Abstract: A hull configuration having a bow and a stern, for use in a single or multiple hull vessel. The hull configuration has a pair of cutting edges, each cutting edge sloping rearwardly, downwardly and in an outwardly lateral direction, from the bow. Each one of a pair of side edges, extends longitudinally rearwardly and laterally inwardly from an end of a respective one of the cutting edges and smoothly joins together proximal the stern. Each one of a pair of sidewalls extends generally upwardly from a respective one of the cutting edges and from a respective one of the rounded side edges. The sidewalls form a rounded V-shaped section from the point where the side edges meet, extending rearwardly to the stern. An underside includes a concave channel between the cutting edges and between the generally rounded side edges. The channel decreases in width towards the stern and terminates at the point at which the side edges meet.

Abstract: A lift for watercraft has raised and lowered positions and is adapted to be mounted in a body of water. The lift has a substantially rectangular base with first and second pairs of vertical corner posts that are connected to and carry longitudinal beams. The base further has two transverse beams connected to the longitudinal beams. A pivoting cradle is attached to the base. Watercraft support bunk are connected to the cradle. A pair of actuators is connected on one end to the pivoting cradle and on the other end to one of the first pair of corner post. The first pair of corner posts is adapted to be long enough that at least a portion of the corner posts is above a water level of a body of water in which the lift is mounted, and the actuators are connected to the first pair of corner posts in the portion of the corner posts above the water level.

Abstract: A perpetual calendar for displaying a monthly calendar by aligning the desired monthly indicia with an appropriate yearly indicia. The calendar is based on a repeating five element pattern representing a four year repeating pattern, which, however, is modified for non-leap year centuries.

Abstract: An advertisement light box is disclosed. The light box comprises a main frame, a panel, a light guiding structure, a light guiding source positioning device. The inner side of the panel is provided with a locking hole and the four sides of the panel can be lifted or the entire panel can be lifted by means of the fastening of connection plate, and the light box is provided with a clip for easy mounting of an advertisement material, and the four lateral sides of the light guiding structure are provided with a light guiding source fastener which is an inverted U-shaped board directly mounted to the edge of the light guiding structure so as to prevent the light guiding board to deform or to prevent the light to leak, the interior of the inverted U-shaped board is provided with light tubes, and the inner wall of the U-shaped board is coated with a silver or the like material to provide good reflection of light.

Abstract: A floating offshore structure has a buoyant hull with sufficient fixed ballast to place the center of gravity of the floating structure below the center of buoyancy of the hull. A support structure coupled to an upper end of the hull supports and elevates a superstructure above the water surface. A soft tendon is attached between the hull and the seafloor. A vertical stiffness of the soft tendon results in the floating structure having a heave natural period of at least twenty seconds.

Abstract: A latching mechanism for securing a panel member to a support member. The mechanism includes a rotary assembly that is flush mounted in the panel and which contains a radially extended arm that is rotatable into and out of latching engagement with the support member. The rotary mechanism further contains a key that is spring loaded into a locked position when the arm is in a latched position. The key further contains lugs that are maintained in a guideway to control the movement of the key. The guideway directs the key downwardly in an axial direction when the key is depressed moving the key out of the locked position into an unlocked position. When the key is in the unlocked position, the rotary assembly can be turned to bring the latching arm to an unlatched position. The guideway is arranged to hold the key in a depressed condition any time the latch mechanism is not latched.

Abstract: A system for marine propulsion includes a metal fuel slurry, a water plasma, and a high alternating magnetic field. The magnetic field acts on the metal fuel to generate explosive momentum via a metal-water reaction. The reaction may also generate the water plasma. The magnetic field then acts on the water plasma using induction magnetohydrodynamic (“MHD”) pumping to generate MHD momentum. The explosive and MHD momenta propel the water through a water channel. The water may be used to propel marine vessels or to pump water.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods for deploying, recovering, and servicing an AUV are disclosed. The apparatus includes a linelatch system that is made up of a tether management system connected to a flying latch vehicle by a tether. The linelatch system can be connected to a surface vessel by an umbilical on one end and to an AUV on the other end. In addition to providing a mechanical connection, between the AUV and a surface vessel, the linelatch system can also carry power and data between the surface vessel (i.e., through the umbilical) and the AUV.

Abstract: A streamer handling and towing system for a seismic survey vessel comprises a beam (42) secured to the underside of the deck (50) of the vessel immediately above the streamer deck (20), so that it extends generally longitudinally of the vessel above normal head height. The beam (42) is pivoted at its stern end, and supported at its other end (54) by a telescopic arm (56) which can lower that end towards the streamer deck (20). A carriage (60) supporting a spooling block (34) for the streamer (28) is movable in both directions along the beam (42). During towing, the beam (42) is held in its raised position, with the spooling block (34) at the stern end of the beam. When it is desired to work on the streamer, the carriage (60) is moved along the beam (42) to the other end, which is then lowered towards the streamer deck (20) to provide convenient waist high access to the streamer.

Abstract: A portable boat step device for allowing the user to more easily scale the bow as one enters the boat from the bow. The portable boat step device includes a planar step member having a back end and a front end and being adapted to suspend from a side of a boat; and also includes a flexible line being attached at the back end of the planar step member and being adapted to loop about a mooring cleat of the boat; and further includes a fastening member being attached to the front end of the planar step member and being adapted to removably attach to an eyelet which is securely attached to a bow of the boat.

Abstract: An outboard engine system includes a 4-cycle engine. The engine includes an engine block, a cylinder head coupled to the engine block and having an intake port in one side thereof, a carburetor including a carburetor body disposed on one side of the engine block adjacent the intake port and having an intake passageway, and a bypass-type starting device mounted to the carburetor body, and an intake pipe means which connects the intake passageway and the intake port to each other. At least an upper half of the engine including the carburetor is covered with an engine cover. In such outboard engine system, the bypass-type starting device of the carburetor is mounted to the carburetor body between the intake passageway and the engine block.

Abstract: Collar assemblies for use with watercraft including rigid-hulled boats are disclosed. Collars of the assemblies may surround or envelope all or most of the perimeters of boats and provide increased buoyancy at least at their sterns. The collars typically are split, rather than continuous, both to facilitate installation and to reduce risk of damage during the installation process.

Abstract: A sliding doors lock hinge for maintaining a pair of sliding doors together at their overlapping ends that includes first and second door end mounts that are hinge connected and formed to fit over the opposing door ends and the second door end mount includes a hinged hasp strap that has a slot therein to pass over a tab that is secured to an outer face of a forward door frame end. The tab can be fix or is pivot mounted to the frame face and includes a hole therethrough for receiving an end of a padlock shackle fitted therethrough and locked in the padlock body.

Abstract: A technique for adjusting the trim of a dual electric motor marine propulsion system is provided wherein offset or calibration signal levels are determined through a calibration sequence. The propulsion units are driven in a nominal direction, such as through a “straight-ahead” command. An operator adjusts levels of drive signals to the propulsion units to compensate for deviation from the desired navigational direction, such as due to mechanical and electrical tolerances and variations, as well as due to inherent torques or moments associated with the propulsion units. When the system is determined to navigate the craft in the desired direction, the offset or calibration values are stored. The values are then used during later control of the propulsion units as an inherent trim.

Abstract: The vibro-acoustic energy produced by an engine is reduced by shrouding the powerhead with a blanket of material that both damps vibrations and absorbs acoustic wave energy. This vibro-acoustic treatment is applied on the inner surface or surfaces of a motor housing of a propulsion system. The housing is treated by adhering a sheet of acoustic barrier material to the housing inner surface. The acoustic barrier material is designed to block transmission therethrough of a substantial portion of impinging acoustic wave energy in a range from at least 1,000 to 3,000 hertz. The layer of adhesive material has a thickness such that impinging acoustic wave energy in a range of 1,000 to 3,000 hertz is efficiently converted into heat energy. An open-cell foam core laminated to the sheet of acoustic barrier material absorbs the trapped, blocked, acoustic wave energy. The open-cell foam core has an average pore size that is optimized to absorb acoustic wave energy in a range of 1,000 to 3,000 hertz.

Abstract: A outrigger apparatus for connecting a pontoon to a canoe and placing a platform therebetween. The outrigger apparatus includes a pontoon portion. A coupling means couples the pontoon portion to a canoe. The coupling means includes a pair of bars. Each of the bars is elongate, having a first end, and a second end. Each of the first ends of the bars is removably coupled to the top peripheral edge of the canoe. A pair of brackets removably couples the second ends of the bars to the pontoon portion. Each of the brackets is elongate, and each has a base portion and an arm portion. The base portions of the brackets are removably coupled to the pontoon portion. Each of the second ends of the bars is removably coupled to one of the brackets. A support portion supports the user. The support portion is a platform. The platform has a pair of opposing edges. Each of the opposing edges is rested on one of the bars.

Abstract: A jet-propelled personal watercraft having a grab handle for a child riding in front of the operator of the watercraft. The watercraft includes a hull defining an engine compartment sized to contain an internal combustion engine for powering the watercraft, a deck portion providing a passenger area containing controls operable by an operator in the passenger area, and a longitudinally extending seat adapted to accommodate at least two riders seated in straddle fashion. A jet propulsion unit is powered by the engine, the jet propulsion unit including a steerable water discharge nozzle. The controls include a set of handlebars operatively connected to the steerable water discharge nozzle to facilitate steering of the watercraft by the operator, the handlebars extending transversely with respect to the watercraft and having a center and a rotational axis extending through such center.

Abstract: An improved bilge drain system for an inboard motorboat is disclosed having a drain closure assembly that is operated from a position external to the engine compartment. The drain closure can be a valve operable by a handle, wherein the handle is accessible outside of the engine compartment when closed by an engine compartment cover. The handle, which may be located adjacent to the engine compartment or on a dashboard of the motorboat, may also be configured to provide the user with a visual indication of the open and closed status of the drain closure.

Abstract: A watercraft includes an improved seat design that allows a rider to better absorb impact shocks with his or her legs as the watercraft bounds over wakes. The seat assembly includes a front seat section and a rear seat section that is sized to accommodate one or more riders in tandem with each rider straddling the seat. The front seat section is narrower than the rear seat section to permit the front rider to place his or her legs more directly in front of him or her. This position improves the rider's comfort and allows the rider to assume a stance in which the rider can better absorb impact shocks on the watercraft. In order to accommodate this seat design, an improved engine component layout is provided so as to reduce the width of the upper end of the engine. The induction and exhaust systems of the engine are laid out on the lower sides of the watercraft, and extend at least partially beneath foot wells that flank the sides of the seat assembly.

Abstract: A crib ballast clearing machine comprises a machine frame supported on undercarriages adapted to support the machine frame on a track comprised of rails fastened to ties defining cribs therebetween, and a ballast scarifying device comprising a revolvable endless excavating chain vertically adjustably mounted on the machine frame for removing ballast from a respective one of the cribs between the rails, a drive for revolving the endless excavating chain, and a displacement drive for vertically adjusting the endless excavating chain. The endless excavating chain has a lowermost ballast receiving part being immersible in ballast in the crib between the rails upon vertical adjustment of the endless excavating chain.