Sponge Ballast System

Abstract

A floatation device of any size or shape stabilized by a ballast system comprised of sponge contained in permeable enclosures, which enclosures in turn are secured to the underside of the device, which sponge, upon contact with water, rapidly absorbs such water and provides prompt, sufficient ballast.

1 - 7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . A method of providing supplemental ballast to a water-surface floatation device suitable for storage on or in a craft selected from the group consisting of a kayak, a canoe, a small boat and a small-engine aircraft, said method comprising the steps of:
 placing at least one compressed sponge in each of a plurality of water-permeable enclosures; and   attaching said enclosures to the underside of the floatation device so that, when exposed to water, the sponges increase in weight and become saturated to provide supplemental ballast to the floatation device and stabilize the floatation device due to the increased weight of the sponges to allow a user in the water to mount the floatation device without the opposite side of the device rising to hamper or prevent entry upon the device; and   wherein the enclosures allow entry of water to contact the sponges and allow expansion and saturation of the sponges.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the water-permeable enclosures are attached to the underside of a forward portion of the floatation device. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the floatation device is selected to have a forward portion with a bow at the front of the forward portion, a stern at the back of a rear portion, and a length that is greater than a width of the floatation device. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the floatation device is inflatable and the water-permeable enclosures are attached to the underside of a forward portion of the floatation device. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the floatation device is inflatable, and has a floor with inflatable chambers. 
     
     
         13 . A method of providing supplemental ballast to a water-surface floatation device capable of carrying only one or two human occupants and suitable for storage on or in at least one of a small craft for use on water and a small-engine aircraft, said method comprising:
 placing at least one compressed sponge in each of a plurality of water-permeable enclosures; and   attaching said enclosures to the underside of the floatation device so that, when exposed to water, the sponges increase in weight and become saturated to provide supplemental ballast to the floatation device and stabilize the floatation device due to the increased weight of the sponges to allow a user in the water to easily mount the floatation device without the opposite side of the device rising to hamper or prevent entry upon the device, and wherein the enclosures allow entry of water to contact the sponges and allow expansion and saturation of the sponges.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the water-permeable enclosures are attached to the underside of a forward portion of the floatation device. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the floatation device is selected to have a forward portion with a bow at the front of the forward portion, a stern at the back of a rear portion, and a length that is greater than a width of the floatation device. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the floatation device is inflatable and the water-permeable enclosures are attached to the underside of a forward portion of the floatation device. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the floatation device is inflatable, and has a floor with inflatable chambers. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the floatation device is configured to enable mounting the floatation device on a side opposite to where the enclosures are attached. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the floatation device is configured to enable mounting the floatation device on a side opposite to where the enclosures are attached. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the floatation device is configured to enable mounting the floatation device on a side opposite to where the enclosures are attached. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the permeable enclosures are accessible to allow removal of saturated sponge. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the permeable enclosures are accessible to allow removal of saturated sponge. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the permeable enclosures are accessible to allow removal of saturated sponge.