SURF WAKE SYSTEM FOR A WATERCRAFT

• US 20130228116A1
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Published: 09/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malibu Boats LLC
• Original Assignee: Malibu Boats LLC
• Inventors: GASPER, DANIEL LEE, MCCALL, ADAM ANDREW, WILSON, WAYNE RICHARD, GREEN, RACHAEL MARIE
• Granted Patent: US 8,539,897 B1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 114/284
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 1/32 Other means for varying the inherent hydrodynamic characteristics of hulls
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 34/75 Arrangements of wake plates
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 39/061 by using trimflaps, i.e. flaps mounted on the rear of a boat, e.g. speed boat

Abstract

An adjustable surf wake system enhances a wake formed by a watercraft travelling through water. The system may include a flap for deflecting water traveling past the stern of the watercraft, and/or a positioner operably connected to the flap for positioning the flap relative to a longitudinal axis of the watercraft between a neutral position and an outward position. Positioning a port flap in its extended position enhances a starboard surf wake, and positioning the starboard flap in its extended position enhances a port surf wake.

Claims

1. A boat configured to modify its wake for wake surfing, the boat comprising:

a hull comprising port and starboard side strakes, a bottom, a transom aft said side strakes, and a longitudinal axis, wherein when said hull moves through water, water flows along the port and starboard side strakes and then beyond the transom to at least in part form a first wake;

starboard and port upright water diverters each movable between a first position and a second position, said second position of said starboard water diverter laterally extending beyond said starboard side strake at the transom substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of the hull, and said second position of said port water diverter laterally extending beyond said port side strake at the transom substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of the hull, wherein when said hull moves through water, said starboard diverter in said second position redirects water passing along said starboard side strake as said water moves beyond said transom to produce a port side surf wake different from said first wake and wherein when said hull moves through water, said port diverter in said second position redirects water passing along said port side strake as said water moves beyond said transom to produce a starboard side surf wake different from said first wake and different from said port side surf wake.

2. The boat of claim 1, wherein a portion of the starboard and port water diverters are located within the resting freeboard distance when the boat is not moving through water.

3. The boat of claim 1, wherein said port water diverter moves from said second position to said first position while said starboard water diverter moves from said first position to said second position while the boat moves through the water changing from a starboard side surf wake to a port side surf wake as said boat moves through water.

4. The boat of claim 1, wherein said starboard side surf wake is produced without significant starboard side pitching of the hull and wherein said port side surf wake is produced without significant port side pitching of the hull.

5. The boat of claim 1, wherein the starboard and port side water diverters are each movable to one or more interim positions between said first and said second positions.

6. The boat of claim 1, wherein a surfer activates an electronic device remote from said boat causing one of said starboard and port water diverters to move from said first position toward said second position.

8. The boat of claim 1, comprising wake modifying devices that do not provide lift to the transom as the hull moves through the water.

12. The boat of claim 1, wherein in said first position, the starboard and port water diverters do not substantially interfere with said water moving along said side strakes.

7. (canceled)

9. (canceled)

10. (canceled)

11. (canceled)

13. A surf wake system deployable on a boat, said system configured to modify a wake of said boat for wake surfing, the surf wake system comprising:

a starboard upright water diverter movable between a first position and a second position, said second position of said starboard water diverter laterally extending beyond a starboard side strake at a transom of said boat substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of a hull of said boat, wherein when said hull moves through water, said starboard diverter in said second position redirects water passing along said starboard side strake as said water moves beyond the transom of said boat to produce a port side surf wake different from said wake of said boat;

a port upright water diverter movable between a first position and a second position, said second position of said port water diverter laterally extending beyond said port side strake at the transom substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of the hull, wherein when said hull moves through water, said port diverter in said second position redirects water passing along said port side strake as said water moves beyond said transom to produce a starboard side surf wake different from said wake and different from said port side surf wake;

a controller responsive to user driver input into an input device;

a starboard side actuator responsive to signals from said controller, one end operably secured with respect to said hull and another end operably connected to said starboard water diverter, wherein actuation of said starboard side actuator moves said starboard water diverter between said first and second positions; and

a port side actuator responsive to signals from said controller, one end operably secured with respect to said hull and another end operably connected to said port water diverter, wherein actuation of said port side actuator moves said port water diverter between said first and second positions.

14. The surf wake system of claim 13, wherein said water diverters comprises flaps.

15. The surf wake system of claim 13, wherein said port water diverter moves from said second position to said first position while said starboard water diverter moves from said first position to said second position while the boat moves through the water changing from a starboard side surf wake to a port side surf wake.

16. The surf wake system of claim 15, wherein said change is responsive to a user pressing a single button on said input device.

17. The surf wake system of claim 13, wherein said starboard side surf wake is produced without significant starboard side pitching of the hull and wherein said port side surf wake is produced without significant port side pitching of the hull.

18. The surf wake system of claim 13, wherein the starboard and port side water diverters are each movable to one or more interim positions between said first and said second positions.

27. The surf wake system of claim 13, wherein the controller is responsive to input from at least one of a driver, a rider, and an operator.

19. (canceled)

20. A surf boat configured to create a wake surfable by a wake surfing rider, the surf boat comprising a hull comprising port and starboard side strakes, a bottom, a transom aft said side strakes, a longitudinal axis, and a plurality of wake modifying devices including a pair of upright water diverters each laterally extendable beyond one of said starboard or port side strakes at the transom substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said hull of said boat and laterally retractable behind said transom, said extension and said retraction capable of occurring while said surf boat moves through water.

21. The surf boat of claim 20, wherein a rider controls said lateral extension of said wake modifying devices as the rider surfs the wake.

22. The surf boat of claim 20, wherein said lateral extension includes a plurality of interim extensions.

25. The surf boat of claim 20, wherein lateral extension of a starboard side water diverter creates a port side surf wake on said port side of said boat and lateral extension of a port side water diverter creates a starboard side surf wake on said starboard side of said boat, said port and starboard side surf wakes different from one another and different from a wake the surf boat makes when traveling through water without said water diverters extended.

26. The surf boat of claim 20, configured to retract said wake diverters when said boat travels through water above a predetermined speed.

23. (canceled)

24. (canceled)