Abstract: A sailboat with a planning hull and a mast stepped aft of amidship. The mail sail and foresails are loose footed and attached to a midstay and forestay respectively. The mast is angled towards the rear of the boat and the resultant configuration eliminates the downward force conventional sail configuration imparts on the sailboat. The sailboat has a keel however does not use ballast.

Abstract: A floating chair including a generally U-shaped float portion with arms and a base wall which define an opening into which a longitudinally oriented primary body portion having an upper backrest portion, a middle sling portion and a forward footrest portion is positioned to support the human body while the chair floats on the surface of water and further structured to easily fold to a compact flat storage position.

Abstract: An asymmetric wing for decreasing the leeward drift of a vessel has two different surfaces, one of which is cambered in cross-section and the other which has less camber in cross-section or flat. The asymmetric wing has a leading edge pointed toward the bow of the vessel and the trailing edge pointed toward the stern of the vessel. The surfaces of the asymmetric wing can be selectively moved to the port or starboard sides of the vessel. For centerboard and sliding keel vessels, a pair of asymmetric wings are installed in trunks, each asymmetric wing having a first cambered surface and a second less cambered surface. The first cambered surfaces of the two asymmetric wings point in opposite directions. At any one time both asymmetric wings are not moved into the water. The asymmetric wing is applicable to vessels without a centerboard or sliding keel trunk. In such a case, a horizontal shaft extends through a single asymmetric wing and the single cambered surface is rotated to either port or starboard.

Abstract: A ship propulsion system in which the ship's propeller is connected with its propeller shaft directly to a drive mechanism. A thrust bearing in the drive mechanism receives directly the thrust of the propeller shaft. An auxiliary drive with an electrical machine is operable selectively as a motor or as a generator, and a coupling is provided between the electrical machine and transmission linkage in the auxiliary drive. A gear on the transmission surrounds the propeller shaft, and a flexible coupling connects the transmission to the propeller shaft. Mounted on a separate section of the propeller shaft between the transmission and the drive mechanism, is a shiftable coupling which is free of play and transmits torque from the drive mechanism to the propeller shaft as well as the thrust of the propeller shaft. An auxiliary thrust bearing is connected to the shiftable coupling and is actuated when the ship is in auxiliary or emergency operation during which the propeller shaft has a reduced thrust.

Abstract: A submersible unit having thrusters for changing a diving position based on a total work quantity, which is the sum of a first work quantity and a second work quantity. A proportional controller generates and outputs the first work quantity based on a difference between a position quantity indicating a desired target diving position and a diving position. A network controller uses a neural network data processing system to learn movement characteristics of the submersible unit based on the first work quantity and a diving position sampled over a plurality of times. The network controller generates a second work quantity using control coupling coefficients learned by minimizing an evaluation quantity determined from a difference between the learned movement characteristics and target movement characteristic values.

Abstract: In an exhaust gas system for ocean-going vessels, preferably for military purposes, that are equipped with at least one internal combustion engine and at least one gas turbine, the exhaust gases from the gas turbine and the exhaust gases from the internal combustion engine are introduced into a collector exhaust gas duct which extends essentially horizontally through the hull of the ship to the stern of the vessel, where it empties into the atmosphere a short distance above the water line. The exhaust gases are mixed in the collector exhaust duct, whereby the hot exhaust gases from the gas turbine are cooled by the comparatively cooler exhaust gases from the internal combustion engine, thereby reducing the risk of infrared detection.

Abstract: The bottom surface of the surfboard has a set of transverse ridges which are bowed away from the front of the surfboard, which are symmetrical relative to the longitudinal axis of the board. A channel extends across the edge surface of these ridges and are aligned along the board longitudinal axis. In motion, the moving water not only strikes the rear edge face of the surfboard but also the rear faces of each ridge, thereby increasing its propelling efficiency relative to surfboards devoid of such ridges. A second and a third sets of transverse ridges may be formed in water pockets made on opposite lateral side surfaces of the surfboard. These second and third ridge pockets assist in self-straightening the surfboard should the latter accidentally swerve at least slightly transversely from the general axial direction of displacement.

Abstract: A floating boat lift capable of accommodating a wide variety of V-hulled boats. The boat lift is comprised of docking members, a bow stop that protects the hull of the boat, a stern segment and at least one intermediate segment. The stern segment and intermediate segment contain a channel with rollers that assist in conveying the boat over the boat lift and supporting the boat when docked. The rollers have different height configurations and can be positioned in different trays in the channel so that they can be used with boats that have different dead rise angles.

Abstract: A glass top for boats made of a number of arched structural extrusions holding together a series of translucent panels. Some panels, the top ones and the ones on the lower sides, are fixed while the middle ones can slide upward or downward to allow ventilation. Each arched extrusions consists of three superposed extruded members of identical cross-section, held together by bolt assemblies biased by elastomeric strips to enable adjusting the width of the channel receiving the edges of the slidable panels to suit panel of various thicknesses.

Abstract: Apparatus shears foreign matter such as lines, wires, nets and weeds that can entangle and befoul propellers, propeller shafts, bearings and related structure of propeller-driven, water born vessels. The apparatus shears by cooperative action of a rotating blade that rotates in conjunction with the propeller and a non-rotating blade supported on a non-rotating portion of the vessel. The non-rotating blade moves axially within its support. With each revolution, a slot follower connected to the non-rotating blade engages a slot carried by the rotating blade to adjust the axial position of the non-rotating blade to compensate for axial movement of the rotating blade. A wedge and valley mechanism prevents the two blades being forced apart during shearing action. Roller bearings, radially disposed, reduce friction between slot follower and slot to reduce wear on the parts and thereby prevent malfunction with prolonged operation and to provide low cost replacement of the bearings for maintenance.

Abstract: A watercraft including an elongated V-type hull and first and second stabilizers mounted in outrigger fashion on opposite sides of the hull. In a preferred embodiment, each stabilizer includes an elongated flotation member having its longitudinal centerline aligned with the longitudinal centerline of the hull. Each stabilizer is retractably mounted on its respective side of the hull employing a pantographic-type set of extensors interconnecting its flotation member with the hull, whereby each flotation member, and its accompanying extensor arms, may be independently extended away from the hull or retracted to a position alongside the hull.

Abstract: The instant invention is a navigation aid for use in depicting the buoyage system for navigable waters. The device has a support base that is secured to the helm of the vessel having a rotatable faceplate with daymark indicia placed thereon. The device provides a reminder to the vessel operator of the buoyage system and the position of the vessel in relation to the buoyage system. The device may be illuminated for nighttime usage by either direct or indirect illumination. A method of incorporating the positioning indicia in combination with a chart plotter is provided.

Abstract: In an outboard marine engine having a vertically oriented crankshaft, a bracket for supporting an AC generator is provided with a pair of cantilever arms for supporting a pivoted portion and a fixed portion of the AC generator, and a belt cover for the engine is partly supported by extensions of these cantilever arms. The bracket is typically mounted to a portion of the crankcase defining a corner between a vertical end surface and a horizontal top surface. By thus securing the belt cover to the bracket for securing the AC generator, it is possible to firmly support the belt cover and prevent undesirable rattling or vibration of the belt cover because the bracket is given with a sufficient rigidity from the need to firmly support the electric generator. Therefore, the firm support of the belt cover can be accomplished without any substantial cost increase.

Abstract: A floating dock is provided for efficiently cleaning ship hulls and for reducing pollution problems associated with the cleaning of ship hulls. A method for cleaning ship hulls with a floating dock also is provided. The floating dock is ballasted and independently manoeuvrable. The floating dock has a ship hull receiving section which can be submerged at least partly so that a base part of the ship hull receiving section may be positioned beneath a ship hull. Cleaners are provided on at least one inner side of the ship hull receiving section to contact a side of the ship hull, and a debris collector may be provided to collect debris removed from the cleaning operation for later processing or dumping at a remote site. The floating dock can be self propelled forward and backward to reach the ship and can be self propelled laterally to clean the ship.

Abstract: A method is presented for detecting a body at sea. A lidar system provided nboard an aircraft transmits radiation at a wavelength in the blue/green region of the energy spectrum towards the surface of the sea. The lidar system is tuned to receive return reflections occurring over a specified wavelength range. A shaped area located near the body is designed to inhibit any return reflections that would be detectable by the lidar system. The shaped area defines a shape that is abnormal for the area of the sea being searched and defines a size that is larger than the body. The presence of the body is indicated by a null return corresponding to the shape and size of the shaped area.

Abstract: The aerial performance characteristics of a performer using a water sport implement such as a wakeboard, and being towed by a vessel while maintaining stability of the vessel includes a first relatively rigid vertical support fitted to one side of the, a second relatively rigid vertical support fitted structure to an opposing side, and a horizontal bridging portion extending between upper extremities of the first and second vertically extending supports, at a height substantially above a level of the operator station for the vessel. A tow rope is attached to the horizontally extending bridging portion for towing the performer from the horizontally extending bridging portion while operating the vessel in a body of water. By pivotally attaching the first and second supports to the respective sides of the vessel, they can be rotated downwardly so that the vessel may pass underneath a bridge or into a boat house.

Abstract: The invention is directed a damping system for the foot rest of a kayak comprising a foot support member adapted to support the feet of the user, at least one mounting rail is provided, the rail having first and second ends, the first end of the mounting rail is connected to the foot support, the second end of the mounting rail is fixed to the hull of the boat, the mounting rail includes a damping mechanism disposed between the first and second end whereby forces transmitted to the fixed second end are damped at the foot support member.

Abstract: A trim-tilt device 20 for a marine boat motor has a housing 31 forming a large-diameter trim chamber 32, a cylinder 41 inserted into the trim chamber 32 of the housing 31 to form a small-diameter tilt chamber 42, and a piston rod telescopically inserted into the tilt chamber 42 of the cylinder 41. Built into the wall of the cylinder 41 is the passage 46 for interconnecting a first trim chamber 32A and a first tilt chamber 42A.

Abstract: A device for emergency towing of vessels. The device has a structure and function for storage where active parts are protected against adverse external influence, thereby making the device ready for use without the risk of jamming or other malfunctions. The device can be easily and rapidly activated, and the towing wire can be extended even on a dead ship. The device includes a braking arrangement in which the braking of the towing wire can be conducted with an increasing braking effect, from no braking to complete braking of the extended towing wire.

Abstract: A watercraft hull having at least one removable protective wear strip. The watercraft hull includes at least one mounting groove extending along the longitudinal length of the watercraft hull along the lowermost portion of the hull. A wear strip is removably attached to each mounting groove such that when the watercraft hull is pulled from the water, the wear strip contacts the shore to prevent damage to the watercraft hull. A series of attachment devices is embedded in the watercraft hull along the mounting groove. A series of connectors passes through the wear strip to removably attach the wear strip to the mounting groove contained in the watercraft hull. When the wear strip becomes worn, the wear strip can be removed from the watercraft hull and replaced with a new wear strip.