A process and associated system for creating color effects using extrudable material, such as plastic and metal for example, are presented. Flows of first and second viscous materials of respective colors are provided and then combined in a predetermined pattern to form a stream of combined viscous material. A dynamic mixer is the then used to apply a predetermined dividing, overturning and combining motion to the stream of combined viscous material to partially mix the first viscous material and the second viscous material, such that upon exiting the dynamic mixer, the first material of the first color and the second material of the second color form a color pattern in the stream of combined viscous material. The dynamic mixer has elements configured for acquiring a specific radial orientation in a range of radial orientations that may be varied during the application of the dividing, overturning and combining motion to the stream of combined viscous material to cause variations in the color pattern in the stream of combined viscous material. Sheets of extruded material may be created using such process and system and used in the manufacturing of many different products including, but not limited to, kayaks, stand-up paddle boards, garden furniture and many others. In some embodiments, the sheets may be characterized by color bands extending diagonally with reference to a longitudinal extent of the sheet.

A method of forming a surf craft includes: providing a bottom section including a surface thereon, wherein at least a portion of the bottom surface section defines a bottom portion of a channel formed on a bottom surface of the surf craft; joining a first side section with the bottom section, the first side section having a shaped wall portion defining a first side wall of the channel formed on the bottom surface of the surf craft; joining a second side section with the bottom section, the second side section having a shaped wall portion defining a second side wall of the channel formed on the bottom surface of the surf craft, the second side wall being opposed to the first side wall; and shaping one or more outer edges of the bottom section, first side section, and second side section into a desired shape of the surf craft.

A method of forming a surf craft includes: providing a bottom section including a surface thereon, wherein at least a portion of the bottom surface section defines a bottom portion of a channel formed on a bottom surface of the surf craft; joining a first side section with the bottom section, the first side section having a shaped wall portion defining a first side wall of the channel formed on the bottom surface of the surf craft; joining a second side section with the bottom section, the second side section having a shaped wall portion defining a second side wall of the channel formed on the bottom surface of the surf craft, the second side wall being opposed to the first side wall; and shaping one or more outer edges of the bottom section, first side section, and second side section into a desired shape of the surf craft.

Closed cell chitin foam is provided. The closed-cell chitin foam composition does not absorb water, is biodegradable, and is mechanically characterized by a density range of 16 to 800 kg/m3, closed-cell pore sizes ranging from 50 microns to 1 mm, an elastic modulus of 3 to 175 MPa, and a tensile strength of 0.15 to 6.5 MPa. The chitin is at least 70% acetylated. In one aspect, the foam is enclosed in a shell e.g. in the form of a surfboard. Chitin foam according to this invention is fully biodegradable. The chitin foam overcomes the current problems with foams that contain polyurethane and polystyrene, and which are manufactured from petroleum-based sources. Petroleum based foams are not renewable, have an adverse impact on our environment, and pose significant health hazards to those who manufacture them. The chitin foam with its water-based manufacturing process and naturally sourced chitin, solves these problems.

The present invention relates to a polymeric composition suitable for watercrafts or nautical applications. The present invention relates also the use of a transparent polymeric composition for watercrafts. More particularly the present invention relates to a transparent (meth)acrylic polymer composition and relates also to a process for preparing such a (meth)acrylic polymer composition, its use in watercrafts and watercraft comprising it.

A process and associated system for creating color effects using extrudable material, such as plastic and metal for example, are presented. Flows of first and second viscous materials of respective colors are provided and then combined in a predetermined pattern to form a stream of combined viscous material. A dynamic mixer is the then used to apply a predetermined dividing, overturning and combining motion to the stream of combined viscous material to partially mix the first viscous material and the second viscous material, such that upon exiting the dynamic mixer, the first material of the first color and the second material of the second color form a color pattern in the stream of combined viscous material. The dynamic mixer has elements configured for acquiring a specific radial orientation in a range of radial orientations that may be varied during the application of the dividing, overturning and combining motion to the stream of combined viscous material to cause variations in the color pattern in the stream of combined viscous material. Sheets of extruded material may be created using such process and system and used in the manufacturing of many different products including, but not limited to, kayaks, stand-up paddle boards, garden furniture and many others. In some embodiments, the sheets may be characterized by color bands extending diagonally with reference to a longitudinal extent of the sheet.

The invention relates to a watercraft (10) having a hull which, in the area of the deck (13), has a support on which parts of the upper body of a user can rest and where the user can hold on to handles (20) preferably disposed in the bow area (11), wherein a flow channel (40) is assigned to the hull or the hull has a flow channel (40), wherein a propelling screw (41) is disposed in the flow channel (40), wherein the flow channel (40) has an intake port (33) and, downstream of the propelling screw (41), a jet outlet (43) in the stern area (12), and wherein a support body (50) is disposed on the stern area (12) in such a way that the support body (50) extends the support by means of its support surface (51). In such a watercraft, a considerable increase in traveling speed can be achieved if provision is made for at least one sliding surface (56) to be provided on the underside of the support body (50) and for the support body (50) to be rigidly connected to the hull.

The invention relates to a watercraft (10) having a hull which, in the area of the deck (13), has a support on which parts of the upper body of a user can rest and where the user can hold on to handles (20) preferably disposed in the bow area (11), wherein a flow channel (40) is assigned to the hull or the hull has a flow channel (40), wherein a propelling screw (41) is disposed in the flow channel (40), wherein the flow channel (40) has an intake port (33) and, downstream of the propelling screw (41), a jet outlet (43) in the stern area (12), and wherein a support body (50) is disposed on the stern area (12) in such a way that the support body (50) extends the support by means of its support surface (51). In such a watercraft, a considerable increase in traveling speed can be achieved if provision is made for at least one sliding surface (56) to be provided on the underside of the support body (50) and for the support body (50) to be rigidly connected to the hull.

A sports board formed of expanded polypropylene (EPP) foam and a method for making the sports board using a steam-chest molding process includes molding the sports board to finished shape, such that no post-molding processing of the board is required, and such that the sports board is of monolithic construction and fully recyclable. The molding process is configured to form a continuous exterior skin of the board, to resist water ingression, the exterior skin including one or more purchase surface areas, each purchase surface area including a plurality of protrusion clusters, each protrusion cluster formed by controlled extrusion of the EPP foam into steam vents distributed in a predefined pattern within the mold cavity to form steam vent markings. The molding process is configured such that selected areas of the board surface are contoured for undisrupted water flow over the board and to resist breakage or chipping in use.

A sports board formed of expanded polypropylene (EPP) foam and a method for making the sports board using a steam-chest molding process includes molding the sports board to finished shape, such that no post-molding processing of the board is required, and such that the sports board is of monolithic construction and fully recyclable. The molding process is configured to form a continuous exterior skin of the board, to resist water ingression, the exterior skin including one or more purchase surface areas, each purchase surface area including a plurality of protrusion clusters, each protrusion cluster formed by controlled extrusion of the EPP foam into steam vents distributed in a predefined pattern within the mold cavity to form steam vent markings. The molding process is configured such that selected areas of the board surface are contoured for undisrupted water flow over the board and to resist breakage or chipping in use.