Wake-modifying device for a boat

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11708136-B2
Application number	US-202117152975-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 20, 2021
Priority date	Oct 11, 2013
Publication date	Jul 25, 2023
Grant date	Jul 25, 2023

Abstract

A recreational sport boat includes a hull, having starboard and port sides and a transom, and a pair of wake-modifying devices positioned aft of the transom. One of the wake-modifying devices is positioned on a port side of the boat's centerline and another of the wake-modifying devices is positioned on a starboard side of the boat's centerline. Each wake-modifying device includes a plate-like member and at least one downturned surface at a trailing portion of the plate-like member. Each wake-modifying device is pivotable between a non-deployed position and a deployed position about a pivot axis that is horizontal or inclined no more than about 35° from horizontal. When a wake-modifying device is in the deployed position, the downturned surface is lower than it is in the non-deployed position so as to be able to modify the boat's wake.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of operating a recreational sport boat that includes (a) a hull having a bottom, starboard and port sides, and a transom, and (b) a pair of wake-modifying devices positioned aft of the transom, one of the wake-modifying devices being positioned on a port side of the boat's centerline and another of the wake-modifying devices being positioned on a starboard side of the boat's centerline, each wake-modifying device having (i) a plate-like member, (ii) at least one surface that extends a distance below the plate-like member, at least a part of the surface being proximate a trailing, inboard portion of the plate-like member, and (iii) a pivot axis that is horizontal or inclined no more than about 35° from horizontal, the method comprising:
deploying one of the wake-modifying devices by pivoting it about the pivot axis from a non-deployed position to a deployed position, the wake-modifying device being deployed such that the plate-like member and the surface that extends a distance below the plate-like member are positioned to interact with water flowing under the hull to modify the wake on a surf side of the boat, the surf side of the boat being the side of the boat opposite the deployed wake-modifying device; and
moving the boat through the body of water while a surfer is carried forward by the modified wake on the surf side of the boat.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the deployed wake-modifying device rolls the boat toward the side of the boat opposite the deployed wake-modifying device.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the boat is moved through the water at a speed of 9 mph to 12 mph while the surfer is carried forward by the modified wake on the surf side of the boat.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising changing an area of the wake on the surf side of the boat that is desirable for surfing by varying a deployment angle of the deployed wake-modifying device.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising adding water to one or more ballast tanks or ballast bags located onboard the boat.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising controlling at least one of (i) the wake-modifying devices, (ii) ballast, and (iii) boat speed using user-defined programmed settings.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising redirecting water in an outboard direction with a plurality of fins attached to an underside of the plate-like member of the deployed wake-modifying device.

8. A method of operating a recreational sport boat that includes (a) a hull having a bottom, starboard and port sides, and a transom, and (b) a pair of wake-modifying devices positioned aft of the transom, one of the wake-modifying devices being positioned on a port side of the boat's centerline and another of the wake-modifying devices being positioned on a starboard side of the boat's centerline, each wake-modifying device having (i) a plate-like member, (ii) at least one surface that extends a distance below the plate-like member, at least a part of the surface being proximate a trailing portion of the plate-like member, and (iii) a pivot axis, the method comprising:
deploying one of the wake-modifying devices by pivoting it about the pivot axis from a non-deployed position to a deployed position such that at least a portion of the deployed wake-modifying device is positioned to interact with water flowing under the hull and to create a surfable wake on a side of the boat opposite the deployed wake-modifying device; and
moving the boat through the body of water while a surfer is carried forward by the surfable wake.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the deployed wake-modifying device rolls the boat toward the side of the boat opposite the deployed wake-modifying device.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the boat is moved through the water at a speed of 9 mph to 12 mph while the surfer is carried forward by the surfable wake.

11. The method of claim 8 , further comprising changing an area of the surfable wake that is desirable for surfing by varying a deployment angle of the deployed wake-modifying device.

12. The method of claim 8 , further comprising adding water to one or more ballast tanks or ballast bags located onboard the boat.

13. The method of claim 8 , further comprising controlling at least one of (i) the wake-modifying devices, (ii) ballast, and (iii) boat speed using user-defined programmed settings.

14. The method of claim 8 , further comprising redirecting water in an outboard direction with a plurality of fins attached to an underside of the plate-like member of the deployed wake-modifying device.

15. A method of operating a recreational sport boat to produce a surfable wake, the method comprising:
deploying a wake-modifying device on one of a port or starboard side of the boat's centerline by pivoting at least a portion of the wake-modifying device downward about a pivot axis that is horizontal or inclined no more than about 35° from horizontal, the wake-modifying device being deployed such that (i) a trailing portion of a plate-like member of the wake-modifying device is lower than it is prior to deployment and (ii) a surface proximate the trailing portion of the plate-like member extends a distance below the plate-like member;
redirecting water as it converges behind the boat with the deployed wake-modifying device to create a surfable wake on a side of the boat opposite the deployed wake-modifying device; and
moving the boat through the water while a surfer forward is carried forward by the surfable wake.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the deployed wake-modifying device rolls the boat toward the side of the boat opposite the deployed wake-modifying device.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the boat is moved through the water at a speed of 9 mph to 12 mph while the surfer is carried forward by the surfable wake.

18. The method of claim 15 , further comprising changing an area of the surfable wake that is desirable for surfing by varying a deployment angle of the deployed wake-modifying device.

19. The method of claim 15 , further comprising adding water to one or more ballast tanks or ballast bags located onboard the boat.

20. The method of claim 15 , further comprising controlling at least one of (i) the wake-modifying devices, (ii) ballast, and (iii) boat speed using user-defined programmed settings.

21. The method of claim 15 , further comprising redirecting water in an outboard direction with a plurality of fins attached to an underside of the plate-like member of the deployed wake-modifying device.

22. The method of claim 8 , wherein at least a part of the surface extending a distance below the plate-like member is located in the trailing portion of the plate-like member.

23. The method of claim 22 , wherein the surface extending a distance below the plate-like member is a surface of a fin.

24. The method of claim 23 , wherein each wake-modifying device includes a plurality of the fins.

25. The method of claim 23 , wherein each wake-modifying device further includes a downturned surface located in a forward portion of the plate-like member.

26. The method of claim 25 , wherein the downturned surface is located in an inboard portion of the plate-like member.

27. The method of claim 26 , wherein the downturned surface is at an inboard edge of the plate-like member.

28. The method of claim 15 , wherein at least a part of the

Assignees

• Mastercraft Boat Co Llc

Inventors

• Sheedy Darren S
• Huyge Matthew J
• Myers Michael D
• Schwenk Zane E

Classifications

• B63B39/061 Primary

  by using trimflaps, i.e. flaps mounted on the rear of a boat, e.g. speed boat · CPC title

• B63B1/20

  having more than one planing surface (B63B1/22 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B63B1/22

  with adjustable planing surfaces · CPC title

• B63B34/75 Primary

  Arrangements of wake plates · CPC title

• B63B34/70

  Arrangements on vessels specially adapted for generating waves for surfing, wakeboarding or the like, e.g. ballast tanks · CPC title