US 4,610,212 AGranted

Fast self righting catamaran

OwnerEnrique G. Petrovichinventor

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Abstract

This highly engineered recreational catamaran features a unique pivotable mast with a downward extending section that holds an underwater ballast. A hang glider type sail provides lift as well as thrust. Working in combination with the underwater ballast, the sail functions to deliver a high performance sailboat with high stability and ease of control. The ballast also aids in righting a capsized boat. Advanced three tier hydrolift type pontoons raise the boat partially out of the water under full sail thereby minimizing drag and maximizing speed. A convex deck and optional convex cabin facilitate righting an overturned boat. Other advanced features include retractable daggerboards for turning control, telescoping lower mast for shallow water sailing and beaching, underwater battery powered propulsion for movement in a calm wind and power assisted winches for sail lift and turning control.

Claims16

Dependent claims

In a sailboat having at least two elongated pontoons, a convex deck affixed to said pontoons to support a load, a plurality of spaced cross pieces secured to said pontoons to maintain them in a fixed spatial relationship, the improvements comprising:

(a) a mast and sail universally pivotally mounted near the center of said sailboat, said mast having a downward extension beneath said sailboat upon which is affixed an underwater ballast, the magnitude of said ballast in combination with said downward extension of said mast being so related to the height of said mast plus the area of said sail that said mast and sail will pivot downwardly and outwardly and said downward extension of said mast and said ballast will pivot upwardly and outwardly as said sailboat is subjected to wind thereby minimizing any vertical lift of the pontoon on the windward side of said sailboat, wherein the forward pivoting of said mast functions to minimize downward pressure on said bow of said sailboat;
(b) said sail comprising a kite type design functioning to provide lift as well as forward thrust while underway;
(c) said downward extension of said mast cooperating with at least one parallel ballast support rod pivotably affixed to said ballast and the bottom of said sailboat functioning to hold said ballast in a position parallel to said pontoons.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.