Drive structure and assembly for a pontoon vessel

Abstract

A pontoon boat has a deck and laterally spaced supporting pontoons. A drive coupling assembly is secured to the aft end of the deck between the pontoons, and includes a vessel coupling unit. For a water propulsion drive such as an outboard motor, the coupling assembly includes an outboard motor coupling unit complementing that vessel coupling unit, and engagement therewith includes a transom, an outboard motor secured appropriately having a propeller drive for propelling of the vessel. A traction drive unit for ground support include a traction coupling unit complementing the vessel coupling unit. The traction coupling unit replaces the motor drive coupling unit and provides for releasable interconnection of a traction drive unit. A typical coupling assembly would provide for releasable sliding and intercoupling members between the vessel coupling unit and the respective drive units. The traction drive unit includes an engine and an endless traction belt mounted within a supporting framework with the bottom run engaging the supporting surface. A ski unit is releasably secured to the front of the boat and supports the pontoons raised above the supporting surface and also providing for steerage of the vessel when moving over surface such as snow covered land, ice or the like. The ski unit includes a pair of laterally spaced skis interconnected to the opposite sides of the pontoon vessel. The ski would be mounted for pivotal movement for steerage and interconnected to a common steerage control.