Isolated motor pan for watercraft
A dampening assembly used in watercraft to isolate the motor from the deck of the watercraft. In an embodiment of the invention, a frame including cross-members and a plurality of brackets supports the deck. The dampening assembly of the present invention extends from the brackets of the frame to the motor and retains the motor at a position ensuring the motor does not contact the frame. The only path available to the vibrations generated by the motor is represented by the dampening assemblies that direct the vibrations to the brackets and tubes, thereby eliminating the high amplitude, low frequency vibrations that readily transfer throughout the deck and frame structure. In this manner, the vibrations are prevented from traveling directly through the cross-members of the frame and into the deck of the watercraft.
1. A watercraft comprising:
a plurality of pontoons;
a frame including a plurality of cross members and a plurality of brackets, said brackets being affixed to said pontoons and said cross members being affixed to said brackets and extending between said pontoons;
a deck positioned on top of said frame;
a motor mounting assembly, isolated from said frame, and attached to said pontoons;
a motor attached to said motor mounting assembly.
2. The watercraft as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said motor mounting assembly is affixed to said brackets of said frame.
3. The watercraft as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said deck is attached to said frame opposite said pontoons.
4. The watercraft as set forth in claim 3 , wherein said deck is attached to said cross members of said frame.
5. The watercraft of claim 2 , wherein said motor mounting assembly is comprised of a cross beam assembly attached to said brackets, and a motor pan connected to said cross beam assembly.
6. The watercraft as set forth in claim 5 , wherein said motor mounting assembly further includes a shim disposed between said motor pan and said cross beam assembly.
7. The watercraft as set forth in claim 5 , wherein said cross beam assembly includes a first cross member, a second cross member, and a bushing, said first cross member and said bushing disposed within said second cross member.
8. The watercraft as set forth in claim 7 , wherein said bushing is comprised of rubber.
9. The watercraft as set forth in claim 5 , wherein said cross beam assembly is comprised of a metal extrusion.
10. The watercraft as set forth in claim 9 , wherein said metal extrusion includes a base, a pair of walls, and a top portion, said base separated to said motor pan by way of said shim.
11. The watercraft as set forth in claim 5 , wherein said cross beam assembly is located above said motor pan and is spaced apart from said motor pan.
12. The watercraft as set forth in claim 1 , wherein any vibration energy crated through operation of said motor is transferred by said motor mounting assembly into said pontoons and dampened by water supporting said pontoons.
13. The watercraft as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said motor mounting assembly is positioned in a plane below said frame cross members.
14. The watercraft as set forth in claim 13 , wherein said motor mounting assembly includes a plurality of beams spanning across and fixed to said brackets, wherein a vertical height of said beams is less than a vertical height of said frame cross members.