Abstract: A method for mooring a floating storage vessel (10) in the open sea for remaining on station at all times without any disconnection of the vessel (10) from the mooring system. The mooring system includes a plurality of anchor legs (26) connected to a turret (20) in the well (18) of the vessel (10) with a submerged support buoy (28) for each anchor leg (26). The submerged support buoy (28), by supporting a substantial portion of the weight of the associated anchor leg (26), reduces the vertical loads on the turret bearings (46, 48) and permits the turret (20) to be easily rotated from the torque exerted by the anchor legs (26) without any separate turret drive means.

Abstract: A small watercraft includes a hull. A rider area that accommodates at least one rider is provided at least in part by said hull. An engine is carried by the hull and drives a propulsion unit for propelling the hull. A steering control is provided in the rider area for steering the watercraft. A control panel is also provided in the rider area. The control panel includes a plurality of push buttons. A control unit is interrelated with the push buttons and the engine so as to allow the engine to be activated when the buttons are pushed in a predetermined sequence.

Abstract: A sealing structure is provided for an outboard motor in which an engine is disposed on an upper portion of an engine holder in a state of an outboard motor mounted to a hull, an oil pan is mounted to a lower portion of the engine holder, and the engine, the engine holder and the oil pan are covered with an engine cover unit.

Abstract: A high performance boat stabilized through the use of foam stabilizing members is provided. The boat has a rigid, planing hull including a transom, and a pair of curved sides extending forward from the transom to form a bow. A bottom is joined to the sides forming a chine. The foam stabilizing members are mounted on the sides of the hull above the chine and extend from the transom along the length of the boat. The sides of the boat also include an upper and lower flange extending outwardly from the sides of the boat adjacent to the upper and lower edges of the stabilizing members at the location where the stabilizing members attach to the sides of the hull. The lower flange helps to ensure that water is not forced in between the sides of the boat and the stabilizing members, thus preventing possible damage to the boat.

Abstract: A motorboat propelling system is composed of a water current channel in which a propeller and a stator are located. The channel is provided at a head end thereof with a water inlet and at a tail end thereof with a propelling nozzle. The stator has an axial portion divided into a front section contiguous to the propeller and a rear section contiguous to the nozzle. The front section has an outer diameter becoming progressively smaller towards one end thereof contiguous to the propeller, whereas the rear section has an outer diameter becoming gradually smaller towards one end thereof contiguous to the propelling nozzle.

Abstract: Inflatable floor (5), in particular for inflatable boats, constituted by at least one closed airtight compartment of a generally very flat shape and inflatable to a relatively high pressure, said chamber comprising two main walls (6) opposite each other formed by at least two respective sheets (7) of at least one relatively flexible and airtight material connected together by a multiplicity of flexible links (8) of approximately equal length, characterised in that one of said main walls (6s) or upper wall has an external face (9) which is constituted so as to be anti-slip (11) at least over most of its surface.

Abstract: A sail (20) for a sailing vessel (500) includes a leading spar (22), a coplanar trailing spar (24), and a movable spar (28) disposed between the two. A sheath (30) of sail cloth traversely surrounds the three spars forming a flexible double-sided wing-like structure. When the wind (600) blows against sail (20), movable spar (28) is urged toward the leeward side of sail (20), and transforms that side into the curved or long side of an airfoil, thereby creating a push force (54) which propels the sailing vessel (500).

Abstract: First and second latch mechanisms are provided that allow a boat operator to prevent the moveable and stationary portions of an outboard from moving relative to each other. This device can be used during shipping, transportation, or use of an outboard motor in conjunction with a sailboat in which the rudder of the sailboat is used for steering, and it is desirable to maintain the moveable and stationary portions of an outboard motor rigidly with respect to each other. A first latch mechanism is attached to the moveable portion of the outboard motor, and a second latch mechanism is attached to the stationary portion of an outboard motor. The second latch mechanism is rotatable to place a receptacle into a region where a locking device can retain it.

Abstract: A folding boat and locking device is described in which the boat includes paired foldable hull halves joined by a hinge at transverse bulkheads. The locking device includes a rigid base member with a clamp assembly having first elongated leg members extending therefrom. Second elongated leg members also extend from the rigid base member. At least one of the leg members is movable in relation to the other leg member between an open position in which the leg members are spaced apart a first distance, and a closed position wherein the leg members are substantially parallel and spaced apart on opposed sides of the bulkheads to hold the bulkheads together. A bolt and receiver assembly mounted between the base and at least one of the leg members is selectively operable to lock the first and second leg members in the closed position.

Abstract: An improved amphibious vehicle comprising a confined housing of a vehicle is provided. The confined housing is provided with a central connecting chamber under a cabinet adjacent to the central portion. An engine room and a floating cell are respectively provided in the front and rear, positions of the central connecting chamber. A thrust propeller is disposed under the tail portion of the floating cell. Characterized in that except the central connecting chamber, the engine room, and the floating cell which are indispensable components to the confined housing of the improved vehicle, the confined housing is further provided with a plurality of hollow cells among the confined housing other than those operating space required for maintenance conducted by the technician. Each of the hollow cells is filled with an imperious foam material to increase the floating capability such that the improved amphibious vehicle can readily float on the water.

Abstract: An auxiliary propulsion system for a boat or other marine vessel according to the invention incorporates an electric motor/transmission device for generating locomotive force to propel the boat or vessel, an electrical power supply for providing electrical energy to drive the electric motor/transmission device, at least one electrical energy generating device for generating electrical energy through conversion from one of at least sunlight, wind motion and water motion, a charging circuit having a device for controlling charging of the power supply with electrical energy from the energy generating device, and a device for controlling speed and direction operation of the electric motor/transmission device. In operation, electrical energy is inputted into the electric motor/transmission device from the electrical power supply and locomotive force is thereby generated by the electric motor/transmission device when the primary propulsion system of the boat or other marine vessel is inactive.

Abstract: An underwater exhaust system for a water-cooled marine engine installed in a boat whose hull is molded of fiber-reinforced resin. The system is adapted to exhaust underwater the gases and cooling water discharged from the engine via an internal fitting. The internal fitting is created by an exhaust port integral with the hull and formed of the same material, having a hydrodynamically-shaped main section defining a cavity whose mouth merges with the outer surface of the hull and an input section joined to the main section into which is fed the discharge from the engine. Telescoped into the cavity of the main section of the exhaust port and bonded thereto is a like-shaped main section of an external fitting having an output section joined to the main section to form an exhaust outlet from which the engine discharge is exhausted underwater.

Abstract: A wake control apparatus for adjusting the trim of a watercraft to selectively raise and lower the level of the wake produced by the watercraft. The apparatus comprises at least one hydrofoil which is pivotally connectable to the watercraft, and at least one actuator which is mechanically coupled to the hydrofoil and connectable to the watercraft. The actuator is adapted to selectively move the hydrofoil between first and second positions. When the apparatus is connected to the watercraft and the watercraft is propelled within the water, the movement of the hydrofoil toward the second position causes the aft end of the watercraft to be drawn downwardly into the water to increase the level of the wake produced thereby. The movement of the hydrofoil toward the first position causes the aft end of the watercraft to be elevated within the water to reduce the level of the wake produced thereby.

Abstract: An exhaust system for an outboard motor discharges exhaust gases in front of the propeller for improved acceleration. The discharge of exhaust gases upstream of the propeller produces a cavitation effect about propeller blades when accelerating from low speeds. As a result, the outboard motor accelerates more rapidly. At high speeds, the exhaust gases flow through the propeller hub and discharge behind the propeller. No substantial cavitation effect occurs about the blades, and thus, no significant loss of propulsion efficiency occurs when traveling at high speeds. When quickly reversing the propeller to produce a rapid braking force, the exhaust gases are directed away from the propeller blades to inhibit cavitation about the propeller blades and improve braking efficiency.

Abstract: An apparatus for connection to a rod and reel, comprised, in its preferred embodiment, of (1) an emergency flotation bladder, (2) a compact container in which said bladder is stowed, (3) connection means for connection of said container to the rod portion of a rod and reel, (4) monofilament line severing means for severing the line of the rod and reel to which the container is connected, and (5) means for automatically triggering monofilament line severing means and inflating said bladder when the article with attached container falls into water by some mishap or is otherwise immersed therein.

Abstract: Two embodiments of two-cycle V-type crankcase compression internal combustion engines for powering a jet propelled watercraft. In each embodiment, the pistons of the cylinder banks each drive their own crankshafts which are geared by a transmission to an output shaft. The exhaust system for the engine is disposed on the outside of the cylinder banks and includes an expansion chamber and a portion of the exhaust system that passes over the engine. The induction system for the engine is positioned in the valley between the cylinder banks.

Abstract: A collapsible boat anchor (12) comprising four side panels (13, 13a, 13b and 13c) each hingeably connected to the next as to form a square. To the forward and rearward side panels (13 and 13b) respectively are affixed a plurality of flukes (14 through 20a) arranged in upper and lower configuration as to allow the anchor (12) to set on whichever side it may fall. Moveable attached to the inside of the anchor at forward side panel (13) and right side panel (13c) is a center stabilizing bar (30). The center stabilizing bar (30) secures the anchor in an open and locked position while engaged, but facilitates collapse of the anchor for storage while disengaged. To provide a tie-off location for an anchor line, a lead arm (28) is pivotably affixed to the anchor at a anchor pull ring (26).

Abstract: A water craft assembly comprising a towboat (1) and a barge (2) pushed and steered by the towboat (1) and which is designed and constructed for use in shallow water with an optimal cargo-carrying capacity, and wherein the towboat includes a paddle wheel drive mounted in its stern.

Abstract: A power driven vessel is able to accommodate various types of power drive. The power driven vessel includes a vessel main body, power drive having an engine and a driving unit, an attachment member for mounting the power drive thereon, an insert recess portion formed within the rear portion of vessel main body, and a bottom plate disposed on the insert recess portion. The attachment member is movable between an upper position and a lower position in the vessel, and is directly placed on the bottom plate and inserted in the insert recess portion when the attachment member is held in the lower position.

Abstract: A water diverting apparatus for adaptation to a recreational motor ski vehicle. The apparatus provides a water rooster tail during the operation of the motor ski vehicle without degrading the nominal speed of the motor ski vehicle or preventing agile maneuvering of the motor ski vehicle.