An apparatus and methods according to the present invention provides a human powered catamaran-styled watercraft and methods of configuring and operating the watercraft. The watercraft generally comprises at least one hull in communication with a folding collapsible frame, wherein in the frame comprises a center rack pivotally joining hulls of hull sets to provide for common pivoting of the hulls during articulation of the watercraft, thereby the hulls and frame are in further communication through a at least one pivot pad which provides for slidable pivoting of the hulls during articulation of the watercraft. A method of folding and reversibly extending the watercraft to provide for optimized storage is provided. A method of operation of the watercraft to provide for articulation of the watercraft is provided.

A catamaran having two parallel symmetrical hulls of equal size spaced apart with a superstructure lower deck extending from an outer edge of the first hull to an outer edge of the second hull. The lower deck is positioned above the static waterline and provides a single, constant, flush elevation height across the entire length and breadth of the vessel, with the placement of control and propulsion machinery in the hulls. The improved catamaran has an increased freeboard, increased gross tonnage, and decreased design pressures on the superstructure scantlings of the catamaran deck as compared to a conventional catamaran having a lower deck mounted beneath the static waterline, or accommodations added to the hulls.

Water rescue of an individual whether they be a man overboard (MOB) from a boat or someone close to shore requiring a water rescue by shore lifeguards, can easily become a dangerous and life-threatening situation within a few seconds.

The current invention offers a Compact Powered Rescue Apparatus (CPRA), a lightweight and compact powered watercraft that can be deployed from a moving boat in just seconds thanks to an innovative CO.sub.2 inflation system. CPRA can be stowed on-board a vessel and automatically inflated in just seconds much like the compulsory life-raft or pre-inflated and ready to deploy immediately from shoreline lifeguard stations.

CPRA is a powered watercraft based on U.S. Pat. No. 5,643,029 Motorized Surf Boots (Powered Waterskis), a recreational watercraft. However, in this case the craft is made inflatable, configured with a portable stretcher for water search-and-rescue operations, and driven by battery powered electric marine thrusters.

Boat handling and control systems and methods related to one or more of steering and propulsion of a pontoon boat.

A marine deck member and the process for forming the same. The marine deck member comprises a sandwich-type composite panel made by a compression molding process. In such a process, the panel is made by subjecting a heated stack of layers of material to cold-pressing in a mold. The cellular core has a 2-D array of cells, with end faces open to the respective layers or skins. The surface traction of this type of composite panel can be enhanced for marine deck applications by controlled debossing, or embossing, of the first skin while it cools in the compression mold. The debossing effect can be affected by applying pressurized gas, e.g., pressurized air, onto the outer surface of the first skin while in the compression mold. The embossing can be affected by applying vacuum pressure on the outer surface of the first skin while in the compression mold.

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 invention relates to a system (1, 2) (1, 4) for handling marine (3) or underwater (5) drones, the system (1, 2) (1, 4) comprising a drone interface module (2, 4) and a floating pontoon (1) with two hulls (11) and an arch (10), the pontoon (1) is catamaran-shaped and delimits a downflooded reception space (17), the arch (10) comprises at least one device (12) for attachment to a winch cable, the pontoon (1) comprises devices (13) for detachable attachment to a drone interface module (2, 4) detachably and interchangeably installed in the receiving space (17), the drone interface modules (2, 4) forming an at least partially flooded docking area (23, 42) for the drone (3, 5), the drone interface modules (2, 4) have a lower portion (22, 43) configured to rest stably on a flat surface after the drone interface module (2, 4) has been removed from the pontoon (1).

A garbage collection watercraft includes a hull, a collection box, and a buoyant material. The collection box includes an intake port to receive garbage. The collection box is held by the hull so as to be movable between a collection position and a pull-up position. The collection box is at least partially located underwater at the collection position. The pull-up position is located higher than the collection position. The buoyant material is attached to the collection box. The buoyant material raises the collection box from the collection position to the pull-up position by a buoyant force.

A modular flotation device comprises a first elongated rigid pontoon module comprising a first pontoon section and a second pontoon section, a second elongated rigid pontoon module comprising a third pontoon section and a fourth pontoon section, and an intermediate frame module comprising longitudinal members extending substantially parallel to the first and second elongated rigid pontoon modules, and lateral members extending substantially perpendicular to the first and second elongated rigid pontoon modules. The first, second, third, and fourth pontoon sections can comprise identical connection profiles and are interchangeable with one another.

An articulating top having a frame, a cover attached to the frame and a mounting bracket to attach the frame to a vehicle can be moved between a deployed position to provide shelter to an area below the top and a stowed position. The frame having main and secondary frame members in addition to one or more struts between a frame member and the vehicle to provide additional support to the frame such that the top can be used while the vehicle is in motion or in windy conditions. The top may also use one or more braces.