Abstract: The object of the invention is an inflatable watercraft (1) (SUP—stand up paddling) with an embedded drive and having a specially shaped recess in the center, preferably in the center of gravity of the watercraft (1), into which a housing (2, 2?) of a drive assembly is inserted before the watercraft is filled with air. While the watercraft (1) is filled with air, the air pressure firmly fixes the housing (2, 2?) of the drive assembly to a proper position. The housing (2, 2?) accommodates the drive assembly that comprises a storage battery (4), an electric motor (5), a compressor (3) and an electronic circuit (8), wherein the drive assembly is provided with a flow-through channel (6), in which a drive screw (7) is arranged, and both the input and the output sides of the flow-through channel (6) are protected by grates.

Abstract: A paddle for stand-up paddle boards includes a paddle blade at a lower end of the paddle shaft and a sail assembly slidingly stowed within the shaft, with the sail deployed by sliding the sail assembly distally out of the shaft upper end. The sail assembly may include a sail and support frame. A method and system for transporting a user across water or other surfaces has a board for the user to stand upon and a paddle with sail slidingly deployed from inside a paddle shaft via an opening in the upper end. To propel via paddling, the user leaves the sail stowed within the shaft. The propel via wind, the user deploys the sail out of the shaft, places the blade onto the board upper surface, and angles the paddle and sail to catch the wind and propel the user across the water.

Abstract: A shaft mount sail device that may have a sail made of a lightweight, flexible material that is capable of being tightly wound about the shaft of a paddle, push-pole or other shaft, a mechanism for attaching the sail to the shaft, and a clamping member coupled to the sail and configured to releasably clamp onto the shaft. The sail may be rolled tightly about the shaft and the clamping member fit over the shaft to secure the sail in the stowed position. The clamping member in the stowed position may serve as the handle by which a user grasps and operates the shaft. Various embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A removable sail for a paddle-style boat, such as a kayak preferably takes the form of a fast deploying down-wind sail attachable to a deck of the kayak. The sail includes a curved, but non-circular shaped flexible material coupled to a collapsible, continuous frame member, for example the frame member may be sewn into a channel made by the material. When mounted to the deck of the boat, the sail may be arranged in a deployed or a stowed configuration, the latter being deployable on the fly in that the sail can be quickly sprung into the deployable configuration. The non-circular shape of the sail cooperates with a hull shape of the boat while providing a sufficient surface area for capturing wind energy. The sail may also include a transparent region that helps prevent excessive amounts of spray from striking the paddler and yet still provides an adequate viewing range.

Abstract: A watercraft comprising a main body having hull, a bow end and an opposite stern send, a starboard, a port and a deck. A plurality of watercraft articles are removably mountable to the main body and provide for transforming the watercraft into a variety of watercraft types. The main body comprises a watercraft article-receiving assembly for stowing the watercraft articles therein. Thus providing a transformable, multi-functional and self-stowage watercraft. These watercraft types include a kayak, a paddle boat, a sailboat, a catamaran, a trimaran, a motorboat, a sit-in/on windsurfer/sailboard and any combinations thereof. A removable trailer assembly for the land-transport of a watercraft is also provided. A rudder control assembly for a watercraft having a rudder is also disclosed.

Abstract: A paddle with attached sail, whereby a small personal watercraft can be propelled either by conventional paddling or by wind power. In one aspect of the invention, the sail has two ends which can be either both attached to the handle of the paddle, or both attached to the user's hands or wrists. In either case, the user holds the paddle generally upright against the side of the watercraft with the blade of the paddle in the water in order to resist downwind drift. In another aspect of the invention, the sail is connected along the length of one of its edges to the handle of the paddle, which thereby functions as a mast for the sail. In this case a boom means may be provided for holding the sail open and for operator control of the sail.

Abstract: A removable sail for a paddle-style boat, such as a kayak preferably takes the form of a fast deploying down-wind sail attachable to a deck of the kayak. The sail includes a curved, but non-circular shaped flexible material coupled to a collapsible, continuous frame member, for example the frame member may be sewn into a channel made by the material. When mounted to the deck of the boat, the sail may be arranged in a deployed or a stowed configuration, the latter being deployable on the fly in that the sail can be quickly sprung into the deployable configuration. The non-circular shape of the sail cooperates with a hull shape of the boat while providing a sufficient surface area for capturing wind energy. The sail may also include a transparent region that helps prevent excessive amounts of spray from striking the paddler and yet still provides an adequate viewing range.

Abstract: A watercraft for transportation and exercise including a boat having an opening therein for permitting a person to be partially below the waterline and partially above the waterline. A sub-frame is operatively attached to the boat, the sub-frame having a lower position and an upper position. A propulsion device is operatively attached to the sub-frame for propelling the watercraft forwardly in response to movement of the person's feet, the propulsion device having a foot contact portion. The foot contact portion of the propulsion device being disposed a predetermined distance from the waterline when using the propulsion device in the transportation mode, said foot contact portion of the propulsion device being disposed in the water and a substantial distance below said predetermined distance when the propulsion device is being used in an exercise mode.

Abstract: A collapsible sail frame for a watercraft. The sail frame includes a shaft, a skeletal assembly, and a sail. The shaft has a tip and a handle. The skeletal assembly includes ribs, struts, a first ring and a second ring. The sail is attached on the ribs. First pivoting joints connect ribs to the first ring, with ribs extending in a radial pattern. Second pivoting joints connect struts to the second ring. Third pivoting joints connect struts to ribs. The first ring is fixed on the shaft and the second ring is slidably mounted on the shaft so as to be manually operable for deploying the skeletal assembly, to spread the sail. A loop is provided on the deck of the watercraft, for retaining the tip of the shaft and the handle includes a clamp for engaging the deck of the watercraft.

Abstract: A watercraft comprising a main body having hull, a bow end and an opposite stern send, a starboard, a port and a deck. A plurality of watercraft articles are removably mountable to the main body and provide for transforming the watercraft into a variety of watercraft types. The main body comprises a watercraft article-receiving assembly for stowing the watercraft articles therein. Thus providing a transformable, multi-functional and self-stowage watercraft. These watercraft types include a kayak, a paddle boat, a sailboat, a catamaran, a trimaran, a motorboat, a sit-in/on windsurfer/sailboard and any combinations thereof. A removable trailer assembly for the land-transport of a watercraft is also provided. A rudder control assembly for a watercraft having a rudder is also disclosed.

Abstract: It is an object of the invention to create a sailing yacht having a heeling hull body part and a non-heeling hull body part, which sailing yacht, with regard to the heeling hull body part, can be sailed in the conventional manner and, with regard to the non-heeling hull body part, ensures all the clear advantages of a substantially horizontally-remaining alignment when used preferably as a cabin, galley and/or cockpit, and which sailing yacht thereby offers the greatest possible comfort when sailing, in particular when residing below deck, and can be converted in a simple manner into a pure motorboat. The object is achieved according to the invention in that both the mast (2) and also the keel (3) are in each case arranged so as to be rigidly connected to the first, heeling hull body part (1.1), and in that the first hull body part (1.1) which supports the mast-keel combination (2, 3) is articulatedly connected to the non-heeling, second hull body part (1.

Abstract: This invention relates to the use of a removably attachable sailing rig with an integrated water foil for the conversion of a conventional boat, row boat, kayak, canoe, and power boat into a sailboat or an existing sailboat rig into a canting sail rig. The sail rig system utilizes the strong attachment points inherently available on most conventional boats and soft inflatable boats for attachment. The sail rig is comprised of a mast with an integrated water foil and is supported by a rigid strut on each side forming a tripod with the mast, a sail is attached to the mast which is unconventionally tacked or jibed around the front of the mast in order to clear the struts. The base of each rigid strut has a strut attachment means for direct attachment to an oar lock or shear of a boat. The base of the mast has a bow attachment means for direct attachment to the bow or bow towing ring. The mast and water foil can be tilted or canted to either side of the boat by lengthening or shortening each rigid strut.

Abstract: An assembly for converting a non-sailing boat to a sailboat comprises a sailing keel adapted to be removably attached to the keel of a boat, a first and a second support frame, one or more straps connected on a first end to the sailing keel and connected on a second end to one or both of the first and second support frames, a steering support frame, and a rudder attached to the steering support frame or stern of the boat. The first and second support frames and steering support frame are adapted to extend across the boat from one side of the boat to an opposite side, and the first support frame is adapted to support a mast in an essentially vertical position. A method for converting a non-sailing boat to a sailboat utilizing this assembly is also provided.

Abstract: A mastless sail for use in a two-seat kayak is disclosed. The apparatus is designed with a boomstick feature for supporting and controlling the bottom of the sail. The existing kayak paddles support and control the top of the sail. The apparatus is also designed for fast assembly and disassembly. No alterations to the kayak are necessary.

Abstract: A “V”-shaped sail is mounted to flexible tubular members. The tubular members are permitted to flex as wind speed increases. This lowers the effective center of effort and the area of the sail and increases the stability of vessels and vehicles to which the sail is mounted without the need for operator involvement. The sail frame is mounted to a “Y” shaped yoke having a cylindrical stem. The stem is inserted into a locking base that permits rotation of the stem in 30 degree increments while preventing the stem from being removed from the anchor while the sail is set at an operating angle. The locking base can be mounted permanently or temporarily to the vessel and vehicle. One unique aspect of this invention is that no lines (sheets) or similar apparatus are required for any operational function of raising, lowering or sailing this sail kit.

Abstract: Small boats such as kayaks, canoes, and skiffs that are normally not propelled by wind power are provided with apparatus of this invention that can enable the conversion to a sailing vessel. A mast is movable from a horizontal inoperative position to an erect operable position. Lee boards are movable from a raised inoperative position to a lowered operative position. Sails are movable from a lowered operative position to a raised inoperative position. Movement between operative and inoperative positions of the sailing elements are all operable by the boater from the boater's normal position. The boater may thereby convert from a non-sailing to a sailing vessel or the reverse with a minimum of effort, time, and inconvenience. The vessel may be paddled with the mast up if desired.

Abstract: A “V”-shaped sail is mounted to flexible tubular members. The tubular members are permitted to flex as wind speed increases. This lowers the effective center of effort and the area of the sail and increases the stability of vessels and vehicles to which the sail is mounted without the need for operator involvement. The sail frame is mounted to a “Y” shaped yoke having a cylindrical stem. The stem is inserted into a locking base that permits rotation of the stem in 30 degree increments while preventing the stem from being removed from the anchor while the sail is set at an operating angle. The locking base can be mounted permanently or temporarily to the vessel and vehicle. One unique aspect of this invention is that no lines (sheets) or similar apparatus are required for any operational function of raising, lowering or sailing this sail kit.

Abstract: An open-trough kayak sailing accessory kit according to the invention is described in which a removable, portable, lightweight bi-pod mast is mounted to a removable board/hatch at the front of the kayak. The mast then tilts back over the kayak so as to center the sail over the craft. The bi-pod mast is hinged to the board and has various rope securement points to give it fore and aft stabilization. To provide lateral stability to the kayak, a leeboard kit is included, having a leeboard removably affixed to the side of the cockpit of the open-trough kayak where no cross bars or flat top surfaces for attachment are otherwise present. A slide clamp is employed which fits the side of the open cockpit, in allowing the leeboard to rotate about the clamp, permitting a user to raise and lower it into the water as needed. By employing the two kits together, an open-trough kayak can easily be utilized for ocean sailing, otherwise quite difficult to do.

Abstract: A device (10) for moving an individual (12) over a surface (14) with the assistance of wind (16) is provided herein. The device (10) includes a support section (18), and a sail section (20) which is pivotally fixed to the support section (18). The sail section (20) catches wind (16) to move the support section (18) and the individual (12) relative to the surface (14) The sections (18, 20) are made from a resiliently deformable material, and may be inflatable, non-inflatable, or a combination of both. The device (10) can also include one or more rudders (66) secured to the support section (18) for steering the device (10). Further, the device (10) can include one or more skegs (76) secured to the support section (18) to guide movement of the device (10). The sail section (20) preferably includes a sail controller (40) for directionally catching wind (16) to steer the device (10).