Recreational watercraft and methods of operating recreational watercraft are described. Recreational watercraft can include an aluminum hull, a plurality of ballast tanks, a first surface defining a first opening that extends from an interior of a ballast tank of the plurality of ballast tanks to an exterior of the hull, a valve configured to selectively open or close the first opening, and a second surface defining a second opening that is fixed permanently open and extends from an interior of the ballast tank through a bottom portion of the hull to an exterior of the hull.

The present disclosure includes recreational watercraft including a drop down boarding point. One example includes a hull, an open platform passenger deck, and a plurality of sides, continuous from the hull. The watercraft includes a panel drop down boarding point, hingedly attached horizontally to the hull, for ingress and egress of persons to the watercraft. The panel drop down boarding point includes a first surface interior to the watercraft when the panel drop down boarding point is closed, a second surface, opposite to the first surface and exterior to the watercraft when the panel drop down boarding point is closed, and an aperture formed between the first surface and the second surface and having an opening in an end surface of the panel drop down boarding point. The aperture is sized and shaped to house a retractable ladder and for the ladder to extend out through the opening.

Wakeboats that include an aquatic invasive species control apparatus are provided. These wakeboats can include: a wakeboat with a hull; at least one throughhull fitting in the hull of the wakeboat; an irradiation chamber in fluid communication with the at least one throughhull fitting, the irradiation chamber having a radiation source; and at least one water destination aboard the wakeboat. Methods for irradiating invasive aquatic species aboard a wakeboat are also provided. The methods can include: receiving water from outside the wakeboat hull; and irradiating water aboard the wakeboat prior to discharging the water.

A water flow deflection device attached to a side of a watercraft to enhance the watercraft's wake. The device having a narrow, elongated base with two ends and a base width, the base aligned along the side of the watercraft when the device is attached to the watercraft. A deflector attached to the base between the two ends and having a face spanning between a leading end and an opposing end, the leading end extending outwardly from the base. The deflector face having a surface area configured to deflect water and a deflector width greater than the base width. The base removably attachable to the watercraft by a plurality of suction cup assemblies, wherein a greater number of suction cup assemblies located between the first end and the leading end of the deflector than between the second end and the leading end of the deflector.

A water flow deflection device attached to a side of a watercraft to enhance the watercraft's wake. The device having a narrow, elongated base with two ends and a base width, the base aligned along the side of the watercraft when the device is attached to the watercraft. A deflector attached to the base between the two ends and having a face spanning between a leading end and an opposing end, the leading end extending outwardly from the base. The deflector face having a surface area configured to deflect water and a deflector width greater than the base width. The base removably attachable to the watercraft by a plurality of suction cup assemblies, wherein a greater number of suction cup assemblies located between the first end and the leading end of the deflector than between the second end and the leading end of the deflector.

A boat includes at least three trim devices positioned aft of the boat's transom. To improve the boat's ability to get on place, each trim device is initially positioned to a deployed position. The speed of the boat is then determined as the boat gains speed. When the speed of the boat exceeds a first predetermined threshold, the first trim device is moved from the deployed position to a non-deployed position. When the speed of the boat exceeds a second predetermined threshold, the second trim device is moved from the deployed position to a non-deployed position. When the speed of the boat exceeds a third predetermined threshold, the third trim device is moved from the deployed position to a non-deployed position. At least one of the first, second, and third predetermined thresholds is different from the other two of the first, second, and third predetermined thresholds.

A boat includes a controller that is communicatively coupled to a control screen. The controller has stored therein a plurality of modes corresponding to an activity and includes a plurality of controls corresponding to the activity. The controller is configured to display on the control screen, when one of the modes is activated, the plurality of controls for the activated mode. The activated mode may also be an operating mode that corresponds to an operational condition of the boat. The boat may include a processor that is configured to generate an adjusted audio signal by selecting one or more of a plurality of subranges of frequencies of an audio signal and adjusting the selected subranges to compensate for at least one environmental condition associated with the operational condition of the boat corresponding to the operating mode.

A recreational sport boat includes a hull, having starboard and port sides and a transom, and a wake-modifying devices positioned aft of the transom. The wake-modifying device includes a plate-like member and at least one downturned surface. The wake-modifying device is pivotable between a non-deployed position and a deployed position about a pivot axis. When a wake-modifying device is in the deployed position, the downturned surface is lower than it is in the non-deployed position so as to be able to modify the boat's wake.

A water flow deflection device attached to a side of a watercraft to enhance the watercraft's wake. The device having a narrow, elongated base with two ends and a base width, the base aligned along the side of the watercraft when the device is attached to the watercraft. A deflector attached to the base between the two ends and having a face spanning between a leading end and an opposing end, the leading end extending outwardly from the base. The deflector face having a surface area configured to deflect water and a deflector width greater than the base width. The base removably attachable to the watercraft by a plurality of suction cup assemblies, wherein a greater number of suction cup assemblies located between the first end and the leading end of the deflector than between the second end and the leading end of the deflector.

The present invention comprises a device for acting on water flow as a watercraft moves through the water. The device is generally comprised of a primary plate having two downward angled tabs and a handle. Device is installed on the stern of watercraft, preferably engaged to a prior art ladder. The angular tabs and primary plate delay a portion of the wake from reaching the surface of the water, thereby allowing time for the converging water flow from either side of the watercraft to merge more seamlessly with the wake. This convergence creates a more laminar surf wave.