A substantially hollow wingsail is configured to enable electrical components to be situated within the wingsail. In particular, the wingsail may be configured to contain the solar panels used to power the other electrical components of the vessel, as well as other items that are conventionally situated on the exterior of the vessel, such as antennas, navigation lights, and so on. The surface of the wingsail may include transparent or translucent areas to provide light to the solar panels, as well as optical and electromagnetic reflective areas within the wingsail to enhance the performance of the solar panels and antennas. The wingsail may also include an internal light that illuminates the translucent areas of the wingsail for enhanced visibility to other vessels.

A portable sensing device may be deployed for determining at least one stability metric of a vessel. The sensing device may include one or more motion sensors for sensing motion of the vessel, one or more freeboard sensors for determining a freeboard of the vessel, and a computing system for processing motion data from the one or more motion sensors and freeboard data from the one or more freeboard sensors to determine the at least one stability metric. The computing system may be programmed to transform the motion data from time domain motion data to frequency domain motion data and process the frequency domain motion data to determine the at least one stability metric of the vessel and the freeboard of the vessel.

A portable sensing device may be deployed for determining at least one stability metric of a vessel. The sensing device may include one or more motion sensors for sensing motion of the vessel, one or more freeboard sensors for determining a freeboard of the vessel, and a computing system for processing motion data from the one or more motion sensors and freeboard data from the one or more freeboard sensors to determine the at least one stability metric. The computing system may be programmed to transform the motion data from time domain motion data to frequency domain motion data and process the frequency domain motion data to determine the at least one stability metric of the vessel and the freeboard of the vessel.

A system for a marine vessel includes a peripheral device having an actuator configured to move part of the peripheral device between a retracted position and an extended position. A first serial bus is configured to connect the peripheral device to other peripheral devices. A controller is operatively connected to the actuator and is in signal communication with the first serial bus. A sensor is coupled to the controller via a second serial bus. The controller is configured to activate the actuator to move the part of the peripheral device from the extended position to the retracted position and from the retracted position to the extended position in response to information from the sensor.

A system for a marine vessel includes a peripheral device having an actuator configured to move part of the peripheral device between a retracted position and an extended position. A first serial bus is configured to connect the peripheral device to other peripheral devices. A controller is operatively connected to the actuator and is in signal communication with the first serial bus. A sensor is coupled to the controller via a second serial bus. The controller is configured to activate the actuator to move the part of the peripheral device from the extended position to the retracted position and from the retracted position to the extended position in response to information from the sensor.

A bracket for mounting a thruster to a boat includes a horizontal neck portion, an upper mounting support portion, a support plate portion that extends downward from the upper mounting support portion, and an enclosure portion. The support plate portion and the rear of the upper mounting support portion form a transom-facing surface in a plane that is at a non-right angle relative to a horizontal plane. The transom-facing surface is angled such that the bottom of the support plate portion is further to the rear of the thruster bracket than the top of the upper mounting support portion in order to match the angle of the transom of a boat to which the thruster bracket is mounted. A thruster is mounted to the thruster bracket at a level where the thruster will be out of the water when the boat is moving fast and up on plane, and will be in the water when the boat is moving very slow.

A visual distress signal device that generates and emits bright light and/or infrared light to alert bystanders during times of distress. The device may be particularly suited for use on boats. The device may comprise a heat sink assembly that includes a screw-on collar that is attached to a housing of the device, such that the screw-on collar dissipates heat generated by electromagnetic radiation emitting elements away from an interior of the housing. The device may be configured for activation by a mobile phone or other mobile device which may be connected to the device via wireless communication. Furthermore, the mobile device may comprise a software application that can be used to alert persons in a contact list regarding the user's location and emergency status.

A visual distress signal device that generates and emits bright light and/or infrared light to alert bystanders during times of distress. The device may be particularly suited for use on boats. The device may comprise a heat sink assembly that includes a screw-on collar that is attached to a housing of the device, such that the screw-on collar dissipates heat generated by electromagnetic radiation emitting elements away from an interior of the housing. The device may be configured for activation by a mobile phone or other mobile device which may be connected to the device via wireless communication. Furthermore, the mobile device may comprise a software application that can be used to alert persons in a contact list regarding the user's location and emergency status.

A self-propelled hydrofoil surfboard includes a surfboard having a mast mounted to the lower surface of the surfboard, a selectively controllable thruster mounted at a lower end of the mast, a controller and a battery to supply power to the controller and thruster, the controller cooperating with a remote controller adapted to give control inputs to the controller and to be carried when in use by a rider, navigation lights mounted around at least a portion of the circumferential edge of the surfboard, and wherein the mast may have an adjustable length.

A self-propelled hydrofoil surfboard includes a surfboard having a mast mounted to the lower surface of the surfboard, a selectively controllable thruster mounted at a lower end of the mast, a controller and a battery to supply power to the controller and thruster, the controller cooperating with a remote controller adapted to give control inputs to the controller and to be carried when in use by a rider, navigation lights mounted around at least a portion of the circumferential edge of the surfboard, and wherein the mast may have an adjustable length.