Jet drive propulsion system for a pontoon boat
View Patent ↗A pontoon boat is provided with a jet drive propulsion system in which an impeller is driven by an engine. The jet drive propulsion device is dirigible as a result of the fact that a nozzle of the device is rotatable about a generally vertical steering axis. The jet drive device can be supported below a deck of a pontoon boat and located between two flotation tubes of the pontoon boat. Alternative locations can also be used, such as within the structure of the flotation tubes themselves.
1. A marine propulsion system for a pontoon boat, comprising:
a container;
an internal combustion engine disposed within said container; and
a jet drive device connected in torque transmitting relation with said internal combustion engine, said marine propulsion device having a dirigible segment which is supported by said container for rotation about a steering axis relative to said internal combustion engine, said container being attachable to an underside of a platform of said pontoon boat with said internal combustion engine being disposed below a top surface of said platform.
2. The marine propulsion system of claim 1 , wherein:
said internal combustion engine is disposed completely beneath an upper surface of said platform.
3. The marine propulsion system of claim 1 , further comprising:
an elastomeric component disposed between said container and said underside of said platform of said pontoon boat.
4. The marine propulsion system of claim 1 , wherein:
said container is removably attachable to said underside of said platform of said pontoon boat.
5. The marine propulsion system of claim 1 , wherein:
said internal combustion engine is accessible, from above said internal combustion engine, through a door formed in said top surface of said platform.
6. The marine propulsion system of claim 1 , wherein:
said top surface of said platform is a flat plane in the entire region directly above said container.
7. The marine propulsion system of claim 1 , wherein:
said container is disposed between two flotation tubes of said pontoon boat.
8. The marine propulsion system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a fuel reservoir disposed within said container and connected in fluid communication with said internal combustion engine.
9. The marine propulsion system of claim 8 , wherein:
said fuel reservoir is removably disposable within said container.
10. The marine propulsion system of claim 1 , further comprising:
an electrical storage battery disposed within said container and connected in electrical communication with a starter motor of said internal combustion engine.
11. The marine propulsion system of claim 1 , wherein:
a crankshaft of said internal combustion engine is supported for rotation about a generally horizontal axis.
12. The marine propulsion system of claim 1 , wherein:
a crankshaft of said internal combustion engine is supported for rotation about a generally vertical axis.
13. The marine propulsion system of claim 1 , wherein:
said container is shaped to define a stepped hull surface.
14. The marine propulsion system of claim 1 , wherein:
said container is shaped to define a hull having a discontinuous surface shaped to result in an upward force against said container at a forward portion of said container.
15. A marine propulsion system for a pontoon boat, comprising:
a container;
an internal combustion engine disposed within said container; and
a jet drive device connected in torque transmitting relation with said internal combustion engine;
an impeller supported for rotation by said jet drive device, said jet drive device having a dirigible segment which is supported by said container for rotation about a steering axis relative to said internal combustion engine, said internal combustion engine being accessible, from above said internal combustion engine, through a door formed in said top surface of said platform, a top surface of said platform being a flat plane in the entire region directly above said container.
16. The marine propulsion system of claim 15 , wherein:
said container is attachable to an underside of a platform of said pontoon boat with said internal combustion engine being disposed below a top surface of said platform, said internal combustion engine being disposed completely beneath an upper surface of said platform.
17. The marine propulsion system of claim 16 , further comprising:
an elastomeric component disposed between said container and said underside of said platform of said pontoon boat.
18. The marine propulsion system of claim 17 , wherein:
said container is removably attachable to said underside of said platform of said pontoon boat.
19. The marine propulsion system of claim 15 , wherein:
said container is disposed between two flotation tubes of said pontoon boat.
20. The marine propulsion system of claim 15 , further comprising:
a fuel reservoir disposed within said container and connected in fluid communication with said internal combustion engine.
21. The marine propulsion system of claim 20 , wherein:
said fuel reservoir is removably disposable within said container.
22. The marine propulsion system of claim 15 , wherein:
a crankshaft of said internal combustion engine is supported for rotation about a generally horizontal axis.
23. The marine propulsion system of claim 15 , wherein:
a crankshaft of said internal combustion engine is supported for rotation about a generally vertical axis.
24. The marine propulsion system of claim 15 , wherein:
said container is shaped to define a stepped hull surface.
25. The marine propulsion system of claim 15 , wherein:
said container is shaped to define a hull having a discontinuous surface shaped to result in an upward force against said container at a forward portion of said container.
26. A marine propulsion system for a pontoon boat, comprising:
a container;
an internal combustion engine disposed within said container; and
a jet drive device connected in torque transmitting relation with said internal combustion engine, said marine propulsion device having a dirigible segment which is supported by said container for rotation about a steering axis relative to said internal combustion engine, said container being removably attachable to an underside of a platform of said pontoon boat with said internal combustion engine being disposed below a top surface of said platform, said internal combustion engine being disposed completely beneath an upper surface of said platform.
27. The marine propulsion system of claim 26 , wherein:
said internal combustion engine is accessible, from above said internal combustion engine, through a door formed in said top surface of said platform, said top surface of said platform being a flat plane in the entire region directly above said container.
28. The marine propulsion system of claim 26 , further comprising:
a fuel reservoir disposed within said container and connected in fluid communication with said internal combustion engine.
29. The marine propulsion system of claim 28 , wherein:
a crankshaft of said internal combustion engine is supported for rotation about a generally horizontal axis.