An airship hull is disclosed. The airship hull comprises a gas-tight shape fabricated from a membrane. The airship hull comprises one or more fibers applied to an outer surface of the gas-tight shape in a continuous manner such that a particular one of the one or more fibers wraps around a circumference of the gas-tight shape multiple times, wherein the applied one or more fibers are affixed to the outer surface of the gas-tight shape.

Disclosed is a master model (1) defining a useful surface having a complex shape, including a set of juxtaposed frames (2a, 2b, 2c), each frame including a panel having a useful edge (8), the frames being disposed parallel and held rigidly connected with predefined spacings such that the useful edges of same form the useful surface. The panel of each frame includes a blind slot (10) forming an opening passing through the thickness, and the frames are rigidly connected by a spar (3, 3a, 3b, etc.) suitable for being inserted (6) in the lengthwise direction (L) of same into the slots and including transverse notches (11) for receiving and holding the frames, each notch being arranged to receive, by a relative transverse translational movement (7) of the spar relative to the frames, the part in question of the panel of each frame.

A method of manufacturing a boat hull comprising: forming a foam mold of a predetermined shape and size from one or more pieces of foam; cutting at least one C-channel into said foam running in a longitudinal or a lateral direction within the foam; and coating said foam with at least one layer of reinforcing fiber and resin.

A method of manufacturing a boat hull comprising: forming a foam mold of a predetermined shape and size from one or more pieces of foam; cutting at least one C-channel into said foam running in a longitudinal or a lateral direction within the foam; and coating said foam with at least one layer of reinforcing fiber and resin.

A method of manufacturing a boat hull comprising: forming a foam mold of a predetermined shape and size from one or more pieces of foam; cutting at least one C-channel into said foam running in a longitudinal or a lateral direction within the foam; and coating said foam with at least one layer of reinforcing fiber and resin.

A process and associated system for creating color effects using extrudable material, such as plastic and metal for example, are presented. Flows of first and second viscous materials of respective colors are provided and then combined in a predetermined pattern to form a stream of combined viscous material. A dynamic mixer is the then used to apply a predetermined dividing, overturning and combining motion to the stream of combined viscous material to partially mix the first viscous material and the second viscous material, such that upon exiting the dynamic mixer, the first material of the first color and the second material of the second color form a color pattern in the stream of combined viscous material. The dynamic mixer has elements configured for acquiring a specific radial orientation in a range of radial orientations that may be varied during the application of the dividing, overturning and combining motion to the stream of combined viscous material to cause variations in the color pattern in the stream of combined viscous material. Sheets of extruded material may be created using such process and system and used in the manufacturing of many different products including, but not limited to, kayaks, stand-up paddle boards, garden furniture and many others. In some embodiments, the sheets may be characterized by color bands extending diagonally with reference to a longitudinal extent of the sheet.

Personal watercraft and personal watercraft fabrication using a thermoforming process are described. The personal watercraft manufacturing process includes a set of molds, thermoforming equipment, and thermal formable materials. The process greatly reduces manufacturing costs, decreases manufacturing time, increases part consistency and tolerances, offers better performance characteristics and durability and results in less environmentally harmful deposits and waste.

Personal watercraft and personal watercraft fabrication using a thermoforming process are described. The personal watercraft manufacturing process includes a set of molds, thermoforming equipment, and thermal formable materials. The process greatly reduces manufacturing costs, decreases manufacturing time, increases part consistency and tolerances, offers better performance characteristics and durability and results in less environmentally harmful deposits and waste.

A tooling apparatus for applying a tape material to a pre-formed insert is provided. The tooling apparatus comprises at least one guiding element coupled to an apparatus frame. An attachment shaft defines a rotational axis and extends through the guiding element. The attachment shaft includes an attachment element for securing the pre-formed insert thereto. An activation element is operatively engaged with the attachment shaft to rotate the pre-formed insert about the rotational axis at a predetermined rotation rate. A tape control assembly is spaced from the attachment shaft for axial translation along a tape control axis at a predetermined translation rate. Rotation of the pre-formed insert about the rotational axis and translation of the tape control element at the predetermined translation rate causes the material to be drawn under tension from the tape control assembly and applied to the pre-formed insert in a plurality of layers.

An improved kayak has a hull of thermoformed ABS plastic having a bow and a seat having a void between the bow and the seat, a top of the hull being a deck with a foam PVC block glued to a bottom face of the deck. A rotomolded polyethylene plastic insert is located in the void and joined to the hull by fasteners that pass through the insert and the deck of the hull and engage the foam PVC block within the hull, with caulking between the hull and the insert. A propulsion device is removably mounted in the rotomolded plastic insert that allows a user of the kayak to propel the kayak.