Water vessel towing device

A towing device for a rider on a body of water utilizing a tow rope, the towing device comprising:

• a buoyant platform having a top side, a bottom side, and a peripheral edge that includes at least a rear end and a front end;
• at least one electric motor and prop fixed with the bottom side of the buoyant platform and adapted to propel the buoyant platform on the body of water;
• a container having an internal space and fixed with the top side of the buoyant platform and having a lid movable between an open configuration and a closed configuration, the lid when in the closed configuration forming a water-tight seal such that water is inhibited form entering the internal space of the container;
• a controller disposed within the internal space of the container and having at least a power source, a CPU, a non-volatile memory, a volatile memory, a motor driver, and a wireless module for receiving wireless commands from a wireless remote control, the controller adapted to power the at least one electric motor with the motor driver and connected to the at least one electric motor with a plurality of electric cables;
• a tow rope mount fixed with the top side of the buoyant platform proximate the rear end and adapted to engage a proximal end of the tow rope;
• wherein the at least one electric motor includes a port side electric motor and a starboard side electric motor, each laterally mutually adjacent, wherein steering of the towing device is controlled by the controller modulating power to each motor, the wireless remote control having a steering control and adapted to send steering signals from the steering control to the controller to cause the controller to modulating power to each of the electric motors in accordance with the steering signals, wherein when the controller sends more power to the port side electric motor than to the starboard side electric motor the towing device is steered to the right, and when the controller sends more power to the starboard side electric motor than to the port side electric motor the towing device is steered to the left;
• the controller including at least one accelerometer and at least one orientation sensor, the controller adapted to slow the at least one electric motor if the accelerometer detects vertical position fluctuations of over a predetermined value, and the controller further adapted to stop the at least one electric motor if the orientation sensor detects that the towing device has capsized;
• the controller further including a location sensor, and the wireless remote control including a rendezvous position set function, wherein a rendezvous position is saved in the volatile memory of the controller when the rendezvous position set function is actuated, and wherein when the at least one electric motor is commanded to shut off, the controller steers the towing device back to the rendezvous position;
• the wireless remote control including a location sensor, a follow-me function, and adapted to transmit the location of the wireless remote control to the controller of the towing device, the controller of the towing device adapted to maintain a predetermined safe distance away from the wireless remote control when the follow-me function is actuated on the wireless remote control;
• and
• one or more additional wireless remote controls included for additional riders, the controller electrically attaching to one of the wireless remote controls until a predetermined period of time has passed since a last command therefrom, the controller engaging a next wireless remote control to send commands, whereby the rider and the additional riders can alternate use of the towing device in a common area of the body of water;
• wherein the steering control on the wireless remote control includes a switch, such that left and right movement of the switch results in left and right steering of the towing device, respectively;
• whereby with the rider holding the wireless remote control and engaged with a distal end of the tow rope, commands from the wireless remote control are sent to the wireless module of the controller to control power to the at least one electric motor and steering of the towing device.

A towing device for a rider on a body of water utilizing a tow rope, the towing device comprising:

• a buoyant platform having a top side, a bottom side, and a peripheral edge that includes at least a rear end and a front end;
• at least one electric motor and prop fixed with the bottom side of the buoyant platform and adapted to propel the buoyant platform on the body of water;
• a container having an internal space and fixed with the buoyant platform and having a lid movable between an open configuration and a closed configuration, the lid when in the closed configuration forming a water-tight seal such that water is inhibited form entering the internal space of the container;
• a controller disposed within the internal space of the container and having at least a power source, a CPU, a non-volatile memory, a volatile memory, a motor driver, and a wireless module for receiving wireless commands from a wireless remote control, the controller adapted to power the at least one electric motor with the motor driver and connected to the at least one electric motor with a plurality of electric cables;
• a tow rope mount fixed with the buoyant platform proximate the rear end and adapted to engage a proximal end of the tow rope;
• a pivotable rudder fixed with or behind the prop of the at least one electric motor, the pivotable rudder controlled by a steering actuator connected with the controller, the wireless remote control having a steering control and adapted to send steering signals from the steering control to the controller to cause the controller to pivot the rudder in accordance with the steering signals;
• the controller including at least one accelerometer and at least one orientation sensor, the controller adapted to slow the at least one electric motor if the accelerometer detects vertical position fluctuations of over a predetermined value, and the controller further adapted to stop the at least one electric motor if the orientation sensor detects that the towing device has capsized;
• the controller further including a location sensor, and the wireless remote control including a rendezvous position set function, wherein a rendezvous position is saved in the volatile memory of the controller when the rendezvous position set function is actuated, and wherein when the at least one electric motor is commanded to shut off, the controller steers the towing device back to the rendezvous position;
• the wireless remote control including a location sensor, a follow-me function, and adapted to transmit the location of the wireless remote control to the controller of the towing device, the controller of the towing device adapted to maintain a predetermined safe distance away from the wireless remote control when the follow-me function is actuated on the wireless remote control;
• and
• one or more additional wireless remote controls included for additional riders, the controller electrically attaching to one of the wireless remote controls until a predetermined period of time has passed since a last command therefrom, the controller engaging a next wireless remote control to send commands, whereby the rider and the additional riders can alternate use of the towing device in a common area of the body of water;
• wherein the steering control on the wireless remote control includes a switch, such that left and right movement of the switch results in left and right steering of the towing device, respectively;
• whereby with the rider holding the wireless remote control and engaged with a distal end of the tow rope, commands from the wireless remote control are sent to the wireless module of the controller to control power to the at least one electric motor and steering of the towing device.