Wakeboat draft measuring system and methods
AssigneeSkier's Choice, Inc.
InventorRichard L. Hartman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Wakeboat hull control systems and methods are provided to permit the accurate reproduction of a wake behind a wakeboat. The onboard wake control system receives data from a draft measuring system. Incorporation of the data from the draft measuring system permits accurate reproduction of a wake behind the wakeboat after a change in an onboard variable such as the number, weight or position of passengers, the weight or position of cargo and the position of trim tabs or amount/location of ballast.
Claims28
A wake control system for a wakeboat having a hull, said system comprising:
- an opening in the hull, said opening in the hull located below the operational waterline of the hull;
- a tube in communication with said opening providing fluid communication between the exterior and interior of the hull;
- a shutoff valve positioned between said open tube and said opening in said hull;
- and
- a draft measuring system in fluid communication with said shutoff valve.
A wake control system for a wakeboat having a hull, said system comprising:
- an opening in the hull, said opening in the hull located below the operational waterline of the hull;
- an open tube in communication with said opening providing fluid communication between the exterior and interior of the hull;
- a cap positioned on top of said open tube;
- a draft measuring system in fluid communication with said open tube, said draft measuring system comprising a pressure transducer configured to measure water pressure within said tube, said draft measuring system capable of generating a signal representative of the volume of water within said tube, said signal received and stored by said wake control system;
- a shutoff valve positioned between said open tube and said fitting;
- and
- the wake control system configured to control a wake generated from operation of said wakeboat.
A wake control system for a wakeboat having a hull, said system comprising:
- an opening in the hull, said opening in the hull located below the operational waterline of the hull;
- a draft measuring system in fluid communication with said opening in said hull, said draft measuring system capable of generating a signal, and the draft measuring system selected from the group consisting of an ultrasonic transducer and a pressure transducer;
- and
- the wake control system configured to control a wake generated from operation of said wakeboat.
A method for reproducing a wake behind a wakeboat comprising:
- providing a wakeboat;
- establishing a first wake behind said wakeboat;
- measuring the draft of the hull using said draft measuring system, said draft measuring system generating a signal representative of the measured draft;
- transmitting the signal representative of the measured draft to said onboard wake control system;
- storing the value of said measured draft in said onboard wake control system;
- changing at least one of the following variables:
- number of passengers on said wakeboat, the weight of all passengers on said wakeboat, the weight of cargo on said wakeboat, the position of passengers on said wakeboat, the position of cargo on said wakeboat;
- following the change in at least one of the variables, using said draft measuring system and said wake control system to reproduce said first wake.
A method for reproducing a wake behind a wakeboat comprising:
- providing a wakeboat;
- establishing a first wake behind said wakeboat;
- measuring the draft of the hull using said draft measuring system, said draft measuring system generating a signal representative of the measured draft;
- transmitting the signal representative of the measured draft to said onboard wake control system;
- changing at least one of the following variables:
- number of passengers on said wakeboat, the weight of all passengers on said wakeboat, the weight of cargo on said wakeboat, the position of passengers on said wakeboat, the position of cargo on said wakeboat;
- following the change in at least one of the variables, using said draft measuring system and said wake control system to reproduce said first wake.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.