Abstract: The present invention provides inflatable watercraft that are light weight, easily stowed in relatively small spaces and formed from inflatable drop stitch panels. A preferred watercraft is a boat having a bow, stern, keel and an open transom for self-bailing. A deck can be provided as a separate panel that is cither permanently, or detachably, connected to freeboard sides of the watercraft. When connected, the deck provides a sitting area, and enhances the strength and rigidity of the watercraft by functioning like a deck beam. Optional features include a bucket held in place by, and fitted through, a hole in the deck panel. Preferred inflation pressures are between 2 and 25 p.s.i., and more preferably between 12 and 18 p.s.i.

Abstract: In a watersport board having a fin socket configured to receive a connector of a fin such that a blade of the fin is at a specified distance from a trailing end of the watersport board when the connector of the fin is mounted in the fin socket, the improvement may include an offset-adapted fin, the offset-adapted fin may include: a connector configured to be mounted in the fin socket of the watersport board; and a blade attached to the connector; wherein the blade is offset with respect to the connector in a longitudinal offset direction by an offset distance such that when the connector of the offset-adapted fin is mounted in the fin socket of the watersport board, the blade of the offset-adapted fin is distanced from the trailing end of the watersport board by a distance that is different from the specified distance by the offset distance.

Abstract: A robot (2) and method for underwater monitoring and maintenance of a ship's hull (1) when the ship is underway, are described. The robot (2) comprises a main body (5), a connector (21) for connecting the robot (2) to a cable (3) for towing the robot (2), a resting base (13) adopted to rest against the ship's hull (1), one or more hydrofoil(s) (6, 7) arranged perpendicular to the length axis of the main body (5), and a rudder (8) arranged at the front part of the main body (5), the main body (5) being a straight and elongated body having a length to width ratio of 5 or more, where the length of the hydrofoil(s) (6, 7) as seen perpendicular to the main body (5), is/are longer than the width of the main body (5), and where the connector (21) for the cable (3) is arranged at one end of a hydrofoil (6), or at an arm extending parallel with the one or more hydrofoil(s).

Abstract: An accessory mounting track provides quick and easy removable attachment and positioning of various devices. The method of attachment of devices to the accessory mounting track may be compatible with the attachment of these devices to other mounting systems, allowing the accessory mounting track to be used interchangeably with those systems.

Abstract: A water safety garment and apparatus configured to avoid drowning can be configured to permit submergence for a predetermined period of time without inflation. After the predetermined time has passed, the garment or other apparatus can be configured to inflate to help a person wearing the garment float on top of the water to avoid drowning or other potentially harmful condition that may result from being underwater for too long. In some embodiments, a circuit may be utilized to detect the submergence condition of a person wearing the apparatus or garment. Upon a determination that the detected submergence condition has occurred continuously for a pre-determined period of time, an inflation mechanism can be actuated to force the person wearing the apparatus or garment to float to the top of the water.

Abstract: A pedestal for mounting a downrigger fishing device to the deck of a watercraft, with the pedestal having a support post, a base plate, a mounting plate, one or more reinforcing members, and one or more securing plates.

Abstract: The present invention provides a nose cone system that comprises an inflatable body, a plurality of retainer ribs, a retainer trough positioned below the inflatable body, a plurality of winches attached along the outer surface of the retainer trough, and a plurality of winch straps with which to pull in the inflatable body as it is deflated while holding it in place, in coordination with the winch.

Abstract: A rigid-inflatable boat (RIB) includes a solid hull and an inflatable tube, forming a part of a gunwale. The boat includes a tube air filling system with an air conduit arranged to communicate with air pumping system and a tube, where the air conduit extends along at least a portion of the tube. The solid hull includes a gunwale portion, forming a part of the gunwale, where the air conduit is enclosed in the gunwale portion.

Abstract: A stern drive is for propelling a marine vessel in water. The stern drive has an upper drive unit with a lower mounting surface; a lower gearcase coupled to the lower mounting surface and a trailing end surface that is angled relative to the lower mounting surface; and a propeller shaft extending forwardly from the lower gearcase and being configured to rotate a propeller for pulling the marine vessel in the water. The upper drive unit and the lower gearcase are configured such that when a forward side of the lower gearcase impacts an underwater obstruction, the lower gearcase is caused to pivot relative to the upper drive unit until the trailing end surface impacts the lower mounting surface, which thereby causes the lower gearcase to completely uncouple from the upper drive unit.

Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods relate to a pop-up vest, illustratively implemented as a flotation apparel item comprising a water sport apparel item, an inflatable Personal Flotation Device (PFD) configured in the water sport apparel item, and an inflation trigger configured to inflate the PFD. The water sport apparel item may comprise a shirt, t-shirt, wetsuit or rash guard. The water sport apparel item may be adapted to retain the PFD between an outer apparel item layer and a base apparel item layer sewn together. The inflation trigger may be a pull tab configured to inflate the PFD when desired. The inflation trigger may be a sensor configured to automatically inflate the PFD when the sensor is wet. An exemplary pop-up vest implementation may be configured with a water activated light to improve visibility. Some pop-up vest designs may comprise a whistle permitting the user to raise awareness of their location.

Abstract: A waterboard assembly (such as a surfboard assembly) may include a first body portion, a second body portion, and a joining mechanism positioned to releasably attach the first body portion to the second body portion. In some embodiments, the joining mechanism may include a first interlocking portion and a second interlocking portion. The first interlocking portion may be attached to, integral with, or part of, the first body portion. The second interlocking portion may be attached to, integral with, or part of, the second body portion. The first interlocking portion may releasably interlock with the second interlocking portion. In some embodiments, the joining mechanism may include one or more fasteners for holding the interlocking portions together.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a houseboat assembly formed from a cabin assembly secured to a hull assembly. In some version of the houseboat assembly, one or both of the cabin assembly and the hull assembly may be formed in accordance with a boat type and/or a floor plan. The boat type and/or floor plan may be selected by a customer. The cabin assembly may be formed at a first location and the hull assembly may be formed at a second location. The cabin assembly and hull assembly may then be transported to a third location. At the third location, the cabin assembly may be secured to the hull assembly to form the cabin assembly at the third location. The third location may be requested or specified by the customer.

Abstract: A system and method for sending instrument data from a sub-surface activity, such as data collection by one or more sensors, to another location, e.g., a satellite, a ground-based location, a vessel, etc., with minimal time exposure and minimal visibility of any system components at the water surface. Exemplary embodiments include a motorized payout-and-retrieval system or device, an air injection device, and a water-level sensor with automation control that together can be used to move a vessel, connected to an antenna, from a position in the water column in which the antenna is below the surface to a higher position in which the antenna is at or above the surface for data transmission.

Abstract: System for launch and recovery of a surface vehicle, comprising a floating cradle structure configured to receive the surface vehicle, the cradle structure being bottomless such that contact between a submersed portion of the surface vehicle and the cradle structure is avoided upon receiving the surface vehicle.

Abstract: A deep-sea crawling robot and a crawling method thereof are provided. The deep-sea crawling robot includes a crawling robot body and a countertop, wherein a top of the crawling robot body is fixedly connected to the countertop, left and right sides of a bottom of the crawling robot body are respectively provided with crawler belts, and left and right sides of the countertop are respectively provided with weight-increasing auxiliary crawling mechanisms; and an outer plate is fixedly connected to a front side or back side of the countertop, a multifunctional propelling mechanism is arranged on the outer plate, and a rapid dewatering mechanism is arranged in a chamber of the countertop. The deep-sea crawling robot can not only accelerate the propulsion and crawling speed when it is on the seabed but also further enhance its stability during the crawling process on the seabed.

Abstract: A system for providing raw water for cooling of one or more Auxiliary Systems of a Luxury Boat, when the Luxury Boat is in Temporary Dry Storage involves a pump, external to the Luxury Boat, a controller coupled to the external pump and a sensor coupled to a boat-based pump controller on the Luxury Boat. The sensor is configured to sense a trigger signal from the boat-based pump controller indicating that raw water is to be pumped to the one or more Auxiliary Systems and send a signal to the controller that will cause the controller to start the external pump pumping raw water to the Luxury Boat. A related method for controlling raw water supply to one or more Auxiliary Systems of a Luxury Boat, when the Luxury Boat is in Temporary Dry Storage is also described.

Abstract: A floating physical therapy device includes a frame and a harness. The frame includes an inner frame and an outer frame on the right and left side. The inner frame defines a patient area. The harness is attached to the inner frame such that it secures a patient to the device in a substantially upright position during use. The frame extends forwards and backwards, as well as to the left and right, of the patient area in order to provide stability in the water during normal use. The frame defines a trainer area immediately forward of the patient area where a therapist can have access to the patient during therapy sessions.

Abstract: A double airfoil mounted on a structure controlled angularly around a generally vertical axis. The double airfoil includes a fore flap and an aft flap at least one of which has a fore-to-aft asymmetry. Each flap includes a series of shape members distributed in height, wherein the structure includes a fore mast and an aft mast connected by a boom member and a gaff member. The shape members of the fore flap are traversed by the fore mast while being able to turn around an axis defined thereby, while the shape members of the aft flap are traversed by the aft mast while being able to turn around an axis defined thereby. The aft mast is twistable, the shape members of the aft flap are rotationally locked to the aft mast, and the controller can act on the bottom and the top of the aft mast.

Abstract: The autonomous hull biofouling cleaning system includes a floating platform mounted on pontoons and having thrusters to move the platform close to a hull needing cleaning. The floating platform includes both axial and transverse sliding ballast to prevent the platform from overturning from the collection of debris. Mounted on the platform is a solar power apparatus for providing power to the various modules, a motorized hose reel, concentric hoses mounted on the reel, an ozone pumping apparatus, a vacuum debris collection apparatus, and modules for sanitizing the debris to discharge sanitized water. A submersible remotely operating cleaning system (SROCS) is attached to the hose and includes thrusters to move adjacent to the hull, electromagnetic coils to attach to the hull, and rubbing discs to remove the biofouling, the hose first pumping ozone on the biofouling and the vacuum debris hose removing the biofouling to the floating platform for processing.

Abstract: A lifesaving handle system for a watercraft surface such as, but not limited to, a boat hull. The handle system remains inside a cavity in an exterior surface of a watercraft hull when the watercraft is upright (i.e., when it is not capsized) such as when it is flowing on a body of water in normal operation. The handle may be rotatably attached to an interior surface of the cavity such that when the boat is upright, as in non-capsized operation, the handle hangs vertically in the closed cavity and is not within the flow of water passing along and around the watercraft hull when the boat is motivated on a body of water; and when the boat is overturned or capsized, the handle rotates out from the closed cavity under the force of gravity such that the grip handle is presented to a person in the water.