Abstract: A water craft including a hull having a main longitudinal axis defining a direction of travel of the craft, a plurality of discs mounted at respective opposed sides of the main longitudinal axis to and below the hull and in combination having sufficient buoyancy to support the hull above the water, each disc comprising an essentially circular convex skimming surface adapted to skim upon the water as the craft moves at low speed, wherein the discs are mounted to the hull such that the skimming surface of each disc faces downwardly with respect to the longitudinal central axis of the hull, and adapted for movement between a low speed orientation in which the discs present a portion of the circular convex skimming surface to the water surface and a high speed orientation in which the discs present a portion of the edge of the disc to the water.

Abstract: A water craft including a hull having a main longitudinal axis defining a direction of travel of the craft, a plurality of discs mounted at respective opposed sides of the main longitudinal axis to and below the hull and in combination having sufficient buoyancy to support the hull above the water, each disc comprising an essentially circular convex skimming surface adapted to skim upon the water as the craft moves at low speed, wherein the discs are mounted to the hull such that the skimming surface of each disc faces downwardly with respect to the longitudinal central axis of the hull, and adapted for movement between a low speed orientation in which the discs present a portion of the circular convex skimming surface to the water surface and a high speed orientation in which the discs present a portion of the edge of the disc to the water.

Abstract: A watercraft comprises a hull having an upper surface, a lower surface, a bow and a stern. Spaced from the underside of the watercraft at the bow end is a pair of outwardly extending arms rotatably supporting discs. Likewise at the stern of the hull, a pair of arms rotatably supports an additional pair of discs. A multitude of such discs may additionally be provided with bearings. Alternatively, the discs may be mounted upon a ball joint arrangement for rotation and pivoting throughout a preselected range. Each disc is acutely angled from a horizontal reference plane. When the watercraft moves in a forward direction, the discs will rotate. As a result, the relative contact velocity between an underside portion of the discs and the water is substantially reduced as compared to a surface which is fixed to the watercraft. The contact friction is thereby reduced resulting in high speed capabilities of the craft with relatively low powered propulsion units.