Abstract: The problem of providing a submerged vehicle with above-the-surface communications to a nearby vessel, shore platform, or satellite while traveling at operating speed is solved by an efficiently deployable tethered tow body having a hydrodynamic and buoyant hull body and incorporating a lift-generating wing that provides hydrodynamic lift to efficiently lift the tow body containing antennas and other communications devices to the surface. The tow body allows for stable operation during underwater tow, surface tow, and transitions between underwater tow and surface tow. Disclosed embodiments include communications apparatuses encompassing the principles of the tethered tow body, as well as various underwater systems that incorporate a tethered tow body or communications apparatus for establishing communications with a nearby vessel, shore platform, or satellite.

Abstract: An anchoring system for a boat includes a pair of anchor fixtures, each having a base and a tube carried by and extending across the base. A first of the anchor fixtures is mountable proximate the peripheral edge of the vessel with the tube oriented to extend in a generally horizontal direction. The other, second anchor fixture is mounted exteriorly to the transom of other surface of the hull such that the longitudinal axis of the tube extends generally vertically. The first anchor fixture accommodates an adjustable pole holder that has a stem for selectively engaging with the first anchor fixture to provide anchoring, transporting and stowed conditions. A sleeve is interconnected angularly to the stem for holding a first pole, which may be operated by adjusting the pole holder to engage the bottom of the body of water. A second pole is received by the tube of the second anchor fixture to likewise engage the bottom of the body of water such that the boat is anchored thereto.

Abstract: The invention is the addition to traditional shafts used for stand-up paddling that normally have a standard paddle at one end of the shaft and a handle at the other end of the shaft. The invention incorporates a second paddle attached to the shaft at the location of the handle. The paddle may have an interior opening surrounding a portion of the handle to enable a user to grasp the handle with a user's hand. Alternatively, the body of the paddle can be oriented at an angle relative to the handle so that a gap is formed between an interior surface of the body of the paddle and the handle so that the handle can be grasped by a user's hand with the user's fingers resting in the gap.

Abstract: A high performance planing hull, designed in particular for boats with drives of fixed or non-steerable type. The hull comprises an additional volume, which is integrated in the immersed part of the stern of the hull. The additional volume extends substantially in longitudinal direction and is symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal plane of symmetry of the hull.

Abstract: A buoyancy lift system having an inflatable bladder with a tether stowed inside a canister secured to a vessel. A sealing member is slidably received within canister and secures to the inflatable bladder. Pressurized gas forces the sealing member and bladder outwardly of the canister. A stop prevents the sealing member from escaping the canister such that the sealing member creates a seal between itself and the canister at an outboard end of the canister. Pressurized gas is forced through a channel in the sealing member into the bladder to increase the displacement of a vessel.

Abstract: A collapsible catamaran is described, comprising two hulls (1) and a frame (4) which connects the two hulls (1) in a detachable manner and carries plug-in noses (3) which engage in plug-in receptacles (2) of the hulls (1). In order to provide advantageous plug-in connections it is proposed that the plug-in noses (3) each comprise a guide tube (17) with at least one rubber-elastic clamping ring (18) which encloses the guide tube (17) on the outside, rests on an axial abutment (23) and can be subjected to axial pressure with the help of an actuator (22) penetrating the guide tube (17).

Abstract: An engine control system, for controlling an engine of a jet-propulsion boat, includes a cavitation-control-mode determination unit, which starts a cavitation-control mode when an engine speed not faster than 3200 rpm is maintained for a predetermined time period. During a normal sailing operation, ignition timing is set by a first ignition-timing setting unit. Upon detection of a cavitation-control-mode by the cavitation-control-mode determination unit, an engine speed is raised up to a speed not slower than 3200 rpm, which makes an ignition-timing switching unit to select a second ignition-timing setting unit. The second ignition-timing setting unit retards the ignition timing for the normal sailing operation when the engine speed becomes 6500 rpm or faster. In addition to retardation of the ignition timing, a boost pressure control command upper-limit value is switched to a value at a startup operation, which is less than a value at the normal sailing operation.

Abstract: The rudder arrangement for ships comprises a twisted and balanced rudder blade having a slender profile and a low profile thickness and comprising a propeller facing the rudder blade. A rudder pipe is located in the upper region of the rudder blade with rudder post located therein, wherein the rudder blade comprises two superposed rudder blade sections having different heights whose front nose strips facing the propeller are offset in such a manner that one nose strip is offset to port or starboard and the other nose strip is offset to starboard or port. The two side wall surfaces of the rudder blade converge into an end strip facing away from the propeller and have different arc profiles.

Abstract: An over-the-water dock includes a plurality of modular floating docks adjacently positioned. Each modular floating dock includes a float and a plurality of walers fixedly attaches to the float and walers include at least one outer waler and an inner waler. One or more crossbeams transversely attach to the at least one outer waler of one of the modular floating docks and the at least one outer waler of another of the modular floating docks.

Abstract: A modular ship complex includes a basic vessel provided with water height adjusting elements for varying the height of the waterline with respect to a pool of water forming a housing. The bottom of the housing is formed by a platform that is moved between a raised position and a submerged position by operating the water height adjusting elements to vary the height of the waterline. The ship complex includes equipped floating modules suitable for being inserted into the housing and to be extracted from the housing when the platform is in the submerged position. The modules rest on the platform when the platform is in the raised position. The modules include active operating elements integrated therein.

Abstract: Specialized cable-concealing fittings and couplings suitable and a fitting system for use in forming cable runs comprising tubular framing and rails wherein the fittings, framing and rails can serve a as a conduit for cable. In particular, the cable concealing fittings are utilized in association with a cable from an electrical device such as a solar panel that is connected to an electrical system of a watercraft, such as sailboat or powerboat. The fittings and system utilizing the fittings serves both protective and aesthetic purposes.

Abstract: A floating module and fastening system for interconnecting a row of modules while allowing relative movement of the modules resulting from wave action. The present invention provides a system for interconnecting floating structures to form breakwaters and other integrated floating structures. The interconnection system includes one or more cables or other securing lines extending longitudinally through a row of floating structures and fastened at the ends of the row. Two or more socket members, through which the cables pass, are secured in and project outwardly from each end wall of the floating structures. Each of the socket members defines a recess, which extends into the end walls of the floating structures. Opposed socket members projecting from adjacent floating structures are sized so that an end of a first of the socket members fits within an opposed end of a second of the socket members.

Abstract: A device which anchors a small boat to a tree stump is herein disclosed, comprising a section of resilient and inert material with an interior opening and is provided with a multitude of attaching apertures through its cross-section. These attaching apertures are connected to a plurality of three hundred (300) pound test nylon cords in a conical type fashion. The various sections of cord are also secured intermediately along its length thus producing a net structure not unlike that of a basketball net. The upper end of each cord is secured to a central point and is anchored with a section of five hundred (500) pound test nylon cord which is used to connect the device to a small boat. To use the device, the user slips the device over a tree stump or similar support structure protruding up through or just below the water surface. The net structure of the device provides a secure grip about the support structure no matter the direction of the boat in relation to the support structure.

Abstract: A fuel supply system for a boat includes a vapor separator tank connected to a fuel tank mounted on a hull of the boat to contain fuel therein, an injector to supply fuel to an engine, and a high-pressure fuel pump to supply fuel that is contained in the vapor separator tank to the injector. The high-pressure fuel pump includes a pump main portion having a fuel path and a pump driving section that are separated from the fuel path of the pump main portion. The fuel supply system minimizes deterioration in engine startability.

Abstract: A boat propulsion unit includes a power source, a propeller, a shift position changing mechanism, a control device, and a speed reducing switch. The shift position changing mechanism has an input shaft, an output shaft, and first and second clutches. The first and second clutches change the connection state between the input shaft and the output shaft. In the shift position changing mechanism, the first and second clutches are engaged or disengaged, thereby changing the shift position among forward, neutral, and reverse. The control device controls connecting forces of the first and second clutches so that the propeller generates propulsive forces in the direction opposite to the present propulsive direction of a hull when the speed reducing switch is turned on by the operator of the boat. The boat propulsion unit easily retains the propulsive speed of a hull substantially at zero.

Abstract: A marine vessel propulsion device includes an engine arranged to generate a driving force by combustion of a fuel by an ignition unit, a thrust generating unit arranged to be driven by the driving force of the engine to generate thrust underwater, a shift mechanism unit arranged to switch between a transmitting state of transmitting the driving force of the engine to the thrust generating unit and a cut-off state of cutting off the driving force of the engine from the thrust generating unit, a shift drive unit arranged to drive the shift mechanism unit, and a control unit arranged to electrically control the shift drive unit based on a position of a shift operational unit that is arranged to be operated by a user to perform a shifting operation to a first shift position corresponding to the transmitting state, and a second shift position corresponding to the cut-off state.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a watercraft attachment device for joining two watercrafts comprising: a pair of parallel tubes, where said parallel tubes are substantially parallel to the watercrafts; a pair of perpendicular tubes, where said perpendicular tubes are substantially perpendicular to the two parallel tubes and adjoin the parallel tubes; four abutting corners, where the four abutting corners are formed by the intersecting tubes; a plurality of hook attachments extending from the each corner, where said hook attachments extend over a lip of each cockpit within the watercrafts to connect the watercrafts to the watercraft attachment device; and at least one tension cord extending from each corner, where said tensioning cords tighten the hook attachments to secure the watercraft attachment device in place.

Abstract: A laterally stable foldable boat comprising a single sheet of corrugated plastic further comprising a first planar plastic substrate, a second planar plastic substrate, a plurality of elongate parallel ribs disposed between and joining the first and second plastic substrates, the plurality of elongate parallel ribs extend parallel along the entire length of the plastic substrates to form a plurality of open flute channels lengthwise through the substrates, a plurality of bend lines, a plurality of folding hinges located at each corner of the single sheet of corrugated plastic, and a stabilizing ballast, that further includes a first plurality of apertures centrally located in the hull area, wherein the first plurality of apertures are formed perpendicular to the sidewall bend lines and create at least one opening in the plurality of flute channels, wherein the first plurality of apertures allow water to enter or exit the plurality of flute channels running lengthwise through the foldable boat.

Abstract: A primary exhaust bypass for a water-borne vessel having a seat member and a closure member coupled to the seat member, wherein the seat and closure members are configured to seal against exhaust leakage in the closed position and to allow exhaust leakage in the opened condition, and a locking mechanism, wherein the bypass is configured to open when the vessel lists a predetermined amount. A method of bypassing a blocked primary exhaust system may include establishing a bypass exhaust route, providing a normally-closed bypass mechanism at a distal portion of the bypass exhaust route, and changing the orientation of the bypass mechanism with respect to gravity, which may allow the bypass mechanism to open.

Abstract: A jet pump of a personal watercraft of the present invention includes a pump casing 10 provided with a fairing vane part including a plurality of fairing vanes 12, and the front portion of each of the fairing vanes 12 has two attack angles which are an attack angle ? of the fairing vane and the front end attack angle ? which is larger than the attack angle ?. Thereby, the attack angle of the fairing vane is adapted to the water jet flow so that reduction of pump efficiency is suppressed.