A submersible vessel having wing and keel assemblies that are extendable for wind-powered surface operation and retractable to reduce drag for submerged operation or to place the vessel in a more compact configuration. A deployment mechanism including an actuator and linkage pivots the wing and keel assemblies-simultaneously between the deployed and retracted configuration. The vessel may have first and second pressure hulls flanking the wing and keel assemblies. A drive mechanism including a motor and a gear train employing pulley-and-cable assemblies rotates either the wing and flap together such that the flap angle relative to the wing is constant, or to change the flap angle relative to the wing with the wing angle of incidence held constant. The invention also provides a retractable wind-powered propulsion apparatus that is mountable to the hull assembly of a submersible or non-submersible vessel.

A submersible vessel having wing and keel assemblies that are extendable for wind-powered surface operation and retractable to reduce drag for submerged operation or to place the vessel in a more compact configuration. A deployment mechanism including an actuator and linkage pivots the wing and keel assemblies simultaneously between the deployed and retracted configuration. The vessel may have first and second pressure hulls flanking the wing and keel assemblies. A drive mechanism including a motor and a gear train employing pulley-and-cable assemblies rotates either the wing and flap together such that the flap angle relative to the wing is constant, or to change the flap angle relative to the wing with the wing angle of incidence held constant. The invention also provides a retractable wind-powered propulsion apparatus that is mountable to the hull assembly of a submersible or non-submersible vessel.

Disclosed is a vessel with two watertight flaps attached in a tensioned state on the two sides of the longitudinal keel, each being under one of the two rear side portions of the V-shaped hull, the outer side edge of each flap being connected under the shell covering the bottom compartment on the same side, and the bottom side edge being connected to the bottom along a line which is angled from the rear to the front and angled toward the lower compartment, with a flap width tapering from the tensioned, free rear edge between the ends at the transom, toward a front portion connected to the bottom and/or to the shell at the connection between the upper and lower compartments, defining, with the latter and the bottom, a channel converging from front to rear and angled toward the rear end of the edge of the V-shaped craft hull.

A boat hull with port and starboard side walls that are vertical in cross section while the bottom of the hull immediately prior to the commencement of the stern part there-after is horizontal in cross section. Extending throughout the buoyant hulls stem part a longitudinally rectangular flat plate with port and starboard upwardly extending side walls, one each side, are located throughout the length of the vessels stem part. An upwardly directed second rectangular flat plate is arranged fore/aft extends midway between the afore side walls to a height in excess of the side walls. This upstanding plate butts its lowermost edge onto the mid-line of the first plate. Linking the forward edge of the longitudinally rectangular plate to the buoyant hull at its aftmost and deepest point are hinges.

A boat hull with port and starboard side walls that are vertical in cross section whilst the bottom of the hull immediately prior to the commencement of the stern part there-after is horizontal in cross section. Extending throughout the buoyant hulls stern part a longitudinally rectangular flat plate with port and starboard upwardly extending side walls, one each side, are located throughout the length of the vessels stern part. An upwardly directed second rectangular flat plate is arranged fore/aft extends midway between the afore-said side walls to a height in excess of the said side walls. This upstanding plate butts its lowermost edge onto the mid-line of the first said plate. Linking the forward edge of the said longitudinally rectangular plate to the buoyant hull at its aftmost and deepest point are hinges. Thereby allowing an aftwardly upward pivotal movement of the said combined plate, whilst the afore-said upwardly extending fin of the said combination plate to locate within an aftwardly open slot casing that is additionally open upwardly and downwardly, into which the said combination plate moveably but securely fits. Means with which to raise/lower the combination plate are provided. Single or multiple combination plates, as described, operate independently or together.