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.

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.

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.

A vessel (1) with a transfer installation for cargo and persons towards an offshore construction (12) comprises means for stabilizing its position at sea relative to the offshore construction (12), a telescopically extendable beam assembly (2) that comprises telescopable beam elements (2a, 2b), which beam assembly (2) with its one outer end (15) is rotatably connected to the vessel (1) by means of an axle system (7a, 8a, 9a), and a driving device designed to bring the other outer end (16) of the telescopically extendable beam assembly (2) in contact with a landing provision (13) of the offshore construction (12). The telescopically extendable beam assembly (2) is provided with means for moving a transportation carriage (14) back and forth between both outer ends (15, 16) along the telescopically extendable beam assembly (2), wherein the transportation carriage (14) is provided with a support (20) for carrying the cargo and persons.

A retractable entry/exit system for a boat that mounts below a swim platform or other similar boat structure. The system has a main frame, a linkage, a number of step assemblies and a single actuator. The actuator is configured to move the linkage to selectively extend or retract the step assemblies. When retracted, the system is folded into a compact arrangement under the mounting structure. When extended, the step assemblies extend beyond the mounting structure, where they can be used to conveniently enter and exit the boat or as a place to rest, lounge, sit or otherwise enjoy the water. The linkage may include a bell crank assembly with integral linkage arms, as well as a pair of supplemental linkage arms. The linkage arms may be disposed toward opposite sides of the system and may be operatively coupled to step brackets that support opposite ends of each step assembly.

A vessel (1) with a transfer installation for cargo and persons towards an offshore construction (12) comprises means for stabilizing its position at sea relative to the offshore construction (12), a telescopically extendable beam assembly (2) that comprises telescopable beam elements (2a, 2b), which beam assembly (2) with its one outer end (15) is rotatably connected to the vessel (1) by means of an axle system (7a, 8a, 9a), and a driving device designed to bring the other outer end (16) of the telescopically extendable beam assembly (2) in contact with a landing provision (13) of the offshore construction (12). The telescopically extendable beam assembly (2) is provided with means for moving a transportation carriage (14) back and forth between both outer ends (15, 16) along the telescopically extendable beam assembly (2), wherein the transportation carriage (14) is provided with a support (20) for carrying the cargo and persons.

Boats can include a swim platform with an integrated system of steps that can be selectively deployed and retracted. Such platforms can be attached to a transom of a boat or can be fabricated as an extended portion of the boat's hull. In another embodiment, deployable steps can be integrated with a boat's hull as a side-entry door. In order to reconfigure the step system into a deployed configuration, a linkage is actuated that causes the step system to unfold, forming steps (or a seating configuration) at least partially below the water line. Since the steps can be deployed below the water line, a swimmer can more easily get on board the boat.

Boats can include a swim platform with an integrated system of steps that can be selectively deployed and retracted. Such platforms can be attached to a transom of a boat or can be fabricated as an extended portion of the boat's hull. In another embodiment, deployable steps can be integrated with a boat's hull as a side-entry door. In order to reconfigure the step system into a deployed configuration, a linkage is actuated that causes the step system to unfold, forming steps (or a seating configuration) at least partially below the water line. Since the steps can be deployed below the water line, a swimmer can more easily get on board the boat.

Craft including hull having stern with mobile platform having first work position where it is extracted from water, and second work position where it is immersed in water, device for platform movement having a pantograph, a structure with an articulated quadrilateral connected to the mobile platform, said movement and a unit for actuating movement of this structure, which unit allows moving the platform from the first to second work position and vice versa. The structure with articulated quadrilateral folded back onto hull when platform is in first position, and extended when platform is in second position. The movement device includes a body distinct from hull. The structure with articulated quadrilateral integral with, but mobile relative to body. The body secured on hull stern and having at least one fixed step, at least one second step inside the structure with articulated quadrilateral, which step moveable and foldable back with the structure.

A restraining device, such as a bolt, pin, or latch, removably secures a connector sleeve to a U-bolt, such as a tow-rope-eyelet on the bow of a boat hull. The connector sleeve is machined with an internal cavity having surfaces and dimension that correspond to outer surfaces of the U-bolt. The sleeve contains holes through which the restraining device passes after the sleeve has been slid over the U-bolt such that the restraining device, while installed, prevents the sleeve from sliding back off of the U-bolt. The sleeve also includes accessory mount holes to receive restraining devices that attach an accessory, such as a ladder, to the sleeve and thus to the boat via the sleeve that has been secured thereto. The sleeve may provide for set screws to snug the sleeve to the U-bolt if clearance exists between surfaces of the cavity and the U-bolt.