Disclosed is a vessel with two watertight flaps attached in a tensioned state on the two sides of the longitudinal keel, each being under one of the two rear side portions of the V-shaped hull, the outer side edge of each flap being connected under the shell covering the bottom compartment on the same side, and the bottom side edge being connected to the bottom along a line which is angled from the rear to the front and angled toward the lower compartment, with a flap width tapering from the tensioned, free rear edge between the ends at the transom, toward a front portion connected to the bottom and/or to the shell at the connection between the upper and lower compartments, defining, with the latter and the bottom, a channel converging from front to rear and angled toward the rear end of the edge of the V-shaped craft hull.

A vessel (30) comprising a hull (15) having an apparent centre of pitch (23) located at a position between about 10% and 35% of the length of the vessel (10) measured from the aftermost point (17) of the vessel on the design waterline. The hull (15) may be bare, or alternatively may be fitted with a damping system (31) located forwardly to provide damping forces to reduce the vertical motion at the bow and hence the vertical accelerations. In one arrangement, the vessel (10) may comprise a single hull vessel. In another arrangement, the vessel (10) may comprise a multi-hulled vessel.

The presently disclosed subject matter relates to a flotation device suited to teach beginner swimming techniques or provide enjoyment in an aquatic environment while providing flotation to at least a portion of the swimmer's body. The flotation device for aiding a swimmer in a body of water may comprise a body formed from an extruded foam and comprising a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side rail, a second side rail, a leading lateral surface, and a trailing lateral surface, and wherein the extruded foam is a flexible cellular foam. The presently disclosed subject matter also relates to methods of making the flotation device.

A high pressure swivel is disclosed which includes swivel modules each having a stationary inner structure and a rotatable outer structure that can rotate about the inner structure. The inner structure of each module has the same number of vertical passages as the others. The inner structure of each module has a circumferential flange on the top and on a bottom lip so that each swivel unit can be secured to another swivel in its top or bottom with clamps around the flanges. The inner structures are rotatably positioned with respect to each other when assembled so that a vertical passage from a stationary base manifold to an outlet on the rotatable outer structure is formed. Various combinations of standard swivel modules can be assembled to accommodate specific swivel stack requirements for flow capacity and separate or commingled flow paths.

An unmanned ocean vehicle apparatus having a hull, solar array, hydrofoil, and electric thruster is operable on a surface of a body of water to travel from one point to another with long range capabilities. The unmanned ocean vehicle can further be placed in a more compact configuration, incorporating a mechanism to alternate between operational mode and collapsed storage mode to facilitate physical storage or shipment of the vehicle. Methods are described for optimizing travel and determining favorable movements of the unmanned ocean vehicle by calculating current and predicted conditions at certain waypoints using a combination of a sensor, a computer, and a control system. The physical support of hydrofoils, a drag reducing system, capsize-prevention technique, and a three-dimensional arrangement of solar panels provides efficient power management, optimal route strategy, and sustainability of the vehicle's high speeds in wildly varying ocean conditions.

The invention provides an apparatus that attaches to a hull of a boat to disrupt water flow around the hull such that a wake created behind the boat is larger, differently positioned, and/or differently shaped. In some embodiments, the apparatus is removably attached to the hull by one or more suction cups. The wake shaping apparatus can include a blade and be configured such that an angular orientation of the blade is adjustable. In certain embodiments, the wake shaping apparatus is inflatable.

An inflatable water sports apparatus includes an inflatable body having an inflation chamber and an electric barometer device installed on the inflatable body to monitor an air pressure in the inflation chamber during use of the inflatable water sports apparatus. This enables early warnings of air leakage or pressure fluctuations, helping to prevent safety hazards caused by sudden deflation or over-pressurization.

An inflatable water sports apparatus includes an inflatable body having an inflation chamber and an electric barometer device installed on the inflatable body to monitor an air pressure in the inflation chamber during use of the inflatable water sports apparatus. This enables early warnings of air leakage or pressure fluctuations, helping to prevent safety hazards caused by sudden deflation or over-pressurization.