Abstract: A structure (20) for loading and unloading at least one fluid transport ship (1): a ship (1) mooring platform (21), comprising at least one concrete caisson (22) having an opening and closing device for moving the caisson by filling water, between a flotation position for transporting the platform, and a position anchored at the bottom of the sea. The platform comprises a submerged lower anchoring portion and an upper portion, partially outside of the water, for berthing the ship.

Abstract: A casting platform apparatus for a fishing boat includes a frame which can be attached to the bow of a boat. The frame has a floor to allow a fisherman to be supported thereon and includes both a handrail and a body support rail along with a fishing line collection net therebetween and a gate for entering onto and off the casting platform.

Abstract: A system for lifting thrusters of vessels enabling for maintenance to be safely provided on the thrusters, wherein the system can include a lifting means with a line and a connector to engage thrusters or portions of thrusters. A transport device can be connected to the lifting means for transporting the thrusters or the portions of the thrusters. Clamps can secure thruster mounting flanges to thruster well bottom flanges. A conduit with a controller and a pump can allow water to flow into and out of the thruster wells. Seals adjacent the thruster mounting flanges can provide a connection between the flanges. A plurality of alignment guide plates can be disposed concentrically around the thrusters in the thruster wells and for a rough alignment of the thrusters to the thruster mounting flanges. Fasteners can secure the thruster mounting flanges to the thruster well bottom flanges.

Abstract: A ship-body frictional resistance reducing device for reducing frictional resistance of a sailing ship body by forming an air bubble curtain 8 on a ship's bottom by generating air bubbles includes an air chamber 22a provided on the ship's bottom 5 inside the ship body, a plurality of air ejection holes formed in an arrayed manner on the ship's bottom 5 that becomes a bottom portion of the air chamber 22a, and a sea chest 35 provided on the ship's bottom 5 inside the ship body in a manner such that the sea chest 35 covers the air chamber 22a. With this configuration, it is possible to perform maintenance of the air chamber 22a, and at the same time, it is possible to take a watertight structure to prevent ingress of the sea water into the ship body.

Abstract: A buoy (1) has a main body (5) and a moveable mass (2) positioned inside the main body. The buoy may be tethered to a submarine vessel and used as a communications buoy. The buoy may be configured for floating in a generally upright orientation at the water surface (7) in a position ready for communication, when the mass (2) is in a first position (FIG. 1a) in which the center of mass is offset from the center of buoyancy to improve stability in the water. The buoy may be configured for being towed underwater at speed, when the mass is in a second position (FIG. 1b), in which the center of mass is closer to the center of buoyancy, to improve towing stability in the water, thereby allowing the buoy to be towed with its long axis substantially aligned with the direction of motion, thereby reducing wake/plume in the water.

Abstract: A suspension system for a lifeboat comprises a pair of hook assemblies each adapted for connection at spaced locations to a lifeboat and for coupling to the lifting links of a pair of suspension cables. Each hook assembly has a hook member pivoted for movement between a closed setting and an open setting and is of a load over center design. A single control mechanism is provided for both hook assemblies and is connected thereto by way of a pair of flexible cables. A primary release mechanism is arranged to pull the cables and so move the hook members to their open settings when the lifeboat is floating. Under emergency conditions when the hook assemblies are heavily loaded, an emergency release mechanism is arranged to move the hook members to their open settings notwithstanding the relatively large load thereon.

Abstract: A tow rope for a water ski which provides a manner to communicate a majority of the force from a tow rope engaged to a boat directly to the water ski during deep water starts by a skier. The force is transferred to a handle held by the skiers hands once the skier has reached a substantially standing position and is on top of the water. A quick release is provided which will disconnect the tow rope should the skier activate it or fall.

Abstract: A multi-purpose boat has a two angle V hull with a rounded fore-aft profile and slightly convex deck. The hull has steeply angled edge portions and shallowly angled center portions. The edge portions are sufficiently sloped away from vertical to allow the boat to be lifted and not pushed by waves. The rounded fore-aft profile allows the boat to slide over waves, especially during a beach entry. The boat includes a keel having a horizontal base and separating downward from the hull at the fore and aft of the boat to resist yawing. The dry weight of the boat is about 25 pounds with a foam core with a resin coating and the keel is preferably hollow and includes ports to allow water to enter the keel to add about 25 pounds after entering the water. Approximately four inches of freeboard is provided separating riders from cold water and predators.

Abstract: A swiftwater rescue board capable of traveling across a river or other current flow under guidance of a single land-based rescuer using a single line. The board has a generally planar, double-ended flotation body with a longitudinal fin offset to the “victim” side of the board's centerline, and line attachment points located adjacent the ends of the board and offset to the “rescuer” side of the board's centerline. The board is placed in a river with the fin generally aligned with the current and closer to the victim being rescued, with a line attached to the attachment point at the upstream end of the board. The rescuer stays on land or in a relatively safe location and pays out line in a manner allowing the board to be driven across the river diagonally to the victim, driven only by the current flow.

Abstract: A shallow water anchor is provided. The shallow water anchor comprises a first anchor extension and a second anchor extension axially received by a housing. The first anchor extension is axially received by the second anchor extension such that the first and second anchor extensions are sequentially deployable from the housing an actuation arrangement. The actuation arrangement is controlled by a control interface that is operable to detect when the shallow water anchor has reached a fully extended state and fully retracted state. The shallow water anchor further includes a biasing compensator that compensates for fluctuations in the overall depth of water the anchor is deployed in due to waves or other anomalies.

Abstract: A personal propulsion apparatus for controllable gliding a rider over a water surface includes a buoyant body unit, a power unit and a thrust assembly with at least two independently pivotable thrust nozzles. An intake unit having receiving and directing portions. A height adjusting arrangement is formed with the directing portion. During motion over the surface of water, the intake unit with the height adjusting arrangement, remains submerged. Upon excessive lifting force being generated the height adjusting arrangement is elevated above the water surface, causing entry of air into the power unit, resulted in decreasing the thrust and lowering the height adjusting arrangement below the water surface into the submerged position, so that the rider assumes the longitudinal motion over the water surface.

Abstract: In an apparatus for controlling operation of an outboard motor having an internal combustion engine, a transmission, and a trim angle regulation mechanism, where operation of the transmission is controlled to change the gear position from a second speed to a first speed when detected throttle change amount not less than a first predetermined value and operation of the trim angle regulation mechanism is controlled to start the trim-up operation such that the trim angle converges to a predetermined angle, the operation of the trim angle regulation mechanism is controlled such that the trim angle is decreased based on the detected rudder angle when steering of the outboard motor is started, thereby enabling to appropriately prevent cavitation caused by steering of the outboard motor, so that the boat can be smoothly turned.

Abstract: The invention relates to a drive device (1) for a watercraft (2) comprising a U or Z-shaped drive train. The drive torque is preferably deflected in the operating position at least twice about the angle (b, g)>0 via at least two bevel gears (23, 24, 20) between a motor shaft of a drive machine formed, preferably, by an internal combustion engine and at least one propeller shaft (13a, 13b). In order to control said drive device in a simple manner and to obtain achieve high shifting convenience, the housing (G) of the drive device (1) consists of one first, one second and one third housing part (4, 5, 6). The three housing parts (4, 5, 6) are rotationally connected to one another and the first housing part (4) can be securely connected to the pre-fabricated wall (2a) of the watercraft (2).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a tie bar. The tie bar has a first subassembly and a second subassembly. The first subassembly includes an end portion configured to connect to a propulsion unit, a first tube that extends from the end portion and a threaded member operatively connected to the end portion and disposed within and at least partially extending along the first tube. The second subassembly includes an end portion configured to connect to a further propulsion unit and a second tube that extends from the end portion of the second subassembly. The second subassembly is configured to threadably engage with the threaded member. The distance of separation between the end portions is selectively adjustable thereby.

Abstract: Support arms are disposed on a tilting shaft on a bracket of an outboard motor. An electric actuator is mounted between the support arms. The electric actuator includes a cover member, first and second electric motors disposed individually on the opposite ends of the cover member, a feed screw configured to be rotated by the electric motors, a nut member configured to move along an axis as the feed screw rotates, a drive arm configured to move integrally with the nut member and transversely relative to the boat body, and protective boots. The drive arm is connected to a steering arm through an engaging member. If the drive arm moves in the direction of the axis along the cover member, the steering angle of the steering arm changes depending on the degree of movement of the drive arm.

Abstract: A pivoting fin used to control the movement of a surfboard. The pivoting fin is provided with a rotatable hinge allowing the fin to rotate in the “roll” axis of the surfboard. The rotatable hinge is inserted into base position which in turn is secured to the underside of the surfboard.

Abstract: A ship-body frictional resistance reducing device for reducing frictional resistance of a sailing ship body by forming an air bubble curtain on a ship's bottom by generating air bubbles includes an air chamber provided on the ship's bottom inside the ship including an air supply port formed thereon, a plurality of air ejection holes formed in an array on the ship's bottom that serves as a bottom of the air chamber, and a diffusion plate provided inside the air chamber intervening between the air supply port and the air ejection holes. The diffusion plate is formed in a manner that it includes at least a supply-port facing area covering the air supply port and a pair of ejection-hole facing areas covering air ejection holes located at both edges of the air ejection holes in an arrangement direction.

Abstract: In a steering device for an outboard engine, a drive shaft of a helm mechanism and an output shaft of an electric assist mechanism are disposed orthogonally to a steering output shaft of a steering operation member. Where the steering operation member is a tiller handle, a torque sensor, provided between an outboard engine body and the tiller handle, detects, as steering torque, a difference between steering angles of the engine body and the tiller handle, and the helm mechanism, drivable by the assist mechanism, operates to compensate for the difference between the steering angles. The assist mechanism and the helm mechanism are provided on the body of the boat.

Abstract: A watercraft has an engine, a propeller, an electronic control unit (ECU), a throttle actuator, and a velocity control actuator separate from the throttle actuator. The velocity control actuator is movable between an inactive position and a plurality of active positions. When the velocity control actuator is in the inactive position, the ECU controls a speed of the engine based at least in part on a degree of actuation of the throttle actuator. When the velocity control actuator is moved from the inactive position to one of the plurality of active positions, the ECU reduces the speed of the engine based at least in part on a degree of actuation of the velocity control actuator independently of the degree of actuation of the throttle actuator. A method of controlling a watercraft is also described.

Abstract: A steering device for an outboard engine includes: a helm mechanism operable, in response to operation of a steering wheel, to steer the outboard engine and including a drive shaft parallel to an output shaft of the operation member; an electric assist mechanism for detecting steering torque, applied to the steering wheel, to assist operation of the helm mechanism on the basis of the detected steering torque; and a power transmission section for connecting the output shaft of the steering wheel and the helm mechanism to transmit rotation of the output shaft to the helm mechanism.