Abstract: A vessel (2) comprises a first stabilizer assembly (14) and a second stabilizer assembly, each stabilizer assembly comprising at least one submergible at least partially hollow body; and suspending means (16) for suspending the or each body from the vessel, the first and second stabilizer assemblies being suspended from substantially opposite sides of the vessel. Fins (22) are provided on the stabilizer assembly.

Abstract: A device for selectively opening and closing a fuselage coupled to a towed submarine object. The device comprises first and second shells articulatable with respect each other by a hinge assembly. A releasable locking system locks the shells on each other. Hinge members of the hinge assembly are slidable with respect to each other along the articulation axis of the shells in order to actuate the locking or unlocking of these shells.

Abstract: A catamaran lifting apparatus is disclosed for lifting objects in a marine environment. The apparatus includes first and second spaced apart barges. First and second frames span between the barges. The frames are spaced apart and connected to the barges in a configuration that spaces the barges apart. The first frame connects to the first barge with a universal joint and to the second barge with a hinged connection. The second frame connects to the second barge with a universal joint and to the first barge with a hinged connection. The hull arrangement provides flexibility in a quartering sea state due to the universal joint and hinge placement between the frames and the hulls. Each frame extends upwardly in an inverted u-shape, providing a space under the frame and in between the barges that enables a marine vessel to be positioned in between the barges and under the frames.

Abstract: A hull structure has a chine serving as a boundary between a broadside and a bottom of a hull. The hull has a configuration in which the hull has a maximum depth in a vicinity of a central position of the hull, the chine is provided so that its level position becomes gradually lower from a bow side toward a stern side, and the bottom has a cross-section having a substantially V-shape from the bow toward the stern, the V-shape having an inner angle becoming gradually smaller within a range of from about 80° to 100° from the bow toward a central portion of the hull and becoming gradually larger from the central portion thereof toward the stern.

Abstract: An apparatus for inhibiting and removing marine deposits from a submerged portion of a boat or yacht include a submersible stainless steel frame having a plurality of sections extending longitudinally and transversely under the submerged portions of a watercraft and a plurality of nozzles disposed on said sections of the frame to direct a stream of air bubbles toward and against the submerged portion of the watercraft. The apparatus also includes an air compressor, a battery and a solar source of energy for charging the battery to power the air compressor. A plurality of valves and hoses are also provided for connecting each of the nozzles to the air compressor through one of the valves to thereby control the flow of air to each of said nozzles on each of said sections of the frame. A mechanism for positioning the frame and nozzles at about 40 cm away from the lowest point of a watercraft is provided as well as a timer for periodically starting and stopping the flow of air to the nozzles.

Abstract: In a system for controlling outboard motors each mounted on a boat and each having an internal combustion engine and a shift mechanism, an actuator driving at least one of the shift mechanism and a throttle valve of the engine, and a controller controlling operation of the actuator, comprising: a navigation unit having a steering wheel installed to be freely operable by an operator and a steering angle detector producing an output indicative of a steering angle of the steering wheel, wherein the outboard motors are immovably fastened to the boat, such that each of the controllers controls the operation of the actuator cooperatively based on the output of the steering angle detector, to regulate traveling direction of the boat. With this, it becomes possible to control a traveling direction of the boat based on a steering command issued by the operator, while achieving a compact outboard motor.

Abstract: In a system for controlling outboard motors each mounted on a boat and each having an engine, a steering mechanism, a shift mechanism, an actuator driving at least one of the steering mechanism, the shift mechanism and a throttle valve of the engine, and a controller controlling operation of the actuator, comprising: a steering wheel operable by an operator; a shift/throttle lever operable by the operator; and a manipulated variable detector producing an output indicative of manipulated variable of at least one of the steering wheel and the shift/throttle lever; the manipulated variable detector being separately connected to each of the controllers in the outboard motors through an electric signal line to send the output to the controllers. With this, it becomes possible to control the operation of the actuators in the outboard motors separately for the individual outboard motors with simple structure without identifying the respective outboard motors.

Abstract: An inflatable rubber boat includes a flat bottom fabric member formed of a fabric having a front V-cut and two lateral sides, the two border edges of the front V-cut being seamed together to form a forwardly upwardly curved front end edge of the flat bottom fabric member, an elongated main inflatable airbag member fastened to the forwardly upwardly curved front end edge and two lateral sides of the flat bottom fabric member, a floorboard member having a body fitting over the flat bottom fabric member and a pointed arch-shaped rib obliquely upwardly extended from the front side of the body and fastened to the contained angle defined between the upwardly curved front end edge of the flat bottom fabric member and the elongated main inflatable airbag member, and a supplementary inflatable airbag member longitudinally set between the floorboard member and the flat bottom fabric member and inflated to stretch the flat bottom fabric member into shape.

Abstract: A towable water sports device having a hydrofoil assembly including a strut, fuselage and front and rear blades carried by the fuselage wherein said parts are extruded aluminum or aluminum alloy.

Abstract: An amphibious self-engaging paddle track propulsion system mountable on any floater, vessel or vehicle for enabling the ability to selectively travel over land or water, the system having an elongated endless paddle track, plurality of spring-loaded paddles, plurality of paddle supporting terrain treads, plurality of terrain treads, drive sprocket, chain sprocket, rear sprocket, frame, drive sprocket axle and rear sprocket axle wherein the terrain treads are secured to the paddle track and the paddles are secured to certain terrain treads wherein the halter and paddle are hinged together for allowing the retraction and extension of the paddle for land and water locomotion, respectively.

Abstract: An asymmetric sail furling and unfurling device comprises a tubular outer foil and an inner stay foil, the inner and outer foils providing a foil assembly adapted to transmit a torque for furling an unhoisted sail, which is furled on a sheath foil fitted on the outer foil, with the assembly of the foils and sheath being flexible.

Abstract: A stabilized watercraft having a pointed bow, a transom and curved sides, and a rigid buoyancy tube which extends from the bow to a point past the transom. The tube has a cross-section which is approximately rectangular, but is generally somewhat wider in a lower portion than in an upper portion thereof over at least an aft portion of the boat. The tube has a dead rise in the range of 0° to +15° with the upper surface of the tube being flared outwardly in the range of 30°-80° at the bow portion of the watercraft and an angle of 60°-80° at the stern portion.

Abstract: A hydration system for kayak integration includes a deck port configured to allow fluid passage through a deck of a kayak. The system includes a reservoir having an internal sealable compartment configured to contain a liquid under pressure. The reservoir has a first port configured to receive pressurizing gasses into the compartment, a second port, and a third port through which the liquid can be supplied into the compartment. A transfer tube couples the reservoir to the deck port. The transfer tube has a first end configured to be coupled to the second port of the reservoir and a second end configured to be coupled to the deck port at a position within an interior space of the kayak. A pressurizer is configured to be coupled to the first port of the reservoir. The pressurizer is operable to supply the pressurizing gasses. A drinking tube has a first end with a valve and a second end. The second end is configured to be coupled to the deck port at a position exterior to the kayak.

Abstract: A method for controlling a marine vessel having a first steering nozzle, a reversing deflector and at least one of a bow thruster and a second steering nozzle is disclosed. The method comprises any of the acts of inducing a net transverse thrust to the marine vessel in response to a transverse thrust component signal, without substantially inducing any forward-reverse thrust or rotational thrust to the marine vessel, or inducing a net forward-reverse thrust to the marine vessel in response to a forward-reverse thrust component signal without substantially inducing any transverse thrust or rotational thrust to the marine vessel, or inducing a net rotational thrust to the marine vessel in response to the rotational thrust component signal without substantially inducing any forward-reverse thrust or transverse thrust to the marine vessel.

Abstract: A boarding aid assists a person in embarking on and disembarking from a deployed dinghy having inflatable pontoon sides with inboard side portions providing opposite inboard side locations. A handgrip bar is supported by a support structure coupled with the dinghy at the opposite inboard side locations, at least substantially midway between the bottom and the gunwale of each pontoon side of the dinghy. When the support structure is in an erect position, the handgrip bar is placed across the beam of the dinghy, with the handgrip bar spaced from the bow and the stern of the dinghy, at an elevated position placing handgrips directly above gunwales of the pontoon sides, rendering a handgrip accessible for ready grasping by a person remaining essentially erect as the person steps aboard or leaves the dinghy. The support structure is selectively removable for stowing apart from the dinghy.

Abstract: A surf ski system to enable a user to surf waves. This system includes a pair of surf skis, each surf ski being in the form of a floatation device including a floating hull, fore and aft ends, longitudinal axis connecting the fore and aft ends and a transverse axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. A pair of flexible connecting straps are provided connecting the pair of surf skis, each surf ski having a foot well and toe straps for receiving and partially restraining the feet of a user. One of the flexible connecting straps is located fore of the foot wells and one of the flexible connecting straps being aft of the foot wells. Each of the floatation devices has an upper surface and a lower surface and side walls for facilitating a user's ability to plane on water and a skeg extending from each lower surface, the side walls and lower surface meeting at an edge forming a hard chine there between.

Abstract: A pontoon boat having enhanced handling characteristics includes a deck, a central pontoon mounted to said deck, two outer pontoons mounted to said deck on respective opposite sides of said central pontoon, and a motor, wherein the central pontoon extends below the outer pontoons to create a V-shaped hull, and the motor is capable of causing said center and outer pontoons to plane during normal operation.

Abstract: An automated bimini top device comprises a foldable frame assembly adapted to carry a flexible canvas material thereon and powered to move the canvas selectively between a retracted position and an extended position. The frame assembly includes a rear bow member supported in a fixed raised position, a front bow member adapted to slide along a length of the rear bow and pivot relative thereto, and a middle bow member pivotally connected along the length of the front bow and adapted to move in an opposite rotational direction thereto. Actuator means assembled to the rear bow member are operatively connected to move the front bow member in reversible directions outward and away from the rear bow into the extended position and inward and toward the rear bow into the retracted position.

Abstract: A scupper plug apparatus is foot-operable, by a person standing next to the scupper, to apply substantially more force for sealing the scupper than is typically achievable through application of force by the hand or arm of a person installing a scupper plug. A resilient body of the scupper plug formed from highly conformable closed-cell foam to closely match the shape of the scupper. A rolling member is used as a cam follower in an actuation arrangement for compressing the resilient body.

Abstract: A hook seat tightening structure for ship covers comprises a body constituted by a seat and a housing, wherein two rollers, one turntable, one wheel, one lock bolt, and one lock member are located therein. A depressing piece and a tenon are located at two sides of the lock bolt respectively. The lock bolt can be rotated and elastically restored by the tenon, which is connected with a spring. The depressing piece is pressed against one-way ratchets on the turntable, and the lock bolt can be rotated subject to a control by a key. A rope enters and is reeved on the turntable and wheel, to constitute a tightening device permitting a one-way gliding of the rope. Accordingly, when the lock member is locked by rotating the key, the tenon on the lock member can be latched on the depressing piece of the lock bolt, thereby achieving a locking function.