Wake-Modifying Device for a Boat

Abstract

A recreational sport boat includes a hull, having starboard and port sides and a transom, and a wake-modifying devices positioned aft of the transom. The wake-modifying device includes a plate-like member and at least one downturned surface. The wake-modifying device is pivotable between a non-deployed position and a deployed position about a pivot axis. When a wake-modifying device is in the deployed position, the downturned surface is lower than it is in the non-deployed position so as to be able to modify the boat's wake.

1 .- 30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . A recreational sport boat comprising:
 a hull including starboard and port sides and a transom; and   a pair of wake-modifying devices positioned aft of the transom, one of the wake-modifying devices being positioned on a port side of the boat's centerline and another of the wake-modifying devices being positioned on a starboard side of the boat's centerline, each wake-modifying device being pivotable between a non-deployed position and a deployed position about a pivot axis that is horizontal or inclined no more than about 35° from horizontal, each wake-modifying device including:
 a plate-like member having a tapered section with a leading part and a trailing part, the leading part of the tapered section being wider than the trailing part of the tapered section, the tapered section being defined between an inboard edge and an outboard edge, the inboard edge and the outboard edge being arranged asymmetrically relative to each other about a centerline of the wake-modifying device, 
 wherein in the deployed position, a trailing portion of the plate-like member is lower than it is in the non-deployed position so as to be able to modify the boat's wake creating a wake that is suitable for wake surfing. 
   
     
     
         32 . The recreational sport boat of  claim 31 , wherein the inboard edge forms a first oblique angle with the pivot axis, the outboard edge forms a second oblique angle with the pivot axis, and the first oblique angle is different from the second oblique angle. 
     
     
         33 . The recreational sport boat of  claim 32 , wherein the first oblique angle is greater than or equal to 60° and less than 90°. 
     
     
         34 . The recreational sport boat of  claim 32 , wherein the second oblique angle is from 30° to 45°. 
     
     
         35 . The recreational sport boat of  claim 32 , wherein the first oblique angle is greater than the second oblique angle. 
     
     
         36 . The recreational sport boat of  claim 32 , wherein tapered section is located in the trailing portion of the plate-like member. 
     
     
         37 . The recreational sport boat of  claim 36 , wherein the tapered section further includes a trailing edge oriented at obtuse angle relative to each of the inboard edge and the outboard edge. 
     
     
         38 . The recreational sport boat of  claim 36 , wherein each wake-modifying device further includes at least one downturned surface extending from an edge of the plate-like member. 
     
     
         39 . The recreational sport boat of  claim 38 , wherein the at least one downturned surface extends from the inboard edge. 
     
     
         40 . The recreational sport boat of  claim 31 , wherein each wake-modifying device further includes a plurality of fins attached to a lower surface of the plate-like member. 
     
     
         41 . The recreational sport boat of  claim 31 , wherein each wake-modifying device further includes at least one fin attached to a lower surface of the plate-like member. 
     
     
         42 . The recreational sport boat of  claim 41 , wherein the at least one fin is oriented at an oblique angle relative to the pivot axis and extends in a direction aft and outboard from the pivot axis. 
     
     
         43 . A recreational sport boat comprising:
 a hull including starboard and port sides and a transom; and   a pair of wake-modifying devices positioned aft of the transom, one of the wake-modifying devices being positioned on a port side of the boat's centerline and another of the wake-modifying devices being positioned on a starboard side of the boat's centerline, each wake-modifying device being pivotable between a non-deployed position and a deployed position about a pivot axis that is horizontal or inclined no more than about 35° from horizontal, each wake-modifying device including:
 a plate-like member having a plurality of rectilinear edge segments including a first rectilinear edge segment and a second rectilinear edge segment, the first rectilinear edge segment forming a first oblique angle with the pivot axis, and the second rectilinear edge segment forming a second oblique angle with the pivot axis, the first oblique angle being greater than the second oblique angle, 
 wherein in the deployed position, a trailing portion of the plate-like member is lower than it is in the non-deployed position so as to be able to modify the boat's wake creating a wake that is suitable for wake surfing. 
   
     
     
         44 . The recreational sport boat of  claim 43 , wherein the first oblique angle is greater than or equal to 60° and less than 90°. 
     
     
         45 . The recreational sport boat of  claim 43 , wherein the second oblique angle is from 30° to 45°. 
     
     
         46 . The recreational sport boat of  claim 43 , wherein the first rectilinear edge segment is an outboard edge segment and the second rectilinear edge segment is an inboard edge segment. 
     
     
         47 . The recreational sport boat of  claim 43 , wherein at least one of the plurality of rectilinear edge segments has a downturned surface extending therefrom. 
     
     
         48 . The recreational sport boat of  claim 47 , wherein one of the rectilinear edge segments with the downturned surface extending therefrom is located in a leading portion of the plate-like member. 
     
     
         49 . The recreational sport boat of  claim 47 , wherein one of the rectilinear edge segments with the downturned surface extending therefrom is located in the trailing portion of the plate-like member. 
     
     
         50 . The recreational sport boat of  claim 43 , wherein each of two or more of the plurality of rectilinear edge segments has a downturned surface extending therefrom. 
     
     
         51 . The recreational sport boat of  claim 50 , wherein two of the rectilinear edge segments with the downturned surface extending therefrom are located in a leading portion of the plate-like member. 
     
     
         52 . The recreational sport boat of  claim 43 , wherein each of the first rectilinear edge segment and the second rectilinear edge segment is located in the trailing portion of the plate-like member. 
     
     
         53 . The recreational sport boat of  claim 52 , wherein the plurality of rectilinear edge segments include a third rectilinear edge segment located in the trailing portion of the plate-like member between the first rectilinear edge segment and the second rectilinear edge segment, and the first rectilinear edge segment and/or the second rectilinear edge segment form an obtuse angle with the third rectilinear edge segment. 
     
     
         54 . The recreational sport boat of  claim 53 , wherein the third rectilinear edge segment is parallel to the pivot axis. 
     
     
         55 . The recreational sport boat of  claim 41 , wherein each wake-modifying device further includes a plurality of fins attached to a lower surface of the plate-like member. 
     
     
         56 . The recreational sport boat of  claim 41 , wherein each wake-modifying device further includes at least one fin attached to a lower surface of the plate-like member. 
     
     
         57 . The recreational sport boat of  claim 56 , wherein the at least one fin is oriented at an oblique angle relative to the pivot axis and extends in a direction aft and outboard from the pivot axis.