Abstract: A boat hull having an upper hull section, a pair of spaced apart substantially parallel elongated outer sponsons extending from a forward portion to a stern portion of a bottom of the upper hull section, the outer sponsons and upper hull section defining a tunnel therebetween; and an elongated center sponson extending along the bottom of the upper hull and positioned in the tunnel between and substantially parallel to the pair of outer sponsons and having a forward section with an upwardly extending trailing step wall defining an upward step in the center sponson, and an aft section that is located aft of the forward section, the aft section having an upwardly curved leading edge intersecting the step wall of the forward section. The upper hull section can have planar bottom.

Abstract: The device of the present invention provides a novel feeder which generally comprises a feed reservoir, a trough, and an actuable feed dispensing mechanism all of which are operably connected to provide a structure which readily accommodates the three-dimensional space-envelope described by the normal range of feeding movements of the feeding animal thereby preventing injury to the animal and minimizing eating movements that are wasteful of feed. The device of the invention optionally incorporates a novel, feed-dispensing mechanism which is removably situated in the throat of the feed reservoir. The mechanism comprises a series of removable adjacent tubular segments, exemplified by cylindrical ring segments, through which runs a removable ring segments, through which runs a removable rigid support member, such as a rod. In the un-actuated state, the feed dispensing mechanism completely occludes the throat of the feeder.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel feeder which readily accommodates the three-dimensional space-envelope described by the normal range of feeding movements of a feeding animal, minimizes eating movements that are wasteful of feed, and prevents injury to the feeding animal. The feeder optionally incorporates a novel, feed-dispensing mechanism which can be removed from the throat of the feeder reservoir. The mechanism has a series of removable adjacent tubular segments, such as cylindrical rings, through which runs a removable rigid support, such as a rod. When un-actuated, the mechanism completely occludes the throat of the feeder. When a feeding animal displaces the segments upwardly, feed passes through the opening created in the throat of the feeder. When the segments return to their original position by the force of gravity, the feeder throat is occluded and feed flow stops.

Abstract: An animal feeder for individual animal self-regulated release of free flowing particulate animal feed (e.g. meal or pellets) from an elevated feed supply hopper into a subjacent feed trough. The hopper has a feed outlet in the form of a slot extending longitudinally between opposite sides of the feeder and with its width defined between the bottom edge of an inclined hopper wall and the hopper rear wall. The slot is normally closed by a plurality of tubular segments or rings resting in end-to-end elongated tube-forming relationship on the upper side of the slot. A rod (solid or hollow) rests loosely within the tubular segments and extends from one end segment to the opposite end segment. A horizontal segment restraining member or bar is mounted above the segments which limits excessive lifting of the segments.