Abstract: Vessel having a non-planing hull provided with an attached foil which is below the surface of the water and spaced from the hull. The foil is attached in proximity to the aft end of the vessel, and is oriented with a downward tilt relative to the horizontal to provide a lifting force with a force component in the forward direction. The foil can be located entirely behind the vessel, partly below the aft hull portion of the vessel, or entirely therebelow. In the latter case, the hull is preferably provided with a recess.

Abstract: A device for loading and/or unloading of flowable media includes a buoy connected to at least one riser and a vessel provided with a pick-up space for the buoy. The pick-up space ends at the bottom of the vessel, the buoy being provided with a buoyancy device and including a first part connected to the at least one riser and a second part which can be rotated with respect to the first part. The second part is arranged for locking to the vessel. The buoy comprises a connected for connecting the at least one riser to a swivel for transfer of the flowable medium. When the vessel is connected to the buoy, its position is maintained by a dynamic positioning system.

Abstract: A personal flying water jet apparatus consisting of two towing connected units: one is a floating platform, mainly an inflatable Ski Tube (12A) (and so on), equipped with water jet nozzles (18) directed downward and mounted on both sides by means of brackets (20); the other is an inlet port (24) fixed on a tow line (16) and connected with nozzles (18) by mean of a hose (22). While the tube is being towed, the kinetic head appears and pressurized water is discharged at the nozzles (18) producing a thrust, so the rider (10) will fly. An additional version of the apparatus is: the nozzle (18) can be fixed on the rider's (10) back, so this lifting assembly performs like a Backpack, but the floating platform can be made in the shape of a life jacket (12B).

Abstract: Platform boats intended to be used for motorized boating and for forming-up with adjacent similar boats to form a continuous and contiguous mat of boats for socializing, fishing etc. The adjacent boats interlock and form an array of such boats all interlocked with one another. The boats may be shaped in planform as hexagons or other polygons but are preferably regular polygons which interlock without leaving gaps between adjacent boats. Each boat has a center well in which is mounted a motor. The motor may be rotated 360 degrees for driving the boat in a corresponding direction about a 360 degree range of motion. A pair of rudders is mounted on opposite sides of the center well to provide for directional stability, both in the manner of a keel, and for steering. When used as a keel, the rudders are elevated up into a channel so as to lock them in-line. The rudders may also be lifted entirely up into the channel to store the rudders when not in use.

Abstract: A submarine vehicle able to control the navigation of a towed submerged object (3). The vehicle includes a body (5) equipped with stabilizing fins (7a, 7b, 7c), at least one of which (7c) is free to rotate and is ballasted, or linked to a ballast, for roll stabilization and/or orientation of the vehicle when it is in motion.

Abstract: A light-weight soft wing-sail for a wind-propelled vehicle includes a free standing rotating mast to be mounted in a vertical position on the vehicle and, three fully battened sail panels that together define the skin of the wing sail. Spreaders extend transversely of the mast and impart to them a selected airfoil shape having a leading edge fore of the mast and a trailing edge aft of the mast. Two vertical tracks secured to both sides of the mast top and to the outer ends of each spreader. Sliders are secured to the sail panels and are slidable in the tracks, such as to permit hoisting and reefing each of the sail panels independently along the tracks. A boom is pivotally coupled to the mast and a ram is secured on one side to the lower spreader and on the other side to the boom such that the leading edge and the trailing edge define one wing-sail unit and trims the airfoil shape.

Abstract: A table has a planar top panel. The table has downwardly extending legs. Each leg has an upper end. The upper end of each leg is attached to the top panel. Support hardware is attached to the upper surface of the top panel. A locking assembly is provided. The locking assembly attaches and releases the table with the support hardware to a cleat of a boat.

Abstract: An improved way of using radiographic imagery to locate inclusions within concrete. Radiographic film is placed on one side of a concrete structure and X-rays are transmitted towards the film from the other side. A target which is selectively radiographically impervious is interposed to generate location indicia on the film. Once developed, the film may be used to generate an image display such as a paper bearing indicia from the film or may be used directly to mark the location of inclusions on the concrete. The target may comprise a metallic plate with a viewing window and location indicia rendered in radiographically impervious material to establish measurement indicia in the final film image.

Abstract: Designs and methods are disclosed for permitting scooped shape swim fin blades (184) to flex around a transverse axis to a significantly reduced angle of attack while reducing or preventing the scooped blade portion (254) from collapsing or buckling under the longitudinal compression forces (22) exerted on the scooped portion during a large scale blade deflection (212) by strategically alleviating or controlling such compression forces (222). Methods are also disclosed for increasing flow capacity, effective scoop length, scoop depth over a greater length of the blade, reducing blade resistance to large scale deflections, reducing bending resistance within scooped blade portions (254) that are experiencing high levels of blade deflection. Methods are also provided for reducing lost motion and increasing propulsion during the inversion phase of a reciprocating kicking stroke cycle while also increasing the formation of a scooped blade region (254) during the inversion phase of the stroke cycle.

Abstract: A resistance kickboard. The resistance kickboard includes plural resistance indicia that provide varying levels of resistance when the resistance kickboard is moved through water. The varying levels resistance allow swimmers, exercisers and rehabilitation patients to spend less time in a pool while obtaining additional training, exercising or rehabilitation effects. The resistance kickboard may also include a reservoir to hold a liquid. The liquid allows a user to stay hydrated while using the resistance kickboard for longer periods without stopping the activity.

Abstract: The present invention provides an aquatic towable vehicle that can be maneuvered by the rider to steer the vehicle and to put the vehicle in a controlled spin while being towed behind a boat. The vehicle includes a passenger deck having a convex lower surface, a lowermost center point, and elevated ends. Fins are attached to the convex lower surface spaced out from the center point, and symmetrically disposed with respect to the longitudinal center line of the deck and the center point. The body portions of the fins are elevated above the center point so they are out of the water when the vehicle is level in the water. A tow strap is attached to the convex lower surface at the center point. When the rider's weight is shifted to move the vehicle from the level position, the fins on one side of the center point engage the water and allow the rider to steer.

Abstract: A boat propulsion apparatus is constructed such that an operation mode can be switched to a reverse mode and an amount of an output can be set by an easy operation without a complicated structure and further in which a main body of the propulsion apparatus can be locked to a hull. The boat propulsion apparatus is provided with a main body and a locking mechanism. The main body of the propulsion apparatus is provided with an electric motor, a throttle grip, a potentiometer arranged to detect an indication by the throttle grip, a first controller arranged to control an operation mode and an output of the electric motor depending on an output of the potentiometer, and second controller arranged to control the locking mechanism depending on an indication provided by the throttle grip.

Abstract: A towable underwater craft includes a main body contoured to support the rider in the prone position, a contoured leading edge, left and right arm guards, left and right independently actuated hydrofoils and a tow rope. The majority of the craft is constructed from a foam core and a fiber-reinforced polymer exterior to provide the required buoyancy and strength. The tow rope is attached at one end to a powered water craft and to the craft at the opposite end. The pitch of the left and right hydrofoils are controlled independently by the rider. This actuation controls both the depth and roll of the craft enabling the rider to fully control the craft below the surface of the water while being towed.

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.

Abstract: A hitching device permits towing a cargo transport device behind a kayak. The cargo transport device comprises a watertight container and a connection member extending along a longitudinal axis between the container and the watercraft. The connection member includes a swivel such that the container and watercraft on opposite sides of the swivel are freely rotatable about the longitudinal axis relative to one another. This free pivoting allows relative rotation between the container and watercraft such that each can react to outside forces, for example those exerted by waves, independently. As a result, rolling of the container does not tend to induce rolling of the watercraft and so the ride quality of the watercraft is not significantly reduced by the hitching device.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a watercraft hull design that comprises a hull having a bow, stern, top, and bottom. A wedge-shaped wave spreading system is located at a forward portion of the craft. The wave-contacting surface planes of the wave spreading system are positioned substantially perpendicular to the plane of smooth water. The bottom edge of the wave spreading system is positioned near the level of smooth water when the watercraft is at cruising speed. The wave spreading system has a forward apex which forms a substantially perpendicular or vertical leading wedge to the plane of water. Since the apex and planes of the wave spreader are substantially perpendicular to the water, oncoming waves encountered by the wave spreader will tend to be deflected horizontally. Accordingly, the watercraft will more easily “cut through” waves instead of riding over them. Located rearwardly of the wave spreader, an internal hull prow is spaced from the wave spreading system, creating an air space therebetween.

Abstract: To provide a small watercraft capable of suppressing vibration and noise of a vessel body, a jet pump is mounted to a hull via a thrust plate. A dynamic damper is disposed as an adjunct at a plate mounting portion that attaches the thrust plate to the hull. More specifically, the thrust plate is first mounted to the hull. Then, with a flange portion of the jet pump pressed up against a rear surface of the thrust plate, a second bolt is screwed in toward the thrust plate from an outward side of the hull. The jet pump is thereby attached to the rear surface of the thrust plate.

Abstract: A marine outdrive has a hydraulic vane motor with a spool shaped rotor eccentrically mounted in a fusiform shaped housing. The resulting increased vane area results in greater torque and speed.

Abstract: A kayak portaging device which incorporates a seat backrest into the yoke design, making the portaging yoke an integral part of the kayak. A u-shaped device, with a transverse yoke frame, and parallel pivot arms extending from the ends of the yoke frame to pivot points on the kayak hull forward of the seat. A curved backrest is incorporated within the u-shaped device. The device rotates from a backrest position behind the kayak seat for use while paddling, forward to an inverted position over the kayak's center of gravity for portaging. “L” brackets with padded ends are mounted on the backside of the yoke frame extending downwards. Bottle holders attached to the “L” brackets are accessible to a seated kayaker. When rotated to the inverted portaging position, pivot arms are held against positive stops by a magnetic catch, and “L” brackets now extend upwards providing elevated shoulder rests for portaging.

Abstract: There is provided a nondestructive method for inspecting ceramic structures, the method which not only easily detects the position and size of an internal defect in a ceramic structure in a short time, but also accurately identifies the position, shape, and size of the internal defect. In the method, the distribution of X-ray absorption coefficients (CT numbers) at fault planes of the ceramic structure is measured by irradiating the periphery of the ceramic structure with X rays along the periphery of the ceramic structure so that the X rays scan the entire periphery. The X rays are emitted from an X-ray tube at a tube voltage in the range of 80 to 400 kV and a tube current in the range of 2 to 400 mA.