Rotatable and stowable foil system and method

Abstract

A foil assembly for a watercraft includes a base assembly, a fin rotatably connected to the base assembly such that the fin can rotate longitudinally, and a slider attachment configured to connect to a fin box of a watercraft wherein the base assembly is configured to be removably disposed within the slider attachment such that the base assembly and the fin can be removed and rotated laterally to a folded position and still be retained by the slider attachment to the fin box.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A foil assembly for a watercraft, comprising:
 a base assembly;   a fin rotatably connected to the base assembly such that the fin can rotate longitudinally; and   a slider attachment configured to connect to a fin box of a watercraft wherein the base assembly is configured to be removably disposed within the slider attachment such that the base assembly and the fin can be removed and rotated laterally to a folded position and still be retained by the slider attachment to the fin box.   
     
     
         2 . The foil assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising the fin box. 
     
     
         3 . The foil assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the slider attachment is connected to the base assembly via one or more elastic bands allowing retention of the base assembly and fin to the watercraft when in the folded position. 
     
     
         4 . The foil assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the fin includes a lower fin body that defines a hollow slot for receiving a rotation plate of the base assembly. 
     
     
         5 . The foil assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the base assembly includes a base plate and an overmold. 
     
     
         6 . The foil assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the overmold defines the limits of longitudinal rotation of the fin. 
     
     
         7 . The foil assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the rotation plate includes a friction disk. 
     
     
         8 . The foil assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the base assembly includes in insertion plate for inserting the base assembly into the slider. 
     
     
         9 . The foil assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the fin includes a magnetic device in a tip of the fin for retaining the fin in the folded position against the watercraft. 
     
     
         10 . The foil assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the fin is configured to rotate 150 degrees in the longitudinal direction. 
     
     
         11 . A watercraft, comprising:
 a hull; and   a foil assembly disposed on the hull, comprising:
 a fin box; 
 a base assembly; 
 a fin rotatably connected to the base assembly such that the fin can rotate longitudinally; and 
 a slider attachment connected to the fin box of a watercraft wherein the base assembly is configured to be removably disposed within the slider attachment such that the base assembly and the fin can be removed and rotated laterally to a folded position and still be retained by the slider attachment to the fin box. 
   
     
     
         12 . The watercraft of  claim 10 , wherein the slider attachment is connected to the base assembly via one or more elastic bands allowing retention of the base assembly and fin to the watercraft when in the folded position. 
     
     
         13 . The watercraft of  claim 10 , wherein the fin includes a lower fin body that defines a hollow slot for receiving a rotation plate of the base assembly. 
     
     
         14 . The watercraft of  claim 13 , wherein the base assembly includes a base plate and an overmold. 
     
     
         15 . The watercraft of  claim 14 , wherein the overmold defines the limits of longitudinal rotation of the fin. 
     
     
         16 . The watercraft of  claim 13 , wherein the rotation plate includes a friction disk. 
     
     
         17 . The watercraft of  claim 13 , wherein the base assembly includes in insertion plate for inserting the base assembly into the slider. 
     
     
         18 . The watercraft of  claim 10 , wherein the fin includes a magnetic device in a tip of the fin for retaining the fin in the folded position against the watercraft. 
     
     
         19 . The watercraft of  claim 10 , wherein the fin is configured to rotate 150 degrees in the longitudinal direction. 
     
     
         20 . The watercraft of  claim 10 , further comprising a suction cup disposed on the hull for retaining the fin in the folded position.