Catamaran with dinghy under foredeck and anchoring and mooring system

Abstract

A catamaran may have a dinghy disposed underneath its foredeck between two hulls. The dinghy, which may rest in a cradle, may be moved up and down between a stowed position and a deployed position. The stern of the catamaran may have a retractable diving board or a retractable net for retrieving fish. A video camera may provide video images of an anchor chain relative to a hull as the anchor chain is deployed from and retracted by a windlass located generally amidships. A monitor may display the video images. A microprocessor in communication with a depth sensor may calculate a length of anchor chain to be deployed and may control operation of the windlass. Acoustic or optic sensors may indicate a position of the anchor chain relative to a hull. A yoke having a specially sized carabiner may be used to connect the anchor chain to a cleat.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A water-borne vessel comprising:
 a catamaran having first and second hulls spaced apart from each other and a bow deck between said hulls; and   a dinghy disposed between said hulls and below said bow deck;   said dinghy being movable between a stowed position in which said dinghy is proximate an underside of said bow deck and a deployed position at or near a water line beneath said bow deck.   
     
     
         2 . The vessel of  claim 1  further comprising a cradle adapted for receiving and releasing said dinghy. 
     
     
         3 . The vessel of  claim 2  wherein said cradle comprises a substantially stiff bow portion that extends forward of a leading edge of said bow deck when said dinghy is in said stowed position, said bow portion being suitable to support the weight of a person. 
     
     
         4 . The vessel of  claim 3  wherein said bow portion comprises a shape complementary to a shape of said leading edge of said bow deck. 
     
     
         5 . The vessel of  claim 2  further comprising a water-tight seal between said cradle and said catamaran when said dinghy is in said stowed position, and wherein said cradle and said underside of said bow deck form a V-shaped nacelle. 
     
     
         6 . The vessel of  claim 1  wherein said dinghy is held snugly against said underside in said stowed position. 
     
     
         7 . The vessel of  claim 6  further comprising a water-tight seal between said dinghy and said catamaran, and wherein said dinghy and said underside of said bow deck form a V-shaped nacelle. 
     
     
         8 . The vessel of  claim 7  further comprising a cradle in which said dinghy is disposed, and wherein said cradle forms a portion of said V-shaped nacelle. 
     
     
         9 . The vessel of  claim 1  wherein a bow portion of said dinghy extends forward of a leading edge of said bow deck in said stowed position. 
     
     
         10 . The vessel of  claim 9  wherein said bow portion of said dinghy comprises a shape complementary to a shape of said leading edge of said bow deck. 
     
     
         11 . The vessel of  claim 9  wherein said bow portion comprises a substantially stiff dinghy bow deck suitable to support the weight of a person. 
     
     
         12 . The vessel of  claim 11  further comprising one or more switches mounted to said catamaran proximate said leading edge, said one or more switches being adapted for actuating a lift system for raising and lowering said dinghy between said stowed position and said deployed position. 
     
     
         13 . The vessel of  claim 1  wherein said dinghy comprises a motor pivotally mounted to a transom. 
     
     
         14 . The vessel of  claim 13  wherein said motor comprises an engine and a propeller, and wherein said underside of said bow deck comprises a cavity adapted for receiving said engine and said propeller in said stowed position. 
     
     
         15 . The vessel of  claim 14  further comprising a hatch attached to a pivot body of said transom wherein said hatch sealingly covers said cavity in said stowed position. 
     
     
         16 . The vessel of  claim 1  wherein said dinghy comprises a control console detachably mounted to a docking station on said dinghy. 
     
     
         17 . The vessel of  claim 16  wherein said control console is accessible from said catamaran through an opening in said bow deck. 
     
     
         18 . The vessel of  claim 17  wherein said opening is sized and configured to permit a user to board and disembark from said dinghy through said opening. 
     
     
         19 . The vessel of  claim 18  further comprising one or more switches mounted to said catamaran proximate said opening, said one or more switches being adapted for actuating a lift system for raising and lowering said dinghy between said stowed position and said deployed position. 
     
     
         20 . The vessel of  claim 16  wherein said control console is mountable to said catamaran. 
     
     
         21 . The vessel of  claim 1  further comprising a retractable diving board installed in a cavity in a stern portion of said catamaran. 
     
     
         22 . The vessel of  claim 1  further comprising a retrieval system mounted to a stern portion of said catamaran, said retrieval system comprising a spool-mounted net extendable from a retracted position to a deployed position. 
     
     
         23 . The vessel of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a windlass located generally amidships on said catamaran; 
 an anchor chain operatively engaged with said windlass; 
 an anchor attached to said anchor chain; 
 at least one video camera mounted to said catamaran and oriented to provide video images of said anchor chain in relation to at least one of said hulls as said anchor chain is deployed from and retracted by said windlass; and 
 a monitor in communication with said at least one video camera, said monitor configured for displaying said video images of said anchor chain. 
 
     
     
         24 . The vessel of  claim 23  further comprising:
 a depth sensor mounted to said catamaran and oriented to measure a depth of water under said catamaran; 
 a computer processor configured to receive a signal representative of said depth from said depth sensor and calculate a desired length of said anchor chain to be deployed based on said depth; and 
 a chain counter in communication with said windlass and configured to measure a length of anchor chain deployed from or retracted by said windlass. 
 
     
     
         25 . The vessel of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a windlass located generally amidships on said catamaran; 
 an anchor chain operatively engaged with said windlass; 
 an anchor attached to said anchor chain; and 
 at least one proximity sensor mounted to said catamaran and oriented to provide an indication of the position of said anchor chain relative to said hulls as said anchor chain is deployed from and retracted by said windlass. 
 
     
     
         26 . The vessel of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a hollow, rigid pipe comprising a proximal end configured to be grasped by a user and a distal end opposite said proximal end; 
 a rope entering said hollow, rigid pipe at said proximal end, extending through said hollow, rigid pipe, and exiting said hollow, rigid pipe at said distal end, said rope configured to removably secure said hollow, rigid pipe to a cleat on said catamaran; 
 an anchor chain carabiner connected to said hollow, rigid pipe and configured to removably secure said hollow, rigid pipe to an anchor chain mounted to said catamaran; 
 a mooring loop carabiner connected to said hollow, rigid pipe and configured to removably secure said hollow, rigid pipe to a mooring loop; and 
 a boat hook connected to said hollow, rigid pipe near said distal end of said hollow, rigid pipe.