Marine vessels having a modifiable wake and devices for modifying a wake of a marine vessel
A device for modifying a wake of a marine vessel hull. The hull extends between a bow and a transom and laterally between sides. An underside of the hull extends between the sides and between the bow and the transom. The device includes an appendage with a first panel fixed to a second panel. The appendage is configured to be movably coupled to the hull to move between a stowed position and a deployed position. In the stowed position the first panel extends along one of the sides of the hull and the second panel extends along the underside of the hull. The first panel moves laterally outwardly away from the side of the hull and the second panel moves vertically away from the underside of the hull when the appendage moves toward the deployed position. Moving the appendage to the deployed position modifies the wake of the marine vessel.
1. A device for modifying a wake of a marine vessel having a hull, the hull extending between a bow and a transom in a longitudinal direction and between sides in a lateral direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, the sides each extending between a top and a bottom in a vertical direction that is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and perpendicular to the lateral direction, wherein an underside of the hull extends between the sides and between the bow and the transom, the device comprising:
an appendage having a first panel and a second panel, the first panel being fixed relative to the second panel, the appendage configured to be movably coupled to the hull and movable into and between a stowed position and a deployed position such that in the stowed position the first panel extends along one of the sides of the hull and the second panel extends along the underside of the hull, and the first panel moves laterally outwardly away from the one of the sides of the hull and the second panel moves vertically away from the underside of the hull when the appendage moves toward the deployed position, in particular so that moving the appendage from the stowed position to the deployed position causes the appendage to modify the wake of the marine vessel;
wherein the first panel comprises a top edge opposite a bottom edge, the first panel being coupled to the second panel at the bottom edge, and wherein the top edge moves farther from the hull than the bottom edge moves from the hull when the appendage is moved from the stowed position to the deployed position.
2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the appendage is pivotally coupled to the underside of the hull.
3. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the appendage pivots between 10 and 30 degrees between the stowed position and the deployed position.
4. The device according to claim 1 , further comprising an actuator operable to pivot the appendage into and between the stowed position and the deployed position, wherein the actuator is positioned entirely longitudinally forward of the transom.
5. The device according to claim 4 , wherein the actuator is a linear actuator.
6. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the first panel comprises a forward portion and an aft portion, the aft portion being longitudinally closer than the forward portion to the transom when the appendage is in the stowed position, wherein the forward portion angles laterally inwardly towards the hull relative when the appendage is in the stowed position.
7. The device according to claim 6 , wherein each of the sides of the hull have an outer surface, wherein the first panel is configured such that the forward portion is at least partially positioned laterally inward relative to the outer surface of the one of the sides of the hull when the appendage is in the deployed position so as to divert water laterally away from the one of the sides of the hull when the marine vessel is underway.
8. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the first panel comprises a top edge opposite a bottom edge, the first panel being coupled to the second panel at the bottom edge, wherein the top edge angles vertically downwardly and longitudinally towards the bow when the appendage is in the stowed position.
9. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the first panel comprises an aft edge and an opposite forward edge with a bottom edge therebetween, the first panel being coupled to the second panel at the bottom edge and the aft edge being closer than the forward edge to the transom when the appendage is in the stowed position, wherein the forward edge angles vertically downwardly and longitudinally towards the transom when the appendage is in the stowed position so as to avoid contact with the one of the sides of the hull when the appendage moves toward the deployed position.
10. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the hull includes a chine between the underside and the side, and wherein the first panel vertically extends at least 7 inches above the chine when the appendage is in the stowed position.
11. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the hull includes chine sections between the underside and the sides, respectively, and wherein the appendage further includes an intermediate panel between the first panel and the second panel such that when the appendage is in the stowed position the intermediate panel longitudinally extends along one of the chine sections.
12. A device for modifying a wake of a marine vessel having a hull, the hull extending between a bow and a transom in a longitudinal direction and between sides in a lateral direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, the sides each extending between a top and a bottom in a vertical direction that is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and perpendicular to the lateral direction, wherein an underside of the hull extends between the sides and between the bow and the transom, the device comprising an appendage having a first panel and a second panel, the first panel being fixed relative to the second panel, the appendage configured to be movably coupled to the underside of the hull and movable into and between a stowed position and a deployed position such that in the stowed position the first panel extends along one of the sides of the hull and the second panel extends along the underside of the hull, and the first panel moves laterally outwardly away from the one of the sides of the hull and the second panel moves vertically away from the underside of the hull when the appendage moves toward the deployed position, in particular so that moving the appendage from the stowed position to the deployed position causes the appendage to modify the wake of the marine vessel, wherein a centerline laterally bisects the marine vessel between the bow and the transom, and wherein the appendage pivots about a pivot axis that extends non-parallel and non-perpendicular to centerline such that pivoting the appendage towards the deployed position simultaneously causes the first panel to move laterally outwardly away from the one of the sides of the hull and the second panel to move vertically away from the underside of the hull.
13. The device according to claim 12 , wherein the pivot axis extends at an angle between 35 and 55 degrees from the centerline.
14. A device for modifying a wake of a marine vessel having a hull, the hull extending between a bow and a transom in a longitudinal direction and between sides in a lateral direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, the sides each extending between a top and a bottom in a vertical direction that is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and perpendicular to the lateral direction, wherein an underside of the hull extends between the sides and between the bow and the transom, the device comprising:
an appendage having a first panel and a second panel, the first panel being fixed relative to the second panel; and
an actuator operable to pivot the appendage into and between a stowed position and a deployed position, wherein in the stowed position the first panel extends along one of the sides of the hull and the second panel extends along the underside of the hull, and the first panel moves laterally outwardly away from the one of the sides of the hull and the second panel moves vertically away from the underside of the hull when the appendage moves toward the deployed position, in particular so that moving the appendage from the stowed position to the deployed position causes the appendage to modify the wake of the marine vessel;
wherein a cavity is formed in the hull, and wherein the actuator is positioned within the cavity such that the actuator is hidden by the appendage when in the stowed position.
15. The device according to claim 14 , wherein the cavity is open to the underside of the hull.
16. A device for modifying a wake of a marine vessel having a hull, the hull extending between a bow and a transom in a longitudinal direction and between sides in a lateral direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, the sides each extending between a top and a bottom in a vertical direction that is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and perpendicular to the lateral direction, wherein an underside of the hull extends between the sides and between the bow and the transom, the device comprising an appendage having a first panel and a second panel, the first panel being fixed relative to the second panel, the appendage configured to be movably coupled to the hull and movable into and between a stowed position and a deployed position such that in the stowed position the first panel extends along one of the sides of the hull and the second panel extends along the underside of the hull, and the first panel moves laterally outwardly away from the one of the sides of the hull and the second panel moves vertically away from the underside of the hull when the appendage moves toward the deployed position, in particular so that moving the appendage from the stowed position to the deployed position causes the appendage to modify the wake of the marine vessel, wherein a recess is formed in one of the sides of the hull, and wherein the first panel is at least partially positioned in the recess in the one of the sides of the hull when the appendage is in the stowed position.
17. The device according to claim 16 , wherein each of the sides of the hull have an outer surface, and wherein the first panel is flush with the outer surface of the one of the sides when the appendage is in the stowed position.
18. The device according to claim 16 , further comprising one or more ribs coupled to the first panel and to the second panel to prevent flexion therebetween, wherein the one or more ribs are position in the recess within the one of the sides of the hull when the appendage is in the stowed position.
19. The device according to claim 16 , wherein a recess is also formed in the underside of the hull, and wherein the second panel is at least partially received within the recess in the underside of the hull when in the stowed position.
20. A marine vessel having a modifiable wake, the marine vessel comprising:
a hull, the hull extending between a bow and a transom in a longitudinal direction and between sides in a lateral direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, the sides each extending between a top and a bottom in a vertical direction that is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and perpendicular to the lateral direction, wherein an underside of the hull extends between the sides and between the bow and the transom;
an appendage having a first panel and a second panel, the first panel being fixed relative to the second panel, and the appendage being pivotally coupled to the hull;
an actuator operable to pivot the appendage about a pivot axis into and between a stowed position and a deployed position, wherein in the stowed position the first panel extends along one of the sides of the hull and the second panel extends along the underside of the hull, wherein a centerline laterally bisects the hull between the bow and the transom, and wherein the pivot axis extends at an angle between 35 and 55 degrees from the centerline such that the first panel moves laterally outwardly away from the one of the sides of the hull and the second panel moves vertically away from the underside of the hull when the appendage moves toward the deployed position, in particular so that moving the appendage from the stowed position to the deployed position causes the appendage to modify the wake of the marine vessel;
wherein the actuator is at least partially positioned longitudinally forward of the transom, wherein recesses are formed in the one of the sides and in the underside of the hull, and wherein the appendage is configured such that the first panel and the second panel are each at least partially positioned in the recesses in the one of the sides and in the underside, respectively, when in the stowed position.