Airboat with curved hull and adjustable stability floats

1 . An airboat ( 10 ) for traversing a body of water ( 15 ), comprising:

a hull ( 30 ) having a curved portion ( 13 ) that extends from a bow ( 8 ) to a step ( 14 ), and from the step ( 14 ) to a stern ( 9 ), the step ( 14 ) extending laterally from a port side ( 16 ) to a starboard side ( 17 ), the step ( 14 ) positioned a distance D from the bow ( 8 ) towards the stern ( 9 ) of between 30% and 35% of a length L of the hull ( 30 );

adjustable floats ( 40 ) extending laterally outward from the hull ( 30 ), the adjustable floats ( 40 ) being rotatable to allow different engagement of the floats ( 40 ) with the water ( 15 ); and

a motor ( 50 ) mounted on an axle ( 52 ) that allows the motor ( 50 ) to turn to control yaw of the airboat ( 10 ).

2 . The airboat ( 10 ) of claim 1 , wherein the motor ( 50 ) is electric.

3 . The airboat ( 10 ) of claim 1 , wherein the motor ( 50 ) is gas-powered.

4 . The airboat ( 10 ) of claim 1 , wherein the adjustable floats ( 40 ) each have a curved bottom surface ( 42 ).

5 . The airboat ( 10 ) of claim 1 , wherein the adjustable floats ( 40 ) are each mounted on an axle ( 60 ) that rotates to cause the floats ( 40 ) to engage the water surface differently at different angles.

6 . The airboat ( 10 ) of claim 5 , wherein the floats ( 40 ) comprise a semicircle of lessening radius from aft to forward, such that when the forward portion of the float ( 40 ) is positioned above a water surface ( 15 ) the forward portion is spaced above the water ( 15 ) without contact, and when the aft portion of the float ( 40 ) is positioned above a water surface ( 15 ) the aft portion contacts or extends partially below a water surface ( 15 ).

7 . The airboat ( 10 ) of claim 1 , wherein the airboat ( 10 ) further comprises:

a passenger compartment ( 20 ), wherein the passenger compartment ( 20 ) is proximate the bow ( 8 ) of the curved hull ( 30 ).

8 . The airboat ( 10 ) of claim 7 , wherein the passenger compartment ( 20 ) comprises:

a steering wheel ( 21 ), wherein the steering wheel ( 21 ) is operatively connected to control the motor ( 50 ); and,

a steering axle ( 22 ), wherein the steering axle ( 22 ) is operatively connected to transmit steering input to the motor ( 50 ).

9 . The airboat ( 10 ) of claim 8 , wherein the steering axle ( 22 ) comprises:

a sprocket ( 57 ), wherein the sprocket ( 57 ) is mechanically connected to a chain ( 55 );

and further wherein, the axle ( 52 ) that the motor ( 50 ) is mounted on, further comprises: a sprocket ( 56 ), wherein the sprocket ( 56 ) is also mechanically connected to the chain ( 55 ), thereby enabling steering control of the motor ( 50 ) via the steering wheel ( 21 ).

10 . The airboat ( 10 ) of claim 1 wherein the distance D is approximately 33%.

11 . The airboat ( 10 ) of claim 1 wherein the hull ( 30 ) has a substantially planar bottom surface between the step ( 14 ) and the stern ( 9 ).

12 . An improved hull design that allows an airboat, seaplane, or floatplane to travel across a body of water with reduced drag, enabling faster speeds and reduced energy consumption, comprising:

a hull ( 30 ) having a curved portion ( 13 ) that extends from a bow ( 8 ) to a step ( 14 ), and from the step ( 14 ) to a stern ( 9 ), the step ( 14 ) extending laterally from a port side ( 16 ) to a starboard side ( 17 ), the step ( 14 ) positioned a distance D from the bow ( 8 ) towards the stern ( 9 ) of between 30% and 35% of a length L of the hull ( 30 );

adjustable floats ( 40 ) extending laterally outward from the hull ( 30 ), the adjustable floats ( 40 ) being rotatable to allow different engagement of the floats ( 40 ) with the water ( 15 ); and

a motor ( 50 ) mounted on an axle ( 52 ) that allows the motor ( 50 ) to turn to control yaw of the airboat ( 10 ).