Brunswick Corporation

John R Eilert

Edwin B Hatch

Mark E Felker

An automatically adjustable trim system for a marine propulsion system provides automatic trimming of the propeller in response to increased loads on the propeller. A propulsion unit is attached to a boat transom through a tilt mechanism including a transom bracket and a swivel bracket. In a first embodiment, the transom bracket is clamped to a flexible transom which flexes in response to forces exerted on the transom during acceleration. In a second embodiment, the transom bracket is clamped to a transom bracket mounting platform that is generally parallel to and pivotally attached to the transom. A trim angle biasing mechanism is mounted between the transom and the transom bracket mounting platform for automatically adjusting the trim angle. A third embodiment includes a trim angle biasing mechanism incorporated into the transom bracket or swivel bracket. A fourth embodiment includes a spring-loaded pawl assembly between the swivel bracket and transom bracket.

Automatically adjustable trim system

A RIB (22), rigid-hull inflatable boat, includes an inflatable tube (24) having a general U shape with a forward end (26) at the bight of the U and trailing sides (28, 30) extending rearwardly therefrom along the legs of the U, and a molded plastic hull (32) within the tube and attached thereto. The hull has a lower surface (42), an upwardly facing deck (44), a transom (38), and a drain (40) through the transom. The deck has drainage channels (48, 54, 62, 70, 72) forming gutters channeling water to the drain. A removable floor insert (92) is detachably mounted to the deck and covers the drainage channels. Transom construction (120, 122) permits flexure.

RIB, rigid-hull inflatable boat with transom spacer struts permitting

Rib rigid hull inflatable boat with improved deck drainage and support

A watercraft hull having at least one removable protective wear strip. The watercraft hull includes at least one mounting groove extending along the longitudinal length of the watercraft hull along the lowermost portion of the hull. A wear strip is removably attached to each mounting groove such that when the watercraft hull is pulled from the water, the wear strip contacts the shore to prevent damage to the watercraft hull. A series of attachment devices is embedded in the watercraft hull along the mounting groove. A series of connectors passes through the wear strip to removably attach the wear strip to the mounting groove contained in the watercraft hull. When the wear strip becomes worn, the wear strip can be removed from the watercraft hull and replaced with a new wear strip.

Detachable wear strips for the hull of a watercraft

A RIB, rigid-hull inflatable boat (22) includes an inflatable tube (24) having a general U-shape with a forward end (26) at the bight of the U and trailing sides (28 and 30) extending rearwardly therefrom along the legs of the U. A unitary rotationally molded hull (32) is nested within the tube and has right and left sides (34 and 36) extending along inner surfaces of the tube, and a transom extending between the right and left sides. The hull is detachably secured to the underside of the tube by a mechanical locking device (132) permitting simple detachment and reattachment of the tube to the hull. A recessed channel (188) is provided in a concave surface of the hull engaging the tube and extending around the perimeter of the hull and forming a gutter for draining water aft from the interface between the hull and the tube. The inner sidewalls (208, 212) of the hull extend downwardly and are curved outwardly and below the tube and the respective concave surface to provide an undercut (210, 216 ) to provide a wider beam and increased floor space. A drain (98) extends through the transom and is provided by a pair of threaded members (102, 104) thread tightened to each other, and a one-way valve permitting drainage out of the boat and blocking reverse flow of water into the boat. A forward pocket-configured compartment (82) receives different types of fuel tanks in differing nested orientations. A bunge system (218, 220) holds the tube against the hull sides at the transom. The transom is strengthened by forward splash guards (40, 42) rearward extensions (44, 46), and anti-compression spacers (48, 50).

Growing community of inventors

Fond du Lac, WI, United States of America

John R Eilert