Sleek Craft Patent MOD VP

[Ron Hill]

Never knew about this. Jim Buckhorn gave me the first issue of The Western Boatman, February 1983...

Sleek Craft ad...

[Skoontz]

I was always under the impression that Sidewinder boats were the first ever to successfully gain a patent for their hard lined design and wrap around windsheild that was integrated to the deck. Soon after that year, which was 1968 or 9, many companies saw the success that design had and made similar versions. Switzercraft for example took the Super Sport foot print, integrated a wrap around windshield and called it the "Playboy". Sidewinder later filed suite against some manufacturer and everyone's designs changed soon after. Sleek Craft appears to have done it for the bottom design, have there been any claims by them against those who copied them???

[Mark Poole]

Patents on boat hulls are nothing more than marketing hype. In the 80's, a big contingent of boat builders tried to put some teeth into boat patents. Supreme Court tossed it out saying that there were too many variables in the industry and that putting a patent on every boat mold would hurt the boat business more than help it. How well it gets thrown against the wall and sticks depends on the court. If a case goes to the high court it will get tossed out. I remember years ago seeing a patent on the "stepped transom". How many people claim to have invented that?

I do remember going for a 100 mph ride in one of those Sleekcraft Mod-VP's. Very solid ride for a mono bow style design.

[Ron Hill]

I do know that there was a boat company called Ranger (Not Ranger Bass Boats), but Bruce shut them down and got their molds.... I think the anti-splash laws actually have some teeth in them today....

Here is a picture of the LATE Kim Howard when he won Havasu...(I have no details on Kim's passing except to know he passed around CXHristmas, 2006..)...

[Miss BK]

The reason boat hulls couldn't be protected in the past was due to one judge who made a ruling that 10% of a hull had to be changed before it would not be considered design theft. This judge had no clue what was involved in designing boats, nor what constituted the most important aspect of a boat hull. He didn't understand how easy it would be to take someone else's years of work, and make a non-running surface 10% modification. In other words, that one ruling destroyed all design protections the true builders once had.

Today, you might not be able to put a patent on a hull, but as of 1998, you can definitely get a copyright on your original hull design. The fine is $50,000 and destruction of all copies and molds + any loss of sales. This law actually sticks as it has already been used a few times.

Here's a link to this new law:
http://www.copyright.gov/title17/92chap13.html


Patents on boat hulls are nothing more than marketing hype. In the 80's, a big contingent of boat builders tried to put some teeth into boat patents. Supreme Court tossed it out saying that there were too many variables in the industry and that putting a patent on every boat mold would hurt the boat business more than help it. How well it gets thrown against the wall and sticks depends on the court. If a case goes to the high court it will get tossed out. I remember years ago seeing a patent on the "stepped transom". How many people claim to have invented that?

I do remember going for a 100 mph ride in one of those Sleekcraft Mod-VP's. Very solid ride for a mono bow style design.

[Mark Poole]

I guess in this part of the country nobody bothers to copyright a boat. As soon as anyone builds a 15 to 22 ft. fishing boat that sells it gets splashed, and splashed again. It is stupid funny how many of the same hulls are built by different companies. Many times there are no changes made at all. It has been years since I have seen an all original design show up around here.

[tthibodaux]

Couldn't have said it better myself. I have three friends who all have the same boat with a different name, Cobra,Viper and Hawk all the exact same boat 2 are the same year.

[TomAprilsSwitzers]

I was always under the impression that Sidewinder boats were the first ever to successfully gain a patent for their hard lined design and wrap around windsheild that was integrated to the deck. Soon after that year, which was 1968 or 9, many companies saw the success that design had and made similar versions. Switzercraft for example took the Super Sport foot print, integrated a wrap around windshield and called it the "Playboy". Sidewinder later filed suite against some manufacturer and everyone's designs changed soon after. Sleek Craft appears to have done it for the bottom design, have there been any claims by them against those who copied them???

:):confused: Skooonz the Switzer Playboy was first molded in 1965 but not released till 1966. The Switzer Playboy was a Square nose V bottom that looks tri hull in design but actually is a V. This boat was a hybrid combination of the Switzer Holiday Hull and the Switzer Shooting Star Deck:D. They made only 50 of these boats; 25 14 footers and 25 16 footers. I was able to find an original 1965 before the fins in back were changed from pointed to flat. Captain Nabbers Boat Shop in Morris Illinois pulled a mold off that boat,modified the motor well and built me a new one,which sailed for the first time last fall. You can see it on my site at www.freewebs.com/switzercraftreunionregattas/ ...Now I have seen what looks like a Switzer SK 175 on the Switzer Yahoo site that matches your description but the SK did not come out till 1977....Tom Arambasich...Come on Summer!!!!

[Skoontz]

Tom:

Since I posted that I did some digging...I know the Playboy.... The boat I speak of that was kind of like a Sidewinder copy, was a 17' Switzer. Rounded nose like a Super Sport. The transom had wrap back wings like the later editon Super Sports...But, the side ran up like the Sidewinder, and connected at about the same height to the windsheild similar to the Sidewinder. Dont know this model name, but, the time frame was 1970/71. Our neighbor bought one new from Carl Stirn's Marine with a 125 Johnson.

About 1977, some genius running with no lights 4th of July night after the fireworks T boned him and we ended up working hard to get him to shore before his boat sank. The boat was a total loss...Anyway, that is the boat, any idea what model it may have been? There were not too many made at all. If you see Bobby, he may remember the boat, it was Aqua Marine metal flake.







:):confused: Skooonz the Switzer Playboy was first molded in 1965 but not released till 1966. The Switzer Playboy was a Square nose V bottom that looks tri hull in design but actually is a V. This boat was a hybrid combination of the Switzer Holiday Hull and the Switzer Shooting Star Deck:D. They made only 50 of these boats; 25 14 footers and 25 16 footers. I was able to find an original 1965 before the fins in back were changed from pointed to flat. Captain Nabbers Boat Shop in Morris Illinois pulled a mold off that boat,modified the motor well and built me a new one,which sailed for the first time last fall. You can see it on my site at www.freewebs.com/switzercraftreunionregattas/ ...Now I have seen what looks like a Switzer SK 175 on the Switzer Yahoo site that matches your description but the SK did not come out till 1977....Tom Arambasich...Come on Summer!!!!

[Miss BK]

I guess in this part of the country nobody bothers to copyright a boat. As soon as anyone builds a 15 to 22 ft. fishing boat that sells it gets splashed, and splashed again. It is stupid funny how many of the same hulls are built by different companies. Many times there are no changes made at all. It has been years since I have seen an all original design show up around here.

A reason that some are still not using the new "hull design" law is that you can't copyright any design that existed prior to 1998. Starting in 1998, it became possible to copyright your original 1998 or newer design, but you have to provide extensive proof that your design was not based on any pre-existing design.

In other words, you must show proof that you were the sole designer: You do this by providing drawings, architectural invoices, and photographs of the plug as it is being made (and must be a stand-alone plug that is 100% your design - one that is not formed by using a part of an existing product).

Basically, you provide the copyright office with all the evidence that you were the original designer - 100% - including photographs of the laborious and time-consuming procedure of building a raw plug from scratch/drawings - things a builder usually is not able to produce if the boat is not 100% original.

That last step is preventing many builders from being able to secure copyright protection, because many builders are using hull parts from designs established before 1998 - which are not allowed even if those hull parts are their own.

[Dabull1919]

In other words, you must show proof that you were the sole designer: You do this by providing drawings, architectural invoices, and photographs of the plug as it is being made (and must be a stand-alone plug that is 100% your design - one that is not formed by using a part of an existing product).




So i guess Allison drag hulls cannot be coppyrighted sence they were around for many years before 1998. Interesting!

DB

[Barry Strawn]

Allison uses patents to protect their property. Darris has both cosmetic design patents like the one for the Sleekcraft in this post and traditional utility patents like anyone might get for any other invention.

I believe the new copyright process replaced the old cosmetic design patent process. But the existing patents still have force and I expect Allison will continue to obtain new utility patents on new designs.

The Allison Drag hull is covered by patent #5983823 issued Nov 16, 1999.

The copyright law is more for builders that either do not have new ideas or do not have the time, money or interest to obtain and defend a real patent.

BS

[TomAprilsSwitzers]

Tom:

Since I posted that I did some digging...I know the Playboy.... The boat I speak of that was kind of like a Sidewinder copy, was a 17' Switzer. Rounded nose like a Super Sport. The transom had wrap back wings like the later editon Super Sports...But, the side ran up like the Sidewinder, and connected at about the same height to the windsheild similar to the Sidewinder. Dont know this model name, but, the time frame was 1970/71. Our neighbor bought one new from Carl Stirn's Marine with a 125 Johnson.

About 1977, some genius running with no lights 4th of July night after the fireworks T boned him and we ended up working hard to get him to shore before his boat sank. The boat was a total loss...Anyway, that is the boat, any idea what model it may have been? There were not too many made at all. If you see Bobby, he may remember the boat, it was Aqua Marine metal flake.
Hey i just remembered,there are pictures of a Switzer like that on the yahoo sites with a V4 on it. It has replacement seats in it. Has an original SS bottom with that football indented pad and looked like a 1977 Hydrostream vector where the winshield would hook all the way back to those wings.
Sorry this answer took so long. Tom Arambasich:D

[TomAprilsSwitzers]

I was always under the impression that Sidewinder boats were the first ever to successfully gain a patent for their hard lined design and wrap around windsheild that was integrated to the deck. Soon after that year, which was 1968 or 9, many companies saw the success that design had and made similar versions. Switzercraft for example took the Super Sport foot print, integrated a wrap around windshield and called it the "Playboy". Sidewinder later filed suite against some manufacturer and everyone's designs changed soon after. Sleek Craft appears to have done it for the bottom design, have there been any claims by them against those who copied them???

Skoonz, could you send me an email at tlord9115@comcast.net I have some pics i would like to send you...Tom

[TomAprilsSwitzers]

:D:eek:Skoonz, the Switzer Playboy was a mix of the Switzer Holiday hull and the Shooting Star deck. I had an original 1965 that a friend of mine pulled a mold off of and built me a new one a couple of years back. Right now there is another one about to come to life.
The Switzer's also built a boat called the SK-175, which was suppose to replace the Super Sport, but never became as popular as the SS. The Playboy was actually looked like a first generation tunnel V with air entrapment areas along both sides of the V Hull. She handles not bad in rough chop.
I could get you more info from Bob Switzer if you wish.. Tom

[Skoontz]

:D:eek:Skoonz, the Switzer Playboy was a mix of the Switzer Holiday hull and the Shooting Star deck. I had an original 1965 that a friend of mine pulled a mold off of and built me a new one a couple of years back. Right now there is another one about to come to life.
The Switzer's also built a boat called the SK-175, which was suppose to replace the Super Sport, but never became as popular as the SS. The Playboy was actually looked like a first generation tunnel V with air entrapment areas along both sides of the V Hull. She handles not bad in rough chop.
I could get you more info from Bob Switzer if you wish.. Tom

Tom:

The SK-175 was a dog. Basically, they added some length, like 8"??? To handle the heavier V-6 motors. FYI, there was not one SK that I came across with any V-6 that I could not stay even with with a 99 Cu.In 140 and my Super Sport. I got rid of a 155XS Merc because I could not be seen with that black crap on my transom......I had a Hendrich reworked Merc off shore 26" elephant ear prop, we hit 69, but the one that really worked was a 28" Chopper. We saw 72 and was called a liar until the Island Lake Police radared me goign under Burtons Bridge. You could reach down between your legs and grab a beer bottle, swallow, then put it back at full throttle with no hands on the wheel if you needed...I know dumb stunt, but just to show how stable the SS was. The SK-175 with a V-6 was squirelier than a 3 peck billy goat.

[ePerformanceMarine]

My Sleek is pritty kick *** to drive, also very forgiving. I have raced quite a few diffrent boats and car & off road trucks but I had the most fun at Pudingstone in 15 years of racing. Now before that it was all fun road racing vintage F1 Lolas with Boss 302s and knell down runabouts not to forget the High school drags.