Wake-modifying device for a boat

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11999446-B2
Application number	US-202117536248-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 29, 2021
Priority date	Oct 11, 2013
Publication date	Jun 4, 2024
Grant date	Jun 4, 2024

Abstract

A recreational sport boat includes a hull having starboard and port sides and a transom, a generally horizontal platform, and a pair of wake-modifying devices positioned aft of the transom. The generally horizontal platform extends aft of the transom and is configured to support a human weighing at least 100 lbs. on an upper surface thereof. The pair of wake-modifying devices are attached to the platform. One of the wake-modifying devices is positioned on a port side of the platform's centerline, and another of the wake-modifying devices is positioned on a starboard side of the platform's centerline. Each wake-modifying device is moveable between a non-deployed position and a deployed position in which the wake-modifying device is angled downwardly at an angle relative to the top surface of the generally horizontal platform.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A recreational sport boat comprising:
a hull including starboard and port sides;
a propulsion unit including motor and a propulsor operatively connected to the motor to propel the boat through the water;
a tow point for towing a watersports performer; and
a platform assembly provided at an aft portion of the boat, the platform assembly including:
(a) a generally horizontal platform spanning from a port side to a starboard side of a centerline of the boat, the platform having a centerline, an underside, a leading edge, a trailing edge, a port edge, and a starboard edge, the underside having a central portion through which at least a portion of the centerline of the platform passes; and
(b) a port-side wake-modifying surface and a starboard-side wake-modifying surface provided on the underside of the platform, each of the port-side wake-modifying surface and the starboard-side wake-modifying surface protruding downward from the platform such that the lowest portion of each of the port-side wake-modifying surface and the starboard-side wake-modifying surface is lower than the central portion, each of the port-side wake-modifying surface and the starboard-side wake-modifying surface having a downward slope in a direction from the leading edge of the platform toward the trailing edge of the platform.

2. The recreational sport boat of claim 1 , wherein the port-side wake-modifying surface further has a downward slope in a direction from the centerline of the platform toward the port edge of the platform.

3. The recreational sport boat of claim 1 , wherein the starboard-side wake-modifying surface further has a downward slope in a direction from the centerline of the platform toward the starboard edge of the platform.

4. The recreational sport boat of claim 1 , wherein a lowest portion of each of the port-side wake-modifying surface and the starboard-side wake-modifying surface is on an outer third of the platform measured in a widthwise direction of the platform.

5. The recreational sport boat of claim 1 , wherein each of the port-side wake-modifying surface and the starboard-side wake-modifying surface is pivotable between a first position and a second position in which the respective wake-modifying surface is angled downwardly at an angle greater than it is in its first position.

6. The recreational sport boat of claim 1 , wherein each of the port-side wake-modifying surface and the starboard-side wake-modifying surface is stationary relative to the generally horizontal platform.

7. The recreational sport boat of claim 1 , wherein the hull further includes a transom, and the propulsor is a propeller operatively connected to the motor, the propeller being located under the hull and forward of the transom.

8. The recreational sport boat of claim 1 , further comprising:
a user input device configured to receive a set speed; and
a controller communicatively coupled to the input device to receive the set speed and configured to operate the motor to move the boat at the set speed.

9. A recreational sport boat comprising:
a hull including starboard and port sides;
a propulsion unit including motor and a propulsor operatively connected to the motor to propel the boat through the water;
a tow point for towing a watersports performer; and
a platform assembly extending aft from the boat, the platform assembly including:
(i) a generally horizontal platform spanning from a port side to a starboard side of a centerline of the boat, the platform having a centerline, an underside, a leading edge, a trailing edge, a port edge, and a starboard edge, the underside having a central portion through which at least a portion of the centerline of the platform passes;
(ii) a port-side wake-shaping surface provided on an outboard third of a port side of the centerline of the platform, at least a portion of an underside of the port-side wake-shaping surface having a convex shape that protrudes downward from the platform such that the lowest portion of the convex shape is lower than the central portion; and
(iii) a starboard-side wake-shaping surface provided on an outboard third of a starboard side of the centerline of the platform, at least a portion of an underside of the starboard-side wake-shaping surface having a convex shape that protrudes downward from the platform such that the lowest portion of the convex shape is lower than the central portion.

10. The recreational sport boat of claim 9 , wherein at least a portion of each of the port-side and starboard-side wake-shaping surfaces has a downward slope in a direction from the leading edge of the platform toward the trailing edge of the platform.

11. The recreational sport boat of claim 9 , wherein at least a portion of the port-side wake-shaping surface has a downward slope in a direction from the centerline of the platform toward the port edge of the platform, and
wherein at least a portion of the starboard-side wake-shaping surface has a downward slope in a direction from the centerline of the platform toward the starboard edge of the platform.

12. The recreational sport boat of claim 9 , wherein each of the port-side wake-shaping surface and the starboard-side wake-shaping surface is pivotable between first position and second position in which the wake-shaping surface is angled downwardly at an angle greater than it is in its first position.

13. The recreational sport boat of claim 9 , wherein each of the port-side wake-shaping surface and the starboard-side wake-shaping surface is stationary relative to the generally horizontal platform.

14. The recreational sport boat of claim 9 , wherein the hull further includes a transom, and the propulsor is a propeller operatively connected to the motor, the propeller being located under the hull and forward of the transom.

15. The recreational sport boat of claim 9 , further comprising:
a user input device configured to receive a set speed; and
a controller communicatively coupled to the input device to receive the set speed and configured to operate the motor to move the boat at the set speed.

16. A recreational sport boat comprising:
a hull including starboard and port sides;
a propulsion unit including motor and a propulsor operatively connected to the motor to propel the boat through the water;
a tow point for towing a watersports performer; and
a platform assembly extending aft from the boat, the platform assembly including:
(a) a generally horizontal platform spanning from a port side to a starboard side of a centerline of the boat, the platform having a centerline, an underside, a leading edge, a trailing edge, a port edge, and a starboard edge;
(b) a downwardly-sloping surface on a port side of the centerline of the platform, the port-side downwardly-sloping surface being sloped downwardly in a direction from the leading edge of the platform toward the trailing edge of the platform; and
(c) a downwardly-sloping surface on a starboard side of the centerline of the platform, the starboard-side downwardly-sloping surface being sloped downwardly in a direction from the leading edge of the platform toward the trailing edge of the platform,

wherein a cross section of the platform assembly taken perpendicular to the centerline of the platform and passing through each of the port-side and starboard-side downwardly-sloping surfaces has a concave shape.

17. The recreational sport boat of claim 16 , wherein each of the port-side downwardly-sloping surface and the starboard-side downwardly-sloping surface is pivotable between first position and second posi

Assignees

• Mastercraft Boat Co Llc

Inventors

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

Classifications

• B63B32/70 Primary

  Accessories not specially adapted for a particular type of board, e.g. paddings or buoyancy elements · 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