Abstract: A winged body has a wing structure with at least two wings coupled to a body structure, each wing having a wing tip. The wings wrap around the body structure when in a stowed configuration within a launch tube, and the wings spring outward from the body structure to a deployed configuration when the winged body is removed from the launch tube. The wings can take deformed-deployed configurations when the winged body is towed at a relatively high speed through the water.

Abstract: An amphibious vehicle for one or more operators is equipped with four buoyant amphibious propulsion wheels, the wheels having a number of collapsible pockets disposed about the surface of the wheel. Each pocket comprises an opening oriented in the direction of rotation of the wheel and an outlet means distal to the opening for draining the pocket. Methods for using the amphibious wheel are also disclosed.

Abstract: A tiller handle assembly for an outboard motor is provided that comprises a steering handle having a generally hollow body. A throttle grip is attached to a front end of the steering handle, and a shift mechanism coupled to the steering handle. The shift mechanism includes an moveable operator that can be moved at least between two positions: one of the positions corresponding to a drive operational mode of the outboard motor and the other position corresponding to a neutral operational mode of the outboard motor. A sensor device is disposed within the hollow body of the steering handle and is configured to determine whether the movable operator is positioned in one of the two position. The location of the sensor device within the hollow body makes mounting and maintenance of the sensor device easier and generally isolates the sensor device from water.

Abstract: A small boat comprises a steering wheel and a steering angle sensor that detects a steering angle of the steering wheel. A plurality of propulsion units are mounted to a transom of the boat. Electrically operable steering devices are coupled with the respective propulsion units. A control unit controls an output of each of the propulsion units. The controller adjusts the output, a trim angle or a height of a propeller of the propulsion units in accordance with the steering angle and a running condition of the boat to control a total thrust and a total running direction of the respective propulsion units.

Abstract: A powered bimini top is raised and lowered via a remote control. A power actuator operating the top includes a bi-directional reversible pump turned in one direction to lower the top to a fully retracted position and turned in the other direction to raise the top via hydraulic actuators. The top may alternatively be raised and lowered by a spring or a screw actuator. A rigid link is provided on either the watercraft or one of the main struts of the top. The pump, spring or screw actuator causes the main strut to be held against the rigid link (or the rigid link against the watercraft) with sufficient force to prevent substantial relative movement during transport. Secondary struts are biased toward corresponding main struts by elongated elastic cords. A pressure-responsive switch is provided on one of the struts to reverse direction of the top if the strut encounters an obstruction.

Abstract: A swimsuit includes a vest provided with buoyant floatation members, a bottom portion in the form of swim trunks, and a coupling mechanism for selectively coupling the vest to the trunks. The vest may be uncoupled from the swim trunks to permit a user to remove the swim trunks while still wearing the vest, or to remove the vest while still wearing the swim trunks.

Abstract: A boat with a controllable wake, including a boat hull with a propulsion system. A wake controlling device includes first and second plates with a bottom surface which is convexly curved between their forward and rear ends, and first and second mounts secured to the port and starboard sides, respectively, of the boat transom and securing the forward ends of the plates for pivoting about axes which are behind the boat transom and generally lie parallel to the plane of the aft boat bottom adjacent the first and second mounts. Plate controls extend between the transom and the plates to adjustably pivot the plates relative to the mounts. A plurality of generally triangular fins extend from the plates at substantially right angles to the plate bottom surfaces and extend at substantially right angles from the axes. Side plates are on the lateral edges of the first and second plates.

Abstract: A collapsible or compactable hydrofoil device having front and rear foils, a support structure and a steering mechanism that may be collapsed into a compact size for transport and storage. The steering mechanism includes several releasably coupled components that are in turn coupled to a drive platform and drive foil. The drive platform may be configured in a plurality of embodiments that each achieve ready disassembly and reassembly. The drive foil may be configured of multiple releasably couplable sections.

Abstract: A suspension system (2) for a boat (4), which suspension system (2) is for mounting to a hull (6) of the boat (4), and which suspension system (2) comprises a single accommodation unit (8) for at least one person travelling on the boat (4), and suspension means (10) for providing suspension for the accommodation unit (8) with respect to the hull (6) of the boat (4), and the suspension system (2) being such that is prevents or reduces shocks to the hull (6) caused by the boat (4) travelling through the water from being transmitted to the accommodation unit (8), and the suspension system (2) being such that is enables weight transfer between the accommodation unit (8) and the hull (6) for enhancing handling and ride characteristics of the boat (4).

Abstract: Presented is a way to reduce the wave drag of high speed ships by ingesting wave energy into water propulsors disposed at the bow and/or on the sides of the main hull of the ship. A forward secondary bow disposed at a lower portion of the main bow of the ship is an optimum location to have bow water propulsor water inlets. Performance of the water propulsors can be enhanced by using Coanda effect water energizers at the inlets to the water propulsors. Water propulsor discharge is preferably into an air layer on the underside of the ship's main hull.

Abstract: An operation device for a water-jet propulsion watercraft includes a first rotational shaft and a second rotational shaft. A first link can be rotatable about the first rotational shaft and a second link can be rotatable about the second rotational shaft. A bridging link can be configured to be capable of moving in parallel. A rotational end of the first link and a rotational end of the second link can be coupled such that an imaginary straight line connecting the rotational end to the first rotational shaft is parallel to an imaginary straight line connecting the rotational end to the second rotational shaft. A holding section can be provided on the bridging link to be held and operated by an operator.

Abstract: Foldable boat covers provide various features including a cover portion which is foldable. Other features include hinges allowing the base structure to be folded. By folding the cover portion, the base structure, or both the cover portion and base structure, the boat may be placed in a garage or on a covered boat lift with a lesser likelihood of the boat cover interfering.

Abstract: An entrapment tunnel watercraft vessel having three hulls consists of a main hull and two amas arranged outboard of the main hull with the keels of the three hulls being parallel. The main hull is a narrow, vee hull with variable, rearwardly decreasing deadrise. The amas have very fine bows and narrow, asymmetric deep-V hulls, with nearly vertical slab outboard sides above their keels and variable reverse deadrise on their inboard sides with the reverse deadrise angles decreasing from bow to stem. The tunnels on each side of the main hull are formed by three distinct surfaces, the sides of the main hull above its chine, the reverse deadrise inboard sides of each ama upward from their keels and a ceiling surface transversely spanning the aforementioned sides and having rearwardly increasing deadrise and rearwardly decreasing width. The tunnel ceilings slopes down from the bow to a section aft of midship where the ceiling height above the keel remains essentially constant.

Abstract: An outboard motor steering system includes a hydraulic fluid supply mechanism connected to the steering hydraulic cylinder to supply hydraulic fluid thereto disposed in a space formed between the stern brackets and the swivel case. In other words, since the hydraulic fluid supply mechanism is incorporated into the outboard motor as a unit, the structure can be made simpler than that of the related art and the number of parts in the entire system can be reduced and moreover the work of installation into the boat's hull can be simplified. Also, operating efficiency is improved for an electric motor serving as the source of driving force for a hydraulic pump that supplies hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic cylinder used for steering, and power consumption is reduced.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a shaped panel of material that is buoyant in water having a top with a width, a bottom with a total width, a front, a rear, and two sides, wherein the bottom of the shaped panel contains a shallow groove, the groove being spaced equidistant from the sides of the panel. The groove has a bottom with a width, 2 sides, and a depth. The bottom of the groove is flat and the width of the groove comprises at least ? of the total width of the bottom of the body board. The width of the bottom is smaller than the width of the top and the width of the groove at the front and rear of the bottom are equal. The width of the groove at a point equidistant from the front and the rear of the bottom is smaller that said width at the front and rear of the bottom.

Abstract: Proposed is a height adjusting mechanism for a tiller handle (23) of an outboard motor (1). An adjustment piece (45) is detachably attached to the front end of a handle support bracket (22) which extends rearwards from the outboard motor main body (3). The adjustment piece is configured to be attached to the front end of the handle support member in two or more different positions and provided with a corresponding number of spacer portions (47-50) having different thicknesses so as to interpose a selected one of the spacer portions between corresponding stopper surfaces (41, 42) of the tiller handle and handle support bracket depending on the positions of the adjustment piece. Thereby, the height adjusting mechanism for the tiller handle is avoided from protruding laterally or vertically from the base end of the tiller handle so that the external appearance is not impaired and interferences with the surrounding parts can be effectively prevented.

Abstract: A paravane for a marine seismic survey system includes a float and at least one diverter operatively coupled to the float. The diverter is configured to redirect flow of water past the paravane with respect to a direction of motion of the paravane through water. The paravane also includes a steering device. The steering device is configured to controllably redirect the flow of water so as to control an amount of lateral force generated by the paravane.

Abstract: This invention concerns a remote control unmanned boat which can be freely operated by remote control and a remote control device. The remote control unmanned boat comprises a propelling power source 11 for generating a propelling power, a steering device 13 for freely varying the direction of advance, a first transmit-receive antenna 24 for receiving the signal transmitted by ratio from a control device 20, a first controller 15 for controlling the propelling power source 11 and the steering device 13 based on the signal received from the first transmit-receive antenna 14, a memory device 17 for memorizing the initial position set in advance, and a GPS antenna 16 for receiving the electric wave transmitted from an artificial satellite.

Abstract: An apparatus for releasably mounting a trolling motor on a watercraft and a trolling motor assembly which includes the inventive releasable mounting apparatus. The releasable mounting apparatus comprises a mounting bracket and a locking assembly which is releasably engageable with the mounting bracket at a first location and includes a cam structure which is rotatable for locking engagement with the mounting bracket at a second location.

Abstract: A folding top assembly for watercraft of other vehicles includes a pair of struts pivotally mounted on actuator housings on opposite sides of the watercraft. The struts support a canvas covering and are moved by the actuators from a folded position in which the canvas covering and the struts are folded at the rear of the boat to an intermediate radar position in which the struts and canvas top are still folded against one another but are deployed in a raised position. One of the struts is maintained in the intermediate position when the top is moved into the fully deployed position, while the other strut is pivoted relative to the one strut. The actuators include a housing defining a bore therewithin, a piston or shuttle slidable in the bore, and a driving mechanism drivingly connecting the piston of each actuator with the struts so that movement of the piston in the bore pivots said struts relative to the piston.