Bodyboard

Abstract

Disclosed is a substantially rigid to semi-rigid, lightweight bodyboard, having a durable, slick outer skin on the lower surface, a conventional upper surface and a specially shaped lower surface for maximized speed, maneuverability, and performance. The lower surface of the bodyboard at the nose has a slightly rounded or elliptical shape that is almost a flat surface which changes to a shallow trimaran hull shape in the rear two thirds of the bodyboard. The shallow trimaran includes a center hull and two sidehulls each separated by a channel and is characterized by inverse sharp edged chines at the inside edges of the side hulls to provide grip, tracking and maneuverability. The shallow trimaran is also modified by edge skegs termed infins that end abruptly before the tail to provide the bodyboard incredible hold and eliminate slide out. The shallow trimaran effect is tapered out with a slope so that it tends to flatten out towards the tail, which causes a planing effect generating lift and also trapping air to minimize wetted surface area and reduce friction. The sidehulls of the shallow trimaran have a lesser draft than the center hull such that lateral leaning causes one channel and adjacent sidehull to come out of the water to reduce wetted surface area reducing friction and increasing speed.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.