Abstract: A universal platform for a human powered floatation device. The platform has a frame with two spaced apart rail members adapted to interchangeably receive multiple types of propulsion devices. A support arm and a crossbar are provided for securing a propeller drive assembly, seats and pedals to the rails of the frame while allowing longitudinal position adjustment along the frame and an interchange of propulsion devices, such as a bicycle or ski machine.

Abstract: A sailing craft that includes an elongated central tubular frame structure, a left outrigger assembly attached to the forward left side of the central tubular frame structure, a right outrigger assembly attached to the forward right side of the central tubular frame structure, a rudder steering assembly pivotally mounted to the rear center of the tubular frame structure, a left sail supported by the left outrigger assembly, a right sail supported by the right outrigger assembly, and a seat assembly secured to the rearward end of the central tubular frame structure.

Abstract: A steering system for a boat includes an auxiliary rudder which is rotatable to effect changes in course of the boat. A servo-pendulum rudder is rotatable by a positioning device. When the servo-pendulum rudder is rotated, it is pivotal transversely to a keel line of the boat by water flowing past the boat. A drive connection is provided between the servo-pendulum rudder and the auxiliary rudder. The drive connection includes a drive member and a driven member. One of the driving and driven members is pivotal between an engaged condition in which the drive connection is effective to transmit force between the pendulum rudder and the auxiliary rudder and disengaged condition in which the drive connection is ineffective to transmit force. The drive and driven members may be provided with teeth which are disposed in meshing engagement when the one of the driving and driven members is in the engaged condition.

Abstract: Apparatus for raising and lowering boats in water. The apparatus consists essentially of at least one float that is attached to the hull of the boat and is guided along the surface of the hull of the boat at least partially below water level when a force is applied to it. Preferably at least two floats that are permanently or displaceably attached to the apparatus support in the longitudinal direction and are provided on the side of the support which is intended to accommodate the hull of a boat. The entire device is designed so it is adjustable in height and is connected to a stationary land-based mooring point with an articulated joint. This device is especially reliable for raising a boat out of the water and docking the boat above the water line without risking canting. This result is possible in an inexpensive and very simple manner with the invention. The usable width of the entire device is greatly reduced from previously known such devices.

Abstract: A multi hulled vessel in which its two outermost hulls are parallel and have a configuration such that one hull is a mirror image of the other and are double ended, each hull is characterized by its stern part; beneath the waterline in which there is a continuation to the stern of the hulls bottom and one side surface without aftward convergence to the waterline or the fore and the aft axis, and in which the hulls other side surface converges towards the two said surfaces.

Abstract: An amphibious bicycle intended to be highly efficient, safe and maneuverable forms of both land and water transportation. This achieved by the addition of a strong, rigid frame work, small paddles in the rear wheel assembly, and durable, nonsinkable pontoons of high density styrofoam, made structurally strong and protected by linear outside structural supports sandwiching them. And finally, adding bracing at strategic points to effectively maintain the pontoons' land or water position.

Abstract: This vessel is a remote controlled pontoon-style boat. The port and starboard pontoons make up the bait holding bays with servo-actuated extraction doors located on the stern of each pontoon. This vessel is used in conjunction with normal fishing gear i.e., rod, reel, bait, and/or, lures. The extraction door is opened and the bait is inserted into the bait bay. The door is then closed and the vessel is set afloat and sent underway. When the vessel has reached your optimum fishing spot, the extraction door is opened via remote control and the bait is set loose. Fishing is then carried out in the normal way. The advantage of this bait delivery vessel is that its only limitation is the amount of line your reel will hold. The bait delivery vessel can deliver your bait with far greater accuracy and distance than normal bait casting and without the high price of a full-sized fishing boat.

Abstract: A floating child seat assembly is disclosed and includes a chair member having a seat portion and a backrest portion perpendicularly depending therefrom. Upper and lower inflatable flotation devices are secured to each side of the chair member to suspend the chair member on the surface of a body of water. A weight is secured to the bottom surface of the seat portion to maintain the chair member in an upright position. The backrest portion has a pair of opposing adjustable straps extending therefrom for securing the child within the chair member. An umbrella is removably secured to the backrest portion to shield a child from sunlight.

Abstract: The life vest of the present invention is specifically adapted to protect a user's back. This protection is achieved by way of a rigid back support which is interconnected to the internal surface of the life vest. This interconnection is achieved by way of a series of straps secured upon the internal surface of the vest. The straps, in turn, are connected to the life jacket by way of stitching or such. Through this interconnection, the life jacket is allowed a certain degree of freedom. More specifically, the life jacket is permitted vertical movement relative to the back brace.

Abstract: A wake reflector system attached to the hull of a surface or subsurface vessel attenuates the visible surface elements of a vessel's displacement wake, making the vessel less likely to be detected by passive observation means from above. The system consists of plates firmly mounted parallel to the longitudinal axis of the hull over a sufficient length and at a sufficient distance outboard from the hull to contain and affect at least the bow component of the displacement wake. The system may incorporate non-reflective means to leak or pass a calibrated portion of the wake energy through the reflector system along its length. When the vessel moves forward, the displacement wake travels to the plate system and is contained and reflected back and forth between the plate system and the hull over the length of the system, substantially attenuating the peak amplitude, integrity and outward momentum of the remaining wake. The system is applicable to both surface vessels and submarines.

Abstract: This invention refers to single hull/multi-hull sailing boats. Two suitably shaped floats are laterally applied to the hull of single hull boats; they slide from top to bottom along suitable guides.The lateral hulls of multi-hull boats also slide from top to bottom along suitable guides.This device includes a sail mast moving in function of the wind lateral thrust on sails and the mast movement makes the lee float or hull to sink.The lee float or hull sinking is used to oppose both the boat heeling and drift.The invention application gets these advantages: improvement of the boat comfort and safety, increase of sails efficiency and optimization of hull hydrodynamic performances.

Abstract: An adjustable wakeboard binding for use on a wakeboard comprising sheet material to form a heel assembly and a forefoot assembly of a boot-like enclosure. The binding is adjustable to a desired tension and foot size of a user by the use of hook and loop-type fastener materials.

Abstract: A convertible water ski tow apparatus for a ski boat is disclosed. The apparatus includes a main tube and a bracket which are attachable to the conventional fixed ski tow pylon found in virtually all ski boats. The bracket affixes the main tube to the tow pylon and permits the main tube to positioned in either of two positions. In an upright position, the main tube acts as a vertical extension of the pylon, so as to facilitate and enhance wakejumping on conventional wakeboards, water skis, or other devices. In a horizontally extending position, the main tube extends outwardly from the boat, where it can be used for instructional skiing, barefoot skiing, and other applications. The apparatus is readily convertible in the field from one position to another, and is stabilized with adjustable rigging extending to the bow of the boat.

Abstract: This is an improved trailer hitch apparatus which is self-aligning and essentially self-connecting, and which allows for maximum horizontal and vertical movement of the towed vehicle relative to the towing vehicle. The device includes a plurality of connected guide walls which converge into a spherical housing, having a circular opening at the point of convergence, and a double ring coupler device, which is attached to a standard trailer tongue, having an inner and outer annulus-shaped ring, formed so that the outer ring is a rigid extension of the trailer tongue and the inner ring rotates freely within the said outer ring. The spherical housing device is attached to the interior channel of a standard trailer hitch and when the towing vehicle is backed toward the trailer, the guide walls capture the double ring device, and slides into the spherical housing, and is secured by a coupler pin, which is inserted through the spherical housing vertically through the inner and outer rings.

Abstract: A hatch assembly includes a shaped lens or hatch cover and a rectangular shaped plastic frame member. The frame member includes an inwardly directed L-shaped cross section with an outwardly directed (away from the interior of the vessel) extension element at one end of one of the segments of the L-shaped cross section. The frame member surrounds the lens element or panel in a superposed and overlapping arrangement with a frame member abutting the vessel wall. The lens element is adjacent to and essentially surrounded by the outwardly directed extending element when the hatch is in the closed position. The hatch also includes a hinge for rotatably connecting the hatch cover and the frame member for opening and closing the hatch assembly and a gasket disposed between the outer peripheral area of the cover and the frame member. Releasable clamp member such as a dog and catch are provided for clamping the hatch in a closed position.

Abstract: A spread mooring arrangement is provided for use in deep water (greater than 200 meters) when it is advantageous to maximize the clearance between shuttle tankers used for product offloading and the anchor legs associated with a spread mooring of the permanently moored tanker. Mooring insert tubes are provided at the bow and stern of the vessel. Bow mooring lines extend from the sea floor, through an opening of the bottom of the hull of the vessel and via a bow mooring insert tube for securement on a chain pull-up deck. Stern mooring lines extend from the sea floor through an opening in the bottom of the hull of the vessel and via a stern mooring insert tube for securement on a chain pull-up deck.

Abstract: A spinnaker raising and lowering system is provided for a sailboat. The system includes a first pulley mounted in a movable mounting. A second pulley contained in a mounting which is fixed to the deck of the sailboat. A third pulley contained in a mounting that is disposed in a fixed relation to the mast of the sailboat, and is fixed above the deck, and a fourth pulley contained in a mounting that is disposed in fixed relation to the first pulley. A first rope attached to the top of the spinnaker extends around the third pulley, first pulley, second pulley and then is attached to the mounting of the first pulley. A second rope attached to the bottom of the spinnaker extends forwardly around the fourth pulley and then to the mounting of the first pulley. A third rope attached to the leading edge of the spinnaker intermediate the attachment points of the first and second ropes extends aft through a spinnaker sleeve.

Abstract: A new leg-powered boat for propelling through water by using one's legs. The inventive device includes a boat portion defined by an open upper end, a closed lower end, forward and rearward ends, and opposed side walls extending between the forward and rearward ends. The closed lower end has an interior surface. The interior surface has a rail that extends a portion of a length of the interior surface. The rail has a channel formed therein extending a length of the rail. A seat portion is slidably coupled with respect to the boat portion. The seat portion has a lower portion and an upper portion. The lower portion has a bracket that extends through the channel. A pulley system has a plurality of pulleys and a cable that extends around the pulleys. The cable is coupled to the bracket of the seat portion. The closed lower end of the boat portion has a track that extends therein from a lower surface of the closed lower end.

Abstract: A flotation element for placement under a floating dock provides an elongate rectilinear flotation block carrying two spaced upper surface beams on its upper surface, and two spaced lower surface beams on its lower surface. The upper surface beams extend from one end of the flotation block to project beyond the second end, where they define holes to interconnect a tension member, and the lower surface beams extend between the ends of the flotation block. For use, a pulling support carrying a pulling device having an elongate flexible tensile element is positioned on or adjacent to the dock. The flotation element is placed on a first dock side, the pulling device is supported to move the tensile element toward the second dock side, and the tensile element is passed beneath the dock and attached to the projecting ends of the upper surface beams.

Abstract: A marine anchor designed so that it positions itself automatically and penetrates instantly into all kinds of sea beds with maximum holding power. The geometry and ballasting of the anchor ensure automatic positioning of the anchor. The off-center position of the ballast counter-balancing the weight of the shank places the center of gravity of the anchor as close as possible to the anchor tip, so that the tip can bear practically half the total weight of the anchor, the pressure exerted by the top on the sea bed is increased, and its penetration into the sea bed is promoted. The sharp corners between the two sides of the tip aids penetration into all kind of sea beds, including sea beds covered with thick seaweed, and the concave surface of the fluke provides maximum holding power. Said anchor is suitable for mooring yachts and fishing boats, as well as for marine industrial use.