Abstract: A buoy for use in loading or unloading a flowable medium, especially oil from a vessel at sea. The buoy includes an outer member and a central member rotatably mounted in the outer member. The central member forms a passage for the flowable medium from the lower end of the buoy which is connected to a transfer line to a tube system within the vessel. The outer member is received and latched in an opening in the bottom of the vessel. The central member is connected to the tube system by a swivel means coupled to the upper end of the central member by a flexible joint which allows angular displacement about the axis of connection.

Abstract: A system for discouraging and inhibiting marine growth onto a boat's underwater hull surface comprising a plurality of sections of foam filled PVC pipe tied together to form a flotation frame, an envelope of flexible, polyethylene, bubble wrap material, of a size and shape to enclose the underwater part of a boat's hull, and affixed to and supported by the flotation frame, a sprinkler hose affixed to the flotation frame for injecting fresh water for washing the boat's underwater hull, and a plurality of drain/check valves mounted in the envelope for eliminating the wash down water in the envelope.

Abstract: A system for attaching fins (11) to surfboards and other surf craft utilizes fixing elements (12) embedded in the body of the board, these elements having slots (13) which receive tabs (18) extending from the end of the fin. The tabs are removably secured by grub screws (16) enabling fins to be removed for transport or upon damage.

Abstract: A sailboat provided with a free standing boom and in one version with a free standing mast that is separate from and immediately adjacent and forward of the boom mounting. The boom is separately mounted to be self supporting by a stub shaft in a bearing socket and the shaft is rotatable about an axis that is parallel to the line passing through the luff of the sail with which the boom is associated. The boom may also be a jib boom and in that case the rotatable mounting is closely adjacent the headstay.

Abstract: A submarine arrangement comprising a double hull construction forward having a wasp waist section minimizes ship displacement and permits storage of weapons in the wasp waist section.

Abstract: A marine drive (10, 310) has two counter-rotating propellers (12 and 14, 312 and 314). Inner and outer concentric counter-rotating propeller shafts (40 and 42, 340 and 338) are supported by a spool (38, 336) in the lower horizontal bore (28, 328). Passages are provided in the housing for communicating lubrication and/or exhaust with the horizontal bore. Locking structure (50, 404) holds the driven gears and bearings in place in the lower horizontal bore.

Abstract: A hull for improved seakeeping characteristics of an icebreaking ship so that the breadth of the ship's hull will be decreased on the aft side of a wide foreship in the vicinity of the waterline. It can be implemented with solid hull form or so that on the side of the hull there is a section removable with respect to the solid hull, location or position of which will be changed with respect to the hull. In the solid structure on the side of the hull there will be formed a recess and above it a reamer, rising towards the stern and formed by a sloping surface. The recess forms a pass between the bilge keel and the reamer becoming wider towards the stern and joining the hull's narrower part of the aft body of the ship.

Abstract: A float with sun shade including an inflatable raftlike flotation device comprising a series of communicating compartments wherein an outermost compartment pair is extendedly formed into a sun shade support. A sun shade comprising a fixed portion and an adjustable portion is affixed to the sun shade support. In use, a human lying upon the raftlike flotation device is shielded in part from direct solar radiation by the fixed portion of the sun shade and furthermore additional shading may be achieved by an appropriate disposition of the adjustable portion.

Abstract: A rubbery buckling-type marine fender such as cell-type hollow cylindrical marine fender, frustoconical-type hollow cylindrical marine fender, V-shaped marine fender or the like comprises a main rubber body portion, a securing flange portion, and a shock receiving portion, in which a rubber thickened region is formed in the inner peripheral surface of the main rubber body portion at a given position adjacent or close to a buckling point to prevent falling of reaction force during the buckling deformation.

Abstract: An automatically retractable step assembly for watercraft rotatably mounts to a fixed step assembly fixed to the craft, a movable sliding chassis mounted on tracks, or a manually retractable step. The automatically retractable step assembly can also rotatably mount to another automatically retractable step assembly. The automatically retractable step assembly is preferably formed by a U-shaped member with outward projections that rotatably fit over mating projections from a supporting element. The U-shaped member is biased by torsion springs to rotate with respect to the supporting elements towards a position in which the retractable step assembly will be stored and away from the water. The retractable step assembly, during use, is rotatable against the bias and towards or into the water by pulling or stepping on the retractable step.

Abstract: Ship rudders are subjected to propeller induced velocities and induced flow ngles that vary along the rudder span and chord. Because of non-zero onset flow angles, a suction pressure peak is formed at or near the leading edge of the rudder where early cavitation occurs. The present invention is directed to a rudder and method for minimizing early cavitation and related ship vibration and for thus improving acoustic and hydrodynamic performance thereof. The rudder of the present invention is twisted so as to have profiles along its entire span that are aligned with propeller induced non-zero onset flow angles into the rudder. The twist of the rudder sections vary in the spanwise direction, that is, the twist angle of one rudder sections may vary relative to the twist angle of adjacent or remaining rudder sections, such that the rudder experiences substantially zero angles of attack along the span from the rudder's root to the rudder's tip.

Abstract: A unique fluid drag reducing structure arranged such that the center of mass of the apparatus, when assembled, is positioned forward of the center of rotation of the apparatus when installed. Such an arrangement assures that the apparatus will be flutter free, while still allowing the apparatus to feather into the wind. The structure of and method for assembly provides for easy installation and removal of the apparatus on existing cylindrical structures without the need to disassemble the existing structure.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a boat having a buoyant lower portion and a plurality of upstanding support members connected to the lower portion. The top for the boat includes two end rails, two side rails respectively connected to the end rails, and a roof extending between and connected to the side rails and end rails. The side rails are comprised of a metal extrusion defining a first channel which is generally U-shaped and opens in a generally downward direction. The upstanding support members are received within the first generally U-shaped channel. In another aspect of the invention, the two side rails comprise an extrusion including a curved intermediate portion having a convex exterior profile. The roof is attached at one edge of the curved intermediate portion. In yet another aspect of the invention, the side rail comprises an extrusion including a recess which receives at least one of the upstanding support members.

Abstract: A camping, fishing or hunting cargo container is formed of two identical clam shell sections hinged on one side and folded together to form a light weight load which can be easily moved by manpower on a portage trailer. The portage trailer can also be adapted for towing by a truck or by a four wheeler off road vehicle. The cargo container can be opened and locked open against the hinges to form a light two man fishing boat; alternately the hinge pins can be pulled to form two one man pirogues or canoes. Internal shelving in the sections provides storage of camping and hunting supplies or, when the unit is used as a boat, provides davits and internal storage compartments.

Abstract: A device for mooring and attaching watercrafts such as sailboats, rowboats, speedboats and the like is disclosed. A preferred embodiment includes an outer cylinder fixably secured to an axial threaded rod through a central anchor. Opposing springs are positioned on opposite sides of the central anchor. The outer cylinder contains two inner tubes each having one end within the outer cylinder and the other end extending outside the outer cylinder. The exposed ends of the inner cylinders are attached by rotatable connectors to a watercraft and dock respectively. Each inner cylinder has their own inner spring which are positioned on extreme sides of fixed anchors within the inner cylinders. The threaded rod uses locker nuts and washers to hold all the components together by axially passing through all the springs, anchors and cylinders.

Abstract: A support mechanism for holding a water skier to a water skiing tow bar utilizing a harness capable of being connected to the water skier. The harness includes an element which extends a certain distance relative to the water skier, preferably along the front portion of the water skier. A link connects to the element and may be slidable or movable along the certain dimension of the element. A line is fixed to the movable element and possesses pre-determined degree of flexibility to wrap about a tow bar and alleviate the effort expended by a skier holding on to the tow bar.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for establishing and maintaining control over an area of the sea from a remote location, consisting of a remote control point, a number of submersible satellite stations and means for communicating by radio or conductive cable between the control point and each station. Each battery-powered satellite station includes either a flotation chamber or airbag and a stabilizing chamber. The stabilizing chamber is equipped with pumps for intake and discharge of water, allowing adjustment of the buoyancy of each satellite station. Detection devices, such as infrared or acoustical sensors, and weapons systems, such as missiles, are mounted on a platform affixed to a mast on top of each station. The remote control point is equipped with a programmable logic system, which converts data received from the satellite stations and graphically depicts it on computer screens, providing real-time input for combat command decisions.

Abstract: A tanker which can reliably prevent the outflow of cargo oil from cargo oil tank sections (1, 2, 105, 106) in the ship body in the event of damage or injury to an outer plate (8, 9) of the ship body has a double-sided hull construction (4, 104) arranged on opposite sides of each cargo oil tank in the ship's body and a mid-height deck (3, 118) arranged to divide each cargo oil tank into an upper cargo oil tank (2, 106) and a lower cargo oil tank (1, 105). To reliably prevent the outflow of cargo oil in the event of damage or injury to the ship body due to stranding, collision or similar malfunction, the height (H) of the mid-height deck (1, 118) as measured from the ship bottom (8, 108) is determined so that the pressure of cargo oil exerted on an outer plate of the ship's side wall will not be higher than the pressure of sea water. An access trunk (5, 112) and pressure control devices (6, 7, 113, 114) serve for degassing cargo tank sections.

Abstract: A process for reducing skin friction and inhibiting the effects of liquid turbulence in a system involving the flow of a liquid along the surface of a body, e.g. a marine vehicle, includes injecting a drag reducing polymer into the valleys of adjacent, evenly spaced, longitudinal grooves extending along the length of the surface of the body, so that the rate of diffusion of the polymer from individual grooves into the liquid flow is predictably controlled by the groove dimensions. When the polymer has diffused over the tips of the grooves into the near wall region of the boundary layer, the polymer effectively reduces the turbulent skin friction. A substantial drag reducing effect is achieved with less polymer than must be used to lower skin friction when the surface of the body is smooth.

Abstract: A fresh water flushing system for a marine engine in a boat for use whether the boat is in or out of the water is disclosed. The system comprises a control panel mounted on the interior of the boat, a plurality of tubular T-shaped interconnection fittings in a raw sea water cooling conduit, and a fresh water flush valve. The components are connected for fresh water fluid flow. The fresh water flush valve has valve plunger for establishing fresh water flow between the control panel and the T-shaped interconnection fittings.