Disclosed is a variable beam vessel. The vessel comprises a main hull having a longitudinal axis, a float and a float connection assembly comprising a main support member and actuation system. The main support member is connected to the float and main hull. The actuation system moves the float substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis between an in-use configuration in which the main support member is connected to the main hull and maintains the float a first distance from the main hull, and a stowed configuration in which the main support member maintains the float a second distance from the main hull, the second distance being less than the first distance. The actuation system maintains a common orientation of the float in both the in-use configuration and stowed configuration.

Disclosed is a variable beam vessel. The vessel comprises a main hull having a longitudinal axis, a float and a float connection assembly comprising a main support member and actuation system. The main support member is connected to the float and main hull. The actuation system moves the float substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis between an in-use configuration in which the main support member is connected to the main hull and maintains the float a first distance from the main hull, and a stowed configuration in which the main support member maintains the float a second distance from the main hull, the second distance being less than the first distance. The actuation system maintains a common orientation of the float in both the in-use configuration and stowed configuration.

The present disclosure is directed generally toward sailing vessels. One example is a catamaran with one or more pivoting masts per hull member, which may pivot from a generally perpendicular upright position, to a generally flat stowed position toward the bow of the hulls. The masts are capable of sustaining a plurality of sails, which may travel 180 degrees with respect to the hulls.

The present disclosure is directed generally toward sailing vessels. One example is a catamaran with one or more pivoting masts per hull member, which may pivot from a generally perpendicular upright position, to a generally flat stowed position toward the bow of the hulls. The masts are capable of sustaining a plurality of sails, which may travel 180 degrees with respect to the hulls.

A planing system for a multi-hull watercraft comprising a hull defining a plurality of hulls and at least one channel between at least two of the hull portions comprises a planing surface and an actuator system. The planing surface is supported for movement within the at least one channel between an upper position and a lower position. The actuator system is arranged to displace the planing surface from the upper position to the lower position. The watercraft operates in a first mode when the planing surface is in the upper position and in a second mode when the planing surface is in the lower position. When the watercraft operates in the second mode, the planing surface engages water to cause the vessel to plane.

A planing system for a multi-hull watercraft comprising a hull defining a plurality of hulls and at least one channel between at least two of the hull portions comprises a planing surface and an actuator system. The planing surface is supported for movement within the at least one channel between an upper position and a lower position. The actuator system is arranged to displace the planing surface from the upper position to the lower position. The watercraft operates in a first mode when the planing surface is in the upper position and in a second mode when the planing surface is in the lower position. When the watercraft operates in the second mode, the planing surface engages water to cause the vessel to plane.

A ground effect craft having a ground effect wing, a plurality of sponsons, and a control system is disclosed. The ground effect wing may include a fore ground effect wing and an aft ground effect wing. The ground effect wing may generate a stabilizing moment on at least one sponson to stabilize the ground effect craft. The plurality of sponsons may be dynamically coupled to the body. The plurality of sponsons may be dynamically coupled to each other. The dynamic coupling may permit the sponsons to move relatively independent of the body and each other, thereby stabilizing the ground effect craft. The ground effect craft may include a stabilizing wing.

A hull locating arrangement for a vessel is disclosed that has a body at least partially suspended above at least a first hull by at least one support. The hull locating arrangement includes for the first hull a forward locating linkage and a rearward locating linkage, each of the forward locating linkage and the rearward locating linkage being connected between the first hull and the body to together constrain said hull in the lateral, longitudinal, roll and yaw directions relative to the body. The forward locating linkage includes a forward radius arm and a drop link, the drop link being pivotally connected to the radius arm. The rearward locating linkage includes a rearward radius arm connected between the body and the first hull.

Provided is a floating-type on-water support apparatus including: a ball; a floating unit including a floating part, wherein the floating part has an upper plate supporting the ball so that the ball is rotatable, an interior formed to be hollow, and a lower plate provided with a spherical surface portion and floats on water; a support rod coupled to the ball and having one end exposed above the water so that a structure is installable thereon and the other end heavier than the one end so as to stand vertically to be accommodated in the floating part; and a base unit having one end installed on a lower portion of the support rod to support the support rod and the other end in roll contact with the spherical surface portion.

A deep-water submersible system is disclosed. The system can include a pressure vessel and an internal assembly. The internal assembly can include a housing and a wedge lock assembly coupleable to the housing. The wedge lock assembly can include a plurality of wedge members arranged along a longitudinal axis and including end wedge members at each end and one or more intermediate wedge members between the end wedge members. The wedge lock assembly can also include a displacement device along the longitudinal axis and connecting the end wedge members. The displacement device can be actuatable in one direction to move the end wedge members toward one another to displace adjacent wedge members relative to one another in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis to engage and apply a clamping force to the housing and the pressure vessel. In addition, the wedge lock assembly can include a variable gap compensation mechanism operable to exert a biasing force on the plurality of wedge members to accommodate the relative transverse movement of the adjacent wedge members and maintain the clamping force on the housing and the pressure vessel within a predetermined range as a distance between the housing and the pressure vessel varies.