Abstract: A swim fin includes a foot pocket with a front and rear sections, an upper portion formed of an elastomeric material, a sole, and a foot pocket cavity. The rear section has a rear edge defining the foot pocket cavity. The foot pocket further has an array of through holes disposed through the upper portion adjacent the rear section. The array of through holes is sized and configured to generally increase a surface area of the rear section from the rear edge towards the front section. The swim fin includes a fin blade extending from the front section of the foot pocket. The swim flu may further include an adjustable heel strap. The fin blade may further include side rails attached to the foot pocket with hinges. The fin blade may further include a flex member disposed between first and second body members.

Abstract: A folding bowsprit permits deployment of sails from a point forward of the bow on sailing vessels. The folding function allows the sprit to rotate around an axis at ninety degrees to the vessels centerline and permits the end of the sprit to move vertically up or down. This unique ability to fold facilitates: compact stowage when not in use and reduces the overall length of the vessel; adjustment of tack position vertically while sailing; and safer and simpler sail handling by accessing the tack point of said sprit within the deck footprint while sailing.

Abstract: A hydrofoil fin for attachment to a board for kiteboarding or jet skiing comprises a core portion having a plurality of torsion boxes and outer shell made of a multi-layer fiber composite material and encapsulating the torsion boxes of the core portion. The hydrofoil fin provides a very rigid support of bending and torsional forces acting on the same and on the wings and against the board. This has an advantageous effect on the riding performance of during kite surfing and jet skiing.

Abstract: A navigation controller for a watercraft includes a grip member and control head that act as an integrated grab bar to be grabbed by a hand of a user and transfer an applied force to a mount. The grip member is engagable by fingers on the hand of the user for providing a grab bar to the user to resist movement of the body of the user caused by the applied force. A control plate supports control switches and is configured and dimensioned relative to the grip member to enable a thumb of the user to engage with one or more of the control switches while the fingers remain engaged with the grip member so that the resistance of the applied force to keep the user steady does not cause a unintended activation of one or more of the control switches.

Abstract: A surfboard fin has a curved forward fin portion and a straight rearward fin portion. When attached to a surfboard, the curved forward portion is positioned on the surfboard so the curvature of the forward portion is directed toward the centerline of the surfboard. The concave curve of the forward portion allows for faster and easier maneuverability of a surfboard while in use. In order to reduce drag caused by the curvature of the forward fin portion, one or more through holes may be formed through the forward fin portion to allow water to pass through the fin and reduce drag.

Abstract: An outboard motor includes an engine cover including an upper cover and a lower cover which form an engine room and which can be separated from each other vertically, the lower cover has a bottom wall and a circumferential wall which extends upward from an outer circumference of the bottom wall, an external air inlet through which to introduce air into the engine room is provided adjacent to the outer circumference of the bottom wall, and an inside wall extends upward from the bottom wall alongside the circumferential wall so as to be opposed to the circumferential wall with the external air inlet interposed between the inside wall and the circumferential wall.

Abstract: A marine propulsion system includes a housing configured to be coupled to, or within, a marine vessel hull. At least one pair of counter-rotating impellers is disposed within the housing such that the rotation occurs in a plane generally parallel to the surface of the water. A moveable output nozzle is coupled to the rear portion of the housing and can move to facilitate controlling the direction of travel of the vessel.

Abstract: A flotation-hydration system to be worn by a user, particularly in a water borne environment, includes a vest assembly dimensioned to at least partially surround the user's upper torso while donned by the user in an operative manner. The vest assembly comprises a plurality of panels securely attached to one another, and a flotation assembly comprising at least one flotation member having a buoyant material of construction disposed in one of the panels of the vest assembly. A hydration support assembly is disposed substantially within the vest assembly and includes a chamber support unit, wherein the chamber support unit is dimensioned and configured to receive a hydration chamber in a supported relation therein. A dispensing tube is routed from the hydration chamber to the front of the vest assembly, for ready access by the user, through a dispensing tube retention channel.

Abstract: A boat hull with port and starboard side walls that are vertical in cross section while the bottom of the hull immediately prior to the commencement of the stern part there-after is horizontal in cross section. Extending throughout the buoyant hulls stem part a longitudinally rectangular flat plate with port and starboard upwardly extending side walls, one each side, are located throughout the length of the vessels stem part. An upwardly directed second rectangular flat plate is arranged fore/aft extends midway between the afore side walls to a height in excess of the side walls. This upstanding plate butts its lowermost edge onto the mid-line of the first plate. Linking the forward edge of the longitudinally rectangular plate to the buoyant hull at its aftmost and deepest point are hinges.

Abstract: Described herein are floatation devices, surfboards, surfboard blanks, and methods of manufacture. The board or device design is altered by removal of a traditional stringer or stringers and instead form a composite of different foams to produce a board or device with improved strength and durability along with similar or even better board dynamics.

Abstract: This is a means to solve a problem with flexible linkage driven outboard motors or better known as shallow water belt drive surface driven outboard drive units. This design gives a horizontal drive shaft engine or motor that uses flexible linkage to drive a driven shaft with a propeller the option to drive or propel a boat or watercraft in all directions to include reverse, and not be limited to turning and steering less than 360 degrees. This design also does not restrict a flexible linkage to driven shaft outboard to a limited steering degree of an angle on the steering axis from where said motor rotates to steer. This design eliminates the need for an optional means to change the rotation direction of propeller to achieve reverse.

Abstract: A method is described for steering of an un-manned ocean vessel (10), where the vessel comprises a hull (12), a self-tacking wing sail (16) for propulsion, a keel (18) for direction stability and a rudder (20).

Abstract: Marine engine includes a cylinder block having first and second banks of cylinders that are disposed along a longitudinal axis and extend transversely with respect to each other in a V-shape so as to define a valley therebetween. A catalyst receptacle is disposed at least partially in the valley and contains at least one catalyst that treats exhaust gas from the marine engine. A conduit conveys the exhaust gas from the marine engine to the catalyst receptacle. The conduit receives the exhaust gas from the first and second banks of cylinders and conveys the exhaust gas to the catalyst receptacle. The conduit reverses direction only once with respect to the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A lower body garment for wear while surfing, swimming or body surfing has a lower torso portion for enclosing the lower torso of a wearer and right and left legs depending downward for enclosing at least the thigh portion of a wearer's right and left legs, respectively, each leg having a lower end opening, the lower torso portion having an upper band portion for securing the garment around a wearer's torso, and one or more right and left thigh fins secured to the outer right and left side portions of the garment, respectively, and projecting laterally outward from the garment. The legs may be shorts length and end above the knee or extend below the knee to the lower calf or ankles.

Abstract: A device for launching subsurface mining vehicle into a water mass from a docking well of a floating vessel, and/or recovering said vehicle from the water mass is disclosed. The device comprises a docking frame that is hinge mounted to the vessel, and that comprises first mining vehicle engaging means for guiding the mining vehicle along a longitudinal direction of the frame into the water. The docking frame operatively engages with drive means for tilting the frame in a vertical plane between a substantially horizontal mining vehicle docking position and a substantially vertical mining vehicle launching or recovery position. The device further comprises third engaging means for guiding the mining vehicle when the vehicle extends at least partly underneath a base of the vessel. The device allows lowering or recovering subsurface mining vehicle in a controlled manner.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with a method of transporting a hydroelectric turbine system, and a vessel suitable for use in implementing said method, whereby the vessel comprises a raised or raisable section, which enables the vessel to pass over a portion of a base of the hydroelectric turbine system, when located in a flooded dry dock, which portion of the base projects above the water line in the dock.

Abstract: A flotation vest comprising single adjustment strap for adjusting the girth or the vest as well as the length of the vest to allow for a proper fit around the wearer by adjustment of a single continuous strap.

Abstract: A ride height adjustable oil damped air shock boat seat pedestal with selectively lockable swivel capability is shown, which includes a locking pin extending below the seat and moving up and down with the seat as permitted and controlled by the air shock. The locking pin being received by a structure, which limits rotation of the seat.

Abstract: A jack plate includes a mounting assembly having first and second spacing brackets connected by a transom plate adapted for mounting to the transom of a boat, each of the spacing brackets having inwardly facing channels at rearward sides of the spacing brackets. The jack plate further includes a motor lift including a lift plate extending between a first bearing and a second bearing, the channels adapted to conformingly receive the first and second bearings. An actuator is provided to raise and lower the lift plate relative to the transom plate. At least one spring is operably coupled between the mounting assembly and the motor lift, the spring unloading the lift plate to reduce load on the actuator. The spring is optionally a compression gas spring.

Abstract: A Towed Body Recovery Drone facilitates the safe recovery of fragile towed sensors by surface craft. The TBRD comprises a buoyant sponson section sized to give the TBRD minimal buoyancy necessary to keep the sensor on the surface in a static condition. Structural elements and skids are arranged to protect the sensor from impact with rigid objects and allow the TBRD to be pulled aboard a surface craft by means of a ramp structure. A capture device manages the sensor's tow cable and restrains the sensor within the TBRD structure.