Abstract: A method for calculating the surface vector of at least one vessel progressing under engine at cruising speed. When the vessel is in a defined position, the parameters of the vessel, including its position, its heading, its speed over ground and its course over ground, are obtained. Wind and/or current measurements in the proximity of the vessel are obtained using a device external to the vessel. The drift vector is determined from wind and/or current measurements. The over-ground vector is determined from the parameters selected from the position, the speed over ground and the course over ground of the vessel. The magnitude and the direction of the surface vector of the vessel is calculated.

Abstract: A canting ballast twin foil (CBTF) sailing yacht constructed according to the invention includes a sailing hull, a laterally moveable ballast suspended beneath the hull that provides a counter heeling force when the yacht is underway, and fore and aft foils that provide improved leeway control and ballast. Components are included for at least partially retracting into the hull at least one of the ballast-supporting strut, the fore foil, and the aft foil.

Abstract: A wood planing machine includes a support carriage mounted movably on a mounting frame, a motor unit and a cutter member mounted on the support carriage, and a shield member mounted on the support carriage and pivotable between covering and uncovering positions. When the shield member is disposed at the covering position, a motor shielding portion of the shield member is disposed to cover an upper housing part of the motor unit, whereas a cutter shielding portion, which extends from the motor shielding portion, is disposed to shield a top side of the cutter member.

Abstract: A stabilizing system for jet-propelled watercraft comprising a pair of fins and their corresponding trim blocks, which serve to point the fins in the correct toed-in, cambered-out attitude, and mount on the side of the watercraft, toward the rear.

Abstract: An asymmetric wing for decreasing the leeward drift of a vessel has two different surfaces, one of which is cambered in cross-section and the other which has less camber in cross-section or flat. The asymmetric wing has a leading edge pointed toward the bow of the vessel and the trailing edge pointed toward the stern of the vessel. The surfaces of the asymmetric wing can be selectively moved to the port or starboard sides of the vessel. For centerboard and sliding keel vessels, a pair of asymmetric wings are installed in trunks, each asymmetric wing having a first cambered surface and a second less cambered surface. The first cambered surfaces of the two asymmetric wings point in opposite directions. At any one time both asymmetric wings are not moved into the water. The asymmetric wing is applicable to vessels without a centerboard or sliding keel trunk. In such a case, a horizontal shaft extends through a single asymmetric wing and the single cambered surface is rotated to either port or starboard.

Abstract: One or more variable angle fin box assemblies are sealed on the underside of a surfboard or the like that allows the angle of attack of the fin to be varied with the respect to the longitudinal axis of the surfboard, enabling the speed, stability and maneuvering characteristics of the surfboard to be adjusted or "tuned" by the rider in accordance with the rider's level of skill, different surf conditions and wave sizes. The novel fin box assembly has a longitudinal channel to receive the base end of a conventional surfboard fin, and in which a device is provided for securing the movable fin in the selected adjusted angular position.

Abstract: A steering and reversing system for a marine jet propulsion unit having a stationary nozzle (3) for discharging a water jet rearwardly from the unit comprises a pair of steering and reversing members (4, 5) which are mounted side by side at the rear end of the nozzle and individually pivotable in opposite directions about upright axes (7) from a non-deflecting position to first and second deflecting positions. In the non-deflecting position, the steering and reversing members (4, 5) form a rearwardly directed extension of the nozzle, while in the first deflecting position each member diverts a portion of the water jet laterally outwardly by means of its front section (4a, 5a) and in the second deflecting position each member deflects a portion of the water jet downwardly and forwardly by means of scoop-like members at its rear section (4b, 5b).

Abstract: A sailboat construction includes a hull having spaced first, second and third longitudinally extending lateral resistance elements which provide resistance to lateral movement of the boat under normal sailing conditions. The first and third resistance elements are spaced outwardly from opposite sides of the centerline of the hull in the forward portion thereof, and the second resistance element is aligned with the centerline in the aft portion of the hull. Because of the positions of the resistance elements, the boat is increasingly automatically turned into the wind as it is increasingly heeled over by the force of the wind, and as a result, the wind is normally spilled from the sails to return the boat to a more upright disposition before a capsizing situation can occur.

Abstract: A fin for a sailboard has a pair of high aspect ratio foils disposed in tandem in which the trailing edge of the forward foil is spaced apart from the leading edge of the aft foil. The fin permits high speed and rapid maneuvering without ventilation and stalling by reducing spanwise flow of water and loss of laminar flow at high angles of attack.

Abstract: A skeg unit mounted on a raked barge stern counter is a box lattice structure including an athwartships row of upright generally parallel vanes having their upper ends connected by an athwartships upper horizontal tie plate and their lower ends connected by a horizontal lower tie plate. The box lattice structure is mounted to the barge stern counter by struts spaced athwartships of the barge of a length to locate the upper tie plate below the loaded waterline of the barge. The vanes are of airfoil cross section and the outboard vanes are toed out. The horizontal tie plates are of airfoil cross section and have negative angles of incidence, the negative angle of incidence of the upper tie plate being greater than the negative angle of incidence of the lower tie plate.

Abstract: A row of dagger skegs projects downward from the aft portion of the raked counter of a nonpowered, nonsteered barge hull at each side of the longitudinal center line of the hull for stabilizing the barge directionally when towed by a towline trailing a towboat. The upright skegs are of airfoil cross section, and they are tapered downwardly. The leading edge of each skeg, which extends over the major portion of the height of the skeg, is substantially vertical and is spaced rearwardly from the stern counter. The lower end portions of adjacent skegs can be connected by an elongated horizontal bridging member which also is of airfoil cross section having a cambered upper side and a negative angle of incidence.

Abstract: A row of dagger skegs projects downward from the aft portion of the raked counter of a nonpowered, nonsteered barge hull at each side of the longitudinal center line of the hull for stabilizing the barge directionally when towed by a towline trailing a towboat. The upright skegs are of airfoil cross section, and they are tapered downwardly. The leading edge of each skeg, which extends over the major portion of the height of the skeg, is substantially vertical and is spaced rearwardly from the stern counter. The lower end portions of adjacent skegs can be connected by an elongated horizontal bridging member which also is of airfoil cross section having a cambered upper side and a negative angle of incidence.

Abstract: A boat is provided having front and rear ends, a bottom and upwardly projecting sides extending upwardly to an elevation spaced above the static water line of the boat. A depending central strut (fixed or upwardly retractable) projects downwardly from the bottom and a pair of elongated downwardly convergent opposite side flexible foils including leading and trailing longitudinal edges facing in front and rear directions, respectively, of the boat are provided and have their lower ends anchored to the lower end portion of the strut. The upper end portions of the foils are anchored relative to upper portions of the corresponding sides of the boat above the static water line thereof outwardly of the boat sides and the foils are free of support from the boat intermediate the upper and lower ends of the foils.