Abstract: An AUV is described that includes an external, deployable payload releasably attached to the exterior of the AUV. The release mechanism between the payload and the AUV is relatively simple and low cost. The payload is mounted external to the AUVs hull and does not significantly increase the cost of the AUV to which it is attached. There are no complex release mechanisms or intermediate launch systems attached to the AUV. Therefore, the described AUV can deploy payloads, such as sensors, that would normally be deployed from a manned platform. This can increase the payload capability of a small expendable AUV without increasing volume or cost of the AUV.

Abstract: A submersible remotely operated vehicle with a streamlined shape, which uses an internal support lattice to provide pressure resistance. By using a lattice frame to distribute the water pressure load on the vehicle, the vehicle may be constructed of thin-walled, injection molded plastic, yet may be capable of diving to significant depths. The vehicle may provide pitch control using a single vertical thrust actuator that is horizontally fore or aft of the center of vertical drag; this efficient pitch control improves hydrodynamic efficiency by pointing the vehicle towards the direction of travel to minimize the coefficient of drag. The vehicle may communicate wirelessly with a remote operator via a communications buoy tethered to the vehicle, thereby eliminating cabling constraints on the vehicle's range from the operator. The tether may be connected to the buoy using a waterproof connector that presses three terminals surrounded by a compliant seal onto mating contacts.

Abstract: An inflatable hull including at least one air casing that has two walls placed one over the other. The walls each include a fabric sheet, are connected therebetween by a plurality of connecting wires distributed over the entire surface of the sheets while forming a structure suitable for being inflated to a pressure capable of rigidifying the structure, and are capable of ensuring the buoyancy of the hull separately from any reported buoyancy element. The casing has a first transversely cross-sectional curvature and a second longitudinally cross-sectional curvature that is present over at least the front portion of the casing. One of the walls corresponds to the inside of the curvature, and the other of the walls corresponds to the outside of the curvature. The casing has at least one clip set up such as to form a stem.

Abstract: A sliding hatch for a boat including a vertical bulkhead and deck having an opening with vertical and horizontal sections defining a companionway for access to areas below the deck. A door is pivotally mounted to a bulkhead adjacent the vertical opening and movable for access to the vertical section of the companionway. A hatch is slideably mounted to the deck for selectively enclosing the horizontal section of the opening. Pivoted links couple the door to the hatch, such that, as the door is opened and closed, the hatch is moved between open and closed positions.

Abstract: A floating petroleum production support having a turret passing a plurality of flexible first pipes connected to a top platform. The turret includes at least one guide and offset pipe for containing and guiding a flexible first pipe and passing inside the cylindrical internal structure of the turret non-vertically between: a) a bottom wall at a first location (C1) of the bottom wall where the guide pipe is fastened; and b) an internal platform above the bottom wall, the top end of the guide pipe being fastened to the internal platform at a second location (C2) where the top end of the flexible pipe contained in the guide pipe is fastened or is suitable for being fastened, the second location not being in vertical alignment with the first location.

Abstract: A system and method are for transferring fluid cargo between a cargo vessel and a cargo connection point at open sea where the cargo vessel is required to keep an end portion of the cargo vessel up towards the resultant element force direction, wherein at least one self-propelled buoy, that is designed to be in fluid connection with the cargo connection point, is connectable to a side portion of the cargo vessel, there being a cargo line that is connectable between the self-propelled buoy and the cargo vessel, and where the self-propelled buoy is designed to keep the self-propelled buoy within predetermined radial distance boundaries from the cargo connection point also when it is attached to the cargo vessel.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to pontoon shields. The pontoon shields disclosed herein may, for example, protect pontoons from damage and/or enhance the aesthetic appearance of pontoons. The shields may be fashioned from one or more segments of resilient material configured to attach along a longitudinal aspect of a pontoon. The shields may be fashioned from a single segment, or from one or more segments configured to mate with one another. The shields may be attached to a pontoon, for example, via an adhesive, weld, and/or one or more brackets, or other mechanical means.

Abstract: An underwater vehicle may be configured to perform vertical profiling and diagonal profiling. The vehicle may include a body having an elongated shape with a central longitudinal axis orthogonal to a central lateral axis. The vehicle may include lateral control surfaces. The lateral control surfaces may be disposed outside of the body and mechanically coupled with the body at a position proximal to the central lateral axis. The lateral control surfaces may be configured to rotate about a control axis parallel to the central lateral axis in order to control an attitude of the vehicle during ascent or descent. A given one of the lateral control surfaces may have a portion extend from the mechanical coupling in a direction perpendicular to the control axis.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an apparatus that allows a boat to be anchored, maneuvered, docking, and stabilized. The invention has a member that can rotate about a first axis from a stowed position to an anchored position. Or the member may be placed downwardly in the ground floor of the body of water, for maneuvering the vessel and to move the vessel in a desired direction. The hull of the vessel may have a channel for the rotation or movement of the member within the channel.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an arrangement for containment of liquid natural gas (LNG) in a hull compartment of a marine construction, comprising a self-supporting primary barrier, a second barrier surrounding the self-supporting primary barrier, and an access space between the self-supporting primary barrier and the secondary barrier. The self-supporting primary barrier is a liquid-tight self-supporting LNG tank and is connected with the hull compartment by support devices penetrating the secondary barrier. The secondary barrier is a liquid-tight thermal insulation connected with the interior surface of the hull and is sealed to the support devices by a flexible liquid tight seal, so that the self-supporting primary barrier and the secondary barrier are separately connected with the hull compartment to prevent transfer of forces between the primary barrier and the second barrier.

Abstract: A diving fin system is provided. The fin system includes without limitation a collapsible, leg mounted diving fin. The fin system includes a first section mounted to lower leg and a second section and a third section that can collapse up to and around the lower leg. When collapsed, it can have a very low profile such that it looks like a slightly wider version of the calf area of the leg. It can be also be a three-piece deploying fin, wherein the first section is maintained coupled to the lower leg, the second section slides and rotates to couple to the top of a foot and the third section rotates away from the second section to form the fin blade for use in diving, such as scuba diving.

Abstract: A watercraft can include a foil configured for movement between an undeployed position and a first deployed position in which the foil raises the relative position of the watercraft relative to the water line as the watercraft moves forward through the water, thereby facilitating planing of the watercraft. The foil can be configured for movement to a second deployed position in which the foil lowers the relative position of the stern end of the watercraft as the watercraft moves forward through the water, thereby modifying the wake produced by the watercraft.

Abstract: An accessory mounting track provides quick and easy removable attachment and positioning of various devices. The method of attachment of devices to the accessory mounting track may be compatible with the attachment of these devices to other mounting systems, allowing the accessory mounting track to be used interchangeably with those systems.

Abstract: The water spray cooling device for a watercraft includes at least one water sprayer that is adaptively secured to a watercraft. The one or more water sprayers are in fluidic communication with a pump via a first conduit. The pump is in fluidic communication with an intake valve via a second conduit. The intake valve is located on a hull of the watercraft in order to collect water, which is then transferred to the pump. The one or more water sprayers spray water onto an occupant of the watercraft. The one or more water sprayers are ideally located on an external surface of the watercraft in order to direct water at a driver of the watercraft.

Abstract: A tail fin assembly for an inflatable product is provided. The tail fin assembly includes a pedestal coupled to a surface of the inflatable product, and a sliding groove positioned on the pedestal, where the sliding groove includes a pair of protruding locking members formed in one end of the sliding groove. The tail fin also includes a fin having a fin body and a fin base, where the fin body is detachably coupled to the pedestal at the fin base which slidably engages the sliding groove. A retainer is coupled to the fin body near the fin base for locking with the protruding locking members to secure the fin to the pedestal.

Abstract: In an outboard motor, a feed passage, through which a lubricating oil that flows upward from a gear mechanism due to rotation of the gear mechanism is fed upward from a gear chamber, includes a first feed passage, extending from the gear chamber to a connection passage via a first upstream passage, a spiral passage, and an interior of an upper bearing, in that order, and a second feed passage, extending from the first upstream passage to the connection passage while bypassing the spiral passage via a bypass passage. The bypass passage is positioned farther outward than the spiral passage in a radial direction of the driveshaft. A diameter of a cross section of the bypass passage that is orthogonal or substantially orthogonal to a center line of the driveshaft is smaller than a maximum diameter of the driveshaft.

Abstract: A watercraft includes a vessel body, a propulsion mechanism, an engine, a shift operating unit, a vessel body state determining unit, and an engine controlling unit. The propulsion mechanism is switched among a forward thrust state to forwardly move the vessel body, a rearward thrust state to rearwardly move the vessel body, and a neutral state to maintain the vessel body in a stationary state. The shift operating unit is configured to move to a forward thrust position, a rearward thrust position, and a neutral position. The vessel body state determining unit is programmed and configured to determine whether or not the vessel body is in the stationary state. The engine controlling unit is programmed and configured to stop the engine when the shift operating unit is located in the neutral position and the vessel body state determining unit determines that the vessel body is in the stationary state.

Abstract: A recreational sport boat includes a hull, having starboard and port sides and a transom, and a pair of wake-modifying devices positioned aft of the transom. One of the wake-modifying devices is positioned on a port side of the boat's centerline and another of the wake-modifying devices is positioned on a starboard side of the boat's centerline. Each wake-modifying device includes a plate-like member and at least one downturned surface at a trailing portion of the plate-like member. Each wake-modifying device is pivotable between a non-deployed position and a deployed position about a pivot axis that is horizontal or inclined no more than about 35° from horizontal. When a wake-modifying device is in the deployed position, the downturned surface is lower than it is in the non-deployed position so as to be able to modify the boat's wake.

Abstract: An inflatable dinghy includes a drop stitch inflatable floor made of high pressure drop stitch material; port and starboard drop stitch inflatable sides made of high-pressure drop stitch material attached at outside edges of the drop stitch inflatable floor, respectively; a rigid bow mold attached to the drop stitch inflatable floor and drop stitch inflatable sides; and a rigid stern transom attached to the drop stitch inflatable floor and drop stitch inflatable sides. The inflatable dinghy includes only three separate air compartments including the drop stitch inflatable floor and the drop stitch inflatable sides.

Abstract: In one example, a board includes a body having a single piece structure, the body including an upper surface that defines a deck, and a lower surface. The board also includes first and second retractable fins, where the first retractable fin is rotatably connected directly to the body at a first fixed location on the body such that the first retractable fin is rotatable about the first fixed location between an extended position and a retracted position, and the first retractable fin including an engagement portion that is engageable with a first portion of the body and with a second portion of the body. The first retractable fin assumes the extended position when the engagement portion is releasably retained by the first portion of the body, and the first retractable fin assumes the retracted position when the engagement portion is releasably retained by the second portion of the body.