Abstract: A vee bottom boat having one or two inboard engines with the drive shafts thereof extending through the hull to position a propeller in a position such that when the boat is planing at cruising speed the propeller will be surface-running or operating in half-submerged condition. A rudder is located directly in rear of the propeller. A partly cylindrical splash guard is provided over the propeller and prevents "rooster-tailing." In addition, a water supply duct having a radius approximating that of the propeller is provided extending forwardly a short distance from the propeller. A transmission connecting the engine to a propeller shaft includes a chain which permits advantageous location of the propeller shaft relative to the engine and its output shaft.

Abstract: A system for trimming the mast of a sailing yacht wherein the fore and aft stays of the mast are fixed to the top of the mast and extend downwardly to the hull to which they are connected by means of hydraulic cylinders, including pistons respectively connected to the stays. Trimming of the mast is achieved by simultaneously moving the stays to adjust or trim the position of the top of the mast through means of a control cylinder having a control piston which, when moved, admits hydraulic fluid into one of the stay cylinders to in effect shorten the associated stay while, at the same time, removing hydraulic fluid from the other stay cylinder to in effect lengthen the associated stay. Once the desired trim is achieved, the control piston is locked in the adjusted position. A pump and an associated hydraulic fluid supply is provided for the system together with a selector valve for connecting the fluid supply to either end of the control cylinder.

Abstract: A self lubricating wear plate arrangement for supporting the inner end of the vertical yoke used in coupler draft gear rigging in which the wear plate is in the form of a planar support plate equipped with a special liner for supporting the yoke inner end at its operative level within the car center sill. The liner is formed from an ultra high molecular weight polymer material that is of dry, self lubricating, nature and resists adherence thereto of foreign materials and serves as a sound deadener and energy absorber. Such material is also characterized by its polishing action on the yoke underside surface portion riding on same to re-form such yoke surface to define a mirror finish for inhibiting further wear of the yoke at this location during use.

Abstract: An elongated deck section having two rows of legs with several legs per row is fabricated with the legs hingedly mounted on footings adapted to receive fluid bearings and is transported from the fabricating yard to a dock head over a smooth concrete slab of minimal slope and thence longitudinally via fluid bearing adapted gang planks and tracks onto and along a barge disposed with its stern adjacent the dock head and grounded thereat, the platform being transported by placing fluid bearings under the footings which allow the section to be moved sideways, lengthways, or rotated or turned, as desired, the deck's horizontal truss stresses and the fluid bearing loads being controlled by actuating fluid elevators between each leg and the fluid bearing thereunder, the barge being initially ballasted so that change of ballast during loading is unnecessary to maintain minimal slope of the barge, the section then being anchored to the barge and the barge reballasted to float its stern and trim the barge preparatory to

Abstract: An apparatus for steering watercraft in response to changes of the wind. The craft is steered by the combination of a horizontal wind vane pivoted about an axis which is 30.degree. to the horizontal, an auxiliary rudder, an extended trim tab, and a cable control system. The extended trim tab is coupled to the auxiliary rudder. Also, the vane is coupled to the extended trim tab by the cable control system such that movement of the vane results in movement of the trim tab. Since the trim tab is coupled to the auxiliary rudder, changes in the position of the trim tab result in changes in position of the auxiliary rudder thereby steering the craft.

Abstract: Precision hover is necessary when one must position a load precisely on the deck of a ship. Manual precision hover is possible under very light wind gust conditions and a calm sea. The techniques described here are directed to those special windy days when a mission must be accomplished. The technique is to unload a containerized cargo onto a platform kept level regardless of the rolling motions of the ship. The platform is a resilient net of the proper strength to absorb the cargo's impact upon its contact with the net. During night operations under adverse weather conditions it is desirable to remove the cargo from the hoisting mechanism manually unaided. This is accomplished by an automatic sling detachment device. Usually the container will approach the net at an angle. This is desirable, enabling one or two of the devices to detach themselves first and permitting the reduction in loading upon the helicopter to be less abrupt.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a marine installation including a marine propulsion device including a transom bracket adapted to be fixed relative to a boat hull, a swivel bracket including spaced parallel apertures and mounted on the transom bracket for tilting movement about a tilt axis extending parallel to the apertures, a propulsion unit mounted from the swivel bracket for common tilting movement and for propulsion unit steering movement about a steering axis perpendicular to the tilt axis, a steering helm comprising a housing adapted to be fixed relative to the boat hull and a steering shaft mounted on the housing for rotation upon a fixed axis, a pair of flexible push-pull cables each including an outer casing having spaced first and second ends, and an inner core having a first end and a spaced second end portion extending through the respective apertures, first connections fixedly joining the outer casing first ends to the housing, second connections fixedly joining the inner core first ends to the steering sha

Abstract: A wind-propelled sailboat having a main hull and an outboard pontoon, a mast mounted upon the hull and a triangularly-shaped sail removably connected and secured at its peak to the top of the mast, the sail being controlled for propulsion of the boat by manually manipulated lines connected to each lower end of the sail, and manually controlled rudder means for steering of the boat. The sail is preferably not provided with a boom but is free for shifting either luff of the sail as a leading edge by means of the lines connected to the two lower ends of the sail. The sail-connected lines or sheets are each passed through swiveling blocks and locking cleats arranged for selectively drawing and releasably engaging the lines to draw the sail luffs taut.

Abstract: An oarlock design which permits the rower to face forwardly through the use of a second class lever wherein the oarlocks are restrained to move forwardly and backwardly along arculate side rails so that each oar translates about a vertical pivot point which is spaced across the boat away from the normal oarlock pivot point.

Abstract: A cartop, weather-tight, utility luggage carrier or trunk, which by adding two additional sections that are all detachably secured together therewith thus form a boat, the luggage carrier and sections when detached being able to nest inside each other so as to compactly fit upon a car roof rack.

Abstract: A self-locking cable trolley having a body member which guidingly receives a cable on which the body member rides and a length of working line that permits control of the body member on the cable. Disposed on the body member is a lock device which grips the supporting cable when the working line is manipulated in a predetermined manner so as to cooperate with a control surface also provided on the body member and swing the lock device into engagement with the cable in order to selectively retain the body member of the trolley at a desired location on the cable.

Abstract: Method and apparatus which provides a retrievable anchor for a floating vessel. The apparatus includes a ballast chain secured to a winch located on the vessel. The chain is lowered into a submergible anchor shell which together with the chain forms the anchor. A conduit can be provided for conveying to the shell a fluid for preventing corrosion and marine life growth on the chain.The method includes connecting a ballast chain to an anchor shell and lowering it to the water bottom using the chain as a supporting link between the floating vessel and the shell. Once the shell is on the bottom, more ballast chain is placed into it so that the chain and the shell provide the necessary fixity for mooring the vessel. Subsequently, the upper end of the chain is connected to a pendant (a suspended rope secured to a locking means on the vessel) which may be used to lower the remaining portion of the chain.

Abstract: A rotary device driven by a moving fluid, such as water or air, for generating a rotary movement comprises a cylindrical or frusto-conical rotor having a vertical axis, the rotor having a plurality of identical blades distributed around the periphery of the rotor, each blade having a symmetrical aerodynamic profile and being mounted so as to freely rotate about a substantially vertical axis parallel to its leading edge. The device may be used to power a screw driven boat, a wheeled vehicle or other machinery.

Abstract: A wind-propelled sail vehicle comprises a perimeter frame, a mast and a chassis with three support members such as wheels, pads or skis. Two support members of fixed orientation are situated forward, the third support member, for steering, is situated aft and the mast is placed substantially vertically over the forward support members. The mast is positively mounted in the head of a rigid tripod and fixed with respect to the middle of the front cross-beam of the chassis. One foot of the tripod is mounted to the frame and the other feet to the lateral portions of the frame. The laterally mounted feet at their juncture with the frame form the axles upon which the wheels, pads or skis are mounted. This construction greatly increases manoeuvrability while reducing the overall weight of the apparatus for a given sail surface.

Abstract: An electro-pneumatic control system for effecting coupling and uncoupling action of automatic rapid transit type car couplers in a manner which assures that fluid pressure lines are cut off and that electrical contacts are disconnected before actual physical disengagement of the couplers themselves can occur.

Abstract: An apparatus for mounting a jibsail and a mainsail on a sloop, the structure including a step assembly bedded to the hull and supporting conventional roller and ball bearings; a mast spreading the mainsail; a generally horizontal boom located close above deck and rotating freely about the step; a forespar rotatable about its own axis and extending from high up on the mast to said boom, spreading the jibsail; and rigging connecting the jib and mainsail with said boom. The spars, sails, and cord rigging are freely rotatable on the bearings as a unit about the step as the wind deviates in direction.

Abstract: The following specification discloses a mechanism for attachment to a water jet pump as used for propelling boats which has as its object the deflection of the water jet at an angle to the path of travel of the boat. The mechanism comprises a chain and cable or a pair of gears controlled by a steering member to deflect the jet of water through a variable path at the rear of the boat to thereby provide a thrust to the boat in the opposite direction and allowing the boat to be moved out of a normal forward path.

Abstract: A rigid cylindrical collar with an inside diameter slightly larger than the outside diameter of a propeller which is mounted over a propeller and is used singly or in combination with a flexible extension thereto for maximizing the efficiency of propeller blades. The invention is adaptable to watercraft or to aircraft so as to prevent water or air from slipping off the ends of propeller blades so as to redirect energy lost as a result of slipping off the ends of propeller blades in the direction useful for advancing a water or air vehicle. The flexible extension is usable primarily on large watercraft, such as tug boats, ocean vessels and barges, and the like, and could be used with or without a rudder in order to steer a boat in the direction desired.

Abstract: A rudder is pivotably mounted in an integral rudder-tiller support having a spring-loaded detent engageable by a lock on the rudder which may be adjusted to change rake and which may be released to free rudder to swing on its pivot by moving detent out of locking engagement with the lock.

Abstract: A displacement ship for the transport selectively of low and high density cargo includes a hull having a trapezoidal cross-section and extending between the stem and stern of the ship. The sides of the hull form an angle of from 35.degree. to 55.degree. with the horizontal and extend upwardly above the design water line of the ship a distance at least equal to one-fourth the height of the hull. The upper extremities of the side walls of the hull terminate at the main deck of the ship which is coextensive lengthwise with the hull. At least one additional deck adapted to store low-density cargo thereon and coextensive in length and width with the main deck is positioned thereabove.