A kit is provided which can be installed on a sailboat and used to selectively control the position of the tiller of the sailboat to allow the helmsman to leave the tiller unattended for a limited period of time. The kit is to be mounted on the transom of the sailboat and comprises: a mounting receiver adapted to be attached to the transom; an arm having a rearward end adapted to be attached to said mounting receiver and to extend forwardly therefrom and a forward end; and a saddle mount adapted to be attached to the forward end of said arm and having a u-shape adapted to receive a said tiller.

A wake control system aft of the driveshaft, propeller, and rudder of a vessel includes a fin base and at least one fin slidingly engaged with the fin base. The fin(s) are vertically oriented and extend down into the water surface. The fins are transversely adjustable along the fin base to redirect a wake generated by the boat. In other embodiments, the control system comprises a starboard fin tab adjacent to a port fin tab, each of the independent fin tabs hingeably attached to the aft section of the hull, at the transom. Each fin tab includes at least one extending fin. Fin tabs are selectively deployable and retractable into and out of the water surface to redirect a wake generated by the vessel from one side to the other. A novel underwater exhaust system redirects exhaust depending on speed of the vessel and complements the wake control system.

A wake control system aft of the driveshaft, propeller, and rudder of a vessel includes a fin base and at least one fin slidingly engaged with the fin base. The fin(s) are vertically oriented and extend down into the water surface. The fins are transversely adjustable along the fin base to redirect a wake generated by the boat. In other embodiments, the control system comprises a starboard fin tab adjacent to a port fin tab, each of the independent fin tabs hingeably attached to the aft section of the hull, at the transom. Each fin tab includes at least one extending fin. Fin tabs are selectively deployable and retractable into and out of the water surface to redirect a wake generated by the vessel from one side to the other. A novel underwater exhaust system redirects exhaust depending on speed of the vessel and complements the wake control system.

An unmanned, autonomous, ocean-going vessel including a primary hull and a rigid wing rotationally coupled with the primary hull that freely rotates about a rotational axis. At least one of the primary hull and the rigid wing includes at least one selectively floodable compartment configured to selectively flood to submerge the primary hull and at least a portion of the rigid wing. The vessel further includes at least one controller configured to maintain a desired heading. The vessel further includes a control surface element configured to aerodynamically control a wing angle of the rigid wing based on a force exerted by wind on the control surface element. The vessel further includes a rudder. The at least one controller is further configured to determine a rudder position and generate a signal to position the rudder. The vessel further includes a keel coupled with the primary hull.

An unmanned, autonomous, ocean-going vessel including a primary hull and a rigid wing rotationally coupled with the primary hull that freely rotates about a rotational axis. At least one of the primary hull and the rigid wing includes at least one selectively floodable compartment configured to selectively flood to submerge the primary hull and at least a portion of the rigid wing. The vessel further includes at least one controller configured to maintain a desired heading. The vessel further includes a control surface element configured to aerodynamically control a wing angle of the rigid wing based on a force exerted by wind on the control surface element. The vessel further includes a rudder. The at least one controller is further configured to determine a rudder position and generate a signal to position the rudder. The vessel further includes a keel coupled with the primary hull.

An apparatus includes first and second tanks each configured to receive and store a refrigerant under pressure. The apparatus also includes at least one generator configured to receive flows of the refrigerant between the tanks and to generate electrical power based on the flows of the refrigerant. The apparatus further includes first and second hydraulic drives associated with the first and second tanks, respectively. Each hydraulic drive includes a first piston within the associated tank, a channel fluidly coupled to the associated tank and configured to contain hydraulic fluid, and a second piston within the channel and configured to move within the channel in order to vary an amount of the hydraulic fluid within the associated tank and vary a position of the first piston within the associated tank. The channel of each hydraulic drive has a cross-sectional area that is less than a cross-sectional area of the associated tank.

An apparatus includes first and second tanks each configured to receive and store a refrigerant under pressure. The apparatus also includes at least one generator configured to receive flows of the refrigerant between the tanks and to generate electrical power based on the flows of the refrigerant. The apparatus further includes first and second hydraulic drives associated with the first and second tanks, respectively. Each hydraulic drive includes a first piston within the associated tank, a channel fluidly coupled to the associated tank and configured to contain hydraulic fluid, and a second piston within the channel and configured to move within the channel in order to vary an amount of the hydraulic fluid within the associated tank and vary a position of the first piston within the associated tank. The channel of each hydraulic drive has a cross-sectional area that is less than a cross-sectional area of the associated tank.

Disclosed is a propulsion unit for propelling a vessel. The propulsion unit comprises a main body configured to be arranged at a keel of the vessel and comprising a pivot point, a fin being movably arranged in relation to the main body, and an actuator assembly for generating a heave motion of the fin in relation to the main body. The actuator assembly comprises at least one actuator. The fin is connected to the pivot point, such that the fin is arranged to pivot around the pivot point when the at least one actuator generates the heave motion of the fin, thereby generating a pitch motion of the fin.

To provide a gate rudder capable of reducing energy consumption during a voyage of a ship.

A gate rudder including a pair of rudders including a left rudder and a right rudder disposed left and right, respectively, of a propeller at a stern, wherein each of the rudders includes a first rudder portion extending in a horizontal direction and a second rudder portion linearly extending in a vertical direction in rear view, wherein a rudder chord length of the second rudder portion in a front-rear direction is 40 to 100% of a diameter of the propeller, wherein the propeller is provided within a range of 15 to 65% of the rudder chord length from a front edge of the second rudder portion in side view, and wherein a rudder shaft that drives each of the rudders is provided at a position within a range of 30 to 50% of the rudder chord length from the front edge of the second rudder portion in side view.

To provide a gate rudder capable of reducing energy consumption during a voyage of a ship.

A gate rudder including a pair of rudders including a left rudder and a right rudder disposed left and right, respectively, of a propeller at a stern, wherein each of the rudders includes a first rudder portion extending in a horizontal direction and a second rudder portion linearly extending in a vertical direction in rear view, wherein a rudder chord length of the second rudder portion in a front-rear direction is 40 to 100% of a diameter of the propeller, wherein the propeller is provided within a range of 15 to 65% of the rudder chord length from a front edge of the second rudder portion in side view, and wherein a rudder shaft that drives each of the rudders is provided at a position within a range of 30 to 50% of the rudder chord length from the front edge of the second rudder portion in side view.