Wake-modifying device for a boat
View Patent ↗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.
1. A recreational sport boat comprising:
a hull including starboard and port sides and a transom;
a generally horizontal platform extending aft of the transom and spanning from a port side to a starboard side of a centerline of a boat, the generally horizontal platform configured to support a human weighing at least 100 lbs. on an upper surface thereof; and
a pair of wake-modifying devices pivotably attached to the platform, one of the wake-modifying devices being positioned on a port side of a centerline of the platform and another of the wake-modifying devices being positioned on a starboard side of the platform's centerline,
wherein each wake-modifying device is pivotable between a non-deployed position and a deployed position in which the wake-modifying device is pivoted downwardly at an angle relative to its non-deployed position, and
wherein the port-side wake-modifying device is pivotable about an axis that extends in a generally horizontal direction at an angle of 30 to 60 degrees counterclockwise relative to the platform's centerline as viewed from above, and the starboard-side wake-modifying device is pivotable about an axis that extends in a generally horizontal direction at an angle of 30 to 60 degrees clockwise relative to the platform's centerline as viewed from above.
2. The recreational sport boat of claim 1 , wherein each wake-modifying device is capable of assuming multiple deployed positions, and in each different deployed position the wake-modifying device is pivoted downwardly at a different angle relative to its non-deployed position.
3. The recreational sport boat of claim 1 , wherein each wake-modifying device is attached to an outer third of the platform measured in a widthwise direction of the platform.
4. The recreational sport boat of claim 1 , wherein a leading edge of each wake-modifying device is positioned one to three feet behind the transom.
5. The recreational sport boat of claim 1 , wherein, in their non-deployed positions, an outer contour of each wake-modifying device corresponds to an outer contour of the platform.
6. The recreational sport boat of claim 1 , wherein each wake-modifying device forms a part of, and a top surface is co-planar with, the upper surface of the platform when the wake-modifying device is in its non-deployed position.
7. The recreational sport boat of claim 1 , wherein each wake-modifying device has an outer contour that is one of substantially triangular and substantially parabolic.
8. The recreational sport boat of claim 1 , wherein an underside of each wake-modifying device is at least one of generally convex, generally flat, generally concave, and asymmetrical.
9. The recreational sport boat of claim 1 , further comprising a pair of mechanical levers, each mechanical lever being operable to move a respective one of the wake-modifying devices between its non-deployed position and its deployed position.
10. The recreational sport boat of claim 1 , further comprising a pair of linear actuators, each linear actuator being operable to move a respective one of the wake-modifying devices between its non-deployed position and its deployed position.
11. The recreational sport boat of claim 10 , further comprising an operator station including a controller configured to control the operation of each linear actuator.
12. The recreational sport boat of claim 1 , further comprising an additional pair of wake-modifying devices, one of the additional wake-modifying devices being attached to the transom on the port side of the hull's centerline and another of the additional wake-modifying devices being attached to the transom on the starboard side of the hull's centerline.
13. The recreational sport boat of claim 1 , wherein the wake-modifying device is oriented generally parallel to the platform in the non-deployed position.
14. The recreational sport boat of claim 1 , wherein the wake-modifying device is angled downwardly at an angle relative to the upper surface of the generally horizontal platform in the deployed position.
15. A recreational sport boat comprising:
a hull including starboard and port sides and a transom;
a generally horizontal platform extending aft of the transom and spanning from a port side to a starboard side of a centerline of a boat, the generally horizontal platform configured to support a human weighing at least 100 lbs. on an upper surface thereof; and
a pair of wake-modifying devices attached to the platform, one of the wake-modifying devices being positioned on a port side of a centerline of the platform and another of the wake-modifying devices being positioned on a starboard side of the platform's centerline, each wake-modifying device being configured to linearly translate between a non-deployed position and a deployed position at a downward angle relative to the upper surface of the generally horizontal platform.
16. The recreational sport boat of claim 15 , wherein each wake-modifying device is attached to an outer third of the platform measured in a widthwise direction of the platform.
17. The recreational sport boat of claim 15 , wherein a leading edge of each wake-modifying device is positioned one to three feet behind the transom.
18. The recreational sport boat of claim 15 , wherein each wake-modifying device, in the deployed position is oriented at an oblique angle to the platform's centerline.
19. The recreational sport boat of claim 18 , wherein the oblique angle of the port-side wake-modifying device extends in a generally horizontal direction at an angle of 30 to 60 degrees counterclockwise relative to the platform's centerline as viewed from above, and the oblique angle of the starboard-side wake-modifying device extends in a generally horizontal direction at an angle of 30 to 60 degrees clockwise relative to the platform's centerline as viewed from above.
20. The recreational sport boat of claim 15 , wherein each wake-modifying device has an outer contour that is one of substantially triangular and substantially parabolic.
21. The recreational sport boat of claim 15 , wherein an underside of each wake-modifying device is at least one of generally convex, generally flat, generally concave, and asymmetrical.
22. A recreational sport boat comprising:
a hull including starboard and port sides and a transom;
a generally horizontal platform extending aft of the transom and spanning from a port side to a starboard side of a centerline of a boat, the generally horizontal platform configured to support a human weighing at least 100 lbs. on an upper surface thereof; and
a pair of wake-modifying devices pivotably attached to the platform, one of the wake-modifying devices being positioned on a port side of a centerline of the platform and another of the wake-modifying devices being positioned on a starboard side of the platform's centerline,
wherein each wake-modifying device is pivotable between a non-deployed position and a deployed position in which the wake-modifying device is pivoted downwardly at an angle relative to its non-deployed position,
wherein each wake-modifying device is pivotable about an axis that is oriented at an oblique angle to the platform's centerline, and
wherein each wake-modifying device forms a part of, and a top surface is co-planar with, the upper surface of the platform when the wake-modifying device is in its non-deployed position.
23. The recreational sport boat of claim 22 , wherein, in their non-deployed positions, an outer contour of each wake-modifying device corresponds to an outer contour of the platform.
24. The recreational sport boat of claim 22 , wherein an underside of each wake-modifying device is at least one of generally convex, generally flat, generally concave, and asymmetrical.