# US 11,305,846 B2 · Towable watercraft > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,305,846 B2 - Document ID: US11305846B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/886,717 - Filed: 2020-05-28 - Published: 2020-09-17 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2015-04-28 - Applicants: Roland K. Bowler, II - Inventors: Roland K. Bowler, II - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11305846B2 ## CPC - B63B 34/54: specially adapted for being towed, e.g. banana boats, water sledges or towed buoys (arrangements for towing B63B34/60) - B63B 32/20: Boards specially adapted for use in a prone position, e.g. wild-water sledges (towed water sledges B63B34/54) - B63B 32/60: Board appendages, e.g. fins, hydrofoils or centre boards - B63B 34/52: Inflatable or partly inflatable - B63B: SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING (arrangements of vessel ventilation, heating, cooling, or air-conditioning B63J2/00; floating substructures as supports of dredgers or soil-shifting machines E02F9/06) ## Abstract A towable watercraft including a body member having a tow-rope hitch coupled to a front portion thereof and first and second elongated stabilizing members extending beyond an aft portion of the body member is disclosed. The stabilizing members may be coupled to the hitch or an intermediate portion between the stabilizing member may be retained about a circumferential portion of the body member, wherein first and second end portions of the first and second elongated stabilizing members having corresponding stirrups are laterally movable away from, and back toward, each other. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A towable watercraft comprising: a body member; a tow-rope hitch coupled to a front portion of the body member; two non-inflatable elongated stabilizing members coupled to the body member, each non-inflatable elongated stabilizing member having an end portion extending beyond an aft portion of the body member; a stirrup coupled to the end portion of each non-inflatable elongated stabilizing member, the end portions of the two non-inflatable elongated stabilizing members movable laterally away from, and back toward, each other; and the non-inflatable elongated stabilizing members are coupled to the tow-rope hitch, wherein a load on the elongated stabilizing members is transferred to the tow-rope-hitch. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The watercraft of claim 1, wherein the non-inflatable elongated stabilizing member comprises a strap or cord. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The watercraft of claim 2, wherein the body member includes an inflatable bladder covered by a sheath and the tow-rope hitch is coupled to the sheath. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The watercraft of claim 3, wherein each stirrup is part of a pocket coupled to the end portion of the corresponding non-inflatable elongated stabilizing member, each pocket having an open-end portion, a substantially closed-end portion, and an inner portion accessible from the open-end portion. ### Claim 5 A towable watercraft comprising: a body member; a tow-rope hitch coupled to a front portion of the body member; a first elongated stabilizing member having a first end portion extending beyond an aft portion of the body member; a second elongated stabilizing member having a second end portion extending beyond the aft portion of the body member; an intermediate portion disposed between the first elongated stabilizing member and the second elongated stabilizing member, the intermediate portion disposed at least partially about the front portion of the body member; a first stirrup coupled to the first end portion of the first elongated stabilizing member; a second stirrup coupled to the second end portion of the second elongated stabilizing member, wherein the first and second end portions of the first and second elongated stabilizing members are laterally movable away from, and back toward, each other. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The watercraft of claim 5, wherein the body member comprises an inflatable bladder at least partially covered by a sheath, the intermediate portion disposed between the sheath and the inflatable bladder, and the first and second elongated stabilizing members extend through an opening in the sheath. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The watercraft of claim 5, wherein the body member comprises an inflatable bladder at least partially covered by a sheath, and wherein the intermediate portion and each of the first and second elongated stabilizing members are an integral part of the sheath. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The watercraft of claim 5, wherein each of the first and second elongated stabilizing members comprises a strap portion adjustably lengthened by a corresponding tension buckle, wherein a spacing between each stirrup and the aft portion of the body member is adjustable. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The watercraft of claim 5, wherein the first stirrup is part of a first pocket coupled to the first end portion of the first elongated stabilizing member and the second stirrup is part of a second pocket coupled to the second end portion of the second elongated stabilizing member, each of the first and second pockets having a corresponding open-end portion and a substantially closed-end portion. ### Claim 10 (depends on 5) The watercraft of claim 5, wherein the first and second elongated stabilizing members are non-inflatable. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The watercraft of claim 10, wherein the body member includes an inflatable bladder at least partially covered by a sheath, and wherein the intermediate portion of the non-inflatable elongated stabilizing members is adjacent the sheath. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The watercraft of claim 10, wherein the body member includes an inflatable bladder at least partially covered by a sheath, and wherein the intermediate portion of the non-inflatable elongated stabilizing members is disposed between the sheath and the inflatable bladder, and the first and second non-inflatable elongated stabilizing members extend through an opening in the sheath. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The watercraft of claim 10, wherein the body member includes an inflatable bladder at least partially covered by a sheath, and wherein the intermediate portion and the first and second non-inflatable elongated stabilizing members are an integral part of the sheath. ### Claim 14 A towable watercraft comprising: a body member including an inflatable bladder and a sheath disposed over and at least partially about a front portion of the inflatable bladder, a tow-rope hitch coupled to the front portion body member; a first elongated stabilizing member extending from the sheath and having a first end portion extending beyond an aft portion of the body member; a second elongated stabilizing member extending from the sheath and having a second end portion extending beyond the aft portion of the body member; a first stirrup coupled to the first end portion of the first elongated stabilizing member; a second stirrup coupled to the second end portion of the second elongated stabilizing member, wherein the first and second end portions of the first and second elongated stabilizing members extending beyond an aft portion of the body member are laterally movable away from, and back toward, each other; and wherein the sheath is disposed at least partially over top and bottom sides of the inflatable bladder, and the first and second elongated stabilizing members extend from a portion of the sheath disposed over the top or bottom sides of the inflatable bladder. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The watercraft of claim 14, wherein the first and second elongated stabilizing members are non-inflatable members. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The watercraft of claim 14, wherein the first and second elongated stabilizing members are an integral part of the sheath. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The watercraft of claim 14, wherein the first stirrup is part of a first pocket coupled to the first end portion of the first elongated stabilizing member and the second stirrup is part of a second pocket coupled to the second end portion of the second elongated stabilizing member, each of the first and second pockets having a corresponding open-end portion and a substantially closed-end portion.