Water sports towing vessel and method
First Claim
1. A water sports vessel comprising:
- an operator station located generally amidships between opposing starboard and port sides;
a vertical support unit fitted across a beam of the vessel proximate the operator station, the vertical support unit having an upper portion at a height substantially above a level of the operator station, the vertical support adapted for securing a tow rope thereto;
a tow rope receiver carried by the upper portion of the vertical support unit for attaching a tow rope thereto and towing a performer therefrom;
at least one container onboard the vessel and proximate the starboard and port sides thereof; and
an extractor positioned for directing water into the at least one container from a body of water within which the vessel is operating for weighing down a stern of the vessel so at to modify a wake created thereby;
wherein the at least one container comprises an enclosed container having an opening therein for venting air thereto; and
further comprising a valve operable with the opening for controlling air venting to the at least one container.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Wakeboarding performance is improved using a vessel having an operator station located generally amidships, a vertical support unit fitted across a beam of the vessel near the operator station, and adjustable ballast. An upper portion of the vertical support is at a height substantially above a level of the operator station, and a container is onboard and proximate the starboard and port sides, wherein water from a body of water within which the vessel is operating is directed into the container for weighing down a stern of the vessel to provide the ballast so as to modify a wake created for a wakeboarder or the like being towed by the vessel using a tow rope attached to the upper portion of the vertical support.
-
Citations
21 Claims
-
1. A water sports vessel comprising:
-
an operator station located generally amidships between opposing starboard and port sides; a vertical support unit fitted across a beam of the vessel proximate the operator station, the vertical support unit having an upper portion at a height substantially above a level of the operator station, the vertical support adapted for securing a tow rope thereto; a tow rope receiver carried by the upper portion of the vertical support unit for attaching a tow rope thereto and towing a performer therefrom; at least one container onboard the vessel and proximate the starboard and port sides thereof; and an extractor positioned for directing water into the at least one container from a body of water within which the vessel is operating for weighing down a stern of the vessel so at to modify a wake created thereby; wherein the at least one container comprises an enclosed container having an opening therein for venting air thereto; and further comprising a valve operable with the opening for controlling air venting to the at least one container. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
-
19. A water sports vessel comprising:
-
an operator station located generally amidships between opposing starboard and port sides; a vertical support unit fitted across a beam of the vessel proximate the operator station, the vertical support unit having an upper portion at a height substantially above a level of the operator station, the vertical support adapted for securing a tow rope thereto; a tow rope receiver carried by the upper portion of the vertical support unit for attaching a tow rope thereto and towing a performer therefrom; at least one container onboard the vessel and proximate the starboard and port sides thereof; and an extractor positioned for directing water into the at least one container from a body of water within which the vessel is operating for weighing down a stern of the vessel so at to modify a wake created thereby; wherein the at least one container comprises starboard and port containers; and wherein each of the starboard and port containers comprise an elongated leg portion fitted beneath starboard and port quarter gunwales, respectively, of the vessel. - View Dependent Claims (20)
-
-
21. A water sports vessel comprising:
-
an operator station located generally amidships between opposing starboard and port sides; a vertical support unit fitted across a beam of the vessel proximate the operator station, the vertical support unit having an upper portion at a height substantially above a level of the operator station, the vertical support adapted for securing a tow rope thereto; a tow rope receiver carried by the upper portion of the vertical support unit for attaching a tow rope thereto and towing a performer therefrom; at least one container onboard the vessel and proximate the starboard and port sides thereof; and an extractor positioned for directing water into the at least one container from a body of water within which the vessel is operating for weighing down a stern of the vessel so at to modify a wake created thereby; wherein the vertical support unit comprises a generally U-shaped support structure; and wherein the generally U-shaped support structure comprises; a first U-shaped support structure fitted across the beam of the vessel at a point forward the operator station; a second U-shaped support structure fitted across the beam of the vessel at a point aft the operator station and substantially above the level of the operator station; and at least one rigid bar attached between the forward and aft U-shaped structures.
-
Specification