Abstract: A wake tower for a powerboat for use in wakeboarding or other water sports is described. The wake tower can include base members attached to the powerboat and a U-shaped bar extending generally upwardly from the base members. The side bars can be tapered inward and can also be angled toward the bow of the powerboat. Support members can be positioned along the side bars to provide increased structural support to increase the maximum load of the wake tower and to increase the rigidity of the wake tower resulting in less shaking during use. A tow cross bar having a tow rope connector can be suspended generally between the side bars of the wake tower. The wake tower can be transitioned between an upright position and a lowered position. Shocks can be used to compensate for some of the weight of the wake tower to allow the wake tower to be raised and lowered with less effort by the user.

Abstract: A wake tower for a powerboat for use in wakeboarding or other water sports is described. The wake tower can include base members attached to the powerboat and a U-shaped bar extending generally upwardly from the base members. The side bars can be tapered inward and can also be angled toward the bow of the powerboat. Support members can be positioned along the side bars to provide increased structural support to increase the maximum load of the wake tower and to increase the rigidity of the wake tower resulting in less shaking during use. A tow cross bar having a tow rope connector can be suspended generally between the side bars of the wake tower. The wake tower can be transitioned between an upright position and a lowered position. Shocks can be used to compensate for some of the weight of the wake tower to allow the wake tower to be raised and lowered with less effort by the user.

Abstract: A wake tower for a powerboat for use in wakeboarding or other water sports is described. The wake tower can include base members attached to the powerboat and a U-shaped bar extending generally upwardly from the base members. The side bars can be tapered inward and can also be angled toward the bow of the powerboat. Support members can be positioned along the side bars to provide increased structural support to increase the maximum load of the wake tower and to increase the rigidity of the wake tower resulting in less shaking during use. A tow cross bar having a tow rope connector can be suspended generally between the side bars of the wake tower. The wake tower can be transitioned between an upright position and a lowered position. Shocks can be used to compensate for some of the weight of the wake tower.

Abstract: A wake tower for a powerboat for use in wakeboarding or other water sports is described. The wake tower can include base members attached to the powerboat and a U- shaped bar extending generally upwardly from the base members. The side bars can be tapered inward and can also be angled toward the bow of the powerboat. Support members can be positioned along the side bars to provide increased structural support to increase the maximum load of the wake tower and to increase the rigidity of the wake tower resulting in less shaking during use. A tow cross bar having a tow rope connector can be suspended generally between the side bars of the wake tower. The wake tower can be transitioned between an upright position and a lowered position. Shocks can be used to compensate for some of the weight of the wake tower to allow the wake tower to be raised and lowered with less effort by the user.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for modifying materials including, e.g., dielectric materials associated with electronic substrates, semiconductor chips, wafers, and the like, damaged by fabrication processes such as plasma etch processing. The described method improves structural integrity as measured, e.g., by Young's Modulus, as well as hydrophobicity, as measured, e.g., by contact angles at the liquid/surface interface.

Abstract: A sport equipment rack is provided for releasably holding sport equipment within a boat. The sport equipment rack includes a support member having a longitudinal axis and including a base, a guide extending along the longitudinal axis from the base, and a support prong extending from the base at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis, a clamp member movable along the guide between an open position and a secured position, the clamp member having a wedge surface substantially parallel to the support prong defining a variable width slot between the wedge surface and the support prong dimensioned to receive the sport equipment, a resilient gripping member disposed on the support prong facing the wedge surface, and a securing device configured to move the clamp member between the open and secured positions, whereby the wedge surface is configured to bias sport equipment against the support prong as the clamp member moves toward the closed position.