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Adjustable planing device mounted midship on a pontoon boat to provide lift to the pontoon boat, reduce drag, and improve steering. Adjustable planing device includes a planing device having a connector member with a hinge that is rotatably attached to a midship region of the boat wherein the planin

Adjustable planing device mounted midship on a pontoon boat to provide lift to the pontoon boat, reduce drag, and improve steering. Adjustable planing device includes a planing device having a connector member with a hinge that is rotatably attached to a midship region of the boat wherein the planing device is pivotable about the hinge by a powered actuator such that a portion of the planing device comprises a subsurface volume below water level. Optionally the planing device is buoyant. The planing device is adjustable vertically relative to the boat to vary the depth of water displaced by the planing device. The adjustable planing device is movable along a track mountable to the bottom of either the boat or cross-members wherein the longitudinal position of the planing device is adjusted. The cross-sectional shape of the planing device varies from a tapered shape in front to a flatter shape in rear.

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1. An adjustable planing device for a pontoon boat, the pontoon boat having a midship region that spans between a front end and a rear end, the adjustable planing device comprising: a connector member having a transverse hinge configured to attach to the midship region of the pontoon boat;a buoyant

1. An adjustable planing device for a pontoon boat, the pontoon boat having a midship region that spans between a front end and a rear end, the adjustable planing device comprising: a connector member having a transverse hinge configured to attach to the midship region of the pontoon boat;a buoyant planing device having a front end portion opposite a rear end portion, the buoyant planing device attached to the connector member at the midship region beneath the boat and being pivotable about the hinge such that at least a portion of the buoyant planning device comprises a subsurface volume below water level;the subsurface volume having an average density less than a one kilogram per liter density of water;a powered actuator connected to the boat and to the buoyant planing device, the actuator operable to move the buoyant planing device downwardly into the water; and,a track mountable to the bottom of the boat, wherein the planing device, the connector member, and the powered actuator are selectively movable together along the track forward and aft with respect to the boat. 2. The adjustable planing device of claim 1 further comprising: a first sponson attached to a right side of the buoyant planing device; anda second sponson attached to a left side of the buoyant planing device, wherein the first and the second sponsons are configured to contact the waterline to lift the pontoon boat. 3. The adjustable planing device of claim 1 further comprising: a modular frame having a front member opposite a rear member, a right member opposite a left member, wherein the right and left members, respectively, span between the front member and the rear member, and wherein the modular frame is attachable to the track and the connector member is attached to the front member of the modular frame, the modular frame being selectively movable along the track forward and aft with respect to the boat. 4. The adjustable planing device of claim 3 further comprising: the connector member having a first set of interacting features, the connector member attached to the front member of the modular frame; anda vertical member having a second set of interacting features, the vertical member mounted to the front end portion of the buoyant planing device, wherein the first and second sets of interacting features are configured to connect with each other to attach the vertical member to the connector member at a desired vertical position such that the buoyant planing device is selectively positioned vertically relative to the pontoon boat. 5. The adjustable planing device of claim 3 further comprising: a mounting member attached to a top surface of the buoyant planing device, wherein the powered actuator is attached to the mounting member and the modular frame. 6. The adjustable planing device of claim 5 wherein the powered actuator is attached to the rear member of the modular frame. 7. The adjustable planing device of claim 5 further comprising: a cross-member that extends between the right and the left members of the modular frame wherein the powered actuator is attached to the cross-member of the modular frame. 8. The adjustable planing device of claim 1 further comprising: a drive assembly attached to the midship region of the pontoon boat wherein the drive assembly is configured to move the buoyant planing device, the connector member, and the powered actuator forward and aft with respect to the boat. 9. The adjustable planing device of claim 1, wherein the powered actuator includes one or more of a hydraulic actuator, a mechanical actuator, or an electrical actuator. 10. An adjustable planing device for a pontoon boat, the pontoon boat having a midship region that spans between a front end and a rear end, the adjustable planing device comprising: a connector member having a transverse hinge configured to attach to the midship region of the pontoon boat;a planing device having a front end portion opposite a rear end portion, the planing device attached to the connector member at the midship region beneath the boat and being pivotable about the hinge such that at least a portion of the planing device comprises a subsurface portion below water level;a powered actuator connected to the boat and to the planing device, the actuator operable to move the planing device downwardly into the water; and,a track mountable to the bottom of the boat, wherein the planing device, the connector member and the powered actuator are selectively movable together along the track forward and aft with respect to the boat. 11. The adjustable planing device of claim 10 further comprising: a modular frame having a front member opposite a rear member, a right member opposite a left member, wherein the right and left members, respectively, span between the front member and the rear member; andthe track includes a first mounting rail and a second mounting rail, the first and the second mounting rails mountable to the bottom of the boat wherein the first mounting rail is configured to receive the right member of the modular frame and the second mounting rail is configured to receive the left member of the modular frame, wherein the modular frame, the planing device, the connector member and the powered actuator are selectively movable together along the first and the second mounting rails. 12. The adjustable planing device of claim 10 further comprising: a first sponson attached to a right side of the planing device; anda second sponson attached to a left side of the planing device, wherein the first and the second sponsons are configured to contact the waterline. 13. The adjustable planing device of claim 10 wherein the front end portion of the planing device has a vee cross-sectional shape. 14. The adjustable planing device of claim 13 wherein the rear end portion of the planing device has a semi-circular cross-sectional shape. 15. The adjustable planing device of claim 10 further comprising: wherein the connector member also has a first set of holes;a vertical member mounted to the planing device, the vertical member having a second set of holes, wherein the first and the second sets of holes are arranged to align with each other; anda plurality of fasteners that mount through the first and the second sets of holes to attach the connector member to the vertical member to selectively adjust a vertical position of the planing device. 16. The adjustable planing device of claim 10 further comprising: a drive assembly attached to the midship region of the pontoon boat wherein the drive assembly is configured to move the planing device, the connector member and the powered actuator along the track. 17. The adjustable planing device of claim 10 wherein the rear end portion of the planing device is movable to a lower vertical position from a minimum of about 3 inches to a maximum of about 17 inches. 18. The adjustable planing device of claim 10 further comprising: a drive assembly attached to the midship region of the pontoon boat wherein the drive assembly is configured to move the buoyant planing device, the connector member, and the powered actuator forward and aft with respect to the boat. 19. The adjustable planing device of claim 10, wherein the powered actuator includes one or more of a hydraulic actuator, a mechanical actuator, or an electrical actuator. 20. An adjustable planing device for a pontoon boat, the pontoon boat having a midship region that spans between a front end and a rear end, the adjustable planing device comprising: a connector member having a transverse hinge configured to attach to the midship region of the pontoon boat;a planing device having a front end portion opposite a rear end portion, the planing device attached to the connector member at the midship region beneath the boat and being pivotable about the hinge midship such that at least a portion of the planing device comprises a subsurface portion below water level;a powered actuator connected to the boat and to the planing device, the actuator operable to move the planing device downwardly into the water;a vertical member mountable to the planing device and to the connector member, wherein the planing device and the vertical member are selectively movable together vertically up and down with respect to the boat to vary how deep into the water the powered actuator moves the planing device downwardly into the water; anda track mountable to the bottom of the boat, wherein the planing device, the connector member, the powered actuator, and the vertical member are selectively movable together along the track forward and aft with respect to the boat. 21. The adjustable planing device of claim 20 further comprising: wherein the connector member having a first set of connecting features; andthe vertical member having a second set of connecting features, wherein the first and second sets of connecting features are configured to connect with each other such that the planing device and the vertical member are selectively movable together vertically up and down with respect to the boat. 22. The adjustable planing device of claim 20 further comprising: a modular frame having a front member opposite a rear member, a right member opposite a left member, wherein the right and left members, respectively, span between the front member and the rear member, the connector member attached to the front member; andthe track includes a first mounting rail and a second mounting rail mountable to the pontoon boat, the first mounting rail configured to receive the right member of the modular frame and the second mounting rail configured to receive the left member of the modular frame, wherein the position of the modular frame, the connector member, the planing device, and the powered actuator are selectively movable together along the first and the second mounting rails. 23. The adjustable planing device of claim 20 further comprising: a first sponson attached to a right side of the planing device; anda second sponson attached to a left side of the planing device, wherein the first and the second sponsons are configured to contact the waterline.