Abstract: A system for controlling a marine vessel having first and second steering nozzles and corresponding first and second reversing buckets, comprises a processor configured to receive a first vessel control signal including at least a component corresponding to a translational thrust command in a port direction, and that is configured to provide a set of actuator control signals coupled to and control the first and second reversing buckets. The processor is configured to provide the set of actuator control signals so as to maintain the first reversing bucket substantially in a first discrete position and the second reversing bucket substantially in a second discrete position as long as the first vessel control signal includes a component corresponding to a translational thrust command in the port direction.

Abstract: A bulkhead protector apparatus is described. The protector is configured to be mounted within a cavity of the sheetpile of a bulkhead in order to prevent waves, wake, and debris from reaching the top portion of the bulkhead, minimizing damage and prolonging the life of the bulkhead. An angled waterguard portion is disposed within the cavity, and is configured to deflect water down and away from the top of the bulkhead. The waterguard portion is mounted to a whaler of the bulkhead via a planar mount portion which is secured to the underside of the whaler of the bulkhead via stainless steel lag bolts.

Abstract: A watercraft comprising a compressed air propulsion system is shown and described. The watercraft includes at least one propeller operatively connected to an air motor. Storage tanks supply compressed air having a pressure of at least 2000 psi to a pressure regulator that reduces the pressure and supplies air to an air control valve. User controls adjust the air control valve to adjust the flow rate of air to the air motor which in turn adjusts the direction and/or speed of rotation of the propeller. An on-board air compressor energized by a plurality of lithium iron phosphate batteries provides air to the air storage tanks when the pressure falls below a specified value. In certain examples, the electric and air propulsion system is used to replace a fossil fuel engine in an existing watercraft and can remain at sea longer than the existing watercraft.

Abstract: Wakeboat propulsion apparatuses are provided that can include: a wakeboat having a hull; an engine mounted to the hull; a hydraulic pump driven by the engine; a hydraulic motor powered by the hydraulic pump; and a propeller powered by the hydraulic motor. Methods for propelling a wakeboat are also provided. The methods can include: engaging a hydraulic pump from a drive of an engine operationally mounted to a hull of the wakeboat; driving a hydraulic motor with hydraulic fluid received from the hydraulic pump; and operationally engaging a propeller using the hydraulic motor.

Abstract: A fin box is provided for detachably attaching a fin to a surfboard. The surfboard has a nose and a tail at opposite ends. The fin has a groove base with one or more pins. The fin box includes one or more inner walls. The inner walls have (i) a hollow base with a width that is at least as great as a width of the groove base and a length that is at least as great as a length of the groove base, (ii) one or more recess parts disposed at locations that correspond to the locations of the pins of the fin, the recess parts extending in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to a length of the fin box, and (iii) one or more ditch parts that extend from the recess parts, the ditch parts extending in a direction that is substantially parallel to the length of the fin box and toward the tail of the surfboard.

Abstract: A shading device of a water vehicle, having a roller blind web, a winding unit, onto which the roller blind web can be wound or unwound and which, in relation to a longitudinal center plane of the roller blind web, is borne on both sides so as to be rotatable, and comprising, in relation to the longitudinal center plane of the roller blind web on each of its two sides, a telescopic tube arrangement having a bearing tube that is fixed relative to the vehicle and having at least one first pull-out tube and one second pull-out tube, which are displaceable between a slid-in position, the roller blind web having been wound up onto the winding unit when being in said position, and a pulled-out position, the roller blind web having been unwound from the winding unit when being in said position.

Abstract: An offshore production and storage system includes a spread moored buoy assembly including a riser buoy coupled to a mooring buoy, the riser buoy configured to receive and couple to risers, wherein the spread moored buoy assembly is configured to be pre-installed offshore with the risers coupled thereto, and wherein the spread moored buoy assembly is configured to couple to a floating vessel such that the risers fluidicly couple to the floating vessel via the riser buoy.

Abstract: Wakeboat hull control systems and methods are provided to permit the accurate reproduction of a wake behind a wakeboat. The onboard wake control system receives data from a draft measuring system. Incorporation of the data from the draft measuring system permits accurate reproduction of a wake behind the wakeboat after a change in an onboard variable such as the number, weight or position of passengers, the weight or position of cargo and the position of trim tabs or amount/location of ballast.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and related method for cleaning vessel hulls and other subsea structures at sea. In an embodiment, a hull cleaning system comprises a housing defining an interior void; a multifunction bar; a propulsion system; a power system; a positioning system; a water pump operatively connected to the power system; a high flow manifold operatively in fluid communication with the water pump; a hull cleaner; and a suction device configured to selectively adhere the hull cleaning system to a hull.

Abstract: A manual and submersible auxiliary swim platform for a vessel having a main aft platform, the main aft platform having a recessed area for receiving the auxiliary swim platform. A pair of bracket assemblies secure the auxiliary platform to the main aft platform, and both bracket assemblies have a first bracket member, a second bracket member, and a bushing. The bushing is interposed and secured to the first and second bracket members at a common end. The bracket members and bushing have limiter surfaces which limit rotational and pivotal movement of the bracket assemblies in conjunction with external edges, a pin and interface designs of the bracket assemblies.

Abstract: A multi-vane impeller for use upon a watercraft such as a jet ski is provided having an integral hydraulic compression ring permanently affixed to the outer end portions of the vanes. The impeller eliminates a need for the wear ring portion which is commonly provided on most jet skis, and is expected to improve efficiency and reduce maintenance costs. It is envisioned that the impeller would be provided as standard or optional equipment on new jet ski designs as well as being made available as an add-on kit for existing jet skis.

Abstract: A buoyant vessel having a hull and a drive system mounted to the hull, the system having a rectifier, a generator, an AC bus in communication with shore power or a charging system and the rectifier, a DC bus in communication with the rectifier, at least one energy storage system, an inverter, a prime mover, a load regenerating device, and a control and monitor system which has predefined specifications for at least one of: storage units of at least one energy storage system; stored therein and wherein the control and monitor system is adapted to: automatically control the DC/DC converters, relieve a current draw from one or more storage units, provide charging current, and automatically draw power and redirect energy.

Abstract: Methods for controlling tension in mooring lines of a floating offshore structure having a buoyancy structure including one or more water tanks and the buoyancy structure providing excess buoyancy are provided. The methods comprise varying the mass and/or the center of gravity of the floating offshore structure by varying the quantity of water in one or more of the water tanks. Also, floating offshore structures are disclosed, the structures comprising a buoyancy structure having one or more floater tanks providing excess buoyancy, and a plurality of tensioned mooring lines, and further comprising a control system for increasing and decreasing a quantity of water in one or more of the floater tanks. Also, possible uses of floating offshore structures are provided wherein under standard operating conditions, the floater tanks are at least partially filled with water.

Abstract: The present invention provides a solar panel float in which an increase in the number of components is prevented and which is easy to assemble. A float for mounting a solar panel is provided with: an annular float portion; a first support portion that supports an edge on one side of the solar panel; and a second support portion that supports an edge on the other side of the solar panel. The first support portion includes a first support plate portion rising from a wall surface on one side of an inner periphery of the annular float portion. The first support plate portion is formed of a cut-and-raised piece that has been cut and raised, from a flat plate portion integrally formed so as to close the inner periphery during molding of the annular float portion, using a lower-side portion of the flat plate portion as a bending-fulcrum point.

Abstract: A ship comprises an engine; a first self-heat exchanger which heat-exchanges boil-off gas discharged from a storage tank; a multi-stage compressor which compresses, in multi-stages, the boil-off gas that passed through the first self-heat exchanger after being discharged from the storage tank; a first decompressing device which expands one portion of the boil-off gas compressed by the multi-stage compressor; a second self-heat exchanger which heat-exchanges the other portion of the boil-off gas compressed by the multi-stage compressor, with the boil-off gas expanded by the first decompressing device; and a second decompressing device which expands the boil-off gas pre-cooled by the second self-heat exchanger and cooled by the first self-heat exchanger, wherein the first self-heat exchanger uses the boil-off gas discharged from the storage tank as a refrigerant for cooling the boil-off gas that passed through the second self-heat exchanger after being compressed by the multi-stage compressor.

Abstract: A swimming propulsion device. The swimming propulsion device includes a fuselage at least one propulsor pivotally connected to the fuselage, and in some embodiments, at least one stabilizer affixed to the fuselage. The device also includes a swimmer connection mechanism removably attached to the fuselage by a locking mechanism whereby the swimmer connection mechanism connects a swimmer to the device, and a control mechanism installed within the propulsor. A method for efficient swimming is also disclosed.

Abstract: An outboard motor and methods of use thereof in general, includes a powerhead removeably affixed to the transom of a boat, and a gear case rotationally connected to a propeller shaft, the outboard motor including a telescopic drive shaft, the telescopic drive shaft having a first drive shaft section rotationally connected to the motor and a second drive shaft section rotationally connected to the gear case, and a telescopic drive shaft housing, the telescopic drive shaft housing configured to support the telescopic drive shaft internally therethrough, whereby the telescopic drive shaft and the telescopic drive shaft housing are configured to provide depth adjustment for the gear case and the propeller shaft, and thus enable the propeller to be raised and lowered during propulsion to improve propulsion efficiency.

Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, and methods for the docking of an underwater vehicle (such as a ROV) to a subsea structure (such as a basket or cage) for the transfer of payload devices, such as ocean bottom seismic nodes. The ROV may have a docking probe that is rotatable between an extended and retracted position by a rotatory actuator. The subsea structure may have a docking receptacle that receives the docking probe while the probe is in an extended position. The docking probe and receptacle can latch and/or be secured together by a variety of mechanisms. Once secured, the docking probe can rotate thereby changing the relative positions (horizontal and/or vertical) of the ROV and the subsea structure. The underwater vehicle may have an elevator mechanism that may move vertically and/or horizontally and that is coupled to a handler or grabber for handling and/or transfer of the payload devices.

Abstract: A retrieval system and methods of preparing and using same to retrieve underwater objects from a selected depth, including a flotation device having at least a selected amount of buoyancy, a release mechanism that is capable of releasably engaging an anchor, and a controller to actuate the release mechanism when a selected condition is achieved. The system further includes a spool assembly having a frame for carrying (i) the floatation device, (ii) the release mechanism, (iii) the controller and (iv) in combination with the flotation device, a quantity of pre-wound line having a length greater than the selected depth.

Abstract: A spray inhibitor for inhibiting the spray of water caused by exhaust gases exiting an exhaust outlet on a powerboat.