Granted Patent B2

US 7,430,976 · App. 11/881,136 · Granted Oct 7, 2008

Assignee: Hobie Cat Co.

Abstract

Claims (8)

1. A retraction system for rudders for small boats having a hull with cockpit and deck comprising

a rudder

means connecting said rudder to the rear of a boat enabling said rudder to pivot on an axis such that when the rudder is retracted, it rotates upwardly through about 270° from a normal operating position in the water while twisting about 90° so as to lay essentially flat on said deck.

2. The retraction system of claim 1 wherein said means connecting said rudder includes a rudder mount pivotally attached to the transom of said hull.

3. The retraction system of claim 2 wherein a rudder head is pivotally attached to said rudder mount and the rudder head rotates about an axis at a compound angle defined by looking down at the rudder in the normal operating position, the rudder head rotates counterclockwise about 45° and then in the orthogonal and vertical plane rotates aft about 55°.

4. The retraction system of claim 1 having one control line to rotate the rudder up and one to rotate the rudder down, said lines being operably connected to control means adjacent said cockpit.

5. The retraction system of claim 1 having two control lines for turning the rudder while in the normal operating position to the left or right about a vertical axis, said lines being operably connected to control means adjacent said cockpit.

6. The retraction system of claim 1 wherein said rudder further has a rudder mount fixed to said hull and said rudder has affixed thereto a rudder head, said rudder mount having a hook and said rudder head having a detent whereby when said hook engages said detent, the rudder is prevented from upward movement under side loading.

Assignments (10)

Continuity (2)