Abstract: In a shift mechanism for an outboard motor mounted on a stem of a boat and having an internal combustion engine at its upper portion and a propeller at its lower portion that is powered by the engine to propel the boat, having an electric motor installed in the outboard motor, a shift rod rotatably connected to the electric motor, a shifter clutch connected to the shift rod, the shifter clutch being movable by the shift rod from a neutral position to engage with at least one of a forward gear and a reverse gear, and a controller controlling the electric motor to rotate the shift rod such that the shifter clutch engages with the forward gear or the reverse gear, corresponding to an inputted shift instruction made by the operator, there is provided a shock mitigator mitigating shock generated during the shift. The shock mitigator comprises projections formed on the clutch and the forward/reverse gear.

Abstract: A device comprises a spring and a sleeve. The spring is configured to form a closed loop. The spring is moveable between a coiled configuration when the spring is collapsed and an uncoiled configuration when the spring is expanded. The spring defines a circumference while in the uncoiled configuration. The spring is disposed within the sleeve. The sleeve includes an inflatable portion disposed about at least a portion of the circumference.

Abstract: A thrust control system is described, including a control apparatus having water jet deflectors that deflect water to provide a reversing/backing thrust and a trim force to marine vessels using water jet propulsion. Other aspects include an electro-mechanical control lever assembly for operating actuators, the assembly comprising a mechanical lever coupled to a transducer that generates an electrical output. Yet other aspects comprise a load-sensing hydraulic circuit comprising at least two loads and a control system for controlling at least one of the loads, that prevents unwanted pressure transients in the circuit.

Abstract: A personal watercraft has a jet pump propulsion device. An engine powers the propulsion device and a control device controls engine speed. A steering mechanism steers a thrust direction of the propulsion device. An engine load sensor or an engine speed sensor senses an engine load or an engine speed, respectively. A steering position sensor senses an angular position of the steering mechanism. The control device decreases engine speed when the engine load or the engine speed is greater than a preset engine load or the engine speed, respectively, and the angular position of the steering mechanism is greater than a preset angular position.

Abstract: A system and method involving a line capture device (10) and a flotation apparatus (49), the line capture device (100) having a body (14), at least one line retainer, each line retainer having a line retainer portion (16) and a latching portion (28), for retaining a portion of a captured line (12), and a capturing line (20) extending from the body (14) for pulling the device (10), the captured line (12), and a secondary object, e.g., a victim (40), back to a rescuer, the flotation apparatus (49) having a safety flotation vest (50) housing a deployable flotation device (42) and a deployable line (12) to be captured.

Abstract: A water preclusion device for a watercraft with an internal combustion engine for inhibiting the intrusion of water upstream into an exhaust system. The water preclusion device includes a valve controlled by exhaust gas pressure.

Abstract: A multifunction manually oriented inflator to amplify the volume of gas provided for low-pressure inflation of multiple bladders. A default operation can be as a high pressure fixed-volume inflator. A shut off valve preserves excess gas supply while regulated flow allows optimizing volume versus rate of inflation and risk of aspiration. A detachable low-resistance check valve-coupler allows the valve to also serve as an oral inflate and rapid deflate valve for improving volume amplification. Audible alarms distinguish functional inflation from gas wasting over-inflation. Conserved gas can be used to inflate or pressurize additional survival devices or operate signal horns. A locking mount can align and secure a cylinder adjacent the piercing mechanism. Spent cylinder threads can be degraded preventing reinstallation of a micro-pierced cylinder.

Abstract: A watercraft includes a watercraft control mechanism that is capable of steering, decelerating, and/or trimming a watercraft without causing the stern to elevate and the bow to dive; steers or assists steering in off-power situations; steers, trims and/or decelerates a watercraft, or assists in steering, trimming, and/or decelerating a watercraft that can be stowed or retracted to minimize hydrodynamic drag at high speeds; steers, trims and/or decelerates a watercraft, or assists in steering, trimming, and/or decelerating a watercraft that does not become clogged or jammed by seaweed or flotsam or foreign objects floating in the water; and decelerates or assists in decelerating a watercraft in a smooth and stable manner when the watercraft is travelling at high speeds.

Abstract: A tiltable top is provided for a small boat which allows the boat operator to quickly, manually raise or lower the top as desired. The tiltable top includes a pivotal shade frame and cover which is retained in a normal horizontal position during use or which can be released and allowed to pivot to an acute horizontal angle to lower wind resistence of the boat when the top is lowered.

Abstract: An improved watercraft having a viewing system, and a kit for installing a viewing system in an existing watercraft. The watercraft includes a viewing opening through a portion of the bottom of the hull and a viewing system is attached thereto. The viewing system includes a substantially transparent viewing window that is disposed within the viewing opening, an attachment that attaches the viewing window to the bottom of the hull and a seal that creates a watertight seal between the viewing window and the bottom of the hull. The kit includes the components of the viewing system and a template for marking the hull of the watercraft.

Abstract: A material receiving and retaining bib and quick attachable/detachable frame assembly for positioning the bib in a desired location for receipt of material (i.e. varnish, cleaners, paints, etc.) which may run off of a surface being treated. The frame assembly includes a plurality of frame members attached to the surface. The retaining bib is held in place by the frame member. The bib is positioned such that it will catch and retain excess materials falling from the object being serviced such as, but not limited to, a wooden rail or any another item of the marine vessel.

Abstract: A system for reducing skin friction drag includes a user-controlled drag reducing substance and components for introducing the substance at or near the surface of the object for which skin friction drag is desired. In a fluid injection system embodiment, a pressurized injectant source supplies an injectant, an injector device injects the injectant near the surface of the object for which drag reduction is desired, a hose or conduit directs flow of the pressurized fluid from the source to the injector device and a control device enables a user to control the flow.

Abstract: An improved canoe including a hull has sidewalls extending fore and aft and a gunwale on the sidewalls. The gunwale has longitudinal slot extending for a substantial portion of the entire hull. A canoe accessory has a thickened attachment portion for engagement in the slot to attach the accessory to the canoe. A method of canoeing includes inserting a thickened portion of a canoeing accessory into a slot at a canoe gunwale to retain the accessory in place and paddling the canoe on a body of water.

Abstract: The directable exhaust for a wake surfing power boat permits directing exhaust out of either the port or starboard side of a boat opposite the wake wave on which a wake surfer is surfing to avoid exposure of the person to the exhaust fumes. Valves which direct the exhaust out of the side of the boat are linked such that the exhaust can be directed out of either the port or starboard side of the boat away from the wake surfer by a single control available to the boat operator.

Abstract: A float structure having a mainframe and pontoons is described. The mainframe includes floor support beams transversely attached to pontoon connector beams. The pontoon connector beams are operatively connected to the pontoons such that there are no weak points in the mainframe. A motor mount is removably mounted to the connector beams and is adjustable to accommodate various lengths of motor shafts.

Abstract: A convertible anchor capable of being converted between a first position usable on sandy bottom floors and a second position usable on debris laden bottom floors, such as reefs. The convertible anchor may include an elongated shank and one or more flukes rotatably coupled to the elongated shank. The convertible anchor may also include an engagement limiting device placing the convertible anchor in a first position in which the fluke is prevented from rotating relative to the elongated shank. The convertible anchor may also include a catch device so that the convertible anchor can grab a debris laden bottom when the convertible anchor is in the second position.

Abstract: The mast device for a submarine comprises a guiding means, a vertically traversable mast guided therein and information means which are provided at the mast upper end and which are in electrical interaction with the inside of the submarine for emitting and receiving information. The information means are arranged in a buoyant unit held on the mast upper end without connection to this. The buoyant unit is fastened to a flexible coupling means which may be let out and retracted and which is of the length essentially of the maximum desired observation depth of the submarine.

Abstract: This is a display device made from a baseball bat that has been cut into sections, spools, and slats. The spools and slats are re-assembled in such a way that the fact that the display device is constructed from baseball bat parts is not lost on the casual observer.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention relates to a method for making a boat. The boat includes a port side positioned opposite from a starboard side. The boat also includes a floor and stingers supports positioned within the hull. The method includes providing a insert having two spaced-apart elongated portions interconnected by at least two spaced-apart transverse portions that extend between the elongated portions. The elongated portions are sized and relatively positioned for one of the elongated portions to extend along the port side of the hull and the other of the elongated portions to extend along the starboard side of the hull. The method also includes positioning the insert in a chamber defined between a male mold piece and a female mold piece. The method further includes providing fibrous reinforcing material that surrounds the insert within the chamber.

Abstract: The integrated bell housing on an engine, carries a supercharger, an alternator, a water pump and a starter. The engine has a crankshaft which is coupled to a flywheel in the casing as is a geared transmission. The flywheel has a first gear and a second gear. The first gear drives a supercharger drive shaft which drives the supercharger. The second gear is coupled to an alternator drive shaft such that the flywheel drives the alternator. A water pump drive shaft is keyed to the crankshaft and is rotatably mounted through the bell housing.