An expandable and contractible boat comprises a first outer hull and a second outer hull symmetrically shaped and arranged with respect to one another. The first and second outer hulls are movable relative to one another, and each of the first and second outer hulls includes an outboard side portion, an inboard side portion, a bottom portion between the outboard side portion and the inboard side portion, and a concave chine portion connecting the outboard side portion and the bottom portion. A cross-section of each of the first and second outer hulls is recessed at the concave chine portion.

A hull structure for a semi-submersible wind power turbine platform and a method for loading a set of such hull structures onto a semi-submersible cargo carrying marine vessel. The hull structure includes first, second and third buoyant stabilizing columns extending in a substantially vertical direction; and first and second elongated submersible buoyant pontoon structures extending in a substantially horizontal direction. The hull structure generally has a V-shape in the horizontal plane with the first and second pontoon structures forming legs in the V-shape and with the second column located where the legs meet. The hull structure is arranged so as to exhibit: i) a first angle in the horizontal plane between a central longitudinal axis of the first pontoon structure and a central longitudinal axis of the second pontoon structure; and ii) a second angle in the horizontal plane between a) a first imaginary line between a central point of the first stabilizing column and a central point of the second stabilizing column and b) a second imaginary line between the central point of the second stabilizing column and a central point of the third stabilizing column, wherein the second angle is larger than the first angle.

An expandable and contractible safety barrier for a boat includes a first barrier portion and a second barrier portion. The first barrier portion includes a first outside hinge portion. The second barrier portion includes a second outside hinge portion. The first barrier portion is pivotally connected to the second barrier portion by a middle hinge. The middle hinge is locate on an end of the first barrier portion opposite the first outside hinge portion and on an end of the second barrier portion opposite the second outside hinge portion. A latching device that removably attaches the first barrier portion to a fixed barrier includes a pin about which the first outside hinge portion pivots.

A sectional sports board with a structural composite hinge connecting sections together and providing hinged movement via material flexure allowing sections of the board to be folded into a compact shape for convenient transportation or storage.

A pontoon pedal boat includes a multi-piece frame, removable outriggers, inflatable pontoons, and a multi-section pedal drivetrain. The boat may be disassembled and placed into a small suitcase sized storage case to allow for easy transport of the boat. The boat and storage case are lightweight and the boat may be easily transported to many locations for use.

A system for a boat includes a first guideway installed under a main deck of the boat, a first battery pack coupled to the first guideway under the main deck, and a first actuator configured to move the first battery pack along the first guideway. A controller is electrically and/or signally coupled with the first actuator. A user input device is electrically and/or signally coupled with the controller. The controller is configured to control the first actuator to move the first battery pack along the first guideway in response to an input to the user input device so as to relocate the weight of the first battery pack under the main deck.

A system for a boat includes a first guideway installed under a main deck of the boat, a first battery pack coupled to the first guideway under the main deck, and a first actuator configured to move the first battery pack along the first guideway. A controller is electrically and/or signally coupled with the first actuator. A user input device is electrically and/or signally coupled with the controller. The controller is configured to control the first actuator to move the first battery pack along the first guideway in response to an input to the user input device so as to relocate the weight of the first battery pack under the main deck.

A transportable outboard motor has a midsection and a tiller extending forwardly from the midsection. The tiller is pivotable about a lateral tilt axis into a downward tilt position in which the tiller is oriented transversely to the lateral and longitudinal directions. The tiller in the downward tilt position is configured to permit manual carrying of the transportable outboard motor.