Abstract: An attachment system for attaching a flexible enclosure to a boat windshield frame includes a frame trim piece with a longitudinally and transversely extending groove retaining a resilient insert. The insert has a pair of legs extending from one end of a shank and touching to conceal the groove. A screw snap stud can be inserted at any selected position along the groove to self-tap into the walls of the groove and releasably retain a cooperating fastener on the flexible enclosure. If the stud is removed, the insert legs return to the original position. Alternatively, the insert is not used or the insert does not include the legs.

Abstract: A berthing facility and method of docking a maritime vessel that features greatly improved stability and is suitable at a wide range of depths. The floating berth is made up of a plurality of buoy components protected by a fendering assembly which constitutes the breasting and mooring dolphins of a conventional fixed berth. The fendering assembly presents shock-absorbing fender panels that help absorb the impact from docking ships, the combined system allowing absorption of large berthing energies with reduced reactions and greater safety. The buoy components are preferably each of a type known commercially as a Satellite Separator Platform (SSP).

Abstract: A power driven marine ladder apparatus includes a vertically extendable cable section and a horizontally extendable rung section connected transversely to the cable section. An axially rotatable winder is mounted on a marine vessel or fixed marine structure and the cable section is attached to and wrappable about the winder. A motor drives the winder rotatably in a first direction to unwrap the cable section and lower the ladder apparatus, and in an opposite second direction to wrap the cable section on the winder and raise the ladder apparatus.

Abstract: A jet-propelled watercraft capable of maintaining a propulsion force required for a turn made at the same time as closing of a throttle valve. The jet-propelled watercraft has an auxiliary intake valve and an ECU. The auxiliary intake valve in an intake pipe opens/closes an auxiliary intake passage to bypass a throttle valve. The ECU performs control such that an opening of the auxiliary intake valve in a state where the rotation speed of the engine is not lower than a threshold value is larger than the opening of the auxiliary intake valve in a state where the engine is idling. When in a state where the rotation speed is not lower than the threshold value, it is detected that the throttle valve is completely closed and that a steering mechanism has been turned by a prescribed angle or more, a current opening of the auxiliary intake valve is maintained.

Abstract: A mooring apparatus for mooring first and second vessels, (1, 7) together in a heavy seaway ofFshore is described. The apparatus is for tandem mooring using soft yoke technology. The apparatus consists of a rigid arm (2) with a longitudinal axis and first and second ends. The arm is mountable to a first vessel (1) so that its longitudinal axis is substantially parallel to that of the vessel (1) and is rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis (3) which is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and is located between the first and second ends. A tension member (4) is pivotally mounted to the second end of the arm (2) and can be connected to the second vessel (7). A ballast weight (8) is moveably mounted on the arm (2) and can be moved longitudinally along the arm by a drive means (9).

Abstract: In a steering device for a small watercraft that has at least two outboard motors which propulsive directions and propulsive forces are individually controllable. The steering device can have a steering wheel that can be inclined relative to an axis of a steering shaft in any directions including a fore to aft direction and a transverse direction. A control unit that controls shift units and throttle units of the outboard motors so that a hull moves toward a side that is directed by the inclination of the steering wheel.

Abstract: The present invention is a system for automatically controlling the trim of a boat drive thrust on a boat by controlling the trim motor which adjusts the trim angle of the boat drive thrust by pivoting the boat drive thrust relative to the boat. The system includes a control unit operatively coupled to the trim motor. The control unit causes the trim motor to adjust the trim of the boat drive thrust towards the horizontal when the control unit is activated. A trim sensor is provided on the boat drive thrust to measure the trim of the boat drive thrust. The trim sensor is operatively coupled to the control unit and is configured to send an activation signal to the control unit to activate the control unit when the sensor senses that the boat drive thrust is at a predetermined angle from the horizontal. The trim sensor consist of a pendulum movable between first and second electronic contacts, the sensor being configured to send the activation signal when the pendulum engages one of the electronic contacts.

Abstract: An apparatus including a trolling motor having at least one operational subsystem and the trolling motor also having an integral electronic controller for controlling the operational subsystem wherein the improvement comprises an integral electronic diagnostic system which will receive diagnostic information from the operational subsystem and will transmit the diagnostic information for reception externally of the trolling motor.

Abstract: A mount apparatus for a trolling motor provides latching positions for the stowed and deployed conditions of the trolling motor. Locking the mechanism in either the stowed or deployed positions is accomplished solely by moving the shaft of the trolling motor assembly in a lever-like movement about a pivot axis which extends through the base and transmission structure of the mount apparatus. This locking procedure is accomplished without the necessity of moving the shaft in a direction which is generally parallel to its central axis. As a result, the locking movement required by an operator to latch the trolling motor in its deployed and stowed positions is ergonomically preferable to known types of systems.

Abstract: A shift device for a boat is operated by a shift lever. Movement of the shift lever causes movement of a mechanical actuator. The device comprises means for detecting the positions of the shift lever at specified time intervals and means for obtaining by calculation an estimated time at which the shift lever will reach an operation end position based on the data from the means for detecting. Means for controlling the drive speed of the actuator also are provided. The shift device corresponds the completion of shift lever movement to the completion of shifting by timing the actuator movement to encourage shifting at the time the shift lever is anticipated to stop movement.

Abstract: A personal watercraft can be rotated in a correct direction of rotation when the personal watercraft has been overturned, and can thereby be restored to a normal, upright position. The personal watercraft includes a vessel body, an engine, and an exhaust system. The exhaust system includes a muffler, disposed on a first side of the vessel body, and an exhaust pipe connected to the muffler and formed in an inverted U-shape. During operation of the engine, exhaust gas passes through the inverted-U-shaped exhaust pipe and is subsequently discharged to the outside environment via an exhaust port. The exhaust port is disposed on a second side of the vessel body opposite the first side. The vessel body has a hollow water-receiving portion formed therein, on the second side thereof. The water-receiving portion is adapted to be submerged under water when the personal watercraft is overturned in a body of water.

Abstract: A boat having a deck with a deck locker is disclosed herein. The deck locker includes a compartment mounted beneath the deck, and an opening in the deck for accessing the interior of the compartment. The locker also includes a lid for covering the opening in the deck. The locker further includes a latching arrangement for releasably securing the lid in a closed position covering the opening. The latching arrangement includes a striker mounted to the lid and a latching member and actuator mounted offset from the lid.

Abstract: In an engine speed control system for an outboard motor, overrev prevention control is implemented which determines whether the engine overrevs by comparing the detected engine speed and a desired speed and responds to a determination that the engine overrevs (in which case the cause of the engine speed increase is probably reduced load caused by sucking in of air and/or exhaust gas by the propeller) by driving an electric throttle motor in the direction of reducing the throttle opening, thereby lowering the engine speed to the desired speed. Owing to this configuration, the problem of decline in thrust owing to intake of air and/or exhaust gas by the propeller can be quickly overcome irrespective of operator skill, thereby improving power performance and steerability.

Abstract: A personal flotation device is formed with a neck opening defined by a plurality of discrete lobes projecting in toward the inside of said neck opening and including a chin lobe that is positioned to engage the underside of the chin of a user when device is in operative position on said user and inhibit removal of said device over the head of the user. The chin lobe is spaced from adjacent portions of adjacent said lobes to provide spaces therebetween to facilitate donning and doffing of said device when said chin is aligned with one of the spaces. The device is also preferably provided with cover panels that releasably connect together around their peripheries so that the edges of the bladder contained between the cover panels may be folded and retained in folded position when the sides of the over panels are connected.

Abstract: An outboard motor hydraulic mechanism having a hydraulic actuator moving the outboard motor about a rotary shaft relative to a boat the motor is mounted on and a hydraulic pump and a plurality of electric motors connected to the pump. A number of the motors to be operated is determined based on an estimated load acting on the actuator, output shafts of the motors are aligned coaxially with a drive shaft of the pump, and they are directly connected with each other. This ensures that the operator is prevented from having an unpleasant feeling, lowers electric power consumption by the motors, and reduces the number of components and simplifies the structure of the mechanism.

Abstract: Apparatus for protecting users of surfboards, kayaks and other personal water activity apparatus against sharks and other water-borne predators is provided. A plurality of lights is provided on the bottom and side surfaces of the personal water activity apparatus. The lights are actuated to mask and distort the shadow, shape or outline of the user together with the personal water activity apparatus, in effect camouflaging the user and his or her personal water activity apparatus. The lights may be actuated either manually or automatically. Sensors are provided to detect the stage of ambient light in order to automatically actuate the light sources.

Abstract: In an outboard motor control system equipped with an electric throttle motor for moving the throttle valve of the engine mounted on the outboard motor, an electric shift motor for operating the shift mechanism to establish one from the in-gear, neutral and reverse shift positions, and a low-speed cruising switch for inputting the instruction to implement a low-speed cruising for causing the boat to cruise at a low speed, when the instruction is inputted, a throttle control is effected by controlling the operation of the motor to a set throttle opening and shift control is effected by controlling the operation of the motor to establish the in-gear position and neutral position alternatively, thereby enabling to cruise over a wide range of speeds including very slow, without requiring troublesome manual operations.

Abstract: An amah for a high speed seagoing multi hulled vessel, the amah having sides extending upwardly and outwardly from a base line, the sides having longitudinally extending vertically spaced stiffeners, the bow of the amah including a plate field comprising a plurality of sub plates each comprising a vertical plate secured along the centre line of the amah and supporting a horizontal plate secured to each side of the amah, whereby the planes of the horizontal plates of the sub plates step upwardly as the base line rakes upwardly towards the bow and the longitudinal stiffeners terminate and are secured to the horizontal plates.

Abstract: A marine vessel and drive combination includes port and starboard tunnels formed in a marine vessel hull raising port and starboard steerable marine propulsion devices to protective positions relative to the keel.

Abstract: An outboard motor steering angle and tilt/trim angle regulating system includes a pair of hydraulic cylinders each connected, at one end, to the boat through the stern brackets and connected, at the other end, to the outboard motor at a location upward of the one end in a vertical direction, and a control unit inputting the outputs of a steering angle sensor, a power tilt switch and a power trim switch and selectively driving the hydraulic cylinders to extend or retract, to regulate a steering angle and tilt/trim angles of the outboard motor relative to the boat in response to at least one of the inputted outputs. With this, while utilizing hydraulic cylinders, it becomes possible to simplify the structure to improve mountability on the outboard motor and hold weight increase to the minimum.