Abstract: A steering wheel for a boat rudder, which can be mounted on a rudder actuating shaft, comprising a substantially circular body (2) with an external peripheral edge (3) for gripping by a user and a central hub (4) defining an axis of rotation (L), characterized in that the body (2) is formed by a plurality of circle portions (5) which are movable with respect to each other, so as to pass selectively from an open operative configuration, where the circle portions (5) are adjacent and contained in a main plane of extension, to a closed rest configuration, where the circle portions (5) are at least partly superimposed so as to limit the volume in the main plane of extension, and vice versa. Owing to this particular arrangement it will be possible to increase the available space on-board the boat when the rudder is not used and, in so doing, facilitate the movements of the crew.

Abstract: A method for damping of the rolling motion of a water vehicle, in particular roll stabilization of a ship with at least one propeller, comprising a rotating wheel body, which bears axis parallel blades on the outer circumference, the blades being pivoted around their longitudinal axis. The rolling motion of the water vehicle by modification of the pitch a thrust is generated which counteracts the rolling motion. The modification of the pitch for generation of a counterthrust takes place optionally in the recording of a quantity characterizing the rolling motion of the ship or a signal for activation of the roll stabilization in dependency on a default value of the current transverse pitch set on the blades.

Abstract: A modular sponson for a small boat has discrete sections disposed in a series from the bow and along both sides to the stern. Each section has an axially extending length of tubing defining a longitudinal opening and a plurality of elongate pieces of closed cell foam material secured to the outside of the tubing for the length of each section. Flotation structure outwardly disposed from and in contact with the elongate pieces is covered by a protective covering that reaches inwardly to opposite ends of each length of tubing. A bonding agent is provided on the tubing, elongate pieces, and flotation structure to hold them together in each discrete section of the modular sponson. An elongate cable extends through the longitudinal openings of the series of sections and exerts a tensile force to hold the sections adjacent one another in compression.

Abstract: In a personal watercraft with a watercraft body including a hull forming a bottom portion and a deck covering the hull from above, a magnet box is integrally combined with a battery storage tray. The watercraft also includes an engine disposed within the watercraft body, and a saddle-type seat disposed above the engine. A magnet box, including a main box body and a lid member, sealingly stores an electromagnetic starter switch therein, and is disposed in front of a battery storage tray, in order to reduce the distance between the magnetic starter switch and a starter motor. The main box body is formed integrally with a battery storage tray which is disposed in back of the engine and fixedly disposed on a floor portion of the watercraft body. The lid member is adapted to sealingly close the main box body of the magnet box in a fluid-tight manner.

Abstract: Apparatus for moving tubes (10) which are displaceable upon operation of an actuator (40) inside fixed guides (20) integral with the tower (1a) of submarines (1) and the like, said actuator (40) consisting of at least one pair of linear motors (41).

Abstract: A remote control device can be provided in a watercraft equipped with at least three outboard motors for operating the outboard motors by remote control. The remote control device can have a pair of shift levers and can be provided with a detection device for detecting positions of the shift levers. A remote control-side ECU can control the outboard motors 11 by signals from the detection device. The remote control-side ECU can include a plurality of ECUs corresponding to the outboard motors. The detection device can include a plurality of detection devices for the outboard motors disposed on the sides of the stern of a hull and one for the outboard motor disposed between the side outboard motors. Each of the detection devices can be connected to a respective one of the remote control-side ECUs.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed especially configured and adapted for mooring a floating dock to a mooring pile. The apparatus minimizes damage to both dock and mooring piles caused by changes in tide, waves, wake and other water disturbances while, simultaneously, adding stability to the floating dock—especially in regarding to listing—. The apparatus is comprised of a cylindrical sleeve which is coaxially applied to a mooring pile, a dock mounted mooring bracket comprised of a base plate which connects to the sleeve mounted upon the pile via at least two “U” shaped arms which are disposed in a parallel, spaced-apart relation which engage selected and parallel circumferential grooves formed in the outer surface of the sleeve. The base plate, in turn, is affixed to a structurally sound portion of a dock such as a horizontally disposed plate.

Abstract: A sinkable buoy system including a guide buoy, an inflatable air bladder, a weight component, an air supply line and an air supply, wherein the air bladder and the weight component are not housed within a common housing. A system for inflating and deflating an air bladder in order to float a buoy at the surface and sink a buoy below the surface as desired. A sinkable buoy system for use with a water sports course in order to float buoys of the course during course use and sink the buoys when the course is not in use.

Abstract: A shallow draft boat has a hull that protects a propulsion propeller within a tunnel that passes only partially through the hull from stem to bow. The hull causes mixing of water and air at high pressure during motion of the boat through the water, creating lift and a pressure gradient that keeps the tunnel filled. The boat prevents propulsion unit malfunction by keeping obstacles, such as debris, crab pots and mammals such as manatees from contact with the propeller.

Abstract: Transom lights for boats are easily attached before the boat is towed on a trailer. Each light includes a housing attached to a post, a major lens and a minor lens. The transom light circuitry is connected to the electrical circuitry of the towing vehicle. The housing is rigidly affixed to the post and in an alternate form the housing is pivotable to better conform to the shape of the transom. A socket can be readily attached to the transom for slidably receiving the post. Before the boat is placed in the water the transom lights are disconnected and removed.

Abstract: A system and related methods for manned and/or unmanned marine transportation involving equipping a vessel capable with a linear pump for propelling the vessel through or substantially over a body of water.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus to control a propulsion drive. The propulsion drive comprises at least one first propeller drive, which rotates the first propeller and by which the propulsion power and/or rotating speed of the first propeller, and a second propeller drive, by which the second propeller is rotated and controlled. According to the invention the propulsion drive is controlled by a single control command, whereby it is generated from the control command a first control signal, by which the first propeller drive is controlled, and a second signal, by which the second propeller drive is controlled.

Abstract: A marine windshield frame for curved or straight windshield glass having a top frame rail mounted inward of the windshield glass and substantially flush with frontal surface of the windshield glass. The top frame rail is mounted onto the windshield glass edge by adhesive. The windshield frame may also include a pair of vertically oriented corner posts. The corner posts are preferably manufactured by die-cast molding. An alternate manufacturing method is to stretch-form an aluminum alloy extrusion, matching vent holes therein, and machined a taper thereon an edge.

Abstract: A watercraft arresting system and method including an entanglement subsystem including at least two arms in a V-configuration. A deployment subsystem deploys the entanglement subsystem so the arms are spread apart in the water in the path of the watercraft to arrest it.

Abstract: A boat has an outboard motor mounted to a hull and a remotely mounted cooling air system. The outboard motor has a cowling housing an engine. The cooling air system receives air from within the hull and includes a ventilating fan box. The ventilating fan box may be located within the hull or the cowling of the outboard motor. Cooling air is routed via one or more ducts to the cowling so as to cool the engine while inhibiting moisture from the entering the cowling. The cooling air is preferably blown toward the bottom of the engine.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and devices for launching into the water, from a height H greater than a predetermined height hmax, a life-saving object designed to be able to be launched into the water in free fall from this maximum height hmax. One end of a halyard is fixedly hooked to the life-saving object or to the launch site; the halyard functionally cooperates respectively with the launch site or the life-saving object so that the life-saving object falling by gravity is braked on and/or by the halyard over at least one part (H-hmax) of its drop height. By controlling the braking effect, the life-saving object, falling from the height H in a braked manner over at least one part (H-hmax) of this height hits the surface of the water (5) with a kinetic energy not exceeding that which it would have at the end of a non-braked free fall from at most the height hmax.

Abstract: Outboard drive for boats, including a gear housing, an underwater housing connected rotatably to the gear housing, and a mounting element arranged between the gear housing and the underwater housing for mounting the drive in a boat hull with the gear housing on the inside and the underwater housing on the outside of the hull and including an exhaust passage with an exhaust outlet. The exhaust outlet is surrounded by a plate made of polytetrafluoroethylene fixed on the underside of the mounting element. The underwater housing is rotatable relative to the gear housing by an electric servomotor communicating with a control computer, which communicates with an engine control computer for an internal combustion engine connected to the drive and is arranged so as, when the engine is shut off, to give a signal to the servomotor to put the underwater housing in a position corresponding to moving straight ahead.

Abstract: A multi-hull speedboat hull design suitable for racing craft. The apparatus is a polygonal boat hull apparatus having a bow and stern wave penetrating feature. The bow has an additional triangular section to add strength and wave penetration capability. The hull is made from triangular-shaped essentially flat panels which provides for substantially stability and strength. The invention includes a drive pod system having a plurality of propulsion units. Each engine has a pair of hydro pneumatic cylinders that adjust the angle of attack of the propulsion unit. Each engine also has a pair of synchronized rudders. A top deck mounted aircraft-type of “tail assembly” having a rudder, elevators and/or ailerons assist in maneuvering the craft.

Abstract: A marine propulsion device is provided with a breakaway skeg having first and second attachment points. The first and second attachment points are configured to result in the second attachment points disengaging from a gear case or housing structure prior to the first attachment point. The attachment points can comprise open or closed slots and, when an open slot is used for the first attachment point, it can be provided with a first edge along which a first pin can exert a force along a preselected angle in response to an impact force on the skeg. The arrangement of attachment points allows a reaction force at the second pin to be predetermined in a way that assures the detachment of the skeg from the housing structure prior to the detachment of the housing structure from another structure, such as the boat hull, or transom.

Abstract: A self-sealing gasket is suitable for sealing a curved object to a surface. The gasket includes a pair of side rails and a support panel between the side rails. Respective top portions of the side rails extend above the support panel to define an object receiving channel on an upper side of the gasket. Respective bottom portions of the side rails extend below the support panel to define a deflection cavity on a lower side of the gasket. The gasket is formed of a flexible material such that when the curved object is received in the object receiving channel and the curved object and gasket are fixed to the surface, the top portions of the side rails deflect inward to seal the curved object. By virtue of material deflection, a dense material may be used for the gasket while maintaining flexibility.