Watersports boat with enhanced wake generation characteristics and related methods and systems
AssigneeCorrect Craft IP Holdings, LLC
InventorsAaron M. Marohl, Eric J. Miller, Christopher J. Grueber, Jonathan R. Hampton, Randy E. McDaniel, Carl D. Welshan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A watersports boat is equipped with a trimmable drive used to generate a virtual ballast effect. Turbulence experienced by a wake rider on startup is reduced by automatically varying the drive orientation as the watersports boat comes up to speed. A pair of water channelers are located at the stern. One of the water channelers is deployed below the running surface to redirect water across centerline and improve wake shape on the selected side.
Claims28
A watersports boat comprising:
- a hull having a running surface and extending between a bow and a stern;
- a drive mounted at the stern and having a drive orientation trimmable through a range from above to below horizontal;
- and
- a controller located in the boat including at least one microprocessor and machine-readable memory receiving a boat speed input, the controller being configured with program instructions to automatically adjust the drive orientation further below horizontal while the boat speed is in increased with the controller in a “surf mode” of operation.
A method of operating a trimmable drive on a watersports boat, the method comprising:
- with a controller on the watersports boat in a “surf mode” of operation and receiving a boat speed input indicative of the boat speed being below a lower speed threshold, automatically adjusting a drive orientation of the trimmable drive to above horizontal;
- with the controller in the “surf mode” of operation and with the boat speed input indicative of the boat speed exceeding the lower speed threshold, automatically adjusting a drive orientation to below horizontal.
A method of enhancing wake characteristics of a watersports boat for watersports, the method comprising:
- trimming a drive of the watersports boat to at least ten degrees below horizontal;
- and
- driving the watersports boat forward with the drive trimmed to at least ten degrees below to generate a wake for a watersports rider.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.