Underwater protective system to inhibit marine growth

Abstract

A protective system for underwater installation on the propeller of a boat inhibits marine growth from fouling the propeller. The system includes a flexible material sized and shaped so as to be capable of being wrapped around the front and rear surfaces of the blades of a propeller and gathered so as to substantially surround the propeller. A fastening member such as a clamp or clip is affixed to the flexible material for maintaining the flexible material in the gathered state. The system further includes a link (such as a piece of line) having one end attached to the fastening member and a free second end. The link is of sufficient length such that when the flexible material is gathered about the propeller and maintained in place with the fastening member, the free end of the link extends to a location proximate to the boat at or above the waterline of the boat (such as to the transom or deck of the boat, or to a dock against which the boat is tied) wherein the link can be retrieved by a user of the boat. The link and fastening member are constructed and arranged wherein a tug on the link by the user releases the gathered flexible material permitting the retrieval of the link, and the fastening member and the flexible material as a unit from the propeller without the aid of a diver.

1 . A protective system for underwater installation on the propeller of a boat, the boat having a waterline, the propeller having blades with front and rear surfaces, comprising:
 a flexible material sized and shaped so as to be capable of being wrapped around the front and rear surfaces of the blades of the propeller and gathered so as to substantially surround the propeller;   a member for maintaining the flexible material in the gathered state; and   a link having one end attached to at least one of the member and the flexible material, the link having sufficient length such that when the flexible material is gathered about the propeller and maintained in place with the member the link extends to a location proximate to the boat at or above the waterline of the boat wherein the link can be retrieved by a user of the boat;   wherein the link, flexible material and member are constructed and arranged wherein a tug on the link by the user releases the gathered flexible material from the propeller permitting the retrieval of the link, and the member and the flexible material as a unit from the propeller without the aid of a diver.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the link comprises a flexible line and wherein the flexible line is of sufficient length to extend from at least one of the member and the flexible material to a position on the deck of the boat. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the link comprises a length of webbing and wherein the webbing is of sufficient length to extend from at least one of the member and the flexible material to a position on the deck of the boat. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the link comprises a rigid member of sufficient length to extend from at least one of the member and the flexible material to a position substantially above the waterline of the boat. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible material comprises a material specifically designed and suited for application of antifouling paint. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising antifouling paint applied to the flexible material. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible material comprises first and second opposed panels of material each and first and second adjacent edges, the first and second adjacent edges being joined together; and
 wherein the first and second panels comprises a corner portion and wherein the member is affixed to the corner portion.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the member comprises a clamp having first and second levers which operate to open the clamp, and wherein the link is attached to one or both of the first and second levers. 
     
     
         9 . A method of inhibiting marine growth on a propeller of a boat, the boat having a waterline, the propeller having two or more blades each having front and rear surfaces, comprising:
 while the boat is in water, wrapping a flexible material around the front and rear surfaces of the blades of the propeller and gathering the material so that the material substantially surrounds the propeller;   maintaining the flexible material in the gathered state with the aid of a member;   leading a link having one end attached to at least one of the member and the flexible material to a location at or above the waterline of the boat wherein the link can be retrieved by a user of the boat;   wherein the link, flexible material and member are constructed and arranged wherein a tug on the link by the user releases the gathered flexible material from the propeller permitting the retrieval of the link, and the member and attached flexible material as a unit from the propeller without the aid of a diver.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the link comprises a flexible line and wherein the flexible line is led to a position above the waterline of the boat. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the link comprises a length of webbing and wherein the webbing is led to a position above the waterline of the boat. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the link comprises a rigid member and wherein the rigid member is led to a position substantially above the waterline of the boat. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the flexible material comprises a material specifically designed and suited for application of antifouling paint. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the maintaining step comprises clamping the flexible material with a clamp having first and second levers which operate to open and close the clamp, and wherein the link is attached to one or both of the first and second levers. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the wrapping, maintaining and leading steps are performed by a diver. 
     
     
         16 . A kit comprising a set of the underwater protective systems as recited in  claim 1  designed to fit different size propellers. 
     
     
         17 . The kit of  claim 16 , wherein a first portion of the kit is designed to fit propellers having a diameter under 20 inches and second portion of the kit is designed to fit propellers having a diameter of at least 20 inches. 
     
     
         18 . Underwater protective apparatus, comprising a flexible material adapted to surround an underwater component of the boat remote from a propeller of the boat and a link extending from the flexible material to a location at or above the waterline of the boat where the second link can be retrieved by the user. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the apparatus further comprises a fastening member affixed to the flexible material and wherein the link is a attached to the fastening member. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the flexible material further comprises a rim and an elastomeric band in the rim enabling the flexible material to snugly envelop the component. 
     
     
         21 . A protective system for underwater installation on the propeller of a boat, the boat having a waterline, the propeller having blades with front and rear surfaces, comprising:
 a flexible material sized and shaped so as to be capable of being wrapped around the front and rear surfaces of the blades of the propeller and gathered so as to substantially surround propeller;   a member for maintaining the flexible material in the gathered state; and   instructions for a user to attach one end of a link to at least one of the member and the flexible material, the link having sufficient length such that when the flexible material is gathered about the propeller and maintained in place with the member, the link extends to a location proximate to the boat at or above the waterline of the boat wherein the link can be retrieved by a user of the boat whereby a tug on the link by the user releases the gathered flexible material from the propeller permitting the retrieval of the link, the member and the flexible material as a unit from the propeller without the aid of a diver.