Abstract: A planing vessel has a hull and a propulsion and control system. The hull has a plane bottom formed of an equicrural triangle in the front and a rectangle at the back, two boards and one or more swell guideways. Each swell guideway has an inclined top line with a lower front and a higher back denting upwardly into and extending lengthwise throughout the bottom and paralleling its centerline. The hull also has a pair of wave-splash guards inlaid or dented one into the boards as an integrated body, a deck, a cabin and an upper construction. The planing vessel so formed can generate sufficient hydrodynamic buoyancy with reasonable distribution to quickly lift itself out of the water and enter a planing state. The planing vessel can have various fine performances, desirable speed and stability to move on rough waters.

Abstract: Two embodiments of jet-propelled watercraft having an arrangement wherein both the jet propulsion unit and engine of the watercraft can be accessed through access openings formed in the hull to the rear of the passenger's compartment. In addition, a telltale system is provided for discharging the water from the engine cooling jacket in a locale where the operator can readily view it to assure himself that the engine is receiving adequate coolant.

Abstract: An easy-releasing cleat for sailboat deck equipment includes a sheave against which the rope can be pressed by a toothed roller rotatably mounted on an axle. The a toothed roller is provided with a controlable lock which can be set either in an unlocked position to let the a toothed roller freely rotate on its axle and the rope freely run between the roller and the sheave, or in locked position to prevent the roller from rotating on its axle and to hold firmly the rope against the sheave as a conventional cam would do.

Abstract: An improved exhaust probe arrangement within an exhaust system of a small watercraft increases the accuracy of the probe's readings. The aperture is located upstream of a point where cooling water is introduced into the exhaust system for silencing purposes. As a result, the ingress and egress of exhaust gases flow into and out of the aperture is generally unimpeded by the cooling water. The tendency of water to enter and clog the aperture is also reduced. The precision of the exhaust probe measurements consequently is greatly increased.

Abstract: A sail, according to one aspect of the present invention, comprises an inner membrane and two outer membranes, each attached substantially around the periphery of a respective side of the sail to form a respective pocket. The camber of the inner membrane is less than that of the outer sails so that, during use, the sail adopts an airfoil cross section. An inflatable compartment is provided adjacent the luff edge of the sail.

Abstract: In an outboard marine engine, an air intake passage is mostly defined by a partition wall which extends substantially horizontally inside the engine cover so as to define an air introduction chamber above an engine room accommodating an engine. The air intake passage is defined in such a manner that the intake air is initially guided along a horizontal path between upper and lower plates, and is forced upward through an opening in the upper plate by a first vertical baffle plate extending between front edges of the upper and lower plates before it goes over a second vertical baffle plate extending from the upper plate and finally enters the engine room. Therefore, any heavier contents such as water droplets are effectively removed from the intake air by the actions of inertia and the gravitational force. Because the intake air passage is mostly defined by the partition wall, any design change in the air intake arrangement can be readily and economically accommodated by changing the partition wall.

Abstract: Self-righting inflatable life-raft (1) comprising a peripheral edge (2) consisting of at least one inflatable tubular chamber surrounding a bottom (3) secured in leaktight fashion to the said tubular chamber, at least one inflatable tubular hoop (4) extending above the raft between two opposite sides of the inflatable tubular chamber (2); at least two more or less parallel hoops (4) are provided; each hoop (4) is equipped with a reserve of gas (8) projecting from the outside of the hoop (4) and in a region thereof which is at an angle (.alpha.) of approximately 30 to 60.degree. above the horizontal, the assembly formed by the hoop (4) and the reserve (8) being asymmetric with respect to the vertical mid-plane (5) of the raft; and a heavy weight (6, 7) is secured to the raft along that one of its edges that is on the same side as the abovementioned reserves (8).

Abstract: A flotation or buoyancy aid comprises an elongate substantially straight flexible strip of closed cell foam material (12) bent into a U-configuration so as to define a pair of arm portions (12A, 12B) extending from a bight portion (34). The bight portion (34) is arranged to rest behind the neck of the user and the arm portions (12A, 12B) are arranged to extend downwardly over the shoulders and chest of the user. A pair of securing straps (16, 24) are passed through reinforced apertures (18, 20, 26, 28) in the arm portions (12A, 12B) so as to hold the arm portions in position against the chest of the user. The invention extends to a method of manufacturing a flotation aid, which includes, inter alia, the steps of cutting the strip from a block of foam material and spraying a conformal coating on the strip so as to form an integral skin.

Abstract: A pollution control system to control pollutants in water surrounding a drydock includes a housing extending from each end of the drydock wing walls about the perimeter of the drydock so as to completely encircle an inboard deck of the drydock. The drydock moves between a floating position to a submerged position upon filling drydock buoyancy tanks with water. The housing includes a slot to allow positioning of a removable screen in an opening in the top of the housing. The screens allow the water to flow to and from the deck, as the deck moves between the floating position and the submerged position. A baffle plate is positioned inboard of the housing on the drydock deck to inhibit movement of pollutants between the baffle plate and the housing. Advantageously, a process for reducing pollutants in water surrounding a drydock includes removal of the screen from the housing to protect it from ultraviolet effects or from welding operations during maintenance and repair of a drydocked vessel.

Abstract: A modular enclosure system particularly suited for use aboard a ship comprises a modular enclosure which is easily installed into and removed from an exoskeletal frame that is shock-mounted to a fixed surface, such as the deck of a ship. An enclosure is installed by placing it within a respective frame via complementary guide rails. A securing mechanism locks the enclosure into place within the frame, and an ejection mechanism enables an enclosure to be easily removed for purposes of maintenance, repair or reconfiguration, or in the event of an emergency. The enclosures are preferably water-tight and float if ejected into the sea. Rubberized boots surrounding all points of entry enhance the survivability of the enclosures in a nuclear/biological/chemical (NBC) environment. Shock-mounting the frames to the deck eliminates the need to shock-mount individual pieces of equipment and enables the use of cheaper and more readily available commercial off-the-shelf equipment.

Abstract: A trolling plate assembly for mounting on the motor of a small boat. The trolling plate assembly has a mounting bracket comprised of a flat plate with flanges extending upwardly from, and perpendicular to, the longitudinal edges of the plate. A fixed axle extends between the flanges. A movable locking rod extends between the flanges forward of the axle and parallel thereto. An outer, frame plate has cam ears located at one end thereof. The cam ears are pivotally attached to the axle. A trigger plate is positioned inwardly of the frame plate and has cam ears pivotally attached to the axle. The locking rod is urged by spring means toward the axle and into compressive contact with the outer surfaces of the cam ears of the frame and trigger plates. In a non-trolling position, the locking rod is seated in non-trolling recesses located on the outer surface of the cam ears of the frame plate to thereby lock the frame plate in a substantially horizontal position.

Abstract: An improved stringer for a recreational board such as a water board or similar riding structure. The stringer has a center panel with side surfaces and at least one longitudinal cavity within its center panel. A hollow member is positioned within the longitudinal cavity. The hollow member has at least two ends and is closed at these ends. Within the hollow member is a fluid substance which is less in volume than a total volume of the hollow member which thereby permits the fluid substance to move back and forth within the hollow member which, by such movement, facilitates momentum, acceleration, leverage, and drive. The center panel may have one or more such cavities and fluid-filled hollow member. Depending on desired performance, these cavities with their fluid-filled hollow members may also be positioned adjacent to the sides of the center panel.

Abstract: A cooling system for an outboard motor propelling a watercraft and powered by an engine, is disclosed. The cooling system includes a first cooling system comprising a coolant flow path through the engine and an oil cooler for cooling the engine and oil of the lubricating system. The cooling system includes a second cooling system comprising a water path from the body of water in which the motor is operating to a heat exchanger and thereon to a discharge back to the body of water. The first cooling system includes two branches, one branch which passes through the heat exchanger and a second branch which does not. A control is provided for routing the coolant through the first branch for cooling within the heat exchanger when the coolant is hot, and for routing through the second branch when the coolant is cool, allowing the engine to warm up.

Abstract: A boat in accordance with the present invention includes boat hull and a pair of elongated members or skis or a modification to a standard boat hull to add on a dual ski attachment to make it a dual ski boat. The hull has a port side, a starboard side, an aft and a bow. One of the elongated members is adjustably mounted to and extends along the port side of the hull and the other of the elongated members is adjustably mounted to and extends along the starboard side of the hull. Each of the elongated members is adjustable between a first, retracted position wherein the member is retracted into a first recess in and is substantially flush with the hull and a second, extended position wherein each of the members extends down below and at least one foot behind the aft of the hull. The elongated members each have a forward section and a rearward section.

Abstract: An improved lift creating sail and sail system where a substantially rectangular mainsail made up of a plurality of panels forms an aerodynamically efficient airfoil that is supported at approximately its center on a pivot so that it has three degrees of freedom. The mainsail can be tilted athartships, rotated along a yaw axis, and tilted fore and aft to create lift and minimum drag. An optional jib sail that tracks the motion of the mainsail also produces lift. The mainsail and jib sail can be trimmed and positioned along three degrees of freedom to obtain maximum lift and minimum drag as well as a stable system. The effect of this sail system is to increase the speed of the boat by 15-25%.

Abstract: A seat for a small watercraft includes a shock-absorbing member that helps to absorb shocks transmitted to the seat during watercraft operation. The seat and the watercraft are configured to protect the shock-absorbing member from heat and water damage. The watercraft includes a hull having a length and a width. The hull carries an engine and includes a raised pedestal. A plurality of ventilation devices are located along the length of the hull. The seat is supported by the raised pedestal and includes a seat base, a cushion arrangement, and a seat skin that substantially covers the cushion arrangement. The cushion arrangement includes a cushion and the aforementioned viscoelastic member. A seal is provided between the seat base and the raised pedestal to protect the viscoelastic member from water damage. The viscoelastic member is provided at least partially between a pair of the ventilation devices. The seat base includes a first base portion and a second base portion and a plurality of air flow openings.

Abstract: A suction anchor for mooring systems, especially from floating installations for offshore production of oil and gas. The anchor is made in the form of a hollow cylindrical body (2) that is open at both ends and is completely embedded in the seabed (1), i.e. it is surrounded by seabed mass on all sides. Such a deep siting of the anchor (2) results in several advantages. For instance, the anchor (2) will penetrate to a depth with presumably firmer masses. The danger of a split on the back of the anchor is also avoided. The anchor can be left behind after use, because it lies at an approved depth. The anchor is mounted by means of a top piece designed as an inverted beaker-shaped part provided with a vent hole so that the anchor can be suction penetrated. The top piece is recovered and used again for lowering other similar anchors. Advantageous embodiments/sitings of the anchor cable (5,7) connected to the anchor are also described.

Abstract: A multihull navigating structure, such as a catamaran, includes a floating base (10) comprising two hulls (12), means (14) to render integral the hulls, a motor (16) disposed in at least one of the hulls, fluid and electric power supply networks, a control station (20), a support platform (22) integral with the floating base (10) and adapted to operate in two operating modes. In the first mode passenger modules (24) are carried on the platform and in the second mode freight modules are carried on the platform.

Abstract: A turret mooring device includes a vessel carrying a turret, the turret being connected to the hull of the vessel by an upper and a lower bearing arrangement, the turret being provided with devices for fastening and guiding anchor lines and with at least one fluid line extending downwardly through the turret, the lower bearing arrangement being a slide bearing including a slide block having a sliding surface, and a slide plate, the slide block being connected to the outer wall of the turret and the slide plate being connected to the hull of the vessel, a clearance being provided between the slide block and the slide plate such that in case a bending moment exceeding a predetermined value is applied to the turret by the anchor lines relative to the upper bearing arrangement, the deflections of the turret are limited by contact of the slide block on the slide plate.

Abstract: A water ski training apparatus is provided which includes a training apparatus body that is adapted to be connected to a water ski tow rope. The training apparatus body supports the user's feet directly or the water skis which in turn support the feet. The apparatus body is disengagable from the skis once the skier rises to a standing position in the water. In one form, the ski training apparatus body has left and right openings for left and right skis. The openings are larger than the skis so that the skis are able to slide easily within the openings and ultimately slide off the front end of each ski once the skier becomes at least partially elevated out of the water to a standing position. A tow rope clamp is supported on the training apparatus body for connecting the body to the tow rope so that the user can hold the end of the tow rope with his hands while the training apparatus body is secured to another portion of the rope by the clamp.