Abstract: A steering handle is pivotally connected to an outboard boat motor so that the handle may pivot freely with respect to the motor about a motor steering axis. A handle engagement arrangement allows the handle to be fixed at a particular orientation on the motor and released as desired to move to another orientation about the motor. The handle engagement arrangement preferably includes a control device positioned at a distal end of the handle. The adjustable handle arrangement allows the motor to be turned 360 degrees while maintaining the steering handle within reach and in a convenient position.

Abstract: A slider assembly useful as a working part on a sailing vessel includes a track and a slider mounted on the track. The slider includes a pair of U-shaped end pieces held in a spaced relationship by side pins and a central pin. Tubular bushings are mounted on the side pins and in sliding engagement with the grooves of the track.

Abstract: A multi-hull marine vessel having a center hull and a left and right outer hull movably positioned adjacent to the center hull. The outer hulls are on opposite sides of the center hull and are generally parallel to the center hull. Extendible support assemblies extend between the center hull and the outer hulls. The extendible support assemblies are movable between a retracted position with the outer hulls in nested positions immediately adjacent to the center hull, and extended positions with the outer hulls in outward positions away from the center hull. A support moving device is connected to the extendible support assemblies and is positioned to move the extendible support assemblies between the retracted and extended positions, thereby moving the outer hulls between the nested and outward positions.

Abstract: A trolling valve safety device that locks or limits actuation of a boat engine throttle from its idle position during use of a trolling valve, and vice versa, preferably includes a rotating control plate having mounts for throttle cables so that throttle actuation requires plate rotation. This rotation can be limited by a cam slider which slides under force of trolling valve control cables and provides a cam member that inserts in control slots of the control plate. The cam member is positioned in a locking radial slot when the trolling valve is engaged and thereby locks or limits engine throttling. The cam member is positioned in a releasing arcuate position when the trolling valve is disengaged and thereby permits rotation of the plate and associated engine throttling. A stop pin can also extend from the plate to selectively permit or limit rotation of the plate by alignment or disalignment with a groove in the cam slider and can be adjustable to permit slight throttling during trolling valve use.

Abstract: A swim fin comprised of a plurality of hydrofoil blades in which the angle of attack of the blades is automatically self-adjusting by use of negative feedback through one or more hydrodynamic control surfaces. The self-adjustment of the angles of the blades results in continuous optimization of the lift vectors throughout the swimming stroke as well as for different swimming speeds and variations in water currents. To further take advantage of the increased efficiency and power, improved hydrofoil blade designs are recommended. These consist of cambered plate profiles optimized for the range of Reynolds numbers observed in scuba diving. Means to precisely define the cambered profiles, which invert between up and downstrokes, are provided. Provision for additional enhancement of power is disclosed in embodiments which multiply the number of hydrofoil blades by stacking the serial blades in substantially parallel planes without altering the overall length or width of the swim fin.

Abstract: A nose cone attachment for an outboard motor propeller gearcase has a molded polymer housing shaped to fit over the front and sides of an outboard propeller gearcase and has an aerodynamic nosepiece shape on the front thereof with a plurality of water inlets thereon. The molded polymer housing has open water channels or plenums thereinside which form wide passageways with the gearcase housing sides when the nose cone attachment is attached over the gearcase housing. The open water channels are positioned to fit over the gearcase water inlets. The housing is adhesively attached but may also have a plurality of screw openings formed in the side thereof and positioned for attaching screws therethrough to attach the nose cone to a gearcase outboard motor prop.

Abstract: A jet propelled watercraft having an outboard motor type of jet propulsion unit. The jet propulsion unit is disposed in substantial part forwardly of the transom and beneath the undersurface of the hull for improving its pumping efficiency. The jet propulsion unit is driven by a transmission including a drive shaft having a pivotal joint. The jet propulsion unit is pivotal relative to the engine about an axis containing the axis of the universal joint so that the water inlet opening may be swung upwardly through an opening in the undersurface of the hull which is above the water level for clearing foreign objects from the jet propulsion unit water inlet opening.

Abstract: A small personal watercraft having an exhaust system that is designed to provide adequate length and which has a downwardly inclined section that is disposed above the exhaust manifold for ensuring that water cannot enter the engine through the exhaust system. The engine is water cooled and the coolant that is circulated through the engine cooling jacket is discharged back to the body of water in which the watercraft is operating through the exhaust system. A direct coolant discharge having a relatively large effective area for limiting the amount of water entering the exhaust system. A tell-tale discharge is disposed in a lower portion of the hull to be visible by a rider but will not enter the passenger's area and will drain from the tell-tale when the engine is not running.

Abstract: A system to be installed on a sail-boat for furling a spinnaker (1) and for remote fitting of the spinnaker (1) to a boom (2) swivel-mounted on the mast (3) of the sail-boat comprises a stay (4) offset with respect to the stay for the jib (5), a furling device (6) secured to the offset stay (4), at least one boom swivel-mounted on the mast (3), a spinnaker (1) fitted in the central part of its belly with at least one supple link (17) which can be attached to the furling device (6), a circular sheet (11) knotted at the end (9) of the boom (2) and passing through the tack of the spinnaker (1), the foot (13) of the mast (3) and a point (14) on the mast (3) at a predetermined height to serve as a topping lift for the articulated boom (2), said circular sheet (11) being passed through a cleat ( 12) and manoeuvered from the sail-boat cockpit to lower and raise said articulated boom (2) and bring the far end (9) of said boom into contact with said spinnaker (1).

Abstract: The invention provides an improvement in a keel arrangement for a sailboat hull, of the kind having an elongated ballast member spaced below the hull so as normally to extend horizontally and fore-and-aft under the hull, and a front foil and a rear foil depending respectively from a front and a rear portion of the hull, the lower ends of which between them support the ballast member, and in which the rear foil is pivotable about a vertical axis to allow it to act as a rudder. The improvement comprises a joint connecting a main, front portion of the ballast member to a minor, rear portion thereof, the joint allowing both longitudinal and rotational movement between the ballast member portions, whereby the foils can bend independently of each other, and the large majority of drag forces on the ballast member are resisted only by the front foil.

Abstract: A telescopic tilt and trim arrangement for an outboard drive that has a compact configuration made possible by positioning the seal between the trim cylinder and the outer cylinder at the upper end of the trim cylinder. In addition, a latching arrangement is incorporated between the trim cylinder and the outer housing for holding the trim cylinder in its fully trimmed up condition when the outboard drive is tilted up.

Abstract: A propulsion unit for watercraft that employs a pair of counter-rotating propellers disposed one in front of the other in order to improve the performance upon acceleration, a cavitation effect is generated around at least one of the propellers at least during acceleration. Various ways in which this can be done employing the exhaust gases from the powering internal combustion engine for driving the propellers are illustrated.

Abstract: A method of making a marine indicia marking on the surface of a steel hull, and the product produced thereby. The method comprises establishing a preconceived pattern for the marking and welding a plurality of nipples to the outside of the hull conforming to the pattern. Preferably, stud arc welding is used to weld the nipples to the hull. The stud used in the stud arc weld gun is of the knock-off variety and includes an upper knock-off portion and a lower permanent stud. After installation, the surface of the stud may be made smooth by grinding or other suitable methods. Finally, the studs and adjacent portions of the hull surface are painted with contrasting color paint.

Abstract: In a marine drive (10), a nonrotational thrust sensing device (202 or 204) is placed between the stationary housing (26') and rotating propeller shaft (40' or 42') to measure the thrust output of a propeller (12 or 14) by measuring the equal and opposite force applied to the housing by the propeller shaft (40' or 42'). A thrust bearing (214 or 248) is situated between the rotating shaft and the nonrotating thrust sensing device. A thrust ring (246) and adapter (250) provide adoption of the thrust sensing device to a particular housing and shaft configuration. In a marine drive having counter rotating coaxial propeller shafts, first and second thrust sensors individually sense the thrust of inner and outer propeller shafts, respectively, to provide separate sensed thrust for each.

Abstract: A towable water sports apparatus such as a water ski is provided with a narrowed waist portion in the forward half of the ski, a concave tunnel in the bottom surface of the ski which terminates in a Y-shaped end adjacent the tail end of the ski, a flex-adjusting plate which is secured to the top surface of the ski, and a vibration dampening cell which is positioned in a recess in the core of the ski and which is covered by the cover of the ski.

Abstract: The invention provides an anchor cover for encasing or covering the stock and enlarged top portion of an anchor. This device is for use specifically when an anchor is mounted at the bow of a boat, in order to prevent the anchor from causing damage to other nearby boats and objects when the boat upon which the anchor is mounted is attempting to enter or exit a boat docking area. The anchor cover can be formed of only one piece that is fitted to encase both ends of the stock as well as the enlarged top portion within its hollow body cavity. The anchor cover can also be formed of three separate pieces, two stock-enclosing portions and one top-enclosing portion, for encasing those parts of the anchor.

Abstract: A cushion for the boom of a sailboat including at least one preformed sleeve or flexible wrap of a soft resilient material which is configured to overly at least the entire opposite side portions of the boom along substantially the entire length thereof, and fasteners for selectively removably mounting the cushion on the boom.

Abstract: A method for the production of a flipper for swimming by injection molding that provides for the production first, of the fin (1) with one flat bent end (1a), then the molding on it of an intermediate element (2) comprising a substantially flat part (2a) overlapping the bent end and from which develop a substantially arcuate part (2b) over it and a forked part (2c) forming two ribs (3), each of which is located both above and below the fin along its lateral edges. Finally, a shoe (5) is molded onto said intermediate element which lines the internal faces of the flat part and the arcuate part.

Abstract: An amphibian bicycle wherein the central screw portion for the rear wheel hub part coupled with the large circular disc plate, and that for the inner body end coupled with the small circular disc plate have screw portions in a direction contrary to that for the gears, whereby loosening of the gears is prevented in the case of fastening the large circular disc plate integral with the multi-stage gears with the bolts during its forward and backward motions on the water. In the case of operations on land, all the related bolts are separated for the driving operation.In case of operation on water, the air tubes having a plurality of air chambers, semi-circle frames and fixing pipes uniformly distribute and support the weight of the bicycle and the human body.

Abstract: The present invention provides a containment integrity system for application in a vessel carrying bulk materials such as liquid petroleum products. The containment integrity system comprises a flexible liner having an inner composite fabric portion and an outer fiber-reinforced rubber skin portion, a fastening system for rigidly securing the flexible liner to the walls of the vessel, an anchoring system for releasably securing and conforming the flexible liner to and about all coverable features of the hull of the vessel, and a self-sealing flange assembly for insertion into all flow holes connecting the cargo compartments of the vessel. The present containment integrity system insures the necessary containment integrity of the hull of the vessel without significant reduction in the carrying capacity of the vessel.