Abstract: There is provided a watercraft in which a controlling state before a start-up changes less easily and an operating state of a remote controller and a remote controller lever for operating the watercraft propulsion unit is easily kept stable, although at least one of watercraft propulsion units has been in operation and other watercraft propulsion unit(s) starts-up. Remote controllers are connected to watercraft propulsion units. The remote controllers include controlling units, and remote controller levers corresponding to the watercraft propulsion units. The controlling units are mutually connected together to communicate with each other. When one of the watercraft propulsion units has been in operation and the other one start-up from a stop state, the controlling unit corresponding to the start-up watercraft propulsion unit recognizes a controlling state of the controlling unit in operation and controls to agree with the controlling state thereof.

Abstract: A waterboard with externally adjustable stiffness includes a stringer assembly having a rotatable beam to modulate the stiffness of the beam in a selected direction to impart a desired stiffness to the waterboard.

Abstract: A propeller assembly has first and second propeller blades pivotably mounted on a propeller hub. The first and second propeller blades are pivotable with respect to the propeller hub about corresponding first and second pivot axes to vary a pitch of the first and second propeller blades. A support member has a first end at least partially disposed within the first propeller blade and a second end at least partially disposed within the second propeller blade. The first end has a first central longitudinal axis generally coaxial with the first pivot axis. The second end has a second central longitudinal axis generally coaxial with the second pivot axis. A gear case having a propeller and a marine outboard engine having a propeller are also disclosed.

Abstract: A flotation recreational device consists of a buoyant vessel having a semispherical exterior surface and a sufficient internal area adapted to accommodate an operator. The vessel is configured to have a geometrical center which is a metacenter of a spherical buoyant body serving as a base of the partially-spherical exterior surface. The center of sphere is spaced from and located above the center of gravity of the operator, so the radius of sphere is greater than the height of said center of gravity. The stability of a vessel-operator system is determined by a stability of a distance between the metacenter and the center of gravity of the operator. The vessel can be in the form of a circular shell, an elliptical shell, or a barrel.

Abstract: A cover for a flotation device includes a single piece fabric configured and dimensioned so as to slip over and completely enclose an individual noodle type flotation device and adapted for removal and replacement by the same or another cover. The cover possesses reopenable closures such as drawstring, zipper, button, snap and/or hook and loop type closures at the ends of the cover or along its length.

Abstract: A boat comprising an assembled modular seat formed from two individual, modular seating components. Each seating component includes a base and a seating frame secured thereto. The seating frame further includes a front wall, a back wall, and a connecting structure extending therebetween. The connecting structure forms a void or depression extending substantially entirely between the front wall and the back wall of the seating frame. Extending from the front wall to the back wall and across the depression formed by the connecting structure is a layer of tightly stretched, resiliently extensible fabric support material. The support material, which may be attached directly to the seating frame, can then be covered by cushioning material and/or a final covering, such as foam and/or vinyl, respectively, to form the final seating surface.

Abstract: A deployable seating platform preferably includes a base configured for attachment to a horizontal surface, such as the underside of a swimming platform on a boat. The base is coupled to a slide and pivot mechanism, which is coupled to a first end of an elongated member, with the second end of the elongated member coupled to a seat. The slide and pivot mechanism allows the elongated member to slide and pivot from a non-deployed position to a deployed position and allows the elongated member to slide and pivot from the deployed position to the non-deployed position. When in the non-deployed position, the deployable seating platform is out of the water and out of the way under the swimming platform. When in the deployed position, the seat of the deployable seating platform is in the water, providing a place for a person to sit in the water.

Abstract: A method of indicating a deceleration of a watercraft is disclosed. The method comprises creating a spray of water using a reverse gate of the watercraft. The spray of water extends above a water level of a body of water in which the watercraft operates. The spray of water is created when the reverse gate of the watercraft is in a lowered position and the watercraft is decelerating. An alternate method comprises creating a spray of water using a reverse gate of the watercraft only when decelerating the watercraft. A watercraft for carrying out at least one of the methods is also disclosed.

Abstract: Keel or fin (1) for a watercraft such as a surfboard is conventional in shape but comprises major portion (2) fixed to the board by peg (10) and minor, flexible, trailing portion (3) fixed to major portion (2). Minor portion (3) has a more rigid leading edge (16) which slides dovetail fashion onto trailing edge (8, 9) of major portion (2) and is locked in place by grub screw (7). Minor portion (3) has core (11) of rubber allowing it to flex sideways under water pressure. Excessive movement of trailing edge (12) of minor portion (3) is prevented when edge (12) contacts stops (4) positioned on either side on the board. Minor portion (3) may be completely surrounded in an aperture in major portion (2) or may have apertures to which air is fed via ducting.

Abstract: A surfing board and method for manufacture that include the cutting and bending of a buoyant material to a flat arch with a concave upperside and a convex underside to define an elongated body. T-shaped longitudinal cutouts extend from one end to the other along the upperside and underside, respectively. The T-shaped longitudinal cutouts are kept at a substantially parallel and spaced apart relationship with respect to each other with the vertical leg of the T-shaped cutouts coplanarly disposed opposite to each other and the crossed legs of the T-shaped cutouts substantially flush with the upperside and underside, respectively. Two elongated reinforcement core members are longitudinally coextensive with the body and being mounted within, and conforming to, the cutouts that are kept at a substantially parallel and spaced apart relationship with respect to each other.

Abstract: An apparatus that provides for rescue of victims trapped in a body of water is disclosed. The invention utilizes a conventional fire hose as the main component of the invention. One end of the hose is capped with a retrieval end comprising a solid cap with a swivel based tether. The end is also provided with a pair of removable rudders which aid in the guiding have said apparatus in a controlled manner through the water. The opposite end of the fire hose is capped with a pressurizing mechanism that allows for the inflation and deflation of the fire hose. When inflated, the preferred embodiment floats upon the water surface thus providing for simplified water rescues. The invention is also envisioned as providing simplified ice rescues as well. The use of the present invention provides a greatly simplified method of water rescue which not only provides for quicker rescues for victims, but increased safety for rescue personnel as well.

Abstract: An anchor for small watercraft. It is extremely lightweight, and can be stored in a very small space. The anchor consists of a pear-shaped fabric ballast container. This container is made up of a number of matching side panels and a circular bottom disc. A set of four metal or composition flukes attached to the ballast container near the bottom and at the widest part of the container. Each fluke is about 9-11? long, ¾? wide, ½? thick, with an angled tip at one or both ends. The flukes are thus deployed by weighting the bag with material like gravel or sand, which forces the flukes to protrude sharp angle from the ballast bag. When filled with material, the anchor approximates the function of traditional fluke or bell anchors. The anchor can be turned inside out for self-storage, requiring no additional storage container.

Abstract: A steering system for craft turns a motor from a fixed position to a secondary position. As a result, the craft turns right or left as desired by a user of the craft. A control unit instructs the steering system to turn the craft to a desired orientation. A steering motor is activated that turns a cam attached to a shaft. The shaft is attached to the motor. The cam also includes an indent and sensors to indicate when the motor is in the fixed position or a secondary position that corresponds to a maximum angle for turning the motor. The steering system returns the motor back to the fixed position when the user indicates the steering system is to stop turning, or when the secondary position is reached. The steering system returns the motor back to the fixed position without knowledge of the user. Thus, the motor stays in one of three positions unless instructed by the control unit to turn.

Abstract: An appliance for lowering and tracking an underwater vessel includes a carrier arranged on an end of a holding cable; a holding device on the carrier used to receive/release the underwater vessel with a controllable holding element; and a tracking device arranged on the carrier and used for acoustically determining the position of the underwater vessel lowered into the water. As a result, a light, compact lowering appliance is provided that is suitable for handling vessels on small platforms and ensures acoustically undisturbed operation of the tracking device, which is arranged on one end of the carrier, the carrier being mounted such that it can be pivoted on the holding cable in an articulated manner in a central longitudinal region thereof. Following release of the underwater vessel from the holding element, a pivoting device pivots the carrier including the tracking device out of a lowering position, into a tracking position.

Abstract: A steering connecting device for a boat couples the steering of a primary propulsion device and an auxiliary propulsion device. The primary propulsion device has an outer surface and is attached to the transom of the boat and an auxiliary propulsion device. There is a hinge assembly hingeably attached to and essentially parallel to the transom of the boat. There is a mounting plate fixedly attached to the hinge assembly. A tie rod is rotatably attached at a first end to the outer surface of the primary propulsion device and rotatably attached at a second end to the mounting plate. The auxiliary propulsion device is rigidly attached to the mounting plate. As the primary propulsion device is rotated from left to right during steering of the boat, the mounting plate also rotates from left to right thereby rotating the auxiliary propulsion device in unison with the primary propulsion device.

Abstract: A system for steering a watercraft propelled by a water jet includes a control lever supported to pivot rightward and leftward about a first control axis, a nozzle supported on the watercraft to pivot rightward and leftward and through which water is discharged from the watercraft, first and second cables, and a steering module interconnected by the cables to the control lever and connected to the nozzle, supported to pivot laterally about a second control axis and to pivot the nozzle laterally in response to pivoting of the control lever about the first control axis.

Abstract: The device comprises at least one flap member (3) having a rear flap portion that runs in a plate plane, and a forward portion, as seen in the direction of motion (F). The forward portion (8) is connected to the object (2) in such manner that the flap portion (17) can be moved in the fluid transverse to the plate plane and between two positions which are on their respective sides of a neutral place (P). Furthermore, the device comprises an actuating means (8, 9) which allows a freely oscillating motion of the flap member (3; 61, 62), and a drive unit (6) for actuating the flap member (3; 61, 62) when the valve of an oscillation amplitude of the flap member (3; 61, 62) is less than a predetermined threshold value.

Abstract: A marine drive has a break-away mount provided by hollowed-out threaded fasteners mounting first and second sections of the drive and breaking away in response to a given underwater impact against the second section to protect the first section and the vessel.

Abstract: Disclosed is a placement system for a free-flying kite-type wind-attacked element in a watercraft in which the kite-type wind-attacked element comprising a profiled wing is connected to the vessel body via a traction rope. Said wind-attacked element can be guided from a neutral position on board the watercraft into a raised position that is free from obstacles located at the same or a higher level. An azimuthally pivotable fixture is provided by means of which the wind-attacked element can be brought into a position in which the same is exposed to a sufficient wind effect. Furthermore, a docking receiving device is provided which is to be removably connected to the docking adapter of the wind-attacked element on the side facing away from the wind while also allowing the wind-attacked element to be furled with the aid of automatically engaging holding means.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed to design resilient hydrofoils (164) which are capable of having substantially similar large scale blade deflections under significantly varying loads. The methods permit the hydrofoil (164) to experience significantly large-scale deflections to a significantly reduced angle of attack under a relatively light load while avoiding excessive degrees of deflection under increased loading conditions. A predetermined compression range on the lee portion of said hydrofoil (164) permits the hydrofoil (164) to deflect to a predetermined reduced angle of attack with significantly low bending resistance.