Abstract: A mooring arrangement for a floating device includes a band and a drum adapted to pay out and pull in the band. The mooring arrangement includes a band guide, the band is extending from the drum via the band guide and is adapted to be coupled to an anchoring arrangement, the band guide being configured to tilt about an articulation axis being parallel with a longitudinal axis of the part of the band situated between the drum and the band guide in order to position the band to compensate for movement in the floating device and thus reduce the wear in the band.

Abstract: An easily assembled highly portable watercraft comprising a modular boat system that seats one or more operators and is comprised of four or more pontoons connected to downward-sloping diagonally-placed outrigger beams with attached stiffeners connecting to a bridge-deck. The portable watercraft can be rowed, poled, propelled by fins or propellers, and sailed, for example, by an operator situated on the bridge-deck. The pontoons, outriggers, bridge-deck, and other aspects are easily interchangeable to conform to numerous configurations making a custom watercraft that is tailorable to varying water conditions.

Abstract: Manually propelled water skis support a person skiing on water. The water ski includes a base having a binding on an upper surface and propulsion structures on the bottom surface. The propulsion structures include a rearward facing and vertical propulsion surface and a forward facing and sloped surface such that drag is greater when the water ski is moved rearwardly. The propulsion surface may be arcuate, V-shape, U-shaped, or other shaped in a horizontal plane and may also be concave in a vertical plane. Buoyancy structures may be secured to the upper surface of the base forward and rearward of the binding. Water ski poles including elliptical floats at the bottom ends may be used to provide a synergistic increase in waterskiing speed. Straps on the base near the binding may be used to secure the water ski poles to the base in order to form an outrigger.

Abstract: A first permissible operating range of the self-elevating vessel is determined based on a first structural analysis of the self-elevating vessel under a first set of conditions. A structural utilization ratio of the self-elevating vessel is determined based on a second structural analysis of the self-elevating vessel under first and second sets of conditions. Safety of lowering the self-elevating vessel from an elevated state to a first hull draft level is determined when the structural utilization ratio is less than a predetermined value. Safety of lowering the self-elevating vessel from the first hull draft level to a second hull draft level is indicated when positional displacement data obtained while the vessel is at the first hull draft level indicates that the positional displacement of the self-elevating vessel while at the first hull draft level is within the first permissible operating range.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to systems, methods, and apparatus for delivering seismic data acquisition units to, and retrieving from, an underwater vehicle. A sensor storage container can be tethered to a surface vessel, which can move on the surface with a non-zero velocity. The underwater vehicle can include a storage compartment to store seismic data acquisition units and a propulsion system to aid the movement of the underwater vehicle. The underwater vehicle also can include passive and active protrusions for coupling with corresponding receptacles on the sensor storage container. The sensor storage container also can include a propulsion system to aid movement of the sensor storage container. The propulsion systems of both the underwater vehicle and the sensor storage container can be controlled to allow the underwater vehicle and the sensor storage container to couple and allow transfer of seismic data acquisition units.

Abstract: A catamaran type vessel that includes two rigid side hulls connected by a connector to form a rigid form containing a usable space. The vessel contains a lowered and lifted platform together with the platform drive unit. The platform is a separate portion of the aft part of the deck, in the form of a flat frame with a usable overlay fixed on the surface of the frame. An edge of the platform in the upper position cooperates with an edge of the aft part of the deck, with the platform frame being attached to the horizontal edges of two supports. The rear vertical edge of each support is connected by axes of rotation with a pair of rigid arms in the pantograph system connected with two horizontal axes of rotation attached on the other side of the rigid arms to the vessel hull connector wall.

Abstract: A marine propulsion system, supported by a strut, comprising an inner propeller shaft supporting a first propeller adjacent a trailing end thereof, and the inner propeller shaft is connected to the drive shaft for receiving and supplying a first portion of torque to the first propeller as well as transfer thrust, generated by the first propeller, along the inner propeller shaft back to the drive shaft. An outer propeller shaft supports a second propeller adjacent a trailing and thereof, and the outer propeller shaft surrounds the inner propeller shaft. A differential gear set receives a second portion of the torque and supplies the second portion to the outer propeller shaft so that the second propeller rotates in an opposite rotational direction to the first propeller. The thrust, generated by the first and the second propellers, is conveyed along either the inner or the outer propeller shafts, to the drive shaft.

Abstract: A trolling motor includes a head unit, a propulsion unit, and a shaft coupling the head unit to the propulsion unit. A shaft support couples the shaft to a mount base, which may be coupled to watercraft's deck. The shaft support is pivotable with respect to the mount base to move the trolling motor between a deployed position and a stowed position with respect to the deck. The trolling motor further includes a spring and damper combination coupled between the mount base and the shaft support, wherein a spring portion of the spring and damper combination provides a spring force to assist in pivoting the shaft support away from the deck, and a damper portion of the spring and damper combination provides a damping force to slow pivoting of the shaft support towards the deck and/or a metal-reinforced, self-lubricating bearing pivotably coupling the shaft support to the mount base.

Abstract: A trolling motor is provided including a position sensor configured to determine the direction of the trolling motor housing, a digital display, a processor, and a memory including computer program code. The computer program code is configured to, when executed, cause the processor to receive position data from the position sensor, generate display data based on the position data, and cause the display data to be displayed on the digital display. The digital display is integrated with the main housing and configured to display the display data so as to provide an indication of the current direction of the trolling motor housing relative to the watercraft.

Abstract: An oarlock-installation for a boat in which an oarlock is mounted on an upright pin for angular displacement about the pin during rowing of the boat, the oarlock-installation comprising a mechanism for deriving measurements of angular displacement of the oarlock from a datum angle about the pin during the rowing, a mechanism for deriving measurements of force exerted on the oarlock during the rowing, and a mechanism for deriving measurement of rowing power from the measurements of force and the measurements of angular displacement. The rowing-boat oarlock-installation may also comprises a power module, attached to the oarlock, which is responsive to rowing of the rowing-boat to derive force measurements in accordance with rowing forces exerted on the power module during the rowing.

Abstract: A marine power steering system includes a first steering input device and a second steering input device. The first steering input device includes a first steering sensor that provides a first signal indicative of at least one of a torque and an angular position of a first steering wheel. The first steering input device further includes a controller arranged to receive the first signal. The second steering input device includes a second steering sensor that provides a second signal indicative of at least one of a torque and an angular position of a second steering wheel to the controller.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a means of constructing an Autonomous fully-Submersible Offshore Marine Platform (ASOMP) of considerable warfighting or commercial capability which is mobile and can autonomously transport to a hazardous operating area in a low-observable reduced vulnerability manner, fully submerge to avoid the military or environmental threat hazard, hibernate until needed, perform fully submerged mobility and mission operations, surface and provide Barge and SWATH surface ship mobility and mission operations, resubmerge if the hazardous threat appears and relocate to a new operating area. Another object of the present invention is to provide a fully autonomous and submersible low-cost “lily-pad” that surfaces when called and provides a main deck platform at appropriate freeboard and seakeeping motions to function as a refueling landing zone and pier to extend the range of aircraft and marine vehicles operating in a high-threat environment.

Abstract: A rain bib garment is provided, wherein the rain bib garment includes buoyant elements that may be employed so that a wearer may float in water, should the need arise, and further includes means for providing a substantially water-tight seal between the rain bib and a wearer at an upper portion of the rain bib.

Abstract: The invention relates to a watercraft having a hull (10) which has a hydrofoil assembly (20) in the region of the stern (12) and another hydrofoil assembly (30) in the region of the bow (11), the hydrofoil assemblies (20, 30) each having hydrofoils (21, 31) arranged on both sides of the hull (10). To achieve a stable position in the water while ensuring good driving dynamics under a wide range of conditions, according to the invention the hydrofoil assemblies (20, 30) are coupled to at least one adjustment unit (22, 32) such that the bow-side hydrofoil assembly (20) and the stern-side hydrofoil assembly can each be at least partially individually height adjustable (FIG. 1).

Abstract: A method of deploying autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), the method comprising loading the AUVs into a deployment device; submerging the deployment device containing the AUVs after the AUVs have been loaded into the deployment device; towing the submerged deployment device containing the AUVs with a surface vessel; deploying the AUVs from the submerged deployment device as it is towed by the surface vessel; and operating a thruster of each AUV after it has been deployed so that it moves away from the submerged deployment device. A method of retrieving autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) is also disclosed, the method comprising towing a submerged retrieval device with a surface vessel; loading the AUVs into the submerged retrieval device as it is towed by the surface vessel; and after the AUVs have been loaded into the submerged retrieval device, lifting the submerged retrieval device containing the AUVs out of the water and onto the surface vessel.

Abstract: A water mat assembly having selectively attachable modular panels is disclosed. The water mat comprises a buoyant solid core insert that is inserted into a sleeve made of fabric. The sleeve may be couple to other sleeves to form an assembly of floating panels. The end panels may have grommeted ports for tethering the mat assembly to a dock or water vehicle.

Abstract: A trailer pontoon bottom has built in wheels designed to fold under the trailer pontoon to be clear of the water and to extend out and lock for land use and be clear of the pontoons. A pair of swing arms each having a first end attached to an inside axial hub of the wheel are designed to rotate on a boss of the first end. A second end of the swing arm is configured to rotate a maximum of 90 degrees from its folded position into a trailer position. An axis parallel to a back end of the trailer pontoon is configured to attach to each of the pair of swing arms at a respective pivot located a swing arm distance from an edge of the trailer pontoon. The axis is rotatable by less than 90 degrees to enable each wheel to retract against a suspension bumper.

Abstract: The invention relates to a mooring arrangement (2, 2?) for a floating device (1, 2) comprising a band (5) and a drum (3) adapted to pay out and pull in the band (5). The invention being distinctive in that the mooring arrangement (2, 2 further comprising a band guide (14, 15,22), said band (5) is extending from the drum (3) via the band guide (14, 15, 22) and is adapted to be coupled to an anchoring arrangement (13), said band said band guide (4, 15, 22) being configured to tilt about an articulation axis (A, B) being parallel with a longitudinal axis of the part of the band (5a) situated between the drum (3) and the band guide (14, 15, 22) in order to position the band (5) to compensate for movement in the floating device (1,12, 12?) and thus reduce the wear in the band (5).

Abstract: A paddle mount for a boat is described. The mount includes a generally t-shaped tubular body including a flange and a stem, where the length of the flange and the stem is adjustable and the ends of the flange are configured to rest on opposite sides of the boat cockpit. The mount is configured to couple to the front end of the cockpit and to an end of the stem, such that the t-shaped body may be rotated upwards away from the boat. A mount adapter is also described that may be used to attach a paddle to the boat using the mount.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention provides a security bulwark for mounting outside a perimeter railing of a vessel or marine installation. The bulwark has a front face comprising a projecting mound. The mound has an underside which provides the bulwark with an overhang. The mound is also convex in a direction of the breadth of the bulwark. The invention also provides a perimeter protection system comprising a plurality of such security bulwarks arranged side-by-side and adjacent to each other. Finally, the invention further provides a method of protecting a perimeter of a vessel or marine installation.