Abstract: An ice chest and boat hull mounting include a drawer with a drain hole for draining water by gravity. The drawer is slidably mounted in a recess in a top deck assembly within the boat hull and the recess is provided with a stationary tray for receiving water drained from the drawer in all positions of the drawer allowed by the sliding mounting. Water is drained from the stationary tray through a tray drain hole, a conduit and, finally, through a drain hole provided in the boat hull.

Abstract: A mooring system for mooring a turreted vessel off-shore, which comprises: line pulling equipment mounted in the vessel turret; a block located in the water at a depth below expected wave action and at a distance from the vessel; a mooring line extending from the puling equipment, through a fairlead at the bottom of the vessel turret, through the block and back for releasable attachment to the vessel; and mooring tackle attached to the block and extending away from the vessel to an anchor. The mooring line and mooring tackle form a catenary between the vessel and the anchor which has a curve adapted to maintain the anchor securely attached to the sea bottom, and to maintain the block below the depth of expected wave action.

Abstract: A bracket is provided for supporting an electric powered outboard motor, such as a trolling motor, and a battery relative to a small marine vessel, such as a Hobie Cat, in order to provide propulsion during becalm conditions. The motor and battery bracket includes a chamber for housing a D.C. electric battery and a transom plate projecting therefrom in a generally vertical plane to which an electric powered outboard motor or trolling motor can be clamped. The latter bracket is preferably constructed for vertical adjustment. A quick connect/disconnect coupling secures the bracket to structural members of the marine vessel, specifically to the dolphin striker post and dolphin striker rod of a Hobie Cat catamaran.

Abstract: A flotation device designed to support a person in a partially submerged position in a body of water includes a long narrow flexible main body member made of buoyant closed cell foam material. A first cylindrical float section, made of the same material, is attached to one end of the main body member. A second cylindrical section, also made of the same buoyant material, has a slot in it and slides over the second end of the main body member to frictionally engage the main body member to locate the second float section at various positions between the first and second ends of the main body member.

Abstract: A method of molding a boat hull including a screw strip using the resin transfer molding process, the method comprising the steps of wrapping the screw strip with reinforcement, fabricating a rigid mold having a boat-defining surface including a screw strip receiving recess, applying gel coat to the boat-defining surface in a layer including a gel coated recess, positioning reinforcement having interstices along the gel coat layer and with an upper part of the reinforcement extending into the gel coated recess, locating the reinforcement wrapped screw strip in the gel coated recess to capture the upper part of the reinforcement between the mold and the reinforcement wrapped screw strip, and burying the reinforcement and filling the interstices thereof with a resinous layer to produce the boat hull.

Abstract: A water walking device consisting of a pair of hulls with footwells, and a pair of stocks. A water surface blade at the rear of the hull is formed in a concave shape pointing towards the front of the hull. The underwater blade at the rear of the vertical stabilizer fin, is formed in a fan shape towards the rear of the vertical stabilizer fin, and the rear surface of said underwater blade is formed in a concave shape pointing to the forward part of the vertical stabilizer fin. The blade sections on the stock consist of the blade body formed in a rim shape, and vanes formed on the lower part of this blade body. A plurality of these vanes form a radial pattern, at fixed intervals, centering around the shaft of the stock.

Abstract: A number of exhaust systems for watercraft propelled by a propulsion unit contained within a tunnel formed in the underside of the hull. This tunnel has an opening through the side of the hull and exhaust gases are delivered to the tunnel from the engine through an exhaust system having an exhaust opening communicating with the tunnel. Various flow controlling arrangements are provided for controlling the flow through one or all of the openings so as to assist in exhaust silencing without significantly increasing back pressure.

Abstract: An outboard engine structure is provided including an engine mounted in an upper portion of the structure, wherein an exhaust gas from the engine is passed through an exhaust passage located vertically within an engine body case, into a lower portion of the case and discharged into water. A catalytic converter is positioned adjacent an oil pan the said engine. The oil pan is mounted in a suspended manner in an upper area within the engine body case and the catalytic concerted is incorporated in the middle of the exhaust passage. The catalytic converter is fixed to and supported on the oil pan. Thus, it is easy to place the catalytic converter in the engine body case.

Abstract: An exhaust system for a marine propulsion outboard drive wherein the exhaust gases are normally discharged to the atmosphere at a point below the level of the body of water in which the watercraft is operating. A catalyst bed is provided in the exhaust system and the catalyst bed is protected from damage by precluding the flow of water in the exhaust conduit to the catalyst bed in response to certain conditions. These conditions may be either rapid deceleration of the engine or watercraft, stopping of the engine, or any of a combination of sensed factors. The water is precluded either by purging it through air pressure or from generating heat in the exhaust conduit, by providing a heat source in the exhaust conduit that will cause water to vaporize and increase the pressure or by a valve in the exhaust conduit positioned below the catalytic bed. The preclusion of water is initiated for only a predetermined time or until the sensed condition no longer is existent.

Abstract: A container is intended for containing a lightweight torpedo type weapon to e launched from a surface craft. The weapon includes activation structure for the batteries supplying energy to the weapon, an extraction device of the activation safety device when the weapon is launched, and a remote control connection to supply the programming of the weapon commands before it is launched. These three features are interdependent with the container, which is brought to the launching position with the weapon held in a storage position. The activation of the activation structure for the batteries and extraction device of the activation safety device, as well as the disconnection of the remote control connection, take place automatically when the weapon is launched.

Abstract: The invention is directed to hydrofoil structures for efficient operation over a wide speed range from subcavitating to supercavitating operation. A dualcavitating hydrofoil is provided that overcomes cavitation problems associated with high speed operation of prior art subcavitating hydrofoil structures by providing a supercavitating profile shape in the lower surface to achieve a supercavitating condition at high speeds, and that overcomes problems associated with low speed operation of prior art supercavitating hydrofoil structures by providing an upper surface that combines with the lower surface to form a streamlined cross-sectional shape that achieves a smooth flow exit at the trailing edge for efficient, low drag, high lift subcavitating operation.

Abstract: A buoyant device used as a marker in the water for use in water sports is disclosed. The buoyant device comprises an inflatable buoyant member having one end coupled to an elastic cord which is coupled to an accompanying anchoring bag that is weighted down. The overall length of the elastic cord is varied according to the depth of the water with a self-locking length adjusting device used to vary the overall length of the elastic cord to eliminate any slack in the elastic cord in shallow waters in which the depth is less than the overall length of the elastic cord and when water currents change.

Abstract: An outboard motor incorporating a unitary mounting assembly for resiliently connecting the steering shaft to the driveshaft housing. The mounting assembly also closes an upper portion of the driveshaft housing and has an opening that passes a water tube for supplying cooling water to the engine of the outboard motor.

Abstract: A boat seat stand having a vertical member for receiving the downward extending post from a boat seat or a boat seat pedestal extension. Extending from the vertical member are a plurality of legs which engage the ground to support the stand and the boat seat. The legs are individual and removable for compact storage. In the preferred embodiment the legs nest into the vertical member to help prevent component loss, to make the storage configuration more compact, and to keep the components from banging around in the boat. The stand is particularly useful when one wants to sit near a moored boat, as one does not have to carry a separate chair for shore use. One simply sets up the boat seat stand and uses it with the removable boat seat.

Abstract: A first member is pivotally connected to a second member. A rigid support and a linking member are pivotally connected to one another and interconnected between the first member and the second member. The length of the rigid support is selectively adjustable at a constant rate. Adjustment of the length of the rigid support within a first range of length causes the second member to pivot at a first angular velocity relative to the first member. Adjustment of the length of the rigid support within a second range of length causes the second member to pivot at a second, relatively greater angular velocity relative to the first member.

Abstract: Inflatable rubber dinghies, familiar around most wharf areas, are made safe for scuba tank users by a plurality of interlocking rigid base sections which insert laterally across the floor of the dinghy and over both inflatable side tubes of the dinghy. Each base section includes a support for holding a scuba tank in an upright position and each such support is secured to a rail, running front-to-back along the axis of the dinghy, to which the base sections are secured. The interlocking inserts not only provide for secure transport of the scuba tanks but do so in a way which occupies little space and provides for increased stability for the dinghy.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an apparatus for positioning a boat onto a boat trailer comprising two magnetic reed switches attached inside the bilge of the boat along the central, longitudinal axis of the boat; an indicator box mounted in the boat and electrically connected to the magnetic reed switches for providing a signal when the boat is properly positioned onto the boat trailer; and two permanent magnets attached to the boat trailer along the longitudinal, central axis of the boat trailer. When the boat is moved onto the boat trailer such that the permanent magnets attached to the boat trailer are adjacent the magnetic reed switches inside the boat, the magnetic reed switches close, thereby causing the indicator box to signal that the boat is properly positioned onto the boat trailer.

Abstract: An inflatable boat (1) includes at least one inflatable buoyancy tube (2) forming two substantially parallel branches (3) that are united towards the forward end (4). A bottom (5) that is rigid in the transverse direction is held between the two branches (3) of the inflatable tube (2). A transom (6) is provided for supporting an outboard motor assembly. The boat is characterized in that the stern portion of the underside of its bottom (5) supports at least one projecting bulb (7) that is elongate in the longitudinal direction of the boat and that is constituted by a flexible bag which is inflated by a fluid under pressure. This bulb (4) is disposed facing the position occupied by an arm of the motor assembly that plunges into the water and that supports at least one thrust member together with anticavitation plates.

Abstract: In a personal recreational watercraft, an improvement resides in a suspension mechanism, which permits greater maneuverability and stability, and reduces driver fatigue. To overcome the strong forces, a suspension system is employed which permits up and down vertical movement, while resisting lateral movement and torsional forces. The suspension apparatus also reduces shock effects caused by choppy or rough water.

Abstract: A lightweight anchor, with its upward-bent tail fin, big-notched fluke and a shank of steel bar bent into a U shape, together with its entire shape, has a great hold of the bottom. The anchor when stuck in a bottom obstacle can be recovered from the bottom simply by moving the ship of its user to the opposite position of its mooring and giving a tug or two to its anchor rope. Because it is simply structured and easy of fabrication with immovable fluke, tail fin and shank, it reduces the cost of fabrication and enhances safety of handling. It avoids most of the demerits of conventional lightweight anchors by its simple structure and its peculiar shape, but its position-correcting mechanism is most remarkable.