Wake-modifying device for a boat

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9643697-B2
Application number	US-201514922451-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 26, 2015
Priority date	Oct 11, 2013
Publication date	May 9, 2017
Grant date	May 9, 2017

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 to produce a surfable wake, the method comprising:
moving a boat through a body of water;
displacing water downward under a hull of the boat and outward of sides of the hull to create a cavity behind the boat;
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 it downward about a pivot axis that is horizontal or inclined no more than about 35° from horizontal;
redirecting water as it converges into the cavity behind the boat with at least one downturned surface provided at a trailing portion of the deployed wake-modifying device to create a surfable wake on a side of the boat opposite the deployed wake-modifying device; and
pushing a surfer forward with the surfable wake.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein deploying the 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 deploying the wake-modifying device creates a trough in the water behind the deployed wake-modifying device.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the boat is moved through the water at a speed of 9 mph to 12 mph.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising changing an area of the surfable wake that is desirable for surfing by varying a deployment angle of the wake-modifying device.

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

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising adding water to at least one ballast tank or ballast bag located on the side of the boat where the surfable wake is created.

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

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising controlling at least one of (i) the wake-modifying device, (ii) ballast, and (iii) boat speed using preprogrammed settings established by a manufacturer of the boat.

10. A method of operating a recreational sport boat that includes (i) a hull having a bottom, starboard and port sides, and a transom, and (ii) 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 a plate-like member, at least one downturned surface at a trailing portion of the plate-like member, and a pivot axis that is horizontal or inclined no more than about 35° from horizontal, the method comprising:
moving the boat through a body of water;
displacing water downward under the hull of the boat and outward of starboard and port sides of the hull to create a cavity behind the boat;
deploying one of the wake-modifying devices by pivoting it about the pivot axis from a non-deployed position to a deployed position, the at least one downturned surface of the deployed wake-modifying device redirecting water converging behind the boat in the deployed position 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
pushing a surfer forward with the wake on the surf side of the boat.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein deploying the wake-modifying device rolls the boat toward the side of the boat opposite the deployed wake-modifying device.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein deploying the wake-modifying device creates a trough in the water behind the deployed wake-modifying device.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the boat is moved through the water at a speed of 9 mph to 12 mph.

14. The method of claim 10 , 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.

15. The method of claim 10 , further comprising adding water to one or more ballast tanks or ballast bags located onboard the boat.

16. The method of claim 10 , further comprising adding water to at least one ballast tank or ballast bag located on the surf side of the boat.

17. The method of claim 10 , further comprising controlling at least one of (i) the wake-modifying devices, (ii) ballast, and (iii) boat speed using user-defined programmed settings.

18. The method of claim 10 , further comprising controlling at least one of (i) the wake-modifying devices, (ii) ballast, and (iii) boat speed using preprogrammed settings established by a manufacturer of the boat.

19. A method of operating a recreational sport boat that includes (i) a hull having a bottom, starboard and port sides, and a transom, and (ii) 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 a plate-like member, at least one downturned surface at a trailing portion of the plate-like member, and a pivot axis that is horizontal or inclined no more than about 35° from horizontal, the method comprising:
moving the boat through a body of water at a speed of 9 mph to 12 mph;
displacing water downward under the hull of the boat and outward of starboard and port sides of the hull to create a cavity behind the boat;
deploying one of the wake-modifying devices by pivoting it about the pivot axis from a non-deployed position to a deployed position;
redirecting water as it converges into the cavity behind the boat with the at least one downturned surface of the deployed wake-modifying device to create a surfable wake on a side of the boat opposite the deployed wake-modifying device; and
pushing a surfer forward with the surfable wake.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein deploying one of the wake-modifying devices (i) rolls the boat toward the side of the boat opposite the deployed wake-modifying device and (ii) creates a trough in the water behind the deployed wake-modifying device.

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

• B63B1/22

  with adjustable planing surfaces · CPC title

• B63B34/70

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

• B63B1/20

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

• B63B1/286

  using flaps · CPC title