Abstract: A pair of aligned elongate members for extension transversely across and mounting on a boat, a connection between the inner ends of the elongate members, locating pins on the elongate members for engagement in the rod holders of a boat, and fishing pole receivers on the elongate members and connector, for trolling bait and lures behind a boat.

Abstract: A distribution system for filling a baitwell in a boat includes a low pressure pump and a dual check valve. The fluid flow into the system is divided so that the pressure on the pump is reduced, thus enabling the use of an inexpensive pump. The check valve permits the influx of fresh water without the need for recirculating the existing water in the baitwell and also prevents backflow from the baitwell.

Abstract: A multipurpose flat bottom boat for harvesting crawfish. The boat includes a deck on each end with an open-spaced hull between the decks. The boat is propelled by rotatable wheels engaging the bottom of a body of water which may have a propelling units on their ends and are mounted on telescopically extensible members. The units may be mounted on one or both ends of the boat. The boat is equipped with supports on each side for supporting a seine on each side thereof. Oppositely disposed trays are fitted above the open spaced hull and crawfish receiving containers are placed in the open-spaced hull. The crawfish are caught by dropping the seines into the body of water on each side of the boat. The seines moved along the bottom for a distance and then are lifted from the water and the crawfish are dumped into the trays which have been moved to a position with half of the tray disposed over the water. The crawfish are washed, then sorted according to size and dropped into the containers.

Abstract: A container for water to maintain fish within the container in a live condition. The container is of water impermeable construction, and includes a drain valve adjacent the bottom, and water inlet and outlet openings positioned in the side walls of the container. The container is adapted to be placed within a receptacle, which can be provided in the hull of a boat, the receptacle having corresponding water inlet and outlet openings positioned opposite the respective openings in the container so that water that enters the receptacle through the water inlet flows into the container, and excess water flows through the water outlet, so that fresh water is circulated through the container. The container can be removed for transporting the fish, or it can be used for weighing the fish after the water has been drained therefrom through the drain valve.

Abstract: To transfer fry from tanks in a barge to breeding cages immersed wholly or partly in water, use is made of a scraper consisting of a frame in which a wire net is stretched. The frame is journalled as to be pivotable about a preferably fixed axis from a vertical to a substantially horizontal position lifting fish to the level of the upper edge of the barge hull, where a hopper mounted to a hose is placed. The other end of the hose is passed down into a cage. Fish are flushed through the hose down into the cage by a water stream introduced to the hopper. Both the net frame and the hopper may be moved from one tank to another. The tank-defining part of the barge hull is preferably quater-circular in cross-section.

Abstract: A pneumatic plunger system for use in a commercial seine fishing vessel, comprising apparatus for expelling a mixture of forced air and water through a plurality of nozzles that are located along the keel of the vessel. The forced air and water which is ejected through the nozzles creates a wall of air bubbles extending substantially vertically and downward from the keel. Fish swimming between the net and the wall of air bubbles are startled by the air bubbles and are repelled into the net.

Abstract: A commercial sport fishing boat has an upper deck plan which includes forwardly directed walkways extending along either side of a central cabin. The cabin side walls are formed such that they define outwardly directed benches adjacent each walkway while providing adequate interior overhead in the cabin. The walkways and benches increase the boat's linear rail space and therefor the sport fisherman capacity. The boat further includes the conventional equipment of this type of craft.

Abstract: A water distribution system for directing water flow between a live well in a fishing boat and a water source, such as a lake. The water distribution system includes a flow directing valve which has two operating conditions. In the first operating condition a plurality of check valves automatically direct the water flow to selectively keep the live well empty or to empty water from the live well. In a second operating condition the valve enables the selective filling of the live well, the maintenance of the water level in the live well and the recirculation of the water along with the input of fresh water to the live well. In the second operating condition these functions are carried out automatically without operator intervention, regardless of whether the boat is stationary or moving.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in a system of containerized handling of fish onboard an ocean-going vessel. Fish are stored in closely stacking containers within the hold of the fishing vessel and are cyclically removed from within the hold to working positions on the deck of the vessel, where they are charged with fish and ice and returned to storage positions, by the cooperative use of an in-hold travelling hoist adapted to move a selected plurality of containers to and from chosen position within the hold compartment without disturbing other containers and an above-deck conveying system operable to convey the plurality of containers between a position inside the hold compartment directly below the hatchway through the deck overlying the hold compartment and a selected working position on the deck.

Abstract: Outriggers for sportfishing boats of the tubular mast type strengthened by a plurality of longitudinal truss cables to resist mast bending are improved by new spreader assemblies that include unique cable spreader arms that have (a) tubular sockets on their inboard end, (b) a cable guide through which an anti-bending cable passes removably fitted into their outboard end and (c) a frangible portion in the arm to break when the arm is overloaded. The improved spreader assemblies include (1) a collar, sized to encircle the mast and (2) a plurality of lateral posts, each threaded at one end into the collar and sized to slideably receive the tubular socket of one of the spreader arms to retain the arm extending laterally outwardly from the collar creating a cable truss member. The truss cables are connected to the mast via unique ball-anchor lugs formed as integral portions of the mast collars.

Abstract: An integral hull and module system (10) includes a universal hull (12) configured to conveniently accept various modules (100) to convert the system (10) to different operational functions. Hull (12) includes an inner hull structure (24) for downwardly, slidably receiving the outer shell (102) of module (100) which is common to each module (100). To facilitate insertion of module outer shell (102) within inner hull structure (24), the side and end walls (126, 128 and 130) of the module outer shell are sloped inwardly to match the slope of side walls and end walls (26, 28, 30) which compose the sides of inner hull structure (24). Vertical keys (138) are formed on the exterior portions of the side walls of module outer shell (102) to slidably engage within corresponding keyways (42) formed in the side and end walls of inner hull (24) to properly align and prevent lateral movement of module (100) relative to hull (12).

Abstract: A low-profile fishing boat having a forward cabin in the bow covered by a foredeck whose level is about the same as the hull sheer line, the foredeck terminating at the bulkhead of the cabin. A bow rail is secured to the boundary of the foredeck and a center control console is mounted on the foredeck at a position thereon displaced from the bow rail to create a walk-around passage. The cabin bulkhead has a center door flanked on either side by steps leading from the walk-around passage on the foredeck to the sole of a rear cockpit, whereby a pilot stationed before the center console has good visibility in all directions and has ready access to both the cockpit and the bow for carrying out docking and anchoring stations. The complete walk-around capability of this boat is advantageous in fishing to both pilot and passengers.

Abstract: A marine life harvesting method and apparatus in which a vessel (10) has a marine life capturing device (12) consisting of telescopic booms (14, 16, 18) to which are attached a mesh or net (20). The capturing device (12) has an inlet orifice (74) and an outlet orifice (76) the outlet orifice communicating with a marine life harvesting device, which may be a passage (42) through the hull (40) of the vessel, marine life entering the inlet orifice as the vessel travels across the body of water, and being diverted by the capturing device (12) to flow from the outlet orifice (76). A conveyor (48) may be provided to remove marine life from the passage (42) to a processing station (52) and retractable grilles (44, 46) may be provided to control the flow of material through the passage.

Abstract: An unmanned self-propelled submarine vehicle is provided with a material exchanger-container having a vertical axis of symmetry aligned with both the vehicle's center of gravity and its center of volume. The exchanger-container has a moveable diaphragm which divides the interior into two compartments, a lower ballast compartment equipped with an unloading apparatus and an upper compartment adapted to receive collected material. Ballast is unloaded during material loading to maintain the weight of the vehicle constant during loading.

Abstract: An oceanic fishing system on a ship having a main propulsion system and an auxiliary bow thrustor providing forward as well as lateral thrust. The ship was a stern working deck with a net deploying and retrieving drum disposed on the working deck and positioned to transfer a purse-seine net over the stern of the ship. Overhead booms attach and selectively move a free and of the purse-seine net relative to the stern. A brailing crane is disposed on the stern working deck with an extensible arm over the stern to brail fish from the net. And on-board fish handling system receives fish from the brailing crane and transports them for processing and on-board storage.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for retrieving lobsters or similar objects from the floor of a lobster pound or other shallow water body are described. An upward flow of water is established in a flexible conduit or passageway of size sufficient to accommodate the objects to be lifted. This is accomplished by a low pressure air lift particularly suited for non-traumatic handling of lobsters. Objects to be lifted are drawn into the upward flow as the flexible conduit is moved over the bottom. As objects rise to the surface they are guided or diverted by a transfer guide chamber or coupling onto a conveyor which carries the objects onto a deck or support platform floating above the water surface. The transfer chamber and conveyor shed water away from the lobsters or other objects. The transfer guide chamber, conveyor and a pivotable boom for supporting the flexible conduit in an "S" configuration are attached to a deck or support platform floating above the surface.

Abstract: A fishing system for a recreational, commercial or pleasure type boat (B) includes an inner pair of fishing poles (10) mounted near the gunwales (GW) of boat (B) to position inner fishing lines (12) closely adjacent the sides of boat (B). A rearwardly extending pair of fishing poles (14) are carried by holders (16) mounted on the stern of boat (B) to position lines (18) laterally inwardly of lines (12). An outer pair of fishing poles (20) are mounted on the outward end portions of elongate booms (38) to position outer lines (24) at a location a relatively large distance laterally outwardly from lines (12). Booms (38) are disposed transversely to the length of boat (B) and are supported by antifriction support assemblies (40) which support booms (38) for extensional travel outwardly from one side of boat (B) and for retractional travel towards the opposite side of boat (B).

Abstract: An outrigger device attachable to a flying bridge or a tower leg, comprising a hollow tubular member which is connected to the flying bridge or tower support member. The hollow tubular member has its proximal end connected to a system of brackets which allows pivotal movement of the tubular member about multiple axes. The system of brackets is connected to the flying bridge or tower support member, and includes a collapsible brace member connected between the support member and the tubular member. The system of brackets also includes a singular brace member connected between the flying bridge beneath the support member and the tubular member. When not in use, the outrigger device may be folded compactly against the flying bridge or tower leg adjacent the support member and held in place by a spring locking clamp.

Abstract: A barge or skiff equipped with a pair of (water tight) 7-shaped hollow arms pivotally attached to the bow sides and operated to free tuna-herding porpoises from a tuna seine enclosure and snatch and scoop up fish, a retrieval net being extended between slidable extensions of the arms. Porpoises can be steered out of the enclosure primarily after lowering any section of the cork-line with weights, cable lifted by chase boats to prevent fish escape. The arms are retracted by coil springs tho pivoted down and extended by hydraulic jacks inside the springs. Giant arms with pivotal forearms can be mounted on stern cutouts or recesses of tuna purse-seiners and operated to handle the cork-line, let out porpoises, bag a catch by buoyancy, scoop up some or most fish and some mammals from a full size enclosure or purse and dump them onto deck, the seine to be pulled in intermittently over the stern between the (held up and/or extended) arms the unshrunken purse having less bends to entangle porpoises.

Abstract: An extendable bowsprit pulpit for a fishing boat, comprising an elongated pulpit affixed to the bow of the boat, a slidable pulpit extension which fits into the elongated pulpit and is capable of being retracted to lie mainly within said elongated pulpit and of being slidably extended so that the major portion of said pulpit extension lies forwardly of the elongated pulpit as an extension thereof, a pair of bow supports each having one end attached to the forward portion of the elongated pulpit and its other end connected to a bracket mounted on the boat's bow beneath the elongated pulpit, a slidably extendable railing surrounding the bowsprit pulpit in both its retracted and extended positions, and power operated means connected to said slidable pulpit extension for extending and retracting said pulpit extension.

Abstract: A knock-down pulpit for a boat comprising a first brace connectable to the front deck of a boat, a body support platform, a frame for holding the body support platform which is connected to the first brace, a railing connected to the frame, a second brace connected to the bow of the boat and a support structure having one end connected to the second brace and the opposite end connected to the frame. The pulpit is designed such that the components may be compactly packaged at the factory for easy shipment, and then installed at the location of the boat with minimal effort. Once installed, the pulpit extends from the front deck of the boat past the bow.

Abstract: A fish-sorting apparatus for use on board a fishing vessel of the type including fish-storing bins. The apparatus includes a surface for sorting fish, by category, into different selected ones of the bins, or overboard (for rejected fish), through ports and adjustable chutes which communicate with the surface.

Abstract: A convertible panel system is disclosed that permits conversion of a fishing vessel for different types of fishing and for different stages of fishing of a given type. In the ramp-forming setting of horizontally interconnected panels, a gear-hauling ramp is formed accessible though an opening in the hull and overlying bulwark. Normally in position to cover the reentrancy in hull and deck, the convertible panel system includes a multiple part deck-forming panel that is folded into stowed position beneath the downwardly swing bulwark panel functioning to provide the ramp surface.

Abstract: A fish unloading system for removing fish from the main fish hold of a fishing boat. The lower portion of the main fish hold is filled with water and sufficient salt added to cause the fish to float near the surface of the water. A power-operated self-feeding fish-impelling device having an enclosure arranged in a loop with a discharge aperture formed in its upper portion is lowered into the hold. A plurality of blades or baskets are power driven about the interior of the enclosure. A pump is arranged with its suction in communication with the fish-impelling device to continuously draw water and fish towards the blades or baskets of the impeller so as to continuously propel fish upwardly from the hold. The system is utilized to unload a plurality of auxiliary fish holds connected to the main fish hold by access hatches. Fish in the auxiliary holds are floated through the access hatches by a recirculating flow of water from the main fish hold through the auxiliary holds and back into the main hold.

Abstract: A porpoise evacuation vessel comprises a skiff-like boat having a central bay area for the temporary retention of porpoises evacuated from tuna fishing nets, there being ramps on opposite sides of the boat leading into the water and open faced wells on opposite sides of each ramp for retaining operators to haul porpoises out of the water and into the bay, subsequent to which the boat, which is jet-propelled, is driven outside the net and the porpoises are released into the open ocean by releasing a rear gate.

Abstract: A forced aerating apparatus for an inboard live well positioned within a fishing boat. The apparatus includes a water pipe having an intake end positioned outwardly of the boat below the water line. The water pipe has a discharge end positioned within the boat adjacent the well for supplying water thereto. A water aerator is provided on the discharge end of the water pipe. A water pump is mounted exteriorly of the well and is connected to the water pipe for selectively pumping water from outside the boat through the water aerator during the periods that the boat is not traveling through the water. Water is automatically supplied to the live well when the boat is traveling through the water. The apparatus also includes means for powering the pump.

Abstract: A continuous output brine freezing system is disclosed particularly applicable to the freezing of large fish such as tuna on board fishing vessels. The vessels include a series of fish freezing tanks within which the large fish, after being encapsulated in plastic bags and vacuum sealed, are loaded and frozen in sequence. One of said tanks is a brine storage tank and has means of precooling the brine to a temperature of -35.degree. C. Means are provided for feeding the precooled brine from the first tank to the next tank in line and to the remaining tanks in sequence as the tanks are loaded with fish. Means are also provided to remove the brine from the tanks in sequence and to return the brine to the first tank as the fish are frozen. Means are provided to maintain the quality of the brine and to recycle the brine through the system as fish are brought on board and loaded into the tanks, and to unload the frozen fish from the tanks by flotation with brine.

Abstract: A high speed open fishing boat construction has a hull portion, a top liner portion joined to said hull portion, and a fish live well assembly formed integral with the top liner portion and positioned so that its center of gravity is located on the longitudinal centerline of the top liner portion. The improvement comprises a common water inlet-outlet located in the rear of the hull portion, an aerator connected in the live well assembly for spraying water therein, a pipeline system connecting the inlet-outlet port with the aerator, and a remotely controlled cut-off control valve connected in the pipeline system for opening and closing water flow through the inlet-outlet port.

Abstract: A water vessel having a pair of spaced, parallel pontoons connected by a deck on which there is fixedly supported a land traversing vehicle such as a motorcycle or a snowmobile. The water vessel includes at least one propeller operatively coupled to the power output drive of the land traversing vehicle, such that the propeller is rotated when the land traversing vehicle is operated. The water vessel further comprises a steering coupling mechanism which operatively couples the steering mechanism of the land traversing vehicle to at least one rudder carried by the water vessel such that the rudder is responsive to control the direction of the water vessel in response to the movement of the steering mechanism of the land traversing vehicle. The water vessel also comprises a rotatably mounted shaft having L-shaped outer ends extending beyond the outer portion of each pontoon.