Abstract: The member may for instance be a sail having at least one opening to create an air flow from the pressure face to the suction face, and guides to guide the air emerging from the opening on the suction face side and direct it tangentially in relation to the member. The opening and the guides are formed temporarily and adjusted by varying the position and/or geometry of at least one portion and/or region of the device. The device further includes devices for adjusting the member's geometry, including the shape and concavity of its camber.

Abstract: An apparatus for shielding the keel and/or bow of a watercraft is disclosed in one presently preferred embodiment comprising a protective cover member having an elongated body substantially tapered in cross-sectional thickness from a midsection to at least two opposing sides. Protective cover member is preferably configured having one or more elongated channels formed therein. Preferably, the elongated channels are integrally formed in an exterior surface of the protective cover member and longitudinally disposed substantially parallel to the linear length of the protective cover member from a first end to a second end thereof. The protective cover member is preferably formed having an opposing contacting surface comprising a fastening means preferably disposed thereover for securing the protective cover member over the keel and/or bow of the watercraft.

Abstract: A longitudinally extended float includes detachable longitudinal-side attachments for attaching to a substantially identical float. The attachments are connected to respective opposite first and second longitudinal sides of the floats. The attachments are made up of elongated profiles extending substantially parallel to respective opposite first and second sides of the float. Each of the profiles has a generally U-shaped cross-section with leg portions of unequal length, the unequal leg portions including a long leg and a short leg. The long leg is part of a back piece which is attached to a respective longitudinal side of the float, the long leg being connected to the short leg by a bottom portion of the U-shaped profile. The U-shaped profile has an open end opposite the bottom portion. The float attachments further include a fin adjacent the open end of the U-shaped profile which is substantially parallel to the bottom portion of the U-shaped profile.

Abstract: A small craft carrying device includes, a platform having two ends where one end is attached to the stern of a mother boat above the water line, a cradle attached to the other end of the platform in pivotal relationship so that the cradle can tilt towards and away from the mother boat, sling for attaching to the small craft, and power device for attaching to the sling for pulling the small craft onto the cradle and securing the small craft to the mother boat.

Abstract: An apparatus for replacement of a swivel atop a first, operating foundation on a turret of a production ship or offshore platform comprises a swivel lifting and moving apparatus for taking a swivel off or replacing a swivel on the first operating foundation on the turret and a second storing foundation spaced from the turret. The apparatus also comprises storage for supporting and moving at least one used and one spare swivel in connection with the second storing foundation, and a guiding system on the first and second foundations and on the swivel for accurately positioning the swivel onto a desired foundation.

Abstract: A method of making an inflator (10) for an air bag assembly includes the step of providing a first housing member (12) having a recess (22) and a second housing member (14) having a coupling portion (24). One of the housing members, preferably the first housing member (12), includes a container (20). A source of inflation fluid (18) is loaded into the container (20). The second housing member (14) is positioned so that its coupling portion (24) is adjacent to, but outside of, the recess (22). The coupling portion (24) is then mechanically deformed towards the recess (22) to form an integral projection (26) which is tightly received within the recess (22). In this manner, the first housing member (12) is coupled to the second housing member (14) to form a closed chamber (16) containing the source of inflation fluid (18).

Abstract: A submersible or submarine vessel having a unique pressure hull formed from a plurality of truncated spherical cells having at least one opening, wherein said cells are connected together in a generally loop array with said openings in confronting relation to define a interconnected internal space for utilization by personnel, equipment, or machinery. When said connected cells define a loop array having an open central area, dome means enclose the central area permitting utilization thereof, or, a further spherical cell or cells are disposed in the central area with access thereinto from a cell in the loop array for utilization, whereby at all times convexly curved spherical surfaces are exposed to high hydrostatic pressures, thereby to provide a maximum strength pressure hull.

Abstract: A folding collapsible power boat including a hull consisting of a forward hull section and an aft hull section longitudinally hinged together, two pairs of floats respectively bilaterally hinged to the forward hull section and the aft hull section and moved between the non-operative position, in which the floats are received inside the forward and aft hull sections, and the operative position, in which the floats are closely attached to two opposite sides of the forward and aft hull sections, and a stretcher unit having a cross bar inserted through a transverse groove between the forward and aft hull sections and two parallel tie rods joined by the cross bar and bridged over the floats to hold them in the operative position.

Abstract: A number of embodiments of docking watercraft, each embodying at least one cabin adapted to contain at least one bunk for accommodating a lying passenger. The cabin is disposed relative to the berthing area so that an operator on the smaller watercraft in the berthing area can operate the combined watercraft without his view being substantially obstructed by the cabin. Both forward and side position cabins are disclosed, and in some embodiments, the berthing area extends beneath a seat in a forward passenger's compartment so as to reduce the overall length of the watercraft.

Abstract: A hand held portable sail including a forward spar and a rear spar, said spars being attached near one end of each spar by a lower handle; and a sail material extending between the spars and connected to each of said spars.

Abstract: An hydraulic power system for a boat comprising a marine thruster assembly. A structure is for mounting the marine thruster assembly to an exterior surface of a transom on the boat. A first hydraulic operative facility is for propelling the marine thruster assembly, so that the boat can travel in a body of water. A second hydraulic operative facility is for steering the marine thruster assembly, so that the boat can be directed on a course in the body of water. A third hydraulic operative facility is for lifting the marine thruster assembly out of the body of water for inspection and repair when needed.

Abstract: A torque enhancer (60, FIG. 1) is provided for an offshore system wherein a turret (18) is rotatably mounted about a vertical axis (22) on a vessel hull and the turret is anchored by catenary chain devices (24), to help minimize rotation of the turret when the vessel weathervanes. The torque enhancer may include a pair of members (80, 82, FIG. 3) with horizontally-spaced inner ends (84, 86) pivotally mounted on the turret and with outer ends (90, 92) coupled to a chain device (24) to transmit horizontal components (E) of tension force that tend to turn the turret to maintain it at its initial rotational orientation with respect to the seafloor. In one system, the arms are rigid beams arranged to form an A-frame, with the outer ends of the arms supporting a guide (100) and with the chain device slidably extending through the guide and attached to the vessel half way between the inner ends of the beams. In another system, a pair of chains (122, 124, FIG.

Abstract: A sealing and supporting member for filling the gap between a keel mounted mast and the deck of a sailboat is produced by introducing a sealing compound in a fluidic state into the gap and allowing the sealing compound to cure and create the sealing and supporting member which sealingly engages both the mast and the deck.

Abstract: In order to attain a superior performance of a sailboat (1) under different conditions, e.g., dead calm, average winds, high waves, etc., the invention makes possible that the two longitudinal sides of the hull essentially correspond with the gliding surfaces (11,12) of surfboards. These gliding surfaces are arranged in the shape of a V, may contact one another within the central region (T) of the watercraft (1) and transform into a transition area that forms the bow within the front region by providing additional side walls (15,16).

Abstract: Eight man rowing shells in lightweight and super heavyweight configurations have an elongated hull with a bow and stern and a smoothly tapered hull surface therebetween. The hull surfaces have particular cross-sections below the waterline at stations spaced along the hull waterline. Other parameters for both super heavyweight and lightweight hulls are provided such as waterline length, entry and exit angles, maximum beam, maximum draft, and metacentric height. In both configurations, the hull itself may be made of a laminate of a fiber composite skin over a core, such as a carbon fiber/honeycomb laminate, or of natural materials such as wood.

Abstract: A control for a watercraft powered by a jet propulsion unit and having a reverse thrust bucket. In order to permit the operator to easily use the reverse thrust bucket for trim and retardation, a control lever is mounted on the steering handlebar assembly in close relationship to one of the handle grips. A mechanism interconnects the control lever to the reverse thrust bucket and includes a motion amplifying mechanism so that a small degree of movement of the control lever will be transmitted into a large degree of movement of the reverse thrust bucket.

Abstract: In an outboard motor having a four cycle power head, a drive shaft housing and an adapter plate therebetween, an oil sump in the drive shaft housing and a lubricating oil system to supply oil to the bearings of the power head, a baffle system including the adapter plate and a second planar baffle between the adapter plate and the drive shaft housing. Oil passages through the adapter plate and the second baffle are positioned on opposite sides of the power head from each other and are longitudinally separated from each other so that the oil will not flow from the oil sump back over the baffles and into the power head when the motor is horizontal.

Abstract: An improved outboard motor construction having a power head which has a water tight lower portion which is submerged when the associated watercraft is not in a planing condition so as to provide a buoyant assist for the watercraft to reach the planing condition without any attended hydrodynamic drag when planing.

Abstract: A hydrofoil craft has a hull supported above a water surface by a foil connected to the hull by means of a support arm. In accordance with one form of the invention, the support arm enables the foil to move up and down with respect to the hull in concert with upgusts and downgusts of water surrounding the foil so as to maintain the hull at an approximately constant elevation. In accordance with another form of the invention, the support arm is supported by the hull for pivoting about a longitudinal axis extending in substantially the fore and aft direction of the hull. When rolling forces act on the foil, the support arm can pivot about the axis from a vertical position in response to the rolling forces while enabling the hull to remain substantially level.

Abstract: A passive anti-clogging device for feeding water into marine jet pumps, which displaces the laminar flow around the trailing surfaces of the intake port, such that foreign debris and grass are precluded from clogging the intake to the jet pump. The primary component of the invention comprises an exclusion plate that is placed in, or immediately below the intake port, and affixed to the breadth of, or becoming a part of, the trailing edge of the intake port, leaving an opening, or slot, between the exclusion plate and ride plate, or bottom of the vessel, which, when at rest, allows the passage of water only from its anterior and lateral extents, thereby excluding the flow of water into the device from directly below or behind the plate. The edge of the exclusion plate angles or curves from a forward central point or apex to a back point at the trailing edge of the intake port, providing a fair surface to resist laminar attachment of debris, marine vegetation or other debris.