Boat Platform

1. A boat comprising:

a hull having a stem and, forwardly of the stern, an upwardly and rearwardly facing incline;

a platform unit which is generally wedge shaped in aide profile with one or more upper platform surfaces and with a sloped bottom which is seated, in a stowed position of the platform unit, on the incline; and

guide means for guiding the platform unit to slide backwards down the incline from the stowed position to a deployed position, the guide means comprising at least one elongate guide device carrying the platform unit and mounted along the incline, the at least one guide device comprising a longitudinally-expandable device having a movable member carrying the platform unit and a static guide mounted along the incline.

2. A boat according to claim 1 , wherein the static guide is a track mounted along the incline and the movable member is a beam slidably supported by the track.

3. A boat according to claim 2 , wherein the movable member is extendable backwards and downwards to a cantilevered position providing the deployed position of the platform unit.

4. A boat according to claim 2 , wherein there are first and second such guide devices spaced apart transversely on the incline.

5. A boat according to claim 1 , wherein the movable member in extendable backwards and downwards to a cantilevered position providing the deployed position of the platform unit.

6. A boat according to claim 5 , wherein there are first and second such guide devices spaced apart transversely on the incline.

7. A boat according to claim 1 , wherein there are first and second such guide devices spaced apart transversely on the incline.

8. A boat according to claim 1 , wherein the incline includes steps which are revealed when the platform unit is moved backwards and downwards away from its stowed position.

9. A boat according to claim 8 , wherein the rear edge of the platform unit has steps and wherein when the platform unit is in the deployed position the steps of the platform unit are aligned with the steps of the incline.

10. A boat according to claim 8 , wherein the platform unit forms at least one step recessed into a rear face and the one or more upper platform surfaces of the platform unit and wherein when the platform unit is in the deployed position the at least one step of the platform unit is aligned with the steps of the incline.

11. A boat according to claim 1 , wherein the rear edge of the platform unit has steps.

12. A boat according to claim 11 , wherein the steps of the platform unit form a stair recessed into a rear face and the one or more upper platform surfaces of the platform unit.

13. A boat according to claim 1 , wherein the platform unit comprises a housing defining the one or more upper platform surfaces and the sloped bottom.

14. A boat according to claim 13 , wherein the housing has sides which, at least in the stowed position, give the platform unit a width substantially the same as a width between adjacent side wall parts of the stern of the hull.

15. A boat according to claim 14 , wherein the housing has a rear which in the stowed position is slightly behind, level with or in front of an adjacent rear wall of the stern of the hull.

16. A boat according to claim 13 , wherein the housing has a rear which in the stowed position is slightly behind, level with or in front of an adjacent rear wall of the stern of the hull.

17. A boat according to claim 1 , wherein the platform unit when in the stowed position is out of the water and when in the deployed position is at least partly submerged in the water.

18. A boat according to claim 17 , wherein the platform unit when in the deployed position has the one or more upper platform surfaces submerged and wherein the platform unit comprises a housing defining the one or more upper platform surfaces and the sloped bottom.

19. A boat according to claim 17 , wherein the platform unit when in the deployed position is fully submerged.

20. A boat according to claim 1 , further comprising powered actuator means for sliding the platform unit between the stowed and deployed position.

21. A boat according to claim 20 , wherein the powered actuator means includes one or more motors which are located inside the hull.

22. A boat according to claim 21 , wherein the one or more motors are located under the guide means and are integral therewith.

23. A boat according to claim 1 , wherein the guide means is substantially fully recessed into the hull at the incline.

24. A boat according to claim 1 , wherein the incline is above the waterline and, in the deployed position, the platform unit protrudes back beyond the stern of the hull.

25. A boat according to claim 1 . wherein at least 80% of the length of the platform unit in the longitudinal direction of the boat is seated on the hull when the platform unit is in the stowed position.

26. A boat according to claim 1 , wherein at least 90% of the length of the platform unit in the longitudinal direction of the boat is seated on the hull when the platform unit is in the stowed position.

27. A boat according to claim 1 , wherein at least 95% of the length of the platform unit in the, longitudinal direction of the boat is seated on the hull when the platform unit is in the stowed position.

28. A boat according to claim 1 , wherein the angle of the incline as measured from the horizontal is in the range from 28° to 44°.

29. A boat comprising:

a hull having a stern and, forwardly of the stern, an upwardly and resrwardly facing incline;

a platform unit which is generally wedge shaped in side profile with one or more upper platform surfaces and with a sloped bottom which is seated, in a stowed position of the platform unit, on the incline; and

guide means for guiding the platform unit to slide backwards down the incline from the stowed position to a deployed position, the incline comprising steps which are revealed when the platform unit is moved backwards and downwards away from its stowed position.

30. A boat according to claim 29 , wherein the rear edge of the platform unit has steps and wherein when the platform unit is in the deployed position the steps of the platform unit are aligned with the steps of the incline.

31. A boat according to claim 29 , wherein the platform unit forms at least one step recessed into a rear face and the one or more upper platform surfaces of the platform unit and wherein when the platform unit is in the deployed position the a least one step of the platform unit is aligned with the steps of the incline.

32. A boat comprising:

a hull having a stern and, forwardly of the stern, an upwardly and rearwardly facing incline;

a platform unit which is generally wedge shaped in side profile with one or more upper platform surfaces and with a sloped bottom which is seated, in a stowed position of the platform unit, on the incline;

guide means for guiding the platform unit to slide backwards down the incline from the stowed position to a deployed position;

powered actuator means for sliding the platform unit between the stowed and deployed positions, the powered actuator means comprising one or more motors which are located inside the hull, the one or more motors located under the guide means and integral therewith.

33. A boat comprising:

a hull having a stern and, forwardly of the stern, an upwardly and rearwardly facing incline;

a platform unit which is generally wedge shaped in side profile with one or more upper platform surfaces and with a sloped bottom which is seated, in a stowed position of the platform unit, on the incline; and

guide means for guiding the platform unit to slide backwards down the incline from the stowed position to a deployed position, the guide means comprising at least one elongate guide device carrying the platform unit and mounted along the incline, the guide means substantially fully recessed into the hull at the incline.