A water vessel includes a deck having an upper surface and a lower surface. First and second hulls are spaced-apart from one another and operably coupled to the lower surface of the deck. At least one of the first and second hulls has an at least partially hollow interior. A storage tank is positioned within the at least partially hollow interior of at least one of the first and second hulls. A tub for holding water is supported by the deck. The tub includes an interior cavity having a capacity and is fluidically coupled to the storage tank. The storage tank has a capacity less than the capacity of the tub. A pump system is configured to direct water between the tub and the storage tank and at least partially fill the capacity of the tub.

A mat storage system including a shaft that is configured to be coupled to a mat. The shaft is configured to rotate to wrap the mat around the shaft. The mat is preferably inflatable, and a motor is preferably coupled to the shaft for rotating the shaft. The mat storage system is preferably used with a watercraft, and the shaft is preferably coupled to a portion of the watercraft. The shaft is preferably positioned in a mat compartment, and the mat compartment is preferably positioned adjacent a stern of the watercraft. The mat compartment is preferably defined by a deck of the watercraft and positioned beneath at least a portion of a floor of the deck. The mat compartment is preferably sized for receiving an inflatable mat that is deflated and wrapped around the shaft. A method for using the mat storage system is also described herein.

A mat storage system including a shaft that is configured to be coupled to a mat. The shaft is configured to rotate to wrap the mat around the shaft. The mat is preferably inflatable, and a motor is preferably coupled to the shaft for rotating the shaft. The mat storage system is preferably used with a watercraft, and the shaft is preferably coupled to a portion of the watercraft. The shaft is preferably positioned in a mat compartment, and the mat compartment is preferably positioned adjacent a stern of the watercraft. The mat compartment is preferably defined by a deck of the watercraft and positioned beneath at least a portion of a floor of the deck. The mat compartment is preferably sized for receiving an inflatable mat that is deflated and wrapped around the shaft. A method for using the mat storage system is also described herein.

The present invention is a seat bottom suspension system adapted to provide a varying spring constant. An embodiment includes a first plurality of generally flat elongated biasing members in communication with an axle adapted to translate in a direction generally parallel with the longitudinal axis of the biasing members. An embodiment may include a second set of flat elongated biasing members set at a lower height than the first plurality of flat elongated biasing members to provide a progressive increase in the spring constant as the down force seen on the seat increases.

The present invention is a seat bottom suspension system adapted to provide a varying spring constant. An embodiment includes a first plurality of generally flat elongated biasing members in communication with an axle adapted to translate in a direction generally parallel with the longitudinal axis of the biasing members. An embodiment may include a second set of flat elongated biasing members set at a lower height than the first plurality of flat elongated biasing members to provide a progressive increase in the spring constant as the down force seen on the seat increases.

A Buoyancy-Controlled Lagrangian Camera Platform and method for use to observe layers of the open ocean. The platform has subsystems for recovery, for its camera, and for its buoyancy engine, which has a buoyancy engine and engine controller to control the platform depth. The engine controller adjusts the buoyancy engine volume with an adaptive PID control system and gain scheduling to control the buoyancy engine. The method for observation consists of a camera platform, a surface vessel with an echosounder, and a means of communication between the two. The vessel uses the echosounder to identify layers of the open water for the platform to target for observation. Instruction and feedback between the platform and vessel are communicated using an acoustic modem. The vessel also uses the acoustic link to track the Buoyancy-controlled Lagrangian Platform with repeated queries on its depth and range.

A Buoyancy-Controlled Lagrangian Camera Platform and method for use to observe layers of the open ocean. The platform has subsystems for recovery, for its camera, and for its buoyancy engine, which has a buoyancy engine and engine controller to control the platform depth. The engine controller adjusts the buoyancy engine volume with an adaptive PID control system and gain scheduling to control the buoyancy engine. The method for observation consists of a camera platform, a surface vessel with an echosounder, and a means of communication between the two. The vessel uses the echosounder to identify layers of the open water for the platform to target for observation. Instruction and feedback between the platform and vessel are communicated using an acoustic modem. The vessel also uses the acoustic link to track the Buoyancy-controlled Lagrangian Platform with repeated queries on its depth and range.

Boat configurations and implementations are provided to make it more accessible for disabled people to participate in boating, commercial or recreational. A boat engine may be positioned in front of the helm, a flat boat deck may allow access to the engine and helm by a person in a wheelchair or similar physical impairment, and a flat access to the boat deck at the stern of the boat may allow disabled people to easily get on board.

Boat configurations and implementations are provided to make it more accessible for disabled people to participate in boating, commercial or recreational. A boat engine may be positioned in front of the helm, a flat boat deck may allow access to the engine and helm by a person in a wheelchair or similar physical impairment, and a flat access to the boat deck at the stern of the boat may allow disabled people to easily get on board.

A device for overboard storage from a pleasure craft of an item, includes: a holder which has a first surface and a second surface and which is defined between a first side, a second side and a pair of side edges and which is moveable from an inoperative position to an operative position. An attachment element is engaged to the holder at or towards first edge and which is adapted to attach the holder to an edge (gunwale) of the pleasure craft. A harness is engaged to the holder, and is adapted to circumscribe the item, when the holder is in the operative position and the item engages the holder on the first surface, to retain the item on or within the holder.