Adjustable multihull running surface device for watercraft and related methods

Abstract

The present invention provides a hull-conversion device and method for modifying the underside of a watercraft, more specifically a multihull watercraft. The hull-conversion device comprising a water diverting surface, a kinematic assemblage, and a frame. The hull-conversion device may be operable to adjust the watercraft's characteristics in displacement mode and planing mode. The hull-conversion device may function to provide a more stable, controllable, and efficient platform for operating a multihull watercraft, and provide a suitable wake for towable water sports.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A hull conversion assembly for a multihull watercraft, the device comprising:
 a. a deployable hull conversion assembly comprising water diverting surfaces movably secured to a central structure of said multihull watercraft and operable to modify an underside of said multihull watercraft when deployed, said deployable water diverting surface being movable between a stowed position and a deployed position; and   b. a deployment mechanism for deploying the water diverting surface to said deployed position to transform the hull geometry of said multihull water craft to a single hull configuration.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said deployable hull conversion assembly includes a port side adjustable water diverting surface and a starboard side adjustable water diverting surface each having a plurality of water diverting plates, each of said water diverting plates having a deck face, a water face, a front edge, a port edge, a starboard edge, and a trailing edge. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein each of said plurality of water diverting plates is pivotally and/or slidably attached to adjacent plates on said plates port edge, starboard edge. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein in said deployed position, said hull conversion assembly has a port side outer portion that contacts a port side float of said watercraft, and a starboard outer portion contacts a starboard side float of said watercraft. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein in said non-deployed position, the water diverting surfaces are stowed at or near said central structure of said multihull watercraft. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein said deployment mechanism includes a kinematic chain assemblage, at least one primary linear actuator having one proximal end pivotally attached to the underside of said multihull watercraft, and one distal end slidably and pivotally attached to a dynamic attachment affixed to said water diverting surface, and at least one secondary linear actuator between adjacent plates of said hull conversion assembly, having one proximal end pivotally attached to a deck face of a first plate, and one distal end slidably and pivotally attached to a second plate. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein said kinematic chain assemblage includes a series of linkages and mechanisms operable to cooperate with said linear actuators to expand said water diverting plates on a predetermined path from said stowed position to said deployed position. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein said kinematic chain assemblage is attached between adjacent plates of the hull conversion assembly, and intermediately attached between said water diverting surface and said underside of a midline of said watercraft. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said deployment mechanism is operable to modify the angle of said water diverting surface with respect to a deck of said watercraft. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said single hull configuration is operable lift the forward bow to squat said multihulled watercraft when in a planing mode, and generate a surfable wake. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said hull conversion assembly includes a frontal water diverting plate for redirecting water and sealing a front edge of said water diverting surface. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein said frontal water diverting plate, has a curved geometry, is rotatably connected to the underside of said multihull watercraft, and operable to seal said front edge of said water diverting surface at its front edge. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein said frontal water diverting plate has an initial position for allowing a clearance of said water diverting surface deployment and final position for said sealing said front edge of said water diverting surface. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein an electronic controller is used to activate said at least one primary linear actuator and said at least one secondary linear actuator to deploy said hull conversion assembly. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a controller operable to activate deployment mechanism to change said water diverting surface from said stowed position to said deployed position to adjust a pitch of the watercraft with respect to the waterline during motion. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said hull conversion assembly is operable to deploy when said watercraft is statically position in said water moving, and out of the water. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said multihull watercraft has a plurality of trimming devices positioned aft of the transom, and sternly attached about said portside float and said starboard side float. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein said trimming device is configured in a fixed orientation to create an upward force on the stern of the boat as the boar moves through the water. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein said trimming device is pivotally fastened and configured to swivel between a deployed and non-deployed position with a drive corresponding to said trimming devices. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein said trimming device functions to redistribute the force of said water on multihull watercraft and overcome said squat angle of said multihull watercraft when in displacement and planning mode. 
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said multihull watercraft is operable to pull skiers when said hull conversion assembly is in said deployed position. 
     
     
         22 . A hull-conversion device for a multihull watercraft, the device comprising:
 a. a water diverting surface in a V-hull configuration for modifying the underside of said multihull watercraft; and   b. a frame for securing and positioning said water diverting surface to an underside of a deck of said multihull watercraft.   
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 22 , wherein said water diverting surface may be a continuous surface in a V-hull shape, having a port edge, and a starboard edge for sealing with a port side float and a starboard side float of said multihull watercraft. 
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 22 , wherein said frame comprises a plurality of members including an inner rail, an outer rail, and a crossmember; the outer rail section embracing the inner rail section for slidably engaging with the inner rail for telescopically adjusting the distance of said water diverting surface with said deck. 
     
     
         25 . The device of  claim 22 , wherein said plurality of members are configured to be secured using a fixed fastener and/or temporary fastener. 
     
     
         26 . The device of  claim 22 , wherein hull-conversion device includes a frontal water diverting plate for redirecting water and sealing a front edge of said water diverting surface. 
     
     
         27 . The device of  claim 22 , wherein V-hull configuration is operable to modify the underside surface curvature of said multihull watercraft, lift the forward bow to squat said multihulled watercraft when in displacement and planing mode, and generate a surfable wake. 
     
     
         28 . The device of  claim 22 , wherein said multihull watercraft includes a plurality of trimming device position aft of the transom, and sternly attached about said port side float and said starboard side float. 
     
     
         29 . The device of  claim 28 , wherein said trimming device is configured in a fixed orientation to create an upward force on the boat as the boat moves through the water. 
     
     
         30 . The device of  claim 28 , wherein said trimming device is pivotally fastened and configured to swivel between a deployed and non-deployed position with a drive mechanism corresponding to said trimming devices. 
     
     
         31 . The device of  claim 28 , wherein said trimming device functions to redistribute the force of said water on multihull watercraft and overcome said squat angle of said multihull watercraft when in displacement and planning mode. 
     
     
         32 . The device of  claim 22 , wherein said multihull watercraft is operable to pull towable water sports, for riding said surfable wake. 
     
     
         33 . A method of converting a multihull watercraft to a single-hull watercraft, comprising:
 a. deploying a hull conversion assembly having water diverting surfaces movably secured to a central structure of said multihull watercraft to modify an underside of said multihull watercraft, transforming the hull geometry of said multihull water craft to a single hull configuration, said water diverting surfaces being deployable between a stowed position and a deployed position.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein said hull conversion assembly includes a port side adjustable water diverting surface and a starboard side adjustable water diverting surface each having a plurality of water diverting plates, each of said water diverting plates having a deck face, a water face, a front edge, a port edge, a starboard edge, and a trailing edge. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein each of said plurality of water diverting plates is pivotally and/or slidably attached to adjacent plates on said plates port edge, starboard edge. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein in a deployed position, said hull conversion assembly has a port side outer portion that contacts a port side float of said watercraft, and a starboard outer portion contacts a starboard side float of said watercraft. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising retracted said hull conversion assembly to a stowed position at or near said central structure of said multihull watercraft. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein a deployment mechanism for said hull conversion assembly includes a kinematic chain assemblage, at least one primary linear actuator having one proximal end pivotally attached to the underside of said multihull watercraft, and one distal end slidably and pivotally attached to a dynamic attachment affixed to said water diverting surface, and at least one secondary linear actuator between adjacent plates of said hull conversion assembly, having one proximal end pivotally attached to a deck face of a first plate, and one distal end slidably and pivotally attached to a second plate. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein said kinematic chain assemblage includes a series of linkages and mechanisms operable to cooperate with said linear actuators to expand said water diverting plates on a predetermined path from said stowed position to said deployed position. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein said kinematic chain assemblage is attached between adjacent plates of the water diverting surface, and intermediately attached between said water diverting surface and said underside of a midline of said watercraft. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising modifying the angle of said water diverting surfaces with respect to a deck of said watercraft. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein said single hull configuration is operable lift the forward bow to squat said multihulled watercraft when in a planing mode, and generate a surfable wake. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein said hull conversion assembly includes a frontal water diverting plate for redirecting water and deploying sealing a front edge of said water diverting surface. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein said frontal water diverting plate, has a curved geometry, is rotatably connected to the underside of said multihull watercraft, and operable to seal said front edge of said water diverting surface at its front edge. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein said frontal water diverting plate has an initial position for allowing a clearance of said hull conversion assembly deployment and final position for said sealing said front edge of said hull conversion assembly. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising using a graphical user interface to direct an electronic controller to deploy said hull conversion assembly. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising using an electronic controller to activate deployment mechanism to deploy hull conversion assembly from said stowed position to said deployed position to adjust a pitch of the watercraft with respect to the waterline during motion. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein said hull conversion assembly is operable to deploy when said watercraft is statically positioned in said water moving, and when out of the water. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising positioning at least one pivoting trimming device between a deployed and non-deployed position using an electronic controller. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein said trimming device functions to redistribute the force of said water on multihull watercraft and overcome said squat angle of said multihull watercraft when in a displacement and planing mode. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein said multihull vessel is operable to pull skiers when said hull conversion assembly is in said deployed position.