Abstract: Described are ships and docking systems comprising a fender for mounting on a bow of a ship, comprising an elastically deformable body portion, and a concave engagement surface defined by the body portion, wherein the concave engagement surface extends perpendicular to a center line of the ship, such that portions of the fender distal to the center line extend further forward in a direction parallel to the center line than a portion of the fender central to the center line.

Abstract: An inflation device is provided including a shell, a pin, a restraining element, and a barrier. The shell may be coupled to an inflation canister. The pin is positioned within the shell in order to open a seal of the inflation canister. The restraining element is positioned within the shell and is positioned to prevent the pin from opening the seal of the inflation canister. The restraining element is dissolvable. The barrier is positioned within the shell. The barrier includes a fluid resistant skin and a heating element coupled to the fluid resistant skin. The heating element may open a portion of the barrier responsive to an electrical current running through the heating element.

Abstract: A heave survey platform includes: a body, two fixed wings and two variable wing mechanisms. The two fixed wings are symmetrically disposed on two sides of a middle part of the body, and an axis of the body is located in a plane defined by extension directions of the two fixed wings. Each variable wing mechanism includes a variable wing, and the two variable wings of the two variable wing mechanisms are symmetrically disposed on two sides of a lower end of the body, and each variable wing is configured to swing between a first position coplanar with the plane and a second position forming an angle with the plane to generate a lift force on the body at the second position, thereby to make the body move in a radial direction or change attitude.

Abstract: A system for enhancing a wake profile produced by a pontoon boat is provided. The system includes a pair of ramps attached to the bottom of a platform supported by at least two pontoons. The ramps may be oriented downward with a rear end of the ramp disposed in the water between the pontoons. The water flowing between the pontoons is displaced downward by the ramps, thereby increasing water displacement and directing the water to produce an improved wake profile. Downforce may be applied to the boat by one or more wake plates, with a faceted portion of the wake plate facing forward and upward, such that when water impacts the faceted portion a downforce is provided. The wake plates may be attached to the ramps or may be separate from the ramps.

Abstract: A trolling motor has a steering motor transmitting torque to a steering shaft, which is coupled to a lower propulsion unit such that rotation of the steering shaft rotates the propulsion unit about a steering axis. A controller is in signal communication with the steering motor. A foot pedal in signal communication with the controller has a foot pad pivotable about a pivot axis and sends electrical steering signals to the controller (and thus steering motor) in response to pivoting of the foot pad. A variable resistance device is coupled to the foot pedal and controllable to vary resistance to pivoting of the foot pad about the pivot axis based on a position, velocity, acceleration, and/or jerk of the steering shaft. Additionally or alternatively, the variable resistance device provides haptic feedback to a user via the foot pad to inform the user about information related to the trolling motor system.

Abstract: A boat comprises a hull, a primary steering mechanism carried by the hull, a control station located on the hull, a helm located at the control station, and a thruster system carried by the hull. The primary steering mechanism, such as a rudder, is operable via the helm with a helm input being derived from operation of the primary steering mechanism thereby. The thruster system includes at least one thruster mounted to the hull, distinct from the primary steering mechanism, and a controller. The controller receives the helm input and is configured with program instructions to operate the at least one thruster responsive to the helm input to supplement a corresponding movement of the hull. The controller can also automatically operate the thruster responsive to direction, speed and ballast inputs.

Abstract: A pontoon boat includes a deck supported by one or more pontoons. A passenger barrier extends upwardly from the deck. The passenger barrier includes a fixed portion and a movable portion. The passenger barrier includes an opaque panel and a one-way transparent panel.

Abstract: A fluid cargo handling system with a standoff system includes a floating marine platform having an elongated first platform side, an elongated second platform side and a buoyant hull with a hull bottom. A fluid cargo transfer hose is carried on a hose reel mounted on the platform. A drive system maintains the marine platform at an offset distance from another marine platform, preventing physical contact therebetween. The drive system has at least two drive devices adjacent the first platform side and at least two drive devices adjacent the second platform side, with each of the drive devices along the first side engaging a separate driveline extending from the hull bottom adjacent the first side towards the second platform side and each of the drive devices along the second side engaging a separate driveline extending from the hull bottom adjacent the second side towards the first platform side.

Abstract: A V-band clamp includes first and second clamp sections each having an arcuate shape with a first end, a second end, and inside surface defining a recessed channel. A hinge pivotably connects the second end of the first clamp section to the first end of the second clamp section. At least one fastener is configured to releasably connect the first end of the first clamp section to the second end of the second clamp section in a closed position. When the V-band clamp is in the closed position, each fastener extends through an opening in an end face on the first end of the first clamp section and into a bore in an end face on the second end of the second clamp section.

Abstract: An articulating top having a frame, a cover attached to the frame and a mounting bracket to attach the frame to a vehicle can be moved between a deployed position to provide shelter to an area below the top and a stowed position. The frame having main and secondary frame members in addition to one or more struts between a frame member and the vehicle to provide additional support to the frame such that the top can be used while the vehicle is in motion or in windy conditions. The top may also use one or more braces.

Abstract: A mooring line length adjusting device and methods is disclosed. The connecting device is arranged for connecting a lower section and an upper section of a mooring line to respective ends of the device and for adjusting a total length of said mooring line from a previous mooring line length to a new mooring line length. The upper end of the mooring line is connected to a floating unit. At least said lower section comprises a chain segment at its top end connected to the device. The device comprises a locking arrangement to lock said chain segment to the connecting device.

Abstract: A method of controlling propulsion of a marine vessel includes limiting user input authority over propulsion output by at least one propulsion device based on proximity measurements so as to maintain the marine vessel at least a buffer distance from any object, where in the buffer distance is a predefined distance around the marine vessel. After a user-generated instruction is received to suspend maintenance of the buffer distance and a user control input is received to move the marine vessel in the direction of the object, the at least one propulsion device is controlled based on the user control input such that the marine vessel approaches and impacts the object.

Abstract: Positioning an electrode through a drain plug on the boat to align transmitted pulses with a water intake of the motor.

Abstract: A floating motorized picnic table includes a floatation device; a base; benches attached to the base; tabletop supports; a tabletop attached to the tabletop supports; a motor; and a battery electrically connected to the motor. The base frames and rests upon the floatation device. The benches include bench boards attached above and parallel to the floatation device. The tabletop supports are attached between the benches. The tabletop includes top boards. The battery is mounted on the base under the top boards. The motor is mounted at one end with a retractable keel located adjacent to the opposite end.

Abstract: A driving method is implemented to a lifting device of an underwater survey system, and the lifting device includes a phase-change heat exchange module, an oil bag module, a pressurized energy storage module, and a drive energy storage module. The driving method includes: controlling the pressurized energy storage module to extract hydraulic oil in the oil bag module to descend the lifting device; during a transformation of a phase-change material, the pressurized energy storage module transmitting hydraulic oil to the phase-change heat exchange module; transmitting the hydraulic oil inside the oil bag module to the pressurized energy storage module to descend the lifting device; controlling the drive energy storage module to transmit hydraulic oil to the oil bag module for rising the lifting device; and during a transformation of the phase-change material, transmitting the hydraulic oil in the phase-change heat exchange module to the drive energy storage module.

Abstract: The Boating Accessory is a multi-use fastener designed to attach to various surfaces or objects on a boat. The Boating Accessory may include a body hingedly connected to an arm with a suction mechanism that can be used to secure a corner onto either fiberglass or window glass. The Boating Accessory may include a clip with a rounded portion that can be used to attach to most stainless handles or deck railing with a strong spring for clamping. The clip is useful in attaching to fabrics or hard roofs with a friction member at the contact point. The multi-use fastener may be used to secure a shade anywhere on a boat to immediately and effectively block the sun's rays. When the sun moves lower to the horizon, the multi-use fasteners can be quickly repositioned.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tank wall (1) fixed onto a supporting wall (3) wherein the secondary insulating barrier comprises a plurality of secondary rows (A, B, C) parallel to a first direction and juxtaposed in a second direction at right angles to the first direction according to a repeated pattern. The secondary sealed membrane comprises a plurality of strakes (21) parallel to the first direction, the size of the repeated pattern of the secondary rows (A, B, C) being an integer multiple of the size of a strake (21) in the second direction. The primary insulating barrier (5) comprises a plurality of primary rows parallel to the first direction, and the primary sealed membrane has first corrugations (56) parallel to the first direction and spaced apart by a first regular spacing (58), wherein the size of the repeated pattern of the primary rows is an integer multiple of said first regular spacing (58).

Abstract: An ocean wave and tidal current energy conversion system includes a first vessel and a second vessel, the first vessel being parallel and spaced apart from the second vessel. The first and second vessels include supports that receive cylinders that rotate from ocean waves and currents to create hydraulic oil pressure via hydraulic cylinders. The hydraulic oil in the energy conversion system is pumped into a pressure accumulator that removes hydraulic surges and operates an electric generator. The electric generator may power an electrolysis batch system for the production of hydrogen that fills each vessel with hydrogen gas.

Abstract: A board for a water sport comprises a front surface, a back surface, an upper surface between the front surface and the back surface, a first recess proximate the front surface and within the upper surface, the first recess comprising one or more attachment means for removably attaching a training device to the upper surface, and a second recess proximate the back surface and within the upper surface, the second recess comprising one or more additional attachment means for removably attaching a guidance device configured to facilitate at least partial control of the board. Related sets and boards for water sports are also disclosed.

Abstract: A gyroscopic roll stabilizer for a boat includes an enclosure mounted to a gimbal for rotation about a gimbal axis and configured to maintain a below-ambient pressure, and a flywheel assembly including a flywheel and flywheel shaft, with the flywheel assembly rotatably mounted inside the enclosure for rotation about a flywheel axis. The gyroscopic roll stabilizer also includes a motor operative to rotate the flywheel assembly and disposed inside the enclosure. A motor cooling circuit is configured to transfer heat away from the motor. The motor cooling circuit has a closed fluid pathway for recirculating cooling fluid therein. The fluid pathway includes a fluid channel jointly defined by the motor and the enclosure and having the cooling fluid therein. The gyroscopic roll stabilizer is configured to transfer heat away from the motor to the cooling fluid. Related methods are also disclosed.