Stabilising apparatus for watercraft

A method of manufacturing stabilising apparatus for use in stabilising water borne, objects floating on a body of water, said stabilising apparatus including a body, said body including at least one stabilising pod adapted to be readily, attachable to the water borne object via co-operation with hinging apparatus attached to at least one external side wall of the object substantially towards the stern or rear end of the object and in the region of either or both the chine line and the plane of the water line when said object is in the water, and said at least one stabilising pod adapted to co-operate with the hinging apparatus to effect pivotally hinging of the stabilising pod between a retracted, non-use, storage position against the side of the object and an extended, operating position enabling the entire lower surface of the stabilising pod to be substantially in contact with the surface of the water, said stabilising apparatus also including latching apparatus, said latching apparatus including a bracing portion adapted to maintain the body in the non-use storage position relative to the external side wall of the object to which it is attached and said latching apparatus when released further enabling the body to freely pivot towards the extended operating position wherein the bracing portion of the latching apparatus is further adapted to engage with the stabilising pod to maintain the body in the extended operating position, and said method including the steps of:

• a) producing a body including at least one substantially elongate stabilising pod, said stabilising pod including at least one internal cavity for containing a calculated volume of air, and
• b) attaching to or including integral to the body hinging means complementary with hinging means attached to the object, to enable the body to pivot between a non-use, storage position and an extended, operating position, relative to the object to which it is attached, and
• c) including latching apparatus for maintaining the body in either or both the extended operating position or the non-use storage position, and
• the method characterised by the stabilising pod(s) of the stabilising apparatus being adapted to be removably attached to the side(s) of the water borne object in the region of the either or both the chine line and the plane the waterline of the object when in use to effect use of the pod(s) as floatation devices independent of the object, as required.

A method of stabilising a stationary water borne object floating on a body of water using stabilising apparatus, said stabilising apparatus including a body, said body including at least one stabilising pod adapted to be readily attachable to the water borne object via co-operation with hinging apparatus attached to at least one external side wall of the object substantially towards the stern or rear end of the object and in the region of either or both the chine line and the plane of the water line when said object is in the water, and said at least one stabilising pod adapted to co-operate with the hinging apparatus to effect pivotally hinging of the stabilising pod between a retracted, non-use, storage position against the side of the object and an extended, operating position enabling the entire lower surface of the stabilising pod to be substantially in contact with the surface of the water, said stabilising apparatus also including latching apparatus, said latching apparatus including a bracing portion adapted to maintain the body in the non-use storage position relative to the external side wall of the object to which it is attached and said latching apparatus when released further enabling the body to freely pivot towards the extended operating position wherein the bracing portion of the latching apparatus is further adapted to engage with the stabilising pod to maintain the body in the extended operating position, and said method including the steps of:

• a) using at least one substantially elongate stabilising pod having dimensions relative to the object to effect maximum contact of the lower surface of the stabilising pod with the surface of the water when in use, and said stabilising pod including at least one internal cavity to contain a calculated volume of air to effect desired floatation and stabilisation of the object,
• b) including hinging means to engage with complementarily configured hinging means attached to the object to enable the stabilising pods of the body to pivot between a non-use, storage position and an extended, operating position, relative to the object to which it is attached, and
• c) attaching the stabilising apparatus to the object along the side(s) and towards the rear of the object equating to the region of either or both the chine line and, the plane of the water line when the object is floating in a body of water, and
• d) attaching the stabilising apparatus to the object to effect the required distance the stabilising apparatus extends from the object when in the extended operating position
• e) latching the stabilising apparatus in its extended operating position and in contact with the water
• the method characterised by the stabilising apparatus effecting a dampening and deflecting action on wave motion that would normally cause a stationary water borne object to rock.