Abstract: Examples are disclosed that relate to watercraft with retractable drive mechanisms. One example provides a watercraft including a hull having a receiving compartment, and also having a deck. The watercraft also includes a drive unit extending through the deck and the hull of the watercraft and being configured to receive rotational input. The drive unit includes a driveshaft and propeller moveable between an extended position in which the propeller is positioned underneath the hull and a retracted position in which the propeller is positioned at least partially within the receiving compartment.

Abstract: A cleat attachable device for attaching to a cleat having horns. The device includes a frame having a base end, a distal end opposite the base end, and lateral posts. The lateral posts are disposed opposite one another and are connected to one another at the distal end. The lateral posts each have a respective mounting plate with a longitudinal slot formed therein. A stud plate has an underside for resting on the cleat. The stud plate has two studs opposite the underside for receiving the mounting plates thereon and securing the frame to the cleat.

Abstract: A buoy comprising: an annular upper portion disposed on a lower portion; a drain hole disposed in the upper portion proximate to the lower portion; a handhold disposed in the upper portion distal to the lower portion; an attachment member disposed in the lower portion and protruding from a bottom of the lower portion, wherein the bottom is opposite the upper portion; and wherein at least one of the upper portion and the lower portion comprises a closed cell foam.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a novel floatation device useful for use by a snorkeler.

Abstract: A hull assembly is configured to transport a human user in water. The hull assembly includes a bow, having a bow concave portion. A port hull is joined to the bow. The port hull is adopted to accommodate a first foot of a human user. A starboard hull is joined to the bow and offset from the port hull by the bow concave portion. The starboard hull is adapted to accommodate a second foot of the human user. When a first port hull weight varies from a second port hull weight, the first port hull vertically deflects relative to the second port hull to increase the balance and stability of the human user and increase maneuverability of the vessel.

Abstract: An ocean-going single-hulled barge with an isolated sunken or recessed area that supports storage vessels and mixing equipment capable of processing, storing and transporting hazardous materials. The recessed area includes dedicated drains which collect all associated hazardous spills and fluids for appropriate disposal and processing. The barge can also be adapted to hold a complete liquid mud plant within the recessed area.

Abstract: An outboard motor includes an engine, a power generator including a rotor and a stator, a convertor, and an engine cover configured to cover the engine and the power generator. The rotor includes a permanent magnet.

Abstract: In a shallow water anchor of a parallelogram design which lowers a rod down from a fishing boat into contact with the ground to keep a boat from drifting out of a chosen location, a depth the rod can reach depending on the combined extended length of the unfolded parallelogram and the length of the vertical rod, a first improvement to increase the maximal depth without concomitantly increasing the length of the parallelogram frame, the improvement using the relative motion and geometry of parallelogram parts to lengthen a telescoping rod, and a second improvement of a flexible coupling to an electric drive motor.

Abstract: Floating TLP wind turbine comprising a buoyancy structure, a plurality of braces, one or more tensioned mooring lines for each brace, and a support structure arranged on the buoyancy structure. The braces extend radially outwardly from a region of the buoyancy structure or support structure, each brace having a distal end portion with respect to the buoyancy structure or support structure. Each distal end portion of the braces comprises a guiding element to allow a guided passage of a tensioned mooring line. Each of the tensioned mooring lines is anchored to the seabed at a first end, and attached/coupled to a region of the buoyancy structure or support structure at a second end, said region being above the region of the buoyancy structure or support structure from which the braces extend radially outwardly. Each tensioned mooring line is guided by the guiding element of the corresponding brace.

Abstract: A swim fin includes a blade and a foot pocket separate from the blade that can be coupled and released. The blade extends in a rearward direction Y2 at both side portions of a rear end of the blade, and has both coupling arms spaced apart in a lateral direction X and both first transverse engaging portions positioned on mutually faced inner surfaces of both coupling arms. A first intermediate engaging portion is positioned between both transverse engaging portions. The foot pocket has both second transverse engaging portions positioned on both side portions of a front end of the foot pocket and detachably engaged with both first transverse engaging portions. A second intermediate engaging portion is detachably engaged with the first intermediate engaging portion.

Abstract: A water sports board with enhanced flexibility includes an elongated core body and an elongated wooden or carbon fiber planar stringer disposed on the centerline of the core body. A plurality of elongated slots are formed in the upper edge of the stringer and extend downwardly toward the bottom edge. The slots are filled with an elastic rubber-like material. The water sports board can be a surfboard, windsurfing board, kite board, wakeboard or body boards.

Abstract: The present invention(s) relates to a structure and method for improved auxiliary thruster systems for marine and small vessels, including small fishing and pontoon boats. Under conditions of wind or rough waters it may be impracticable to employ the main drive of a vessel because it may provide more thrust and motility than needed and may not be fuel efficient for such purposes. The present invention(s) relates to auxiliary thrusting and maneuvering systems of marine vehicles which may be employed in addition or independently of main propulsion of the vehicle or craft that protracts and retracts a thruster assembly.

Abstract: A vehicle drive unit and land vehicle comprising the drive unit are disclosed. Each drive unit comprises a pair of longitudinally aligned and longitudinally spaced apart ground wheels. The land vehicle comprises a pair of drive units on opposite sides thereof. The drive units comprise an electric motor for powering the pair of wheels and a gear drive assembly comprising structure for disengaging the electric motor from the ground wheels. The drive units may be remotely controllable, may be water-tight and may be floatable. The vehicle comprising the drive unit may be amphibious.

Abstract: Swim footwear having integral flippers and sound generators includes a first shoe comprising a sole that is pliable. A compartment is positioned in an interior space defined by the sole. An orifice, positioned in the sole, is fluidically connected to the compartment. A noisemaker is coupled to the sole within the orifice, such that air passing from the compartment through the noisemaker generates a sound. A shell that is coupled to the sole has an entry proximate to a back end of the sole. The shell and the sole define a cavity that is complimentary to the foot of the user. The entry is configured for insertion of the user's foot. A flipper extends from a front end of the sole. The flipper is in substantial parallelism with the sole. The footwear comprises a second shoe that mirrors the first shoe.

Abstract: A boat includes a hull provided with a rear stern hatch located in correspondence with an internal stern compartment of the hull and suitable for opening and closing in correspondence with an aperture of the compartment, the hatch having a body with opposed side located in correspondence with side walls of the compartment and upper edge and lower edge. The hatch includes an actuator to open and close the compartment arranged inside its own body, the actuator rotatably constraining at least one of the sides of the hatch to a support movable with respect to the stern of the hull and suitable for allowing the hatch to reach, upon opening, a position submerged in the water where the boat is, the body of the hatch being not provided with any further connections of the sides to the hull.

Abstract: A swim training paddle for swimmer's hands having: a plate member with a first surface and an opposed second surface and a leading edge and a trailing edge; the opposed first surface and second surface being separated by a leading edge and a trailing edge on opposed ends thereof; the plate member formed to mount to the swimmer's hand with the first surface contacting the players hand; at least two elastic strips forming each forming separate arcs on the first surface and extending out of the second surface; the plate member covering all phalanges and metacarpal bones in swimmers' hands secured to the plate member have an area inset into the plate above the wrist above the ulna so flexing and pronating of the wrist does not allow the trailing edge to be forced into wrist within 2 cm of the ulna.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide for in-place refueling of reactant sources for submersible vehicles that utilize fuel cells. In one embodiment, the vehicle includes a pressure hull that maintains a pressure boundary between an interior surface and an exterior surface, and includes a fuel cell. The vehicle includes a reactant source tank for the fuel cell that includes a fill port for transferring a reactant source to the reactant source tank. The vehicle includes a pressure hull penetrator that traverses from the exterior surface to the interior surface utilizing a passage through the pressure hull. The pressure hull penetrator maintains the pressure boundary between the exterior surface and the interior surface. The vehicle includes a fill tube coupled to the fill port of the reactant source tank that traverses through the pressure hull penetrator to the exterior surface, and an electrically non-conductive sleeve surrounding the fill tube.

Abstract: A launch, recovery, and handling system includes a track system arranged on a deck of a ship and a stern door of the ship. The launch, recovery, and handling system also includes an aft cradle and a forward cradle that are connected to the track system and moveable in first and second directions along the track system. The aft cradle is moveable from a first position at a first area inside the ship to a second position on the stern door for at least one of launching and recovering a payload.

Abstract: An outdrive for a marine vessel, such as a watercraft having an inboard engine, is provided. The outdrive can include an upper drive unit having a driveshaft that rotates in response to rotation of an input shaft coupled to an engine within a hull of the watercraft. The upper drive unit is movably joined with a lower drive unit, which includes a propeller shaft that rotates in response to rotation of the driveshaft, and an associated propeller. The lower drive unit is movable from a raised mode, in which it is adjacent the upper drive unit, to a lowered mode, in which it is a preselected distance from the upper drive unit, thereby lowering a thrust point produced by the propeller, all while the watercraft is moving through water and while the propeller is producing thrust. A related method and outdrive upper unit are also provided.

Abstract: A Method and Apparatus for Wake Enlargement System have been disclosed. By using water pick ups that are mounted or deployable on a boat controlled filling of ballast tanks is possible without the use of pumps.