Adjustable multihull running surface device for watercraft and related methods
OwnerDustin Lacefieldinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention provides a hull-conversion device and method for modifying the underside of a watercraft, more specifically a multihull watercraft. The hull-conversion device comprising a water diverting surface, a kinematic assemblage, and a frame. The hull-conversion device may be operable to adjust the watercraft's characteristics in displacement mode and planing mode. The hull-conversion device may function to provide a more stable, controllable, and efficient platform for operating a multihull watercraft, and provide a suitable wake for towable water sports.
Claims18
A hull conversion assembly for a multihull watercraft, comprising:
- a. a deployable hull conversion assembly comprising water diverting surfaces movably secured to a centrally positioned pontoon of said multihull watercraft and operable to modify an underside of said multihull watercraft when deployed, said deployable water diverting surfaces being movable between a stowed position and a deployed position, wherein said water diverting surfaces include a plurality of articulating sections that conform around said centrally positioned pontoon when the hull conversion assembly is in the stowed position;
- and
- b. a deployment mechanism for deploying the water diverting surfaces to said deployed position to transform the hull geometry of said multihull water craft to a single hull configuration.
A hull-conversion device for a multihull watercraft, comprising:
- a. a deployable hull conversion assembly comprising a plurality of articulating water diverting plates movably secured to a multihull watercraft and operable to modify an underside of said multihull watercraft when deployed, said plurality of water diverting plates being movable between a stowed position and a deployed position, wherein said plurality of water diverting plates include articulating sections that conform around a centrally positioned pontoon when the hull conversion assembly is in the stowed position,
- wherein said plurality of water diverting plates form a V-hull configuration for modifying the underside of said multihull watercraft when in a deployed position;
- and
- b. a frame for securing and positioning said water diverting surface to an underside of a deck of said multihull watercraft.
A method of converting a multihull watercraft to a single-hull watercraft, comprising:
- a. positioning a hull conversion assembly to a stowed position in proximity to an underside of a multihull watercraft having a protruding central longitudinal structure, said hull conversion assembly having a plurality of articulating water diverting surfaces, wherein said plurality of articulating water diverting plates include articulating sections that conform around said protruding central longitudinal structure when the hull conversion assembly is in the stowed position;
- and
- b. deploying said hull conversion assembly to transform the hull geometry of said multihull water craft to a single hull configuration, said water diverting surfaces being deployable between a stowed position and a deployed position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.