Provided is an amphibious vehicle capable of maintaining stable vehicle posture by pitching control during cruising on water and also reducing wave drag caused by waves on water. The amphibious vehicle according to the present invention is characterized by being provided with: a vehicle body (11) capable of moving on sea and land; a front flap (14A) with one end portion secured to a lower end portion of the vehicle body (11) in such a manner that a principal surface is inclined with respect to a front surface (11a) of the vehicle body (11); and a rear flap (14B) with one end portion secured to a lower end portion of a rear surface (11b) of the vehicle body (11).

An adjustable surf wake system enhances a wake formed by a watercraft travelling through water. The system may include a flap for deflecting water traveling past the stern of the watercraft, and/or a positioner operably connected to the flap for positioning the flap relative to a longitudinal axis of the watercraft between a neutral position and an outward position. Positioning a port flap in its extended position enhances a starboard surf wake, and positioning the starboard flap in its extended position enhances a port surf wake. A wake modifying system for modifying a wake produced by a watercraft traveling through water may include a rudder pivotally mounted to the watercraft for steering the watercraft, a fin pivotally mounted to the watercraft substantially along a centerline of the watercraft and forward the rudder, wherein the fin pivots about an upright axis to modify the wake produced by the watercraft traveling through the water, an actuator mounted within the watercraft and operably coupled to the fin for pivoting the fin relative to the centerline, and a controller mounted on the watercraft allowing an operator to control the actuator and selectively pivot the fin to a desired angle d relative to the centerline.

Wakeboat ballast pump systems and methods are provided to monitor the operational condition and parameters of wakeboat ballast components. Systems and methods for sensing and measurement are provided to detect parameters associated with wakeboat ballast pumps and compartments, including systems and methods that can economically retrofit into existing wakeboat ballast systems. Systems and methods are also provided to enable automated action based on various operational conditions and parameters to improve the safety, automation, performance, convenience, and marketing advantage of wakeboat ballast pumps.

An adjustable surf wake system can enhance a wake formed by a watercraft travelling through water. A rider control device can enable a rider to control the wake of the watercraft while riding the wake, such as for wake surfing. The rider can adjust the speed of the watercraft, can adjust the height of the wake, and/or can change the watercraft between a surf-left configuration and a surf-right configuration. The rider control device can include a position sensor. A drone can position a camera based on the position sensor of the rider control device for filming the rider.

An adjustable surf wake system enhances a wake formed by a watercraft travelling through water. The system may include a flap for deflecting water traveling past the stern of the watercraft, and/or a positioner operably connected to the flap for positioning the flap relative to a longitudinal axis of the watercraft between a neutral position and an outward position. Positioning a port flap in its extended position enhances a starboard surf wake, and positioning the starboard flap in its extended position enhances a port surf wake. A wake modifying system for modifying a wake produced by a watercraft traveling through water may include a rudder pivotally mounted to the watercraft for steering the watercraft, a fin pivotally mounted to the watercraft substantially along a centerline of the watercraft and forward the rudder, wherein the fin pivots about an upright axis to modify the wake produced by the watercraft traveling through the water, an actuator mounted within the watercraft and operably coupled to the fin for pivoting the fin relative to the centerline, and a controller mounted on the watercraft allowing an operator to control the actuator and selectively pivot the fin to a desired angle ?d relative to the centerline.

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.

Example systems and methods are provided herein for stabilizing a watercraft during a turn of the watercraft. Such systems include a navigation assembly and a stabilization mechanism configured to apply forces to maintain the watercraft within a relative orientation with a body of water. The systems also include a memory and a processor, and the processor is configured to receive data from the navigation assembly to determine when a turn is being made or will be made, determine and apply an adjustment to the stabilization mechanism, and cause the adjustment to be applied to the stabilization mechanism.

Various examples are provided related to autonomous unmanned drone-tethered sonar systems. In one embodiment, a bathy-drone system includes an unmanned payload vessel and an unmanned drone tethered to the payload vessel through the tether attachment point. The unmanned payload vessel can include a sensor or sensor suite coupled to a bottom of the payload vessel and a tether attachment point through which propulsive force can be applied to the payload vessel. The drone can autonomously transport the payload vessel to and from a survey location and autonomously propel the payload vessel along a survey path at the survey location.

A wakeboat has a hull, the hull forming a wake when moving forward in the water, with a port disturbance and a starboard disturbance in the wake. Left (port) and right (starboard) trim tabs are installed at the stern of the hull. Each trim tab comprises a primary subtab and a secondary subtab. Actuators may be optionally included to reposition the trim tabs more into, or more out of, the water. Such repositioning causes the disturbance on one side of the wake to be selectively repositioned to the other side of the wake, enlarging a quiet region on the side of the wake on which the repositioned disturbance was originally positioned. Other systems and methods are also provided.

A system for attitude control and stabilization of a marine craft includes at least one elongate substantially planar surface, which may be rigid or flexible, disposed on either side of and in substantial alignment with a bottom of the planing hull of the marine craft. The elongate surface, in a rigid form, includes a tongue-like distal end slidably captured as a fluid hinge upon a region of the hull about 2 to 8 feet forward of the transom. In a flexible form, a distal end of the elongate planar surface may be secured directly to the hull. The elongate surface further includes an actuation portion proximal to a transom of the craft. The system also includes an actuator selectably slidable and securable within an actuation sleeve, the sleeve secured to the transom of the craft. Also included in the system are elements, manual, hydraulic or electrical, for selectably advancing the actuator relative to the hull to induce a selectable angulation of the elongate planar surface relative the bottom of the hull of the craft.