . The pontoon boat of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of edge panel retainer strips of each fencing framework is formed of a resilient polymer and has a T-shape with a lower leg of the T-shape comprising an insertion portion that is received in a slot in a respective aluminum tubular extrusion segment of the plurality of aluminum tubular extrusion segments to which a respective edge panel retainer strip of the plurality of edge panel retainer strips is engaged.
4 . The pontoon boat of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of edge panel retainer strips of each fencing framework has a unitary insertion portion that is received in a slot in a respective aluminum tubular extrusion segment of the plurality of aluminum tubular extrusion segments to which a respective edge panel retainer strip of the plurality of edge panel retainer strips is engaged.
5 . The pontoon boat of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of segment connectors of each fencing framework includes an L-segment connector, the L-segment connector having two non-coaxial insert portions.
6 . The pontoon boat of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of aluminum tubular extrusion segments of each fencing framework comprise a lowermost segment defining a lower margin of each fencing framework, and an upper most segment defining an uppermost margin of each fencing framework.
7 . The pontoon boat of claim 1 , wherein each segment connector of the plurality of segment connectors comprises polyvinylchloride.
8 . The pontoon boat of claim 1 , wherein each insert portion of the plurality of insert portions is secured to a respective aluminum tubular extrusion segment of the plurality of aluminum tubular extrusion segments to which a respective insert portion of the plurality of insert portions is connected by at least one screw or rivet extending through a wall of the respective aluminum tubular extrusion segment into the respective insert portion.
9 . The pontoon boat of claim 1 , wherein the fencing framework of each fencing section does not have any welded joints.
10 . A fencing section for pontoon boat decks, the fencing section comprising:
an aluminum framework comprising a plurality of aluminum rails with slots therein,
a plurality of resilient polymer panel edge portion retention strips; and
a paneling sized to the aluminum framework, the paneling having an edge portion extending therearound;
wherein two or more aluminum rails of the plurality of aluminum rails have a slot extending lengthwise thereon receiving a resilient polymer panel edge portion retention strip of the plurality of resilient polymer panel edge portion retention strips engaged with the edge portion of the paneling thereby securing the paneling on the aluminum framework.
11 . The fencing section of claim 10 , wherein each resilient polymer panel edge portion retention strip of the plurality of resilient polymer panel edge portion retention strips has a C-shape for extending around three sides of each respective aluminum rail with which each respective retention strip is received.
12 . The fencing section of claim 10 , wherein each aluminum rail of the plurality of aluminum rails is connected to other aluminum rails of the plurality of aluminum rails by a plurality of welded connections.
13 . The fencing section of claim 10 , wherein each aluminum rail of the plurality of aluminum rails is configured as an aluminum tubular extrusion segment and wherein the plurality of aluminum rails are connected by a plurality of segment connectors, each segment connector having a body portion and a plurality of insert portions received in ends of the plurality of aluminum rails.
14 . The fencing section of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of segment connectors includes inline connectors where two insert portions are in coaxial alignment, and a plurality of L connectors where two insert portions are not coaxially aligned.
15 . The fencing section of claim 10 , wherein each resilient polymer panel edge portion retention strip of the plurality of resilient polymer panel edge portion retention strips has an exposed flat portion that seats on an exterior surface of one of the plurality of aluminum rails with the edge portion of the paneling sandwiched between the exposed flat portion of each resilient polymer panel edge portion retention strip and each respective aluminum rail of the plurality of aluminum rails to which each resilient polymer panel edge portion retention strip is attached.