Abstract: A sports board comprises a top surface for supporting a rider, a bottom surface, a leading edge portion and a following edge portion with a central axis extending between the leading edge portion and the following edge portion, a first side edge portion and a second side edge portion located on respective first and second lateral sides of the central axis of the sports board. The lateral width of the sports board between the first side edge portion and the second side edge portion may be equal to, or greater than, the distance between the leading edge portion and the following edge portion. A first-side part of the bottom surface may be inclined upwardly towards the first edge portion, and a second-side part of the bottom surface may be inclined upwardly, in a lateral direction, towards the second edge portion.

Abstract: Mechanical member (1; 100; 200) for a means of transport such as a boat—where said mechanical member has a support shaft (2; 101; 201), provided with a main axis (Y) that is mountable on the means of transport. Sliding bodies (3; 108; 202) are connected to the support shaft (2; 101; 201) through a union or connector (4; 203), which includes shaped disks (5;6;102;103;104;105;) and radial shock absorbers (17) mounted at the end of the shaped disks so that the sliding bodies (3, 108, 202) come into contact with any adjacent structures to direct the movement of the means of transport and prevent damage to adjacent structures.

Abstract: A swim fin system that may be used to propel an individual through water. The swim fin system may include a leg securement device, with an upper and a lower end, effective for detachably securing to at least the lower leg of an individual. A fin may attach longitudinally to the leg securement device where at least a portion of the fin is oblique to the leg securement device. The swim fin system may further include a second securement device, with an ankle end and a toe end, effective for detachably securing to at least the foot and ankle of an individual.

Abstract: A fin box for a water craft including: a fin box body having an elongated slot open at a first surface of the fix box and extending to a closed base of the fin box; a peripheral flange extending outwardly from the slot and defining an area of the first surface around the slot; the peripheral flange having a second lower surface and a third upper surface both offset vertically from the first surface and extending laterally from the fin box body, the second lower surface and said third upper surface further comprising a left and right side, each said left and right side surfaces extending transversely from the body portion to peripheral extremities of said peripheral flange, wherein at least one surface of said peripheral flange forms a transverse angle of taper with an axial median vertical plane of the fin box body.

Abstract: A water drop muffler for use in a marine exhaust system to silence exhaust noise while separating entrained water from exhaust gas using hydro-dynamic centrifugal separation principles enhanced by turbulent flow. A muffler housing has a top and a bottom, and defines an internal volume bounded by a generally vertically disposed cylindrical inner surface formed about a longitudinal axis. A generally tubular exhaust inlet is disposed in generally tangential relation with the cylindrical inner housing surface for receiving a mixture of exhaust gas and entrained cooling water. A variable geometry flow channel efficiently transitions the flow for discharge through a vertically elongate opening disposed along the length of the housing inner surface thereby creating vortex flow within the housing to maximize the generation of centrifugal forces. The vortex flow formed within the housing causes the relatively heavy water droplets and water vapor (i.e.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing debris from an ocean floor or seabed employs a subsea debris basket. The basket eliminates the absolute necessity of a cargo barge or any other supporting vessel that might be required to remain in a field until the objects on the ocean floor can be lifted. The present invention provides a non-weather sensitive solution. The present invention affords the safe operation in that all lifting and lowering is performed in a subsea environment next to the ocean floor or seabed. The present invention enables operation to be completed with the use of an ROV or remotely operated vehicle. The present invention provides improved offshore efficiency, less time being required to recover debris from the seabed to the underwater salvage basket or debris basket. The present invention enables the possibility of use of an A-frame or simple crane to lower debris into a subsea basket. The basket can be reused or redeployed in the field if desired.

Abstract: A pump jet assembly includes universal components, such as a rotor, shroud and stator, that can accommodate all marine drives within a given range and adapter components, that accommodate the difference between the universal components and a particular marine drive within the range. A pump jet adapter system includes both the universal components and a plurality of adapter components, and is made by assessing a variation in parameters for the range of marine drives and determining rotor parameters to allow use of a universal rotor for all the range of marine drives. Parameters for adapter components are determined to correspond to different marine drives within the range.

Abstract: A cabin enclosure of a boat which is substantially water proof is provided. The cabin enclosure comprises a top, frame with joists attached to joist covers, plurality of windows, flashing and track which are layered upon each other to cascade water down the top, onto the windows and onto the track and into the river, bay or ocean. The plurality of windows may surround the passenger area of the boat and also prevents water from entering the boat. In particular, the plurality of windows are zippered onto adjacent joist covers so as to form a substantially water proof barrier between the interior and exterior of the boat. The flashing may be attached to the interior of the window with hooks and loops which run horizontally across the window and prevent water that splashes under the window from entering into the passenger area.

Abstract: A vessel mooring system which includes at least two mooring robots that can be secured to a terminal and/or a vessel, each robot includes an attractive force attachment element and a base structure. The attachment element can be engaged with a vertically extending side surface and to exert an attractive force normal to the surface. Each robot can measure the attractive force between the attachment element and the surface to provide an “attractive force capacity reading”. The force between the attachment element and the fixed structure of the mooring robot can be measured to provide a “normal force reading”. From monitoring of the relationship between the attractive force capacity reading and the normal force a control of the mooring robot can be provided such that if there is a tending to separate the attachment elements from said vessel the attractive force may be increased and/or alarm is sounded.

Abstract: An outboard motor includes an engine and a catalyst. The engine includes a cylinder and a cylinder head. The engine includes an exhaust port, a catalyst housing portion, a first exhaust passage, and a passage defining member. The exhaust port is provided in the cylinder head. The catalyst housing portion is provided at a side portion of the cylinder head. The first exhaust passage is arranged to guide exhaust discharged from the exhaust port into an interior of the catalyst housing portion. The passage defining member defines a second exhaust passage. The second exhaust passage is arranged such that exhaust that has passed through the interior of the catalyst housing portion flows into the second exhaust passage. The catalyst is held by the engine in a state in which at least a portion of the catalyst is housed in the interior of the catalyst housing portion.

Abstract: The jack plate has two vertically aligned side plates, a transom plate, and a splash plate. The jack plate has associated light source holes associated therewith. There are light sources, such as LED's contained with the light source holes of the jack plate. There is a travel stop block coupled to the jack plate transom plate.

Abstract: A collapsible sail frame for a watercraft. The sail frame includes a shaft, a skeletal assembly, and a sail. The shaft has a tip and a handle. The skeletal assembly includes ribs, struts, a first ring and a second ring. The sail is attached on the ribs. First pivoting joints connect ribs to the first ring, with ribs extending in a radial pattern. Second pivoting joints connect struts to the second ring. Third pivoting joints connect struts to ribs. The first ring is fixed on the shaft and the second ring is slidably mounted on the shaft so as to be manually operable for deploying the skeletal assembly, to spread the sail. A loop is provided on the deck of the watercraft, for retaining the tip of the shaft and the handle includes a clamp for engaging the deck of the watercraft.

Abstract: A method of operating a watercraft is disclosed. The watercraft includes an engine, a jet propulsion system operatively connected to the engine, the jet propulsion system includes a reverse gate, and a steering assembly for steering the watercraft. The method comprises: determining if the steering assembly is turned; sensing an operating parameter of the watercraft, the operating parameter being related to a thrust generated by the propulsion system; determining if the operating parameter of the watercraft is within a predetermined range; and moving the reverse gate to a lowered position when the steering assembly is turned and the operating parameter of the watercraft is within the predetermined range. A watercraft capable of performing the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: An improved anchor (20) for securing the floatation units (12) of marker buoys (10), waterfowl decoys (36), and the like at selected locations on a body of water. The anchor (20) has an anchor weight (24) portion of non-lead material and a pair of clamping arms (30) extending outwardly from the anchor body (22), and configured and adapted to springably spread apart to open, to close about, and to releasably clamp onto the floatation unit (12), thus preventing the release and tangling of anchor line (14). This provides convenient storage for the marker buoy (10) or the waterfowl decoy (36) with its wound anchor line (14) and the attached anchor (20). Currently, marker buoy anchors and waterfowl decoy anchors frequently consist of a thin lead strip capable of being bent around a portion of the floatation unit (12) of the marker buoy (10) or the waterfowl decoy (36) for secure storage. For use, the lead strip can be unbent to release it from the floatation unit (12).

Abstract: A system for determining the magnitude of force applied to an oar by a rower as the oar is pulled through water includes a deflection sensor and a temperature sensor mounted on an oar shaft to determine deflection and temperature of a portion of the oar shaft during rowing. A processor connected to the deflection sensor and the temperature sensor receives signals indicative of deflection and temperature of the oar shaft and derives a force applied to an oar blade based on the deflection and temperature signals.

Abstract: A wide, flat-bottom, buoyant, amphibious hull with a powered articulating member mounted on the deck. The hull is propelled by at least one engine-driven propeller rotating above the hull. The hull has a shallow draft and distributes its weight over a large area. These features cooperatively provide a vehicle capable of installing or servicing power transmission poles, towers, or other structures located in environmentally sensitive wetlands, swamps, marshes, shallow water, or similar terrain.

Abstract: An anchoring base and a buoy that are adapted to resist entanglement with a trawler net that may be dragged over the anchor and buoy. The buoy may have a plurality of cones that are secured to the tether in a spaced relationship proximate the lower end of the buoy. The anchoring base has a top side having an upper surface that defines a plurality of indentations between raised portions. The tether may be received in at least one of the indentations when the tether is pressed against the upper surface of the insert to protect the tether from being damaged or severed.

Abstract: An outboard motor includes an engine, an exhaust passage, an idle exhaust passage, a contraction portion and an expansion chamber, a bypass passage, and a check valve. The bypass passage includes an upstream end connected to the idle exhaust passage at a downstream side relative to the contraction portion and the expansion chamber, and a downstream end connected to the idle exhaust passage at an upstream side relative to the contraction portion and the expansion chamber. The check valve is provided in the bypass passage. The check valve is arranged such that air flows only from the upstream end side to the downstream end side.

Abstract: A buoy that is adapted to resist entanglement with a trawler net that may be dragged over the anchor and buoy. The buoy may have an indentation on the body of the buoy that causes the buoy to pivot as a trawler net pulls the tether down and slides across the buoy. A lead-in ramp surface increases in thickness from the lower end to a transition area spaced from the lower end. A reorienting ramp surface extends from the transition area to the side of the housing that tips the buoy to a generally horizontal orientation as the object traverses the reorienting ramp surface.

Abstract: A coupling to engage and retain two adjacent buoyant marine bodies in a side to side abutting relationship, is described. The coupling has two coupling portions (9), one each on one of the two adjacent buoyant marine bodies. The coupling portion (“first coupling portion”) including a downwardly directed receiving recess that includes at least one bearing surface (7) that faces away from a plane of abutment of the two marine bodies and that increases in distance away from the plane of abutment from top to bottom. The coupling also having a locking bar to be retained by the other coupling portion (second coupling portion) in a manner to allow it to move vertically thereto and to project from the second coupling portion for engagement with the first coupling portion, the locking bar including a receiving surface (16) to abut with the bearing surface (7).