Abstract: A pedal operated control mechanism for controlling the direction of travel of a fishing boat. In order to remain at a location convenient to the fisherman, the pedal is mounted on a bracket arm which rotates with the boat seat. The pedal has a control wire which enters a stationary control housing and which raises and lowers a pair of lever arms as the wire extends and retracts. The lever arms raise and lower a ring which in turn causes extension and retraction of a main control cable in order to change the direction of the trolling motor. A sliding brush assembly provides continuous electrical connection between rotating conductor wires on the seal assembly and stationary conductor wires which apply current to the trolling motor.

Abstract: A carrier float is adapted to be propelled while floating in a pool of water. A manual control on the float operates control valves that control escape of propellant fluid from two outlets in such relation that forward propulsion and steering are achieved. Typically, a seat is provided in the float.

Abstract: A harness for sail board operators including a chest belt and shoulder straps. A hook carried by a plate on the belt attaches to a connecting element whose other end is fastened to the rigging. The hook pivots about an axis between a hooked-up position and a released position for the connecting element. The connecting element provides the releasing pivot force and a rip cord activates the mechanism which causes the releasing pivotal movement.

Abstract: This invention relates to an anchoring device to be contained within and cemented into a cavity formed in a surfboard, this device comprising a housing having a recessed and an axially rotatable post, the post having an exposed end which is adapted for the attachment of an anchoring cord. Preferably, rolling element bearings are provided in order to ensure free rotation of the post.

Abstract: A connecting arrangement between a floating installation such as a floating platform, and an anchor, comprises an upwardly extending rigid bar or rod connected at its lower end for vertical swinging movement about two perpendicular horizontal axes to an anchor. At its upper end, the rod or tube is connected universally to link means which in turn are connected to arms that are pivotally connected at a plurality of points to a floating platform, about spaced pivotal axes. The adjacent ends of the arms, to which the link means is connected, are preferably spaced apart a minimum horizontal distance.

Abstract: A sailboat is provided with an electrical generator that is connected to its on-board battery. A propeller immersed in the water is connected via a flexible shaft to the input of this generator so that as the sailboat moves through the water the propeller is rotated to drive the generator and charge the battery. The arrangement may be taffrail mounted so that the propeller is towed or the flexible shaft may extend through a fitting in the hull via a water-tight sleeve.

Abstract: A mobile monopod operations platform for use in ice covered seas and adapted for carrying out two modes of ice disaggregation, either or both such modes being selectively useable during either transit or relatively stationary operations. An ice breaker bow is employed in conjunction with simulated pitching and heaving brought about by the programmed use of a plurality of fully vectorable thrusters on a submersible hull. At the stern of the monopod structure, counter-rotating cutting drums are utilized for ice disaggregation in a mode particularly useful when the ice is thick. Topside of the bow and cutter area, an enclosed, generally circular, superstructure is provided for carrying out the requisite operations while mitigating the adverse effects of high winds.

Abstract: A vessel provided with a hold for transporting a cargo of slurry, such as pulverized iron ore and water, is provided with vacuum dewatering means and a device for monitoring the progress of consolidation of the solid particles. When vibration or other motion of the vessel tends to increase the rate of consolidation, the vacuum dewatering means is operated to lower the rate, so that when the vessel reaches its destination, the cargo may be more easily unloaded. A particular design of slurry/supernatant liquid interface level detector is described.

Abstract: Marginal zone-reinforced foam moulding, especially for hulls, are produced in situ technique by coating the inner surface of a mould with a viscous, hardenable adhesive or gel-coat; placing a fiber-reinforcing insert into this layer while it is still viscous; laying an airtight flexible film on this insert and sealing it off outside its dimensions; subsequently removing the air present between the mould and the film under suction and simultaneously pressing the reinforcing insert into the layer of adhesive or gel-coat; removing the film; closing the mould; introducing a liquid, expandable reaction mixture into the mould cavity; and removing the foam moulding from the mould on completion of foaming.

Abstract: An anchor of the twin fluke type in which crown members attached to the flukes support transverse restraining bars adapted to limit swing of the shank out of the plane of the flukes. One end of each restraining bar is pivotally connected to its respective crown member, and the other end is engaged by a locking member when the bar is in transverse restraining position. A release line connected to each locking member extends substantially coextensively with the anchoring line and is adapted to be pulled to remove the locking member from whichever restraining bar is engaging the shank, thereby permitting the restraining bar to pivot out of restraining position and permitting the shank to swing up to 180.degree. from the plane of the flukes so that the anchor can be pulled clear of obstructions.

Abstract: A bumper assembly for fending off vessels floating adjacent a marine structure includes bumper rings having flat lower surfaces and uniquely relieved upper outer surfaces. In a further aspect, an assembly includes a spring support element at one end thereof.

Abstract: The disclosure is a dual-role ski-rope retriever. In its vertical-axis position the reel is rotatable by a geared-down electric motor reversible for paying-out or winding-in the ski rope. The mounting structure also permits the spool to be swung into a horizontally and rearwardly pointed axis position which allows the paying-out of ski rope over and around the rear flange of the spool without its rotation. The rope can be wound-in manually when the spool is restored to its non-rotating detent-held vertical-axis position. The mounting structure is made easily and quickly removable (to discourage theft, vandalism and/or weather damage) by having laterally extending tabs on its flat sheet-metal base, which tabs are longitudinally slidably engageable under laterally positioned cleats fixed to the rear deck of a boat, and by an upwardly springable forwardly extending tongue centrally apertured to fit over a flat support-anchoring disc fixed to the deck.

Abstract: An inflatable wearable flotation device having flotation material in front and back panels and an inflatable bladder having sections located at said front panels and a collar section positioned over said back panel comprising a bladder section, and fastener means for maintaining said bladder sections flat when fastened and being unfastened by expansion of the bladder sections to permit inflation of the bladder.

Abstract: An offshore mooring system for tankers having a fixed vertical column anchored to the ocean floor that is provided with a rotating arm having one end connected to the column by a centralizing structure formed by a weight-actuated gravity spring system.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a marine propulsion device including a lower unit having a gear case, a laterally extending anti-cavitation plate extending above a propeller carried on a propeller shaft rotatably mounted in the gear case, and a pair of generally flat side fins, each of which has a laterally extending trailing edge located wholly forwardly of the propeller and which either extend laterally in coplanar relationship from the opposite sides of the gear case, extend laterally in coplanar relationship from the opposite sides of the lower unit at a location between the anti-cavitation plate and the gear case, extend outwardly and downwardly in an angular relationship from the opposite sides of the gear case, or extend laterally in coplanar relationship from the opposite sides of the lower end portion of a vertical fin extending downwardly from the gear case.

Abstract: A pair of telescopic energy absorbers is employed to mount a laterally extending bumper to the side rails of a vehicle frame. A mechanical interlock prevents relative rotation of the components of the energy absorbers so that the side rails are rigidly coupled by the bumper to increase their structural strength and to reduce vehicle shake.

Abstract: A high performance marine vehicle capable of attaining record-breaking velocities is disclosed herein having an elongated hull supporting aft mounted and outwardly extending wing members from which side ski-floats downwardly depend. A frontal ski-float is carried at the bow of the vehicle hull. All three of the ski-floats incorporate an almost triangular aft platform on which the vehicle is supported in a high speed planing mode of operation. Horizontal chine strips are affixed from bow to stern along the opposite sides of the hull. Horizontal chine strips are also affixed to the aft portion of the three-ski-floats. Aerodynamic and hydrodynamic steering and stability are employed by the vehicle as well as a rocket propulsion system. The mass of the vehicle is distributed so that the center of gravity is well forward of the vehicle's center of lift to assure longitudinal stability and prevent a pitching divergence.

Abstract: A self burying anchor of invert conical construction having an apex fluidng water outlet and compressed air outlets close to the apex. The fluidizing water in conjunction with the compressed air, which expands in the confines of undisturbed bed material, bury the anchor beneath the fluidizing bed material. The anchor cone may be hollow and perforate so that fluidizing bed material is deposited inside to act as ballast.

Abstract: The invention is a molding process for forming a hull for a catamaran which has a sidewall that includes a first layer of fiberglass and polyester resin forming its exterior surface and a second layer of fiberglass and polyester resin forming its interior surface which is mechanically coupled to the first layer to form a structurally strong member. The hull includes a first member which forms the first portion of the hull, a second member which forms the second portion of the hull and a third member. The first member has a band adjacent to its peripheral edge that is indented to form a ledge. The second member has its first layer of the sidewall bent inwardly a slight amount adjacent to its peripheral edge in order that it may rest on the ledge of the first member and its second layer of the sidewall also adapted to rest on the ledge of the first member.

Abstract: An automatically inflating lifesaving buoy device having a gas generating device in which the gas generating composition is ignited by an electric ignition device powered by a water-activated electric cell or battery. The gas then generated is cooled as it flows into an inflatable bag to form the lifesaving buoy.