A retractable fin watercraft accessory that provides steering and tracking for a watercraft such as stand-up paddle boards. The retractable fin system gently retracts as it comes in contact with subsurface objects such as rocks, logs and such, allowing the watercraft to freely pass over the object. The system includes a sloped leading edge which can more easily slide past an obstacle. The retractable fin system simply attaches to the watercraft's existing fin mounting box and can be removed from the watercraft without altering the original state of the watercraft prior to being attached. No drilling, welding, gluing or other such custom fabrication is required. The system allows for quick interchangeability between the retractable fin and various rigid style fins, depending on the user's preferences.

An assembly includes a fin and a fin mounting box for a water sports board. The mounting box is mounted to the board and has an outwardly facing channel formed therein. The fin includes a fin base and a body extending from the base. The fin base is shaped to be received in the channel. The channel includes channel engagement formations, and the fin base includes corresponding fin base engagement formations which engage the channel engagement formations when the fin base is inserted into the channel so as to retain the fin to the mounting box. The assembly includes a locking tab received in the channel to prevent movement of the fin base in the channel and disengagement of the corresponding channel and fin base engagement formations.

An assembly includes a fin and a fin mounting box for a water sports board. The mounting box is mounted to the board and has an outwardly facing channel formed therein. The fin includes a fin base and a body extending from the base. The fin base is shaped to be received in the channel. The channel includes channel engagement formations, and the fin base includes corresponding fin base engagement formations which engage the channel engagement formations when the fin base is inserted into the channel so as to retain the fin to the mounting box. The assembly includes a locking tab received in the channel to prevent movement of the fin base in the channel and disengagement of the corresponding channel and fin base engagement formations.

A fin assembly includes a fin body and a fin holder. The fin holder has an elongated channel, a pair of opposing slots, a pair of front guiding grooves and a pair of rear guiding grooves. The pair of front guiding grooves are defined in the opposing sidewalls of a front section of the elongated channel at a horizontal level, and misaligned with a bottom of the elongated channel. The pair of rear guiding grooves are defined in the opposing sidewalls of a rear section of the elongated channel above the horizontal level, and are flush with the bottom of the elongated channel Besides, the fin holder defines in its rear wall a horizontal hole with a cross section large enough to cover a space between the pair of rear guiding grooves.

A fin for a surfboard having a base and a tip and wherein the fin includes an integral tunnel which provides a tubular housing; an electric motor and associated propeller attached to the integral tunnel so as to be substantially enclosed therein; wherein the integral tunnel and propeller are both positioned so that there is a blade section above and below the integral tunnel which each have a height which is at least substantially 70% of the diameter of the integral tunnel, and wherein the motor and the propeller are positioned forward of a rear edge of the fin. Also provided is a power source to supply power to the electric motor and associated housing and mounting plate. The arrangement of the motor and propeller are located forward of a rear edge of the fin allows the original feel and maneuverability of a non-powered surfboard to be preserved.

A retractable pontoon boat has a deck, a starboard pontoon and a port pontoon, a center beam coupled to the underside of the deck and running substantially from bow to stern, a plurality of pivoting arms coupling the pontoons to the center beam, a plurality of bearings interposed between the deck and the pivoting arms, and one or more linear actuators for actuating the pivoting arms; wherein, in a first, retracted position, the pontoons are substantially underneath the deck; and wherein, in a second, extended position, the pontoons are substantially extended from underneath the deck.

The present invention involves a system for the release of low relief, self-orienting deployable payloads from a platform such as an underwater vehicle and a mechanism of passive buoyancy compensation of the vehicle. The system secures one or more payloads by a vacuum force without an additional mechanical restraining mechanism and deployment of a payload is accomplished by disengaging the vacuum hold to release the payload for its intended function. Once deployed, the payload may reorient itself to a functional orientation without additional assistance.

A personal watercraft comprises a body including a deck and a hull, the hull includes a bottom surface facing downward and side surfaces facing outward in a rightward and leftward direction, the bottom surface has a shape in which a width in the rightward and leftward direction is reduced from its center portion in a forward and rearward direction to its rear portion, in a center portion of the hull in a forward and rearward direction, each of the side surfaces includes an upper side surface and a lower side surface, the lower side surface and the bottom surface are connected to each other to form an obtuse angle in a cross-section viewed from a rear, and an inclination angle formed between the lower side surface and a vertical line is set to be greater than an inclination angle formed between the upper side surface and the vertical line.

A vehicle front structure includes a front window glass, a washer nozzle, a cowl, and plate members. The front window glass includes angle-of-view areas at its upper portions. The angle-of-view areas cover angles of view of left and right imagers disposed on an interior of a vehicle. The washer nozzle ejects a washer fluid to an outer surface of the front window glass. The cowl is recessed and extends in a vehicle width direction between the front window glass and a front hood. The plate members stand erect in the cowl and extend in a vehicle front-rear direction. The plate members are disposed at least one at each outer side, in the vehicle width direction, of a widthwise center of the vehicle. The plate members extend toward an area interposed between outer edges of the angle-of-view areas in the vehicle width direction in a plan view of the vehicle.

A water sport training device is disclosed comprising, in one embodiment, a raft having a distal nose portion and a proximal rear portion. The rear portion provides a pair of substantially spaced apart lateral pontoons and a first web spanning the space therebetween. A relatively rigid platform is positionable within the raft, substantially adjacent the first web. A buoyant seat portion is positioned substantially on a back half of the device between the pontoons and adjacent the platform. A tow rope attachment means is secured to the raft for selectively towing the device over a body of water. The device is configured such that a back half of the device has a center buoyancy sufficient for providing a stable surface to support the weight of a person while floating on water both at standstill and as being pulled through the water as by a boat.