The present invention comprises a device for acting on water flow as a watercraft moves through the water. The device is generally comprised of a primary plate having two downward angled tabs and a handle. Device is installed on the stern of watercraft, preferably engaged to a prior art ladder. The angular tabs and primary plate delay a portion of the wake from reaching the surface of the water, thereby allowing time for the converging water flow from either side of the watercraft to merge more seamlessly with the wake. This convergence creates a more laminar surf wave.

The present invention comprises a device for acting on water flow as a watercraft moves through the water. The device is generally comprised of a primary plate having two downward angled tabs and a handle. Device is installed on the stern of watercraft, preferably engaged to a prior art ladder. The angular tabs and primary plate delay a portion of the wake from reaching the surface of the water, thereby allowing time for the converging water flow from either side of the watercraft to merge more seamlessly with the wake. This convergence creates a more laminar surf wave.

A recreational sport boat includes a hull, having starboard and port sides and a transom, and a pair of wake-modifying devices positioned aft of the transom. One of the wake-modifying devices is positioned on a port side of the boat's centerline and another of the wake-modifying devices is positioned on a starboard side of the boat's centerline. Each wake-modifying device includes a plate-like member and at least one downturned surface at a trailing portion of the plate-like member. Each wake-modifying device is pivotable between a non-deployed position and a deployed position about a pivot axis that is horizontal or inclined no more than about 35° from horizontal. When a wake-modifying device is in the deployed position, the downturned surface is lower than it is in the non-deployed position so as to be able to modify the boat's wake.

A recreational sport boat includes a hull, having starboard and port sides and a transom, and a pair of wake-modifying devices positioned aft of the transom. One of the wake-modifying devices is positioned on a port side of the boat's centerline and another of the wake-modifying devices is positioned on a starboard side of the boat's centerline. Each wake-modifying device includes a plate-like member and at least one downturned surface at a trailing portion of the plate-like member. Each wake-modifying device is pivotable between a non-deployed position and a deployed position about a pivot axis that is horizontal or inclined no more than about 35° from horizontal. When a wake-modifying device is in the deployed position, the downturned surface is lower than it is in the non-deployed position so as to be able to modify the boat's wake.

A towboat hull configured to create a wake shape for wake surfing. The hull sides can create a symmetrical idle side dual wake as the towboat travels through the water. Controlled shaping of the wake is achieved by a flared hull sides that, when moving in a forward direction, propel the water away from the towboat to shape two idle side surf wakes simultaneously on each side of the boat. The improved towboat hull will create the improved dual wake shapes desirable for wake surfing, allowing wake surfers to surf both sides of the wake at the same time.

A towboat hull configured to create a wake shape for wake surfing. The hull sides can create a symmetrical idle side dual wake as the towboat travels through the water. Controlled shaping of the wake is achieved by a flared hull sides that, when moving in a forward direction, propel the water away from the towboat to shape two idle side surf wakes simultaneously on each side of the boat. The improved towboat hull will create the improved dual wake shapes desirable for wake surfing, allowing wake surfers to surf both sides of the wake at the same time.

A boat, boat systems, and methods to determine when a water-sports participant has fallen. The boat may include an image sensor and an image processor communicatively coupled to the image sensor. The image sensor is configured to capture at least one image of the environment aft of the stern of the boat. The image processor is configured to execute a rider-down analysis that includes analyzing, using an object recognition process executed by the image processor, an image to be analyzed to determine if a water-sports participant has fallen. The boat may include a controller configured to execute a rider-down action when the water-sports participant has fallen. The controller may execute the rider-down action when the image processor determines that the water-sports participant has fallen based upon the rider-down analysis.

The present disclosure generally pertains to a lateral displacement surf system and methods of laterally displacing a watercraft to generate wake. The lateral displacement system includes at least one pair of foils configured to be extended from a hull on a first side of the watercraft at a level of approximately the waterline. Upon forward movement of the watercraft with extended foils, the watercraft is rotated about its vertical axis toward the first side and generates waves sufficient for the conduction watersport activities on a second side of the watercraft. In some instances, foils are built into the hull and extended from this position, while in other instances the foils are attached to the hull using attachment structures. Rotation of the foils about an axis of rotation approximately perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the watercraft alters the angle of attack of the foils relative to the waterline.

A hull for a wakesurf boat includes an upper hull which is joined to a lower hull. The lower hull has a length, a maximum depth, a maximum width, a forward end, and an aft end. The lower hull is tapered toward the forward end and is largest at the aft end. In an embodiment, the maximum depth of the lower hull is less than 40% of the maximum width. In another embodiment the taper is a linear taper. The lower hull can include chines or can be rounded.

A boat control system includes an imager to image a user towed by a hull, an image processor to determine a predetermined state of the user from an image captured by the imager, and a controller configured or programmed to perform a control to adjust a thruster operable to change a propulsion state of the hull based on the predetermined state of the user determined by the image processor to change the propulsion state of the hull.