Abstract: The present invention relates to a boat lift including a base structure a cradle connected with the base structure and configured to support a boat, and a plurality of pontoons connected with the base structure for floating the boat lift on a water surface. The pontoons include a plurality of modular floats such that boats of varying weights are lifted and boats of varying centers of gravity are lifted levelly. The present invention also relates to a method of employing the boat lift.

Abstract: A portable mooring device for a small watercraft includes frame means having a pair of opposing side members and a plurality of crossbar members that are assemblable and adjustable by releasably securing telescopic engagements therebetween with removable pins, watercraft-seating means having shoe and support elements that are assemblable and adjustable by releasably securing telescopic engagements therebetween and the watercraft-seating means to the frame means with removable pins, and securing means having a tongue mechanism with a winch wherein the securing means is assemblable and adjustable by releasably securing telescopic engagements thereof and by releasably securing the securing means to the frame means with removable pins. The portable mooring device is easily disassemblable by simply removing all of the removable pins. A method of mooring a small watercraft is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a boat having a circular hull. The circular hull has a topside, a forward portion and an aft portion. Further, the circular hull has a first slot located in the forward portion and a second slot located in the aft portion. A rudder is connected to the circular hull within the aft portion. A motor having a motor shaft is connected to the circular hull within the slot located in its forward portion. The boat also can have one or more interior compartments to house batteries and other storage. A pedestal seat is secured to the topside of the circular hull.

Abstract: A secure life jacket container assembly includes a hollow container defining a storage volume which receives a life jacket in a packed condition. A cover is attached to the container with a tamper-evident sealing material. Removal of the cover causes an irreversible change in the sealing material which provides an indication that tampering has occurred.

Abstract: A steering device for a personal watercraft includes a handle holder fitted to a watercraft body. A steering shaft passes through the handle holder, and a handle is fitted to the upper end of the steering shaft. The steering shaft is provided with a groove, and a holding member is provided in the handle holder and is fitted into the groove. Accordingly, movement of the steering shaft in the axial direction is restricted. A flange or the groove has a shape such that its width can be reduced. When the holding member is fitted by setting the width to a small size, and taking dimensional variations into account, the chattering between the flange or the groove and the holding member can be reduced. In view of this, the steering shaft is provided with the flange or the groove, and the holding member provided in the handle holder is fitted to the flange or the groove, so that movement of the steering shaft in the axial direction can be restrained.

Abstract: An electronic controlled drive apparatus includes: a remote control unit 3 for calculating a target throttle opening degree and target shift position based on an inputted position of an operational lever of a remote control device 1; a throttle actuator 11 that opens or closes a throttle of the engine in accordance with the target throttle opening degree; a shift actuator 12 that actuates a shift in accordance with the target shift position; and a throttle actuator control unit 5 for determining whether or not the target shift position is in a shift-in state, and when the target shift position is in the shift-in state, driving the throttle actuator to put the throttle into the small opening degree state. The shift actuator is driven to conduct shift connection after the throttle is put into the small opening degree state.

Abstract: A stanchion attached to a sail boat is provided where the stanchion supports a lifeline near the top of the stanchion and the lifeline runs generally along the outer edge of the deck of the sail boat and the connection of the lifeline to the stanchion can be characterized in part by the maximum deflection point of the lifeline and the stanchion has attached thereto a generally vertically disposed slide disposed away from the central plane of the sail boat.

Abstract: One aspect of the invention provides a drag-inducing kickboard. The kickboard has an undersurface. A funnel member projects from the undersurface and comprises at least one inner surface that is spaced apart from the undersurface to form a channel between the at least one inner surface of the funnel member and the undersurface of the kickboard. The funnel member is shaped to provide the channel with a front opening for allowing water into the channel and a rear opening for allowing water to escape from the channel. The front opening has a cross-sectional area that is greater than that of the rear opening.

Abstract: A small watercraft including an engine mounted in a body such that an axial direction of a crankshaft corresponds with a longitudinal direction of the body, an oil tank provided such that a longitudinal direction thereof corresponds with the axial direction of the crankshaft, a first communicating port and a second communicating port formed in the oil tank at least two positions spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction, a gas-release chamber having a third communicating port and a fourth communicating port provided at two positions spaced apart from each other, and at least one fifth communicating port located to communicate with an ambient side, the gas-release chamber having a bottom face located higher than a liquid level of oil inside the oil tank, wherein the first communicating port communicates with the third communicating port and the second communicating port communicates with the fourth communicating port.

Abstract: A water craft having a bow and a stern including an engine of sufficient thrust to create an enlarged wake at the stern of the boat as the boat moves along the surface of a body of water. The water tight compartment is positioned to carry water below the water line and essentially astride the centerline or keel of the boat. The compartment is adapted to contain liquid water in an amount sufficient to enhance or equalize the size of the boat wake. The compartment extends from a point forward of the transom and engine, and extends to a point forward of the midpoint between the bow and the stern, and terminates short of the bow while serving to exert downward force on the bow against the water when the water craft is underway and the compartment carries water.

Abstract: A shock mitigation system for a hydrofoil marine craft is provided, the shock mitigation system includes a pair of stacked lifting bodies, where an upper lifting body is used to provide initial lift for the craft. To mitigate the wave effects on the craft when operating at cruise speed, the distance between the upper lifting bodies and the waterline is proportionally related to the operational wave height. When operated within the selected operational parameters, the distance between the upper lifting bodies and waterline prevents the upper lifting bodies from becoming wetted and producing sudden increases in lift from wave impact.

Abstract: An information bracelet for protectively storing information related to an individual wearing the bracelet includes a bracelet body having a cavity defined therein. The cavity can be configured to store and protect an information-bearing medium on which the information related to the individual can be disposed. A strap assembly can also be provided and includes a strap member and a pair of clasps. The pair of clasps can be coupled to opposite ends of the strap member and can be directly coupleable to opposite ends of the bracelet body. The clasps can be configured to facilitate removable coupling of the strap assembly to the bracelet body.

Abstract: The floating aluminum box to protect dockworkers is an aluminum cube with each side being approximately eighteen inches long. The floating aluminum box is watertight and made of one-quarter inch thick aluminum plate and of welded construction. The floating aluminum box has a front, back, two sides, a top, and a bottom. The floating aluminum box has an internal support structure having two concentric aluminum pipes and a plurality of bracing plates that extend from the pipes to the sides of the cube. The floating aluminum box is also equipped with a handle and eye brackets.

Abstract: The present invention is a wake control mechanism for watercrafts comprising flat or upwardly curved wake control plate(s) which is/are connected to the stern in a variety of ways, either fixed or adjustable, such that the water passing beneath and/or beside the transom is scooped upward by the plate(s) and the watercraft is therefore pushed deeper into the water causing a larger wake. Additionally the plate(s) may have walls so that the scooped water is held above water level thus adding weight and further increasing wake size. Adjustments to the plate(s) position may be used to control the shape as well as the size of the wake.

Abstract: An assembly for boarding swimming animals into a boat having a boat ladder, and having an elongated ramp with a sidewall. A plurality of apertures is formed through the sidewall, and a connection assembly is connected to the ramp. The connection assembly includes a cross member, at least one hooked support member extending therefrom for engaging the boat ladder, at least one pivotable grip member pivotingly connected to the hooked support member, a biasing member operationally connected to the pivotable grip member to urge the pivotable grip member in a first direction, and an elongated lanyard member operationally connected to the pivotable grip member. A positioning assembly is to the ramp for positioning the ramp relative the boat ladder and may be connected to the ramp through any desired apertures.

Abstract: A multi-functional sailboard includes a body having a seating section and a dagger. A mast section is connected to the bow of the body and is movable between raised and lowered positions. The mast section includes a stationary mast and a movable mast. The two may be coupled together and slide along a substantially vertical path. The mast section is maintained by a halyard tied to a cleat and a hook and loop fastener is attached to the sail that secures it to the movable mast. A back rest extends upward from the body. A sculling section is secured to the body and includes a traveler, an eye clip, and a cord connected to the eye clip and rudder. The sculling section also includes a spring connected to the rudder and back rest. The rudder returns to an equilibrium position when moved from side-to-side.

Abstract: An apparatus for steering control of water craft by operator body motion commands. The craft is powered by an outboard motor having a first vertical axis. The water craft has a swivel seat co-axially mounted to first and second swivel bodies permitting rotation of the seat about a second vertical axis. There is a first control member-mounted between the seat and the first swivel body and a second control member mounted between the first and second swivel bodies. A connecting member connects the second control member to the outboard motor so that when a pin couples the first and second control members together the apparatus is engaged and swivel seat is able to transmit body motion steering commands via the connecting member to the outboard motor.

Abstract: A self-contained, emergency marker for attaching to, and selectively ascending from, a scuba diver's buoyancy control device. A buoy portion is contained in an enclosure and is selectively released therefrom by an activating apparatus. A buoy inflates, escapes from a buoy sub-enclosure by buoyancy, and tethers a buoy cord out of a buoy cord sub-enclosure when a pull pin is released, causing an upper end of an arm to bias away from the buoy sub-enclosure, causing a lower end of the arm to pivot toward the buoy sub-enclosure, causing a pin to rise and puncture a CO2 cartridge. The buoy has thereon a beeper and a flashing strobe light that electrically communicate with a battery interface that, in one embodiment is located in the buoy, and in another embodiment is located in the buoy cord sub-enclosure.

Abstract: A simple, lightweight, manually-controlled device for stabilizing and increasing the performance of small, sail-assisted watercraft, containing a single moving part and comprising a curved spar or iako (1) joining a main hull and a single outrigger hull or ama, a tubular shaft (2) with a handle (7) at one end and an “L” shaped hydrofoil (5 and 6) at the other end. The tubular shaft (2) is joined to the iako (1) by two or more struts (3) that are fixed to the iako (1) at their upper ends and have machine screws (8) or sleeves (4) at their lower ends by means of which the tubular shaft (2) is permitted to rotate around its longitudinal axis and is prevented from moving horizontally in relation to the curved iako (1), thereby making the entire assembly a truss or girder that resists vertical distortion or flexion.

Abstract: An outboard motor includes an under cover covering a part of an engine, a mount case supporting the engine, and an oil pan provided below the mount case. The under cover has an opening formed at a place opposite to a drain unit provided at a lower portion of the oil pan. The opening can be opened and closed by a drain cover having first and second locks. A release of the first lock is operated to allow the drain cover to be attached and detached to and from the opening with a single motion.