US3364509A - Sailboat construction - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 23, 1968 c. w. LAPWORTH 3,364,509

SAILBOAT CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 22, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVEN TOR.

C'HHELES WILL/AM LHPWOETH 4M.,/Zzzm, M

&@ 4; W

TIE-E- Arrow/6 5 Jan. 23, 1968 c. w. LAPWORTH 3,364,509

SAILBOAT CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 22, 1965 2 Sheets-$heet 2 IN VE N TOR 04 491.55 W/L L IBM UQPWOE TH ala/1541i gm, gm

0252a a m United States Patent 3,364,569 SAILBOAT CQNSTRUCTION flharles William Lapworth, 565 th St, Newport Beach, Calif. 92660 Filed Dec. 22, 1965, Ser. No. 515,604 7 Claims. (Cl. 9--6) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A sailboat construction having a cockpit, the rear portion of which is defined by a transom. A downwardly tapered, generally trapezoidal opening is formed in the transom to receive a complementary hatch. The lower end of the trapezoidal opening is formed with a horizontal motor mount beam that receives an outboard motor when the sailboat is to be powered. The outboard motor is removed and the hatch inserted within the opening when the sailboat is under sail.

The present invention relates generally to the art of sailboat construction and more particularly to a new and novel sailboat construction for use with an outboard motor.

Many smaller sailboats utilize an outboard motor as an auxiliary means of propulsion. Generally, such outboard motors are mounted in a driving position only during such time as they are in use. When the boat is to be sailed, it is desirable to stow the outboard motor in a position where it does not contribute drag. Conventionally, the outboard motor is either carried on a support affixed to the outside of the transom, or alternatively within a well formed in or adjacent to the rear portion of the cockpit. With either arrangement considerable difiiculty is experienced in attaching the outboard motor to its supporting beam and in dismounting the outboard motor from such beam. This is particularly true under rough sea conditions. Additionally, the conventional outboard motor well is a source of drag.

It is a major object of the present invention to provide a sailboat construction for use with an outboard motor which permits such outboard motor to be readily mounted in driving position and to be dismounted from such driving position.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a sailboat construction of the *afore-described nature which is extremely economical to manufacture.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a sailboat construction of theafore-described nature which does not add any drag to the sailboat and does not detract from the appearance of the sailboat.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a sailboat construction of the aforedescribed nature which permits the outboard motor to be mounted and to be dismounted in a minimum period of time and with a minimum expenditure of effort even with the sailboat under way under rough water conditions.

A more particular object of the present invention is to provide a sailboat construction -for use with an outboard motor that includes a downwardly extending opening formed in the sailboat transom with a horizontal motor mount beam extending across the lower portion of the opening. The construction further includes a hatch for covering the opening and means interposed between the sides of the opening and the hatch for supporting the hatch within the opening while the sailboat is under sail. The hatch may be readily lifted from the opening to expose the motor mount beam when the sailboat is to be driven by the outboard motor.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following de- 3,354,599 Patented darn. 23, 1968 ICC tailed description, when taken in conjunction with the appended drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a broken three-quarter rear perspective view showing the rear portion of a sailboat construction embodying the present invention, such sailboat being provided with a transom hatch that is shown fixed in position within an opening formed in the transom whereby the sailboat may be driven under sail;

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 but showing the transom hatch removed and an outboard motor supported within the transom opening in position to drive said sailboat;

FIGURE 3 is a broken top-front perspective view in enlarged scale showing details of construction of the transom opening;

FIGURE 4 is a vertical sectional view taken in enlarged scale along line 4-4 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a broken plan view of said transom opening with the hatch removed therefrom;

FIGURE 6 is a broken horizontal sectional view taken in enlarged scale on line 66 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of said hatch;

FIGURE 8 is a vertical sectional view taken in enlarged scale on line 3-8 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 9 is a broken top-front perspective view showing part of the hatch cut-away in the interest of clarity.

Referring to the drawings and particularly FIGURE 1 thereof, there is shown the rear portion of a sai boat B provided with a cockpit It), the rear portion of such cockpit being defined by a transom T. The transom T is formed with a downwardly tapered, generally trapezoidal opening 12. The opening 12 is shown closed by means of a hatch, generally designated 14, of downwardly tapered generally trapezoidal shape complementary to the configuration of the opening. It should be understood that with the hatch 14 mounted within and thereby closing the opening 12 the sailboat B is adapted to be driven under sail.

Referring now to FIGURE 2, when the hatch 14 is removed from the transom opening 12 a conventional outboard motor M may be installed within the opening 12 so as to drive the boat 13.

More particularly and with reference to the other figures of the drawing, the hull of sailboat B is of conventional molded Fiberglas construction utilizing a double Fiberglas skin 16. The opening 12 may conveniently be cut in the transom T after the latter has been molded or alternatively such opening may be molded into the transom. The sides of the opening 12 receive a pair of generally vertically downwardly and inwardly extending frame boards 17 and 19 over which are secured trim boards 18 and 20, respectively, such pairs of boards being suitably bonded to the Fiberglas skin 16 and to one another. The upper and lower portions of the trim boards 18 and 20, respectively, are provided with a pair of upper and lower pads 22, 24 and 26, 28. A horizontal motor mount beam 30 is rigidly atfixed within the lower portion of the opening 12. It should be observed that the Fiberglas skin 16 does not cover the upper front portion of beam 30, as indicated at 31 in FIGURE 4. Also, as indicated at 3111 in this figure, the skin 16 does not cover the uppermost rear portion of beam 3! The hatch 14 is preferably formed of a Fiberglas skin having integral front and top elements 32 and 34 and a rear element 36, which, as shown particularly in FIG- URES 6, 8 and 9, is joined along its upper edge to the rear of top element 34. The lower end of the hatch 14 is open and a plurality of horizontal wooden spacers 40 are secured between front and rear elements 32 and 36 as shown in FIGURE 8. The sides of the Fiberglas elements 32, 34 and 36 are closed by a pair of side boards 42 and 44 bonded or otherwise secured thereto. It will be noted that the side boards 42, 44 are recessed relative to the side edges of the skin elements 32, 34 and 36. Also, as shown particularly in FIGURES 7 and 8, the front skin element 32 extends downwardly farther than rear skin element 36.

A lifting handle 46 may be secured to the center of the front Fiberglas element 32. Also, a locking hasp assembly 48 may be interposed between one side of the upper skin element 34 and the top of the transom T, as indicated particularly in FIGURE 1.

In the use of the aforedescribed construction, the hatch 14 is lowered into the transom opening 12 when the sailboat B is to be driven under sail. With the hatch 14- in place within the transom opening 12 the lower portion of the front Fiberglas skin element 32 of the hatch will be disposed over the front portion of the motor mount beam 30 above the front Fiberglas skin element 16a of the transom T. Similarly, the lower portion of the rear Fiberglas skin element 36 of the hatch 14 will extend downwardly a short distance over the rear surface of the motor mount beam 30 to rest upon the upper edge of the rear Fiberglas skin element 16b of the transom T, as shown in FIGURES 8 and 9. As indicated particularly in FIGURE 6, the side extremities of the front Fiberglas skin element 32 of the hatch 14 will extend across the front of the pads 22, 24 and 26, 2? of trim boards 13 and 2t). Similarly, the side extremities of the rear Fiberglas skin element 36 will extend over the rear surfaces of these pads. In this manner, the hatch 14 will be positively locked in place within the transom opening 12, the weight of the hatch maintaining it against upward movement. Preferably, a snap 50 or the like will be positioned within the hasp assembly 4-8 to positively lock the hatch against inadvertent upward movement, as indicated in FIGURE 9.

It will be observed that the upper and lower pads 22, 24 and 26, 28 of the trim boards 13 and 20 abut the outer surfaces of the hatch side boards 42 and 44 so as to maintain the hatch 14 centered relative to the transom opening 12 while avoiding direct contact between the hatch side boards 42 and 44 and the trim boards 18 and 20. This arrangement eliminates the necessity of extremely accurate fitting of the hatch 14 to the transom opening 12 thereby effecting an important economy in construction. This arrangement also reduces the possibility that the hatch will stick within the transom opening, as could occur with direct contact between trim boards 18 and 2t) and side boards 4-2 and 44. The overlapping of the front and rear Fiberglas skin elements 32 and 36 of the hatch 14 with pads 22, 24 and 26, 23 and beam 30 affords adequate sealing of the transom opening 12.

When it is desired to remove the hatch 14- from the transom opening 12 it is only necessary to lift the hatch 14 a comparatively short distance upwardly within the transom opening. Thereafter, the hatch may be tilted forwardly and lifted out of the transom opening 12. This arrangement is possible because of the downwardly tapered trapezoidal configuration of the hatch and transom opening. It will be understood that if the sides of the transom opening and the hatch were vertical it would be necessary that the hatch be lifted the entire height of the transom opening in order to effect removal of the hatch from the opening. Similarly, in order to dispose the hatch within the transom opening it would be necessary to raise the lower edges of the hatch above the upper edges of the transom. The use of this trapezoidal shape is therefore extremely important.

With the hatch 14 removed from the transom opening 12, such hatch may be stowed within the confines of the boat B in a convenient location. The outboard motor M is then readily engageable with the motor mount beam 30 so as to permit the boat B to be driven by the outboard motor M. The fact that the cockpit is open up to the front surface of the transom T greatly facilitates mounting and dismounting of the outboard motor M.

It will be readily apparent that the provision of the hatch 14 and the motor mounting arrangement aforedescribed will not produce any drag as the boat B is driven under sail. Additionally, the aforedescribed arrangement for mounting an outboard motor does not detract in any way from the appearance of the sailboat.

Various modifications and changes may be made with respect to the foregoing detailed description, without departing from the spirit of the present invention or the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1.. A sailboat construction for use with an outboard motor that includes:

a cockpit;

a transom defining the rear of said cockpit and formed with a downwardly extending opening, the sides of said opening being defined by a pair of trim boards;

a horizontal motor mount beam extending across the lower portion of said opening;

a hatch for covering said opening, said hatch being parallel with said transom when disposed within said opening;

and means interposed between said trim boards and said hatch for supporting said hatch within said opening while said sailboat is under sail, said hatch being lifted from said opening to expose said motor mount beam when said sailboat is driven by said motor.

2. A sailboat construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein said transom opening and said hatch are of comple mentary downwardly tapered generally trapezoidal configuration.

3. A sailboat construction as set forth in claim 2 wherein the sides of said transom opening are provided with vertically spaced pads that abut the sides of said hatch to maintain said hatch centered relative to said opening.

4. A sailboat construction as set forth in claim 2 Wherein releasable lock means are interposed between said hatch and said transom to prevent inadvertent upward movement of said hatch relative to said transom opening.

5. A sailboat construction as set forth in claim 3 wherein the sides of said hatch are recessed to receive said pads and the lower portion of said hatch is recessed to receive said motor mount beam.

6. A sailboat construction as set forth in claim 3 wherein releasable lock means are interposed between said hatch and said transom to prevent inadvertent upward movement of said hatch relative to said transom opening.

7. A sailboat construction as set forth in claim 5 wherein releasable lock means are interposed between said hatch and said transom to prevent inadvertent upward movement of said hatch relative to said transom opening.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,818,273 8/1931 Pouliot 17 2,738,751 3/1956 Hogberg 115-17 2,926,362 3/1960 Collins et al. 9-1

OTHER REFERENCES Life, May 10, 1954, p. 81.

FERGUS S. MIDDLETON, Primary Examiner.

MILTON BUCHLER, Examiner.

R. A. DORNON, Assistant Examiner.

Images