The invention relates to a winch system intended, in particular, for water sports, comprising at least one frame, at least one motor, a brake system, and a main tension cable wound around two spools, each spool being actuated by a motor such that when one of the spools unwinds the main cable, the other spool winds up the cable such as to maintain both the unwinding speed and the tension required for the main cable.

A monitoring system for use in a recreational watercraft operable to improve driver awareness of a surface rider engaged in a surface water sport supported by the watercraft. The surface rider may be towed by the watercraft or riding a wake provided by the vehicle. Sensors monitor the conditions of the surface rider and a processor analyzes the sensor data to generate feedback indicating status conditions to the driver. Multimodal feedback may be achieved using a plurality of feedback indicators having different modes of operation.

An adjustable sports rope comprised of a hollow base rope sheath and an adjustment rope. The hollow base rope sheath is a hollow sheath with at least two openings. The adjustment rope enters into the hollow base rope sheath through one of the at least two openings and exits the base rope sheath through another of the at least two openings. The one end of the hollow base rope sheath terminates at a tie point. The end of the adjustment rope disposed furthest from the hollow base rope sheath tie point is also a tie point. By creating a tensile force between the tie point of the hollow base rope sheath and the tie point of the adjustment rope, the hollow base rope sheath will tighten on the adjustment rope, holding the adjustment rope in place.

A boat, boat systems, and methods to determine when a water-sports participant has fallen. The boat may include an image sensor and an image processor communicatively coupled to the image sensor. The image sensor is configured to capture at least one image of the environment aft of the stern of the boat. The image processor is configured to execute a rider-down analysis that includes analyzing, using an object recognition process executed by the image processor, an image to be analyzed to determine if a water-sports participant has fallen. The boat may include a controller configured to execute a rider-down action when the water-sports participant has fallen. The controller may execute the rider-down action when the image processor determines that the water-sports participant has fallen based upon the rider-down analysis.

A boat, boat systems, and methods to determine when a water-sports participant has fallen. The boat may include an image sensor and an image processor communicatively coupled to the image sensor. The image sensor is configured to capture at least one image of the environment aft of the stern of the boat. The image processor is configured to execute a rider-down analysis that includes analyzing, using an object recognition process executed by the image processor, an image to be analyzed to determine if a water-sports participant has fallen. The boat may include a controller configured to execute a rider-down action when the water-sports participant has fallen. The controller may execute the rider-down action when the image processor determines that the water-sports participant has fallen based upon the rider-down analysis.

A water ski launch device for use with a boat. The water ski launch device includes a launch tube having an L-shaped configuration, a first end, a second end, and a hollow interior volume. A winch is secured to the launch tube, wherein a cable is wound on the winch and extends through the interior of the launch tube. The cable passes through the second end of the launch tube and includes a handle on an end thereof. The first end of the launch tube is affixed to a launch base, wherein the launch base can be removably connected to the swim step at the rear of a boat. A launch tray is pivotally secured to the launch base and a user can position his or her water skis thereon so that the user can stabilize himself in an upright position in order to begin water skiing.

A tow rope management system for managing a tow rope attached to a mounting point on a tower of a boat, the tow rope management system includes: a first arm pivotally associated with the tower adjacent the mounting point on the tower of the boat, the first arm pivotable along a horizontal axis between a first stowed position and a second deployed position, the first arm biased towards the first position; an elongate guide member supported adjacent the first arm at a first end of the guide, the guide extending to a second end that is distal from the first arm and mounting point, the elongate guide including a rope support formed at the second distal end of the elongate guide member for supporting the tow rope at the second end of the elongate guide member.

A water vehicle includes: a water vehicle body; a control target mounted on the water vehicle body and controlled to operate the water vehicle body; and processing circuitry configured to acquire requested values used to operate the water vehicle body and generate, based on the requested values, command values to be output to the control target. The processing circuitry switches a control mode between a towing mode in which the water vehicle tows a towed target and a non-towing mode in which the water vehicle does not tow the towed target. When the control mode is the towing mode, the processing circuitry generates, based on the requested value, a second command value that is the command value different from a first command value that is the command value generated based on the requested value when the control mode is the non-towing mode.

A water vehicle includes: a water vehicle body; a control target mounted on the water vehicle body and controlled to operate the water vehicle body; and processing circuitry configured to acquire requested values used to operate the water vehicle body and generate, based on the requested values, command values to be output to the control target. The processing circuitry switches a control mode between a towing mode in which the water vehicle tows a towed target and a non-towing mode in which the water vehicle does not tow the towed target. When the control mode is the towing mode, the processing circuitry generates, based on the requested value, a second command value that is the command value different from a first command value that is the command value generated based on the requested value when the control mode is the non-towing mode.

A wake tower assembly for use with a watercraft, including an arch portion extending across a width of the watercraft, first and second pivoting structures coupled to first and second ends of the arch portion, the first and second pivoting structures configured to attach to port and starboard portions of the watercraft to facilitate rotational movement of the arch portion between a lowered position and an upright position, and a first locking mechanism provided to the first pivoting structure including a biased pin member configured to engage an opening of the first end such that when the arch portion is rotated from the lowered position to the upright position, a biasing force of the biased pin member causes the biased pin member to engage the opening to mechanically lock the arch portion in the upright position.