A ship hull microbubble system is adapted to reduce drag on a ship hull traveling through water. The ship hull microbubble system includes a ballast pump, mechanically coupled to a ballast main pipe which is further connected to a forward peak tank with a forward peak tank valve. A venturi injector is joined to the ballast main pipe with a riser pipe. A discharge pipe is joined to the venturi injector and further piercing the ship hull. An air water mixture is formed when water pulled into the ballast pump receives air from the venturi injector. Discharging the air water mixture through the discharge pipe creates a plurality of microbubbles against the ship hull that reduces the drag on the ship hull when travelling through water.

A method for reducing marine growth on a vessel, includes providing an air lubrication system and covering at least a part of the hull with air bubbles. Also described is a vessel having an air lubricating system with releasable connection of the deflectors across the cavity, a closeable outlet valve in the air outlet duct, connection of a compressor to each cavity or pair of cavities and an air inlet opening in the top of the cavity.

A method for reducing marine growth on a vessel, includes providing an air lubrication system and covering at least a part of the hull with air bubbles. Also described is a vessel having an air lubricating system with releasable connection of the deflectors across the cavity, a closeable outlet valve in the air outlet duct, connection of a compressor to each cavity or pair of cavities and an air inlet opening in the top of the cavity.

A watersports boat includes a hull having an underside extending from a forward bow to an aft transom along a longitudinal centerline. The underside defines a running surface that contacts water when the hull moves therein. The running surface includes a bow section and port and starboard midship running surface sections that flatten moving aft to an aft running surface section. The port and starboard midship running surface sections are separated by a keel member. The keel member has an apex lower than the aft running surface section and that inclines toward the aft running surface section aft the apex and forward a propeller positioned beneath the aft running surface section.

A hull configuration has a bow and a stern, and is for use in a single or multiple hull vessel. The hull configuration comprises: a pair of cutting edges, each cutting edge sloping rearwardly, downwardly and in an outwardly lateral direction, from the bow; a pair of keels, each keel extending longitudinally rearwardly and laterally inwardly from an end of a respective one of the cutting edges and converging at the stern; a pair of sidewalls, each sidewall extending generally upwardly from a respective one of the cutting edges and from a respective one of the keels, the sidewalls extending rearwardly to the stern; and a bottom channel defined between the cutting edges and between the keels. The channel comprises a forward portion having a concave upper surface and rearward portion having a planar upper surface. The channel decreases in width from ends of the cutting edges towards the stern.

A hull configuration has a bow and a stern, and is for use in a single or multiple hull vessel. The hull configuration comprises: a pair of cutting edges, each cutting edge sloping rearwardly, downwardly and in an outwardly lateral direction, from the bow; a pair of keels, each keel extending longitudinally rearwardly and laterally inwardly from an end of a respective one of the cutting edges and converging at the stern; a pair of sidewalls, each sidewall extending generally upwardly from a respective one of the cutting edges and from a respective one of the keels, the sidewalls extending rearwardly to the stern; and a bottom channel defined between the cutting edges and between the keels. The channel comprises a forward portion having a concave upper surface and rearward portion having a planar upper surface. The channel decreases in width from ends of the cutting edges towards the stern.

Disclosed is an air supply system for supplying air to an outside of a hull of a vessel, the vessel holding a combustion engine. The air supply system comprises one or more air discharge units (ADUs) for releasing compressed air to an outside of the hull below a waterline of the vessel. The air supply system comprises a plurality of turbocharger(s) for supplying a compressed air flow to the combustion engine of the vessel via a first flow path. The plurality of turbochargers each comprises a turbine configured to be driven by an exhaust gas flow of the combustion engine and a compressor connected to the turbine and comprising an inlet for receiving air and an outlet for providing the compressed air flow to the first flow path. The plurality of turbochargers comprises a first turbocharger and a second turbocharger arranged in series with the compressor of the second turbocharger being downstream of the compressor of the first turbocharger in the first flow path. The air supply system comprises a first sub-path and a second sub-path branching off the first flow path and supplying the sub-flow of air to the ADUs. The first sub-path branches off from the first flow path downstream of the first turbocharger and upstream of the second turbocharger and wherein the second sub-path branches off from the first flow path downstream of both the first turbocharger and the second turbocharger.

Disclosed is an air supply system for supplying air to an outside of a hull of a vessel, the vessel holding a combustion engine. The air supply system comprises one or more air discharge units (ADUs) for releasing compressed air to an outside of the hull below a waterline of the vessel. The air supply system comprises a plurality of turbocharger(s) for supplying a compressed air flow to the combustion engine of the vessel via a first flow path. The plurality of turbochargers each comprises a turbine configured to be driven by an exhaust gas flow of the combustion engine and a compressor connected to the turbine and comprising an inlet for receiving air and an outlet for providing the compressed air flow to the first flow path. The plurality of turbochargers comprises a first turbocharger and a second turbocharger arranged in series with the compressor of the second turbocharger being downstream of the compressor of the first turbocharger in the first flow path. The air supply system comprises a first sub-path and a second sub-path branching off the first flow path and supplying the sub-flow of air to the ADUs. The first sub-path branches off from the first flow path downstream of the first turbocharger and upstream of the second turbocharger and wherein the second sub-path branches off from the first flow path downstream of both the first turbocharger and the second turbocharger.

A paravane is described that includes a float member; a baffle coupled to the float member, the baffle comprising one or more fluid ports disposed at a flow-facing side of the baffle; and a fluid source coupled to the baffle by a conduit. The fluid is a drag-reducing fluid, which may be a gas. The fluid is flowed to the flow-facing side of the baffle to reduce towing force.

A paravane is described that includes a float member; a baffle coupled to the float member, the baffle comprising one or more fluid ports disposed at a flow-facing side of the baffle; and a fluid source coupled to the baffle by a conduit. The fluid is a drag-reducing fluid, which may be a gas. The fluid is flowed to the flow-facing side of the baffle to reduce towing force.