Abstract: An apparatus is provided for dampening rudder vibration of a motorboat. The apparatus may include a tiller assembly rotatable about a pivot point adjacent the stern of the motorboat, the tiller assembly including a tiller arm extending in a first direction from the pivot point and configured to be rotated about the pivot point by a user, and/or a damper mounted on the tiller assembly extending in a second direction from the pivot point. The damper may be configured to rotate integrally with the tiller arm, and the damper may include a mass that is sufficient to dampen vibrations of the tiller. A method of using the apparatus for dampening rudder vibration is also disclosed.

Abstract: An anchor handling device for an anchor handling vessel, the anchor handling device being adopted to bring an anchor from a substantially horizontal position resting at an aft deck of the vessel, to a substantially vertical position hanging astern of the vessel, wherein the device comprises two arms (7, 7?) which at first ends are pivotally arranged about a substantially horizontal axis being substantially perpendicular to the length axis of the vessel, and which axis substantially coincides with a rotational of a stern roller (4) arranged at the aft end of a cargo deck (2) of the vessel, and where the arms (7, 7?) at their second ends support an anchor handling roller (8) having an axis of rotation being substantially parallel to the axis of rotation for the arms (7, 7?), is described.

Abstract: A marine propulsion system includes an engine, propellers arranged to be rotated by the engine, a transmission mechanism arranged to transmit a driving force of the engine to the propellers with a speed thereof shifted to at least a low speed reduction ratio and a high speed reduction ratio, a GPS sensor arranged to detect a position of a hull propelled by rotation of the propeller, and a control portion and an ECU arranged to control a shift between the speed reduction ratios of the transmission mechanism. The control portion is arranged to calculate a speed of the hull based on positional information of the hull. The control portion and the ECU are arranged to control a shift between the speed reduction ratios of the transmission mechanism based at least on the speed of the hull. This arrangement provides a marine propulsion system in which both acceleration performance and maximum speed can approach specific levels desired by an operator of the boat.

Abstract: A mechanism to raise and lower the sail of a boat includes a headcar movably secured to a mast of the boat and a headboard affixed to the sail. A pulling force applied to a halyard raises the sail and causes the headboard to engage the headcar. When the sail is lowered, the headboard disengages from the headcar so that the sail furls flat on the boom.

Abstract: A steering shaft is rotatably supported on a body by a housing, and a slide portion having a handlebar attachment portion at the top is attached to the steering shaft. The rotational movement of a handlebar around the central axis of the steering shaft is regulated by a rotation regulating mechanism, while the axial translation of the handlebar is allowed. The steering shaft is provided with a plurality of grooves. A lock mechanism provided in the slide portion inserts a locking bar into any one of the grooves to regulate the axial translation of the slide portion. Owing to the shape of a link portion and a cam groove constituting the lock mechanism, the locking bar is not pulled, out of the groove by operations other than a release operation using a release lever.

Abstract: A steering system for a marine vessel which has a primary propulsion unit and an auxiliary propulsion unit is disclosed. In one embodiment, a cable extending through a support rod of a tilt tube of the primary propulsion unit couples the primary propulsion unit to the auxiliary propulsion unit. Also disclosed is a method of coupling a primary propulsion unit to an auxiliary propulsion unit with a cable.

Abstract: A safety device includes an elongate tubular member formed of a buoyant material having gripping surfaces disposed on distal and proximal ends thereof. The elongate tubular member is positionable between initial and second positions. First and second appendages are disposed in mechanical cooperation with the proximal and distal ends of the elongate tubular member. A tether assembly is operably associated with the elongate tubular member and includes one or more couplings and a tether for releasably fixing the elongate tubular member in one or more second positions.

Abstract: Illustrative marine propulsion systems are disclosed. In a non-limiting, illustrative embodiment, a marine propulsion system includes a pump housing that is configured to be disposed below a waterline of a marine vessel and a centrifugal pump assembly that is disposed in the pump housing. The centrifugal pump assembly includes an inlet pump stage configured to receive inlet water and to discharge impulse water. The centrifugal pump assembly also includes an outlet pump stage that includes an impulse turbine wheel configured to rotate about an axis responsive to the impulse water and an outlet pump stage impeller integral with the impulse turbine wheel. The outlet pump stage impeller is configured to rotate about the axis.

Abstract: A marine vessel steering device includes a turning mechanism arranged to be attached to a marine vessel, an operation unit arranged to be operated by an operator to steer the marine vessel, a steering angle detection unit arranged to detect a steering angle of the operation unit, a turning angle detection unit arranged to detect a turning angle of the turning mechanism, a turning control unit arranged to control the turning mechanism according to a steering angle, a phase shift determination unit arranged to determine whether phases of the steering angle and the turning angle are shifted relative to each other, and a turning control delay unit.

Abstract: This invention relates to a novel method and a novel inflatable flotation device for the method which are used in association with water sports boards such as kite boards, surfboards and the like, for the purpose of uprighting the water sports boards when inverted and encouraging the water sports boards to be moved by the wind in the direction of a water sports board rider when the rider becomes separated from the water sports board.

Abstract: An outboard motor includes a propeller, an engine, a transmission, a casing, an engine cooling mechanism, a cooling jacket, a water intake opening, and a transmission coolant flow channel. The casing is arranged to house the transmission. The engine cooling mechanism is arranged to cool the engine by supplying the water taken into the casing from the water intake opening to the engine via an engine coolant flow channel. The cooling jacket is arranged adjacent to the transmission inside the casing. The water intake opening is provided at a predetermined position of the casing to which a dynamic pressure is applied by water flow when a marine vessel travels. The transmission coolant flow channel is arranged to connect the water intake opening and the cooling jacket. The transmission coolant flow channel is provided independently of the engine coolant flow channel.

Abstract: Systems and methods for a stable maritime platform are disclosed. The platform is pivotally supported by a superstructure of a floating vessel, the platform to receive a downward force from an object. A platform trunnion is connected to the platform to convert the downward force on the platform into rotational movement. A counterweight axle is connected to the platform trunnion to transform the rotational movement into angular displacement that moves a counterweight away from the superstructure of the floating vessel. Thus, the downward force of the object may be counteracted to balance the floating vessel.

Abstract: A floating apparatus operable for towing at least one diver and providing compressed air thereto for underwater breathing includes a water impermeable and buoyant hollow housing that floats on a surface of a body of water. A power source is mounted on the housing and a compressor is provided and is operable by the power source for generating the compressed air. A propulsion generating assembly is operable by at least one of the power source and the compressor for generating a propulsion force capable of moving the apparatus and towing such at least one diver. A control device is operatively coupled to the propulsion generating assembly and is manually operable by the at least one diver for generating the propulsion force simultaneously with generation of the compressed air.

Abstract: A closed loop fluid cooling system for marine motors is described. The system includes a motor cooling circuit in fluidic communication with fluid cooling jackets about a motor. The system includes a heat dissipation circuit. The motor cooling circuit is in closed fluidic communication with the heat dissipation circuit. A cooling fluid variably circulates between the motor cooling circuit and the heat dissipation circuit. A heat dissipation member is in fluidic communication with the heat dissipation circuit to receive the circulating cooling fluid, and the heat dissipation member is submerged in the body of water in which the boat is traveling to transfer heat from the cooling fluid to the body of water. A temperature control valve is in fluidic communication with the motor cooling circuit and the heat dissipation circuit.

Abstract: In cowling structure for an outboard motor, a through hole is formed below an upper-cowling joining surface of a lower cowling; control cables are supported with a cable supporting groove of a back side plate, and the back side plate is fixed to the through hole; a sealing member that is covered on the outside of the control cables, is fitted into the through hole; a groove of a front side plate is placed around the control cables, and the front side plate is set onto the sealing member; and the sealing member is fixed to the lower cowling by a bolt together with the front side plate. The cowling structure for an outboard motor can prevent water intrusion by removing a notch on an upper-cowling joining surface of a lower cowling.

Abstract: A boat propelling apparatus is compact and capable of making an adjustment on its engine output characteristic. The boat propelling apparatus includes an engine, a surge tank and an intake manifold. The intake manifold includes therein an internal space for air to flow from the surge tank, and air intake passages branching from the internal space. The intake manifold includes recesses and a boss arranged to fit an extension member to define extension passages inside the internal space.

Abstract: For protecting surface floating wave energy converters (WEC's) against surface turbulence, the WEC's are removed from the water surface. For reducing the force required, the WEC's include a hollow member having an apertured outer wall. In the case where the WEC is to be lifted out of the water, the hollow member is normally submerged and full of water, and, during its lifting, water drains through the wall apertures thereby reducing the weight of the member and reducing the force required to lift it. In the case where the WEC is to be submerged, the hollow member is normally empty of water but fills with water through the wall apertures as the member is pulled beneath the surface. The weight of the water reduces the force required to submerge the member.

Abstract: A waterboard includes a head segment having a concave rear edge, a tail segment having a convex front edge, an interface system adapted to removably connect the head and tail segments together. The interface system includes a head interface connecter having a convex first surface attached to the concave rear edge of the head segment and having a first blade element extending from a second surface thereof, and includes a tail interface connecter having a concave first surface mating attached to the convex front edge of the tail segment and having a second surface mating with and removably attached to the second surface of the first interface connecter, wherein the tail interface connecter includes a slot to receive the blade element.

Abstract: A mechanism for releasing and retracting an anchor chain into/from water in marine vehicles, comprising a stowing reservoir which is driven by a motor for automatically stowing the chain.

Abstract: The catamaran hull includes a pair of substantially parallel separate hulls, connected by an intermediate hull portion, wherein only one of the separate hulls includes a propulsion assembly. Each hull is asymmetric, but differently configured, such that the off-center thrust created by the propulsion assembly in the one hull is substantially offset by the turning force created by the difference in the two asymmetric hull shapes.