Abstract: The present invention entails a fastener unit for coupling two or more rafts together. In one embodiment the fastener unit is comprised of a pair of deformable closed walls, each having a central opening and designed to lock one in another. Each closed wall includes a connector extending therefrom for connecting to a raft. In a second embodiment, the fastener unit is comprised of a pair of fasteners, each having an eyelet with a flexible hook extending therefrom. The hook is extended from one eyelet and is connected to a second eyelet, and a hook from the second eyelet is extended back to the first eyelet to form a coupled relationship between the two fasteners. Each hook and eyelet fastener having a connector extending therefrom for connecting to a raft.

Abstract: A hydroplane hull according to the present invention comprises a forebottom surface and an afterbottom surface connected by a step. The afterbottom surface has an aft portion formed with a positive trim angle and a forward portion with a non-negative trim angle which is of lesser angle than that of the aft portion.

Abstract: A method for converting a single-hull tanker to a mid-deck configuration is disclosed. The midship cargo section of the tanker is cut longitudinally along a horizontal plane well below the normal laden water line. A spacer member including a new transverse mid-deck is interposed between the lower and upper portions of the midship cargo section. The port and starboard outer sections of the midship cargo section of the vessel are cut longitudinally away from the central portions of the midship sections of the vessel, and new longitudinal bulkheads are added. In this way the vessel is provided with port and starboard wing ballast tanks between the hull plating and the port and starboard wing cargo tanks. The center cargo tank is also divided the upper and lower sections, such that the lower section can be converted to ballast in the event double-hulled tankers become mandatory for oil transport.

Abstract: An inflatable swimming support adapted to be worn upon the upper arm of a user, the support comprising a major continuous and closed, torus-shaped air chamber formed of fluid-impervious, flexible material, the major air chamber forming a tubular central arm opening therethrough; a minor continuous and closed, torus-shaped air chamber formed of a strip of fluid-impervious, flexible material, the strip being heat sealed to the material of the major air chamber interiorly along two concentric circular lines and forming a central arm opening therethrough; a first valve means in fluid communication with the major air chamber for the selective inflation and deflation thereof; and a second valve means in fluid communication with the minor air chamber independent of the major air chamber for the selective inflation and deflation of the minor air chamber, the first and second valve means being located in spaced relationship along the length of the central arm opening.

Abstract: Marine propulsion apparatus comprising an engine mounted within a buoyant enclosure, which is adapted to be connected to a marine vessel, which requires propulsion. The engine drives a propeller through a simple drive system. The apparatus is adapted to be fitted into position on pivotal mountings for steering purposes, and may itself be fitted with steering apparatus such that it may be maneuvered independently of the marine vessel for positioning relative to it. The enclosure is sized to permit access around the engine for in-situ maintenance and repair.

Abstract: A buoyant boat with a girder box is provided. The girder box maintains the deck part and hull part of the boat in predetermined spaced apart relation and allows the transmission of forces and stresses along the length of the boat. The girder box further enables an outboard engine or an inboard engine in the form of a propeller or hydrojet to be provided. A relatively resilient buoyancy part is provided in accordance with the structure of the invention which extends peripherally of the hull and deck parts to advantageously prevent entry of water into the boat while providing the advantages of design variability, stability and puncture resistance over inflatable structures.

Abstract: A float having a substantially prismatic and preferably parallelepipedic body, which has corner edge portions provided with corner-connecting elements having eyes and recesses for receiving and interlocking with connecting bolts for connecting a plurality of identical floats in an assembly. In order to increase the strength and stability of the joints between such floats in an assembly consisting of a plurality of layers of such floats, the body of the float is formed at its center with a vertical retaining opening. The opening is adapted to receive a connecting bolt and contains a recessed bearing surface that is engageable by such bolt, a plurality of identical ones of said floats are adapted to be arranged in a plurality of layers in an assembly.

Abstract: An outdrive system for watercraft includes use of plastic or other relatively flexible material, e.g., compared to metal, especially as a housing material, and techniques which enable and/or at least facilitate use of such housing material. One of those techniques employs a flexible member, such as a belt, to couple power between the input and output of an outdrive and another employs a cooling system to remove heat. The invention also relates to use in a vehicle drive, especially for watercraft, of housing materials that are not subject to corrosion, galvanic action and the like.

Abstract: A marine propulsion device comprising a transom bracket adapted to be mounted on a boat transom and including laterally spaced rearwardly extending port and starboard portions, and a swivel bracket including a first leg connected to the transom bracket for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis and a second leg extending generally perpendicularly to the first leg and including a transversely extending portion extending in closely adjacent relation to both of the rearwardly extending laterally spaced transom bracket portions and substantially bridging the space between the rearwardly projecting laterally spaced transom bracket portions.

Abstract: A positioning assembly for a torpedo having a projection thereon including support mounted on the torpedo tube adjacent the projection, and a control member movable on the support transversely of the torpedo tube. The control member has a control surface with a series of abutment surfaces for the projection to limit motion of the torpedo within the tube. A first transverse abutment surface limits movement of the torpedo towards the muzzle end of the tube during loading, and a second transverse abutment surface cooperates with a portion of the first abutment surface to limit movement of the torpedo in either direction axially in the tube.

Abstract: The davit 10 has an arm structure 16 with an indentation 44 therein within which it "hugs" the object 14 suspended from the same so as to reduce the objects's dynamicism on the mother vessel 2 when the vessel is underway and reacting to the water. This follows from the fact that in the relatively retracted position of the arm structure (FIGS. 1 and 2), wherein the object is stored until there is a need for it, the recess 48 of the indentation is disposed substantially entirely on the relatively inboard side of the vertical plane of the horizontal axis 40 about which the arm structure is pivotally mounted, and the object is suspended from the arm structure so that the relatively inboard side 24 of the object crosses the vertical plane of the axis and advances within the recess to locate the center of gravity of the object in more of a dead center relationship with that of the davit.

Abstract: A portable safety vest (20) includes an inflatable collar (22) which functions as a personal floatation device, a transparent, inflatable air bag (50), and an air mask (60). A cylinder of compressed air (40) has a seal (41) and, when the seal (41) is broken by a triggering mechanism (42, 43, 44), the compressed air expands and fills the air bag (50) and the collar (22). The air bag (50) is preferably large enough to hold at least a two-minute supply of air to allow one time to escape from an area filled with smoke or noxious or toxic gas.

Abstract: A hydraulic arrangement for controlling tilt and trim of an outboard drive. The hydraulic arrangement comprises a single cylinder assembly having a single bore inside wherein an upper portion of the bore has a relatively small diameter and a lower portion of the bore has a larger diameter. Two separate pistons, one in each bore portion, are supported for reciprocation. The smaller diameter piston has a piston rod that is directly connected to an element of the outboard drive, while the opposite end of the cylinder assembly housing is connected to an element affixed to an associated watercraft, so as to insure against any undesirable noise or undue wear in the system, and to afford a compact assembly.

Abstract: Stabilizing apparatus for stabilizing boats comprising a weighted concave body which is suspended from the boat and which is formed as a grid defining openings through the body and a flexible flap in the concavity of the body, the flap blocking the openings when the body rises in the water due to rolling of the boat so as to inhibit rolling and the flap moving away from the openings to permit the apparatus to rapidly fall as the boat rolls in the opposite direction. A pair of bodies are provided on opposite sides of the boat to inhibit rolling in both directions.

Abstract: The invention comprises a center console for a boat having a front side, a back side, a left side and a right side, each of the sides having a generally vertical wall on at least the lower portion thereof and defining a space therein, said back side having a horizontally inclined shelf above the vertical wall and first and second generally parallel vertically inclined walls extending upwardly from the shelf, the second vertically inclined wall being stepped forwardly from the first vertically inclined wall and having an opening, and a door filling the opening when in a closed position and being in the space directly behind the first vertically inclined wall when in an open position. The invention also comprises a modular storage enclosure for a boat adapted to hold a fire extinguisher, a flare gun kit and navigational charts.

Abstract: A raising and lowering device is provided which may be mounted on a reference structure having a mounting surface. The raising and lowering device includes a pair of guide columns, each guide column having a load bearing mount fixedly secured thereto. A load bearing surface on each load bearing mount abuts the mounting surface on the reference structure. Each guide column also defines a cavity and a slot allowing access to the cavity.A support structure which bears the objects to be raised or lowered extends through the slots and into the cavity of each guide column. Roller assemblies, coupled to the support structure, are positioned within the cavity of each guide column to direct movement of the support structure along the guide columns. Cables connect to the support structure at one end and to a cable joint at the other end. The cable joint is movable using a single actuator, the support structure being evenly raised and lowered thereby.

Abstract: A hydrofoil for mounting on the lower unit of a marine outboard engine/marine outdrive which improves the performance and stability of a boat driven by the lower unit. Each hydrofoil includes an upwardly angled wing segment and a wingtip fin at the outer end of the wing segment. The hydrofoils are preferably mounted in a pair on the lower unit and form a V-shaped assembly. Alternately, the hydrofoils may be formed as a single unit in which they are joined near their trailing edges. When mounted on the lower unit on a boat with a V-shaped hull bottom, the hydrofoil assembly generally matches the hull bottom shape to lower drag and water resistance during operation and to prevent interference with the forks of a fork lift truck when the boat is lifted.

Abstract: A swim fin specifically designed for use by an amputee comprising a substantially planar, elongate flipper portion integrally formed with and extending from a receiving pocket adapted to be mounted to the end of a limb of the amputee. A pair of elongate straps are connected along a side of the receiving pocket, wherein the straps are specifically designed to wrap around the amputee's limb, being fastened by a pair of mating hook and loop pads on opposite ends of the straps, thereby effectively securing the swim fin to the amputee's limb.

Abstract: There is disclosed a connector consisting of a male coupler having a shank and head member and a female coupler including a cylindrical member having a bore and being open at one end for receiving the shank of the male coupling member. The female coupler is also provided with a head member affixed to the cylindrical member at the end opposite the open end. Both head members define a flat outer and inner face. The shank of the male coupler is preferably threaded for engaging corresponding mating threads or for self-tapping threads in the bore of the female coupler for retaining the shank in the bore. The female coupler, which is normally positioned at the upper surface of the surfboard, is provided with a head member having an axially extending opening which communicates between the outer surface of the head member and the bore and a normally extending passage which communicates between the bore and the exterior of the cylindrical member.

Abstract: A mast for use in sailboats and other sail-propelled craft has two elongated solid or hollow sections with confronting at least partially concave internal surfaces, and a plurality of transversely extending crosspieces between the internal surfaces. If the sections are hollow, they can be at least partially filled with foamed polyurethane and/or with elongated wooden or metallic tubes.