A load-bearing frame structure for a maritime vehicle includes two support plates, a deck plate structure, a front bulkhead structure, and a back bulkhead structure. Each of the support plates has a front edge, a back edge, a top edge, and a bottom edge. The support plates can be angled relative to each other and connected to each other at the top edges thereof forming an inverted V-shape. The support plates can alternately be parallel to each other in a vertical orientation. The support plates each have one or more cut-out sections. The deck plate structure connects the two support plates proximate the bottom edges of the support plates. The front bulkhead structure connects the front edges of the support plates, and the back bulkhead structure connects the back edges of the support plates.

A surf craft includes: a body having a nose and a tail; a bottom surface extending from the nose of the body to the tail of the body; a channel formed in the bottom surface of the body, the channel including a channel entrance located towards the nose of the body having a depth that is substantially flush with the bottom surface of the surf craft, a channel exit having a depth such that a bottom surface of the channel curves from the bottom surface of the surf craft towards an upper surface of the surf craft, first and second opposing sidewalls. The first and second opposing sidewalls curve outwards along a substantial portion of the channel such that a width of the channel exit is wider than a width of the channel entrance.

A surf craft includes: a body having a nose and a tail; a bottom surface extending from the nose of the body to the tail of the body; a channel formed in the bottom surface of the body, the channel including a channel entrance located towards the nose of the body having a depth that is substantially flush with the bottom surface of the surf craft, a channel exit having a depth such that a bottom surface of the channel curves from the bottom surface of the surf craft towards an upper surface of the surf craft, first and second opposing sidewalls. The first and second opposing sidewalls curve outwards along a substantial portion of the channel such that a width of the channel exit is wider than a width of the channel entrance.

A load-bearing frame structure for a maritime vehicle includes two support plates, a deck plate structure, a front bulkhead structure, and a back bulkhead structure. Each of the support plates has a front edge, a back edge, a top edge, and a bottom edge. The support plates can be angled relative to each other and connected to each other at the top edges thereof forming an inverted V-shape. The support plates can alternately be parallel to each other in a vertical orientation. The support plates each have one or more cut-out sections. The deck plate structure connects the two support plates proximate the bottom edges of the support plates. The front bulkhead structure connects the front edges of the support plates, and the back bulkhead structure connects the back edges of the support plates.

In order to provide a rudder blade, which has a low level of weight, is easier and more inexpensive to manufacture, that meets the various strength and stability requirements for various rudder-blade sections, which can be at least partly manufactured in an automated manner and for which the manufacturing of irregular surfaces, in particular, the leading edge, is made easier, a rudder blade is proposed, which has a modular structure, wherein the rudder blade comprises at least two prefabricated rudder-blade segments and is composed of the at least two prefabricated rudder-blade segments.

Vehicles designed to use ground effect forces to control a positioning of the vehicle relative to a surface as well as their methods of use are described.

An expandable and contractible boat comprises a first outer hull and a second outer hull symmetrically shaped and arranged with respect to one another. The first and second outer hulls are movable relative to one another, and each of the first and second outer hulls includes an outboard side portion, an inboard side portion, a bottom portion between the outboard side portion and the inboard side portion, and a concave chine portion connecting the outboard side portion and the bottom portion. A cross-section of each of the first and second outer hulls is recessed at the concave chine portion.

Vehicles designed to use ground effect forces to control a positioning of the vehicle relative to a surface as well as their methods of use are described.

Vehicles designed to use ground effect forces to control a positioning of the vehicle relative to a surface as well as their methods of use are described.

An expandable and contractible boat comprises a first outer hull and a second outer hull symmetrically shaped and arranged with respect to one another. The first and second outer hulls are movable relative to one another, and each of the first and second outer hulls includes an outboard side portion, an inboard side portion, a bottom portion between the outboard side portion and the inboard side portion, and a concave chine portion connecting the outboard side portion and the bottom portion. A cross-section of each of the first and second outer hulls is recessed at the concave chine portion.