Abstract: A wakeboard 10 having rear, rear quarter, front quarter, and front vane pairs that channel water towards the longitudinal axis of the wakeboard 10 to provide directional stabilization for the wakeboard. The longitudinally symmetric location of the vane pairs enhances rider control and performance of the wakeboard during maneuvers without the use of fins or hydrofoils.

Abstract: A fin plug assembly to receive and engage a fin includes a cavity, a cam with gears, and a worm gear. The fin plug assembly allows a quick and easy fore-aft adjustment of the fin. Disclosed also is a method of installing the fin plug assembly in a surfboard using a one-piece complete control jig system including the step of providing additional structural strength by removing and/or spiking the foam material in the body of the surfboard.

Abstract: A fin plug assembly to receive and engage a fin includes a cavity, a cam with gears, and a worm gear. The fin plug assembly allows a quick and easy fore-aft adjustment of the fin. Disclosed also is a method of installing the fin plug assembly in a surfboard using a one-piece complete control jig system including the step of providing additional structural strength by removing and/or spiking the foam material in the body of the surfboard.

Abstract: A surfing craft with removable fin. A removable fin is disposed in a fin box and the fin box is disposed in a surfing craft body. A releasable locking mechanism has a spring actuated locking arm, a locking tab and an indention. The spring actuated locking arm applies spring force for locking the locking tab into the indention. A counter force is applied to the spring actuated locking arm to remove the fin from the fin box. In one preferred embodiment, the locking tab is attached to the locking arm and the locking arm is bendably connected to the fin. In this preferred embodiment the indention is on the fin box and the locking arm's locking tab is engaged with the indention of the fin box to prevent the fin from disconnecting from the fin box. Also in this preferred embodiment, by applying finger force the locking arm is bent causing the locking tab to disengage the indention so that the fin can be removed.

Abstract: A water sport device for supporting a seated human rider while the rider and the device are towed behind a powered water craft, including an elongate board to which a seat and foot holder are secured, an elongate hydrofoil extending downward from the board and a planing blade secured to the hydrofoil generally parallel to the board so that the planing blade provides essentially no lift when the board is horizontal. The improvements comprise an adjustable rear blade to permit the rear blade to be manually adjusted to increase or decrease the space between the blades; and the rear blade is shaped to have an angle which slopes downward from the top surface to its leading edge and a thin rear trailing edge.

Abstract: A water vehicle (10) has a stabilizer and accelerator device in the form of an elongated strip (20). The strip is designed to be sleek so that the water vehicle is not stiff and difficult or awkward to operate. Yet, the strip sufficiently protrudes outwardly and downwardly from the bottom of the water vehicle to influence the flow of water across the water vehicle resulting in increased speed, control and stabilization of the water vehicle. The strip has a cross section that is triangular in shape, but with curved side walls. The strip grips the water during turns for greater control and maneuverability and accelerating out of the turns.

Abstract: A stabilizing system for jet-propelled watercraft comprising a pair of fins and their corresponding trim blocks, which serve to point the fins in the correct toed-in, cambered-out attitude, and mount on the side of the watercraft, toward the rear.

Abstract: A water ski having an elongated body member having a fore-zone, a mid-zone, an aft-zone and a longitudinally extending X-axis. A major longitudinally extending groove is formed in the bottom surface of the water ski and it extends substantially the length of the mid-zone and the aft-zone. A plurality of longitudinally spaced left side minor grooves and right side minor grooves extend outwardly from the boundary edges of the major groove toward the respective left and right side edges of the water ski. Water traveling along the length of the major groove will also travel laterally outwardly through the respective left side and right side minor groove to give improved performance to the water ski.

Abstract: A fin assembly for a board includes a fixing element adapted to be embedded into a lower surface of the board and a fin. The fixing element includes a cavity, at least one projection extending upwardly in the cavity from the fixing element and towards an opening of the cavity, and a fixing member received by the fixing element and engageable with the projection. The fin has a formation projecting from an end surface of the fin and adapted to be received within the cavity. The formation includes a free end and at least one recessed portion located between the free end and the end surface of the fin. When the fixing formation is received within the fixing cavity, the fixing member may urge the projection against the recessed portion to thereby secure the fin to the board.

Abstract: A wakeboard having a substantially planar plastic base with a top surface and a bottom surface and a lightweight tubular alloy frame fastened at the top surface perimeter. The base is angled slightly proximate each of its ends. The frame is filled with a porous thermoplastic resin. The wakeboard further includes a novel binding system having a foot plate, a footpad, and a strap system. The bindings are secured to the base with mounting bolts having handles or knobs. The foot plate includes arcuate slots at each side of the footpad, each arcuate slot having a several transverse slots. Simple manual loosening of the mounting bolts permits multidirectional adjustment of the binding without the need to remove any part of the binding system from the board.

Abstract: The improved flying ski is designed to be towed behind a conventional powered watercraft utilizing a standard ski tow rope or similar device having a handle that can be held by a human rider. In use, the rider is seated on the seat of the flying ski and towed by the watercraft. The improved flying ski comprises an elongate board and a seat that extends generally perpendicular to and upward from the board to support the seated rider's buttocks. The rider's legs extend toward the front of the board and are secured by a pair of foot holders that attach to the board. An elongate strut extends generally perpendicular to and downward from the board and couples the seat to a planing blade. The planing blade advantageously has a front blade and a rear blade interconnected by a fuselage. The improved flying ski accommodates a variety of rider skill levels by incorporating a mechanism and system that allows the rider to selectively adjust performance characteristics of the ski.

Abstract: A fin and watercraft system includes at least one pair of fins mounted to the underside of a watercraft adjacent the side edges. The fins rotate freely from a position substantially parallel to the centerline of the watercraft through an arc of up to 90 degrees to alternate positions angled from the nearest side edge toward the centerline of the watercraft. The fins include a front portion extending from a leading edge to a vertical axis and a rear portion extending from the vertical axis to a trailing edge. The rear portion is larger than the front portion causing the fin to rotate in the direction of an oncoming water flow. The fins have symmetrical lateral surfaces and include a bearing plate mounted in a recess in the lower surface of the watercraft. A pin extends from a top surface of the fin engages an arcurate slot in the bearing plate to limit rotation of the fin.

Abstract: A aquatic body board for providing extra control when body surfing. The aquatic body board includes a board with a handle upwardly extended from a top face of the board and positioned towards a front end of the board. The handle comprises a resiliently deformable material to permit resilient squeezing and bending of the handle.

Abstract: A stabilizer for a mobile device includes a first element that has a center-plane and an upper end for attachment to a bottom surface of the mobile device. The stabilizer also has a hollow tubular element that has a center-plane. The hollow tubular element is connected to the first element such that the center-plane of the hollow tubular element and the center-plane of the first element are not aligned.

Abstract: The lateral wing sits on top of the vertical section of the fin. This enables the lateral wing to work separately in function and also together with the vertical section of the fin when the Dolphin fin is being moved through the water in different angles and directions. This revolving aspect allows for greater holding power on sections of the wave and acceleration and turning power.

Abstract: A protective, removable cover for a surfboard fin. The fin cover may be made of vinyl or other suitable pliable material and conforms to the shape of a standard surfboard fin with a gently rearward curved front edge and a rearward curved rear edge. Formed along the front ad rear edges of the fin cover are small indentations that compress the fi cover against the front and rear edges of the surfboard fin, respectively, to securely hold the fin cover over the fin thereby eliminating the need for adhesives or snaps.

Abstract: A foil having a stabilizing hollow element, the entire foil forming a wing- or fin-like shape. The hollow element may also have a leading edge that tapers to a defined point. The hollow element may also have a foil shape, running substantially parallel to the foil profile of the fin- or wing-like extensions.

Abstract: A double-hulled, single-seat water glider, adapted to be towed behind a motorboat, comprises a unibody frame having a tilted front end. A detachable extension is provided to accommodate a second passenger. Aerodynamic stabilizer structure is provided on each side of the glider to prevent capsizing.

Abstract: A fin assembly (10) is provided for detachably removing a fin (112) in a surfboard (13). The fin (12) has a mounting base (26) and spigots (22 and 23) projecting from front and rear positions on the base (26). A socket mounting (11) defining at least complementary front and rear sockets (15 and 16) for receiving the spigots (22 and 23) is provided for inclusion in the board (13) for releasably mounting the fin (12) to the board. A grub screw or screws (35) is/are provided for securing the fin (12) in said mouting (11).

Abstract: A side fin (10) for a surfboard has a base edge portion (13) which in use juxtaposes the surfboard, a leading edge (14) and a trailing edge (15) which meet to define fin tip (16). Fin (10) has a substantially planar fin base portion (17) extending from base edge portion (13), and a substantially curved fin tip portion (18) extending from fin base portion (17) to fin tip (16). When the fin profile is viewed in the longitudinal direction of the surfboard i.e. from leading edge (14) to trailing edge (15), the profile of fin base portion (17) is substantially rectilinear and the profile of fin tip portion (18) is curved.

Abstract: A fin protector for a wind surfing board or similar item includes two sides secured together to form a pocket or receiving opening for the tip of a fin to be protected. Anti-scratch standoffs or spacers extend from the sides into the fin receiving opening to space the sides from the fin as the tip of the fin is inserted. The fin is inserted into the pocket far enough to flex the sides apart enough so that the sides, through the spaces, press against the fin and hold the protector on the fin. The standoffs or spacers may take the form of hooks of hook and loop fastening material with pieces of the hook material secured to the sides of the fin receiving opening so the hooks extend into the opening, or may take the form of ridges extending from the sides of the fin receiving opening into the opening.

Abstract: A foil having a stabilizing hollow element, the entire foil forming a wing- or fin-like shape. The hollow element may also have a leading edge that tapers to a defined point. The hollow element may also have a foil shape, running substantially parallel to the foil profile of the fin- or wing-like extensions.

Abstract: A body board (10) having a pair of side rails (13, 14), the body board (10) including a fin (20) that extends laterally from at least one side rail (14) of the body board (10).

Abstract: An improved wakeboard fin unit provides two fins extending from a base portion at an acute angle to each other. A ridge on the base portion runs between the two fins to divert water flow into the fins. The two-fin fin unit provides greater stability for the wakeboard during use and thereby enhances performance.

Abstract: In mounting of a fin on a surfboard, there is formed a through hole within the surfboard with the fin to be mounted within the through hole and extend from the underside of the surfboard. The through hole is normally open the top side of the surfboard. A cover, comprising a thin flexible base, is adhesively secured onto the top side of the surfboard surrounding the through hole. The cover includes a nametag which is removably mounted in conjunction with the base. Removing of the nametag permits access into the surfboard fin mounting box.

Abstract: A fin assembly for securing a fin to a water craft in a desired angular position relative to a longitudinally oriented axis of the water craft, i.e. the roll angle, is provided in the form of a fin mounting mechanism incorporated in the bottom surface of the water craft and a detachable fin. The attachment mechanism includes a fin mounting box with an elongated channel defined in part by a pair of spaced longitudinal extending side walls. A rotating bar is inserted within the elongated channel of the mounting box and two end caps are affixed to the fin mounting box to hold the rotating bar into the fin mounting box. The end caps when loosened allow the rotating bar to rotate freely and when tightened hold the rotating bar fixedly in place. In this way the detachable fin's roll angle can be easily and accurately selected, fixed and adjusted.

Abstract: A collapsible surfboard for making it easy for a user to conveniently travel with a surfboard. The collapsible surfboard includes an elongate inflatable bladder adapted for holding a quantity of air in an interior of the bladder. The elongate inflatable bladder has a shape generally corresponding to a surfboard. The elongate inflatable bladder has a front end, a rear end, and a pair of side edges extending between the front and rear ends. The inflatable bladder has a top surface and a bottom surface, and the inflatable bladder has an elongate pocket extending along a longitudinal axis of the bladder between the front and rear ends. An elongate beam is provided for stiffening the inflatable bladder when inflated. The elongate beam is removably insertable in the elongate pocket of the inflatable bladder.

Abstract: The improved flying ski is designed to be towed behind a conventional powered watercraft utilizing a standard ski tow rope or similar device having a handle that can be held by a human rider. In use, the rider is seated on the seat of the flying ski and towed by the watercraft. The improved flying ski comprises an elongate board and a seat that extends generally perpendicular to and upward from the board to support the seated rider's buttocks. The rider's legs extend toward the front of the board and are secured by a pair of foot holders that attach to the board. An elongate strut extends generally perpendicular to and downward from the board and couples the seat to a planing blade. The planing blade advantageously has a front blade and a rear blade interconnected by a fuselage. The improved flying ski accommodates a variety of rider skill levels by incorporating a mechanism and system that allows the rider to selectively adjust performance characteristics of the ski.

Abstract: A foil having a stabilizing hollow element, the entire foil forming a wing- or fin-like shape. The hollow element may also have a leading edge that tapers to a defined point. The hollow element may also have a foil shape, running substantially parallel to the foil profile of the fin- or wing-like extensions.

Abstract: A water craft having an adjustable fin assembly. The fin includes a base having a circular cross-section for rotating within a circular recess formed in a fin box attached to a water board. A means is provided for securing the fin at a predetermined angle of attack. The fin may be secured by a set screw or pin passing through the fin box and making contact with the base. The pin may pass through a hole in the base to provide vertical and rotational support for the fin. The pin may be moved between an engaged position and an unengaged position by the rotation of a gear interfacing with teeth formed on the pin. The fin base and fin box may include mating projections and slots for securing the angular position of the fin and an associated pin for retaining the fin within the fin box.

Abstract: A wakeboard having rear and front center fins and a pair of spaced-apart, generally parallel, canted rear and front asymmetric side fins to provide enhanced rider control and performance of the wakeboard during maneuvers.

Abstract: A water sports board for use in supporting a person riding along on the top surface of the water. The elongated buoyant board has an elongated slot in its bottom surface for each of its fins. The fins are removably received in the elongated slots when the fins are raised up into the interior of the board. A mechanical structure is utilized for reciprocally moving the fins between an upper position inside the slot and a lower position in which a predetermined portion of the fin extends below the bottom surface of the board. A hydraulic system is used for actuating the mechanical means. It utilizes a resilient compressible bladder that is squeezed or released to move the pin between its upper and lower positions. The water sports board may take the form of a bodyboard, surfboard, kneeboard or wakeboard.

Abstract: An inflatable sailboard consisting of an inflatable hull, a mast, a boom, and a sail, and optionally comprising a removable rigid deck and auxiliary devices such as mast supports and center boards attached to the hull by through-hull fittings. The hull of the invention consists of a plurality of independently inflatable compartments, has a relatively high beam width to length ratio, generally in the range of 1/3 to 2/3, and in preferred embodiments may be employed without mast, boom, or sail, and with an attached seat, as a kayak. The hull may also be towed by a boat or jet ski for sporting use, or may be used as a "boat trailer" to transport supplies or equipment. The sail of the invention incorporates head and foot cups adapted to attach the sail to the mast to control tension within the sail. Preferred masts for use with the invention are provided in a plurality of assemblable sections, and include an adjustable support for the boom and improved hull attachment means.

Abstract: The stabilizing fin includes an upper vertical stabilizer element, a hollow tubular element, and a lower vertical stabilizer element. The upper vertical stabilizer element has an upper end for attachment to a bottom surface of a water planing device. The hollow tubular element has an upper portion depending from a lower end of the upper vertical stabilizer element. The tubular element has an open front end and an open rear end. The lower vertical stabilizer element has an upper end depending from a lower portion of the hollow tubular element. During use thereof the upper and lower vertical stabilizer elements provide lateral stability and the hollow tubular element provides increased lateral stability and vertical stability for enhanced control by a user. The water planing device maybe, for example, a surfboard or a wind surfing board.

Abstract: A guidance pad, made from flexible plastic material and configured with an array of parallel guidance ridges on the bottom side, can be retrofitted onto the bottom side of an aquatic sports device such as a surfboard so that the ridges, running fore-and-aft, enhance lateral stability by guiding water flow through the channels formed between the ridges. In a preferred embodiment, five equally-spaced ridges having a V-shaped cross-section are molded integrally on the bottom side of a generally rectangular thin flexible pad whose flat top surface is provided with a layer of self-adhesive material retained by a peel-off backing. To install the guidance pad, the backing is peeled off to expose the adhesive material and the top surface of the pad is attached onto the bottom of the surfboard just forward of the fin, for which a cutaway region is provided at the aft edge of the pad. The hydro-dynamic effects, e.g.

Abstract: A water ski has an upper side, an under side, a front end and a rear end, with an arched fin carried on the ski under side at the ski rear end. The arched fin has opposed edges adjacent the edges of the ski under side, with the opposed edges joined together adjacent the ski rear end to form an opening for water flow therethrough, and with the opposed edges tapering forward and upward from the opening to the ski under side, and terminating forward of the ski rear end. The arched fin and ski form a continuous channel for water flow along the bottom of the ski toward the rear end, preferably with the cross-section area of the forward end of the channel is greater than the cross-section area of the rear end of the channel.

Abstract: Surfboard having an essentially elongate, flat basic body which is capable of floating and, during use, rests with its underside on the water, and on whose upper side there is provided a standing surface for the feet of the sports person using the board, and in which at least one fin is attached to the underside. An opening extending from the underside towards the upper side is provided in the basic body for receiving the said fin, whose extent in the transverse direction of the board, that is to say transversely to the direction of travel and transversely to the surface plane of the fin, is less than the cross-section of the fin; the outer edges of the fin cross-section at the connection point to the board are preferably designed in such a way that the outer edges rest essentially completely against the underside of the board.

Abstract: A surfboard having opposed side edges disposed symmetrically about a longitudinal centerline, the surfboard including a tail section, the side edges of the surfboard along said tail section defining a generally hourglass configuration with the contours of tail section side edges approximately hyperbolic curves. In one specific embodiment, the side edges of the tail section approximate the left- and right-hand branches of a hyperbola centered on an origin lying on said longitudinal centerline. According to another aspect of the invention, the surfboard includes a pair of side fins and a tail fin attached to the bottom surface of the board. The side fins are symmetrically disposed relative to the longitudinal centerline and are so oriented that the center planes of the side fins pass through the foci of the hyperbolic side edges of the tail section.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a limited pivotal fin system 12 for a surfboard 10. The fins self-pivot as the surfboard is turned by the body weight of the user. The pivotal fin system includes an upper stationary mounting portion 18 attached directly to the underside of the surfboard 10, and a lower pivoting fin 12 with a limited rotational pivoting mechanism 16 located in an upper recessed area 28 on the leading edge 26 of the pivoting fin 12. The lower pivoting fin 12 is fixedly mounted to the upper stationary mounting portion 18. The pivoting mechanism 16 comprises an upper 20 and lower plate 32 which are rotably connected 52 to each other and includes a cavity 34 in the upper plate 20 where pins 24 from the lower plate 32 are projected to prevent movement beyond a few degrees. An alternative embodiment discloses a different form of limited pivoting mechanism 54 when the mechanism is mounted directly into the surfboard 10.

Abstract: A sloped hydrofoil (22) is mounted to the bottom of a sailboard or surfboard vertical strut (26) using a hinge joint (24). Hinge joint (24) allows reversal of the slope of sloped hydrofoil (22) in response to a hull (30) side slip. Efficient sloped hydrofoil (22) supports a portion of craft weight to reduce hull (30) drag.

Abstract: A fin mounting system for a surfboard which utilizes a box embedded within the surfboard with the mounting being achieved by producing a through cavity within the surfboard, placing the box within the through cavity and then pouring a hardenable resin between the box and the sidewall of the cavity completely filling such. The box is constructed of a glass filled polyurethane plastic. After the resin is hardened, any portion of the box that protrudes exteriorly of the surface of the surfboard is removed. The fin has a mounting end which is to be transversely snugly received within the box. The fin is adjustable longitudinally within the box. A fastener is employed to fix in position the fin when the desired adjusted position is achieved. The fin is constructed of a glass-filled, nylon material. The fastener comprises a conventional bolt and nut with the nut being embedded within the fin.

Abstract: A surf fin fixing system for a surfcraft (18) comprises one or more embedded fixing elements (20) with fixing cavities (22) which receive fixing formations (16) of the fin (10). The fixing element includes a cam (24') with a generally horizontal axis parallel to the fin and actuating means (42) causing the cam to apply force to the fixing formation and thus lock the fin onto the surfcraft.

Abstract: A stabilizing, turning and controlling side fin for a surfboard or the like increases the performance and maneuverability of the surfboard or the like. The side fin may be provided on the right, left or both sides of the surfboard near the rear or middle portions of the surfboard. The side fin includes a deck portion forming a foot support and a roll over edge at the side thereof. The side fin is selectively submergible and provides a lift and thrust feel to the board when going through the water. In operation, when stepping on the deck portion of the side fin, or otherwise submerging a selected side fin, the board will turn in that direction. Stepping on the deck surface lightly will produce gradual turn and stepping on the deck surface heavily will produce a sharper turn. The side fin allows the board to essentially climb up on to the wave, giving the user the ability to maneuver and ride even small waves.

Abstract: A watersport board fin has a rigid body element with a leading edge and trailing edge, and a rigid ridge integral with rigid body and extending outwardly from the leading and trailing edges. The ridge has a number of through extending holes formed in it outwardly of the rigid body element, and has an average thickness of about 16-25% (e.g. 18-22%) of the average thickness of the body element, preferably between about 0.1-0.14 cm (e.g. about 0.12 cm). The ridge is substantially completely covered by a flexible material soft enough to minimize injury to a person impacted by it, and flexible enough to be deflected during movement through the water to provide a rudder action. Preferably the flexible material extends along substantially the entire extent of the rigid body element, including the base of the body element, thereby enhancing the safety and rudder performance of the fin. The fin is connected to the bottom surface of a sport board, such as a surfboard, wake board, sail board, water ski, body board, etc.

Abstract: A surfboard fin quick release system, for use on a surfboard having a top surface and a fin having a tang, comprising a fin box submerged within the surfboard and a locking mechanism mounted to the fin tang. The fin box comprises a longitudinal channel having a vertical channel and a horizontal channel. The locking mechanism has a main shaft which extends vertically through the fin tang, a release handle fixed to the main shaft above the fin tang, and a locking base having a locking base flange, said locking base fixed to the main shaft below the fin tang. A coil spring extends around the main shaft between the release handle and the tang. When the fin is extending in the vertical channel, the locking base is selectively positioned by rotating the release handle so that the base flange extends into the horizontal channel to lock the fin within the fin box.

Abstract: A soft wakeboard for use behind watercraft, the wakeboard having a central torsion box with front and rear fin blocks, to secure front and rear fins thereto, and strengthened foam core blocks on either side to provide a foam core material. A closed-cell foam top skin layer and a smooth, polymer bottom skin layer are shaped and bonded to the contoured core material. Vertically extending fins are secured to the fin blocks and extend from the bottom skin layer.

Abstract: In a surfboard of the type including spaced-apart top and bottom surfaces and an elongated recess formed therebetween for removably anchoring the base of a surfboard fin therein, a shallow draft surfboard fin socket for location in the recess in bonded engagement therewith including an elongated housing including a narrow bottom wall, spaced-apart upstanding elongated side walls, and spaced-apart upstanding short front and rear end walls, all joined together along their intersecting marginal edges to form an elongated cavity configured to receive therein the base of the fin, a flange extending outward from the side and end walls for location between the top and bottom surfboard surfaces, the housing side and end walls extending above the flange a distance sufficient to locate the upper marginal edges of the walls above the bottom surface of the surfboard and, first and second recesses formed in the front and rear housing walls respectively, interior the cavity, for receipt therein of a protrusion, formed at t

Abstract: The novel sailboard is arcuate about its longitudinal and transverse axes, and has blading fore and aft for supporting the sailboard upon a frozen surface. The front blading is carried on a pivotal plate which has spring loading and damping, and the rear blading comprises pluralities of blades of varying height and attitude relative to the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A water ski having a fin mounted to an inflexible carrier and protruding through a rear portion of the ski in order that the user may take advantage of the natural flexibility of the ski to vary the depth of the fin in the water during use.

Abstract: A fin box for a water sports board including an elongate socket and a flange which extends laterally from the elongate socket. The socket includes a central elongate cavity and a raised lip about the cavity. The elongate socket also includes an oblong cylindrical outer surface. A ramp extends between the raised lip and the flange. The lip includes a surface to receive sealing tape employed for the laminating process. A set screw assembly provides for locking of a fin within the central elongate cavity. Gussets extending between the flange and the elongate socket provide dimensional stability and locational strength as well as serrations for easy insertion into the foam core of a water sports board. The fin box is able to accommodate positioning within a coating of resin in a socket in the foam core of a water sports board with laminating of the board occurring immediately. The cavity is then exposed through grinding.