Kayak with a selectively deployable float

Abstract

A watercraft stabilizing system includes a float selectively movable by a user to a deployed position extending away from a hull of the watercraft. The hull and float may be configured so that in a retracted position the float does not detrimentally affect the handling and/or performance of the craft. In various embodiments, the float, in a retracted position, may be positioned in-line with the hull, or so that it otherwise follows the contours of the hull, specifically with respect to the portions of the float and hull that are below the waterline. The stabilizing system may be particularly suitable for use with kayaks and canoes.

1 . A kayak, comprising:
 a hull, a deck and a cockpit, and having a centerline, a bow, a stern, and a waterline for a particular load, the hull defining a contour; and   a first float having a retracted position wherein an outer surface of the float constitutes a portion of the hull contour, the float being selectively movable by a user into a deployed position extending away from the hull, where the float has a lengthwise orientation;   the float being configured such that when the float is in one of the retracted position and the deployed position, at least a portion of the float is lower than the waterline;   wherein, in the deployed position, the lengthwise orientation of the float is substantially aligned with the kayak centerline.   
   
   
       2 . A kayak as in  claim 1 , further comprising a second float that has an outer surface which constitutes a portion of the hull contour when in a retracted position and is selectively movable by a user into a deployed position extending away from the hull, wherein the second float has a lengthwise orientation, the first and second floats are configured such that when the floats are in one of the retracted position and the deployed position, at least a portion of each float is lower than the waterline. 
   
   
       3 . A kayak as in  claim 1 , wherein the first float is configured such that when the float is in the deployed position, at least a portion of the float is lower than the waterline. 
   
   
       4 . A kayak as in  claim 1 , wherein the kayak and the first float are configured such that when the float is in the retracted position, at least a portion of the float is lower than the waterline. 
   
   
       5 . A kayak as in  claim 1 , further comprising an arm pivotally connected to the hull, wherein the first float is connected to the arm. 
   
   
       6 . A kayak as in  claim 5 , wherein the first float is pivotally connected to the arm. 
   
   
       7 . A kayak as in  claim 1 , wherein when the first float is in the retracted position, the float constitutes the absolute stern. 
   
   
       8 . A kayak as in  claim 1 , wherein when the first float is in the retracted position, the float is received substantially within a recess in the hull. 
   
   
       9 . A kayak as in  claim 1 , further comprising a second float that has an outer surface which constitutes a portion of the hull contour and is selectively movable by a user into a deployed position extending away from the hull, wherein, in the retracted position, the first and second floats are positioned adjacent to one another. 
   
   
       10 . A kayak as in  claim 1 , wherein when the first float is in the deployed position, the float is outside a predetermined paddle stroke of a paddler sitting in the cockpit. 
   
   
       11 . A kayak as in  claim 1 , wherein when the first float is in the retracted position, the float is aft of the cockpit. 
   
   
       12 . A kayak as in  claim 1 , wherein when the first float is in the retracted position, the float is received within the stern. 
   
   
       13 . A kayak as in  claim 1 , wherein the first float has a plurality of deployed positions. 
   
   
       14 . A kayak as in  claim 1 , further comprising a control element for deploying the first float. 
   
   
       15 . (canceled) 
   
   
       16 . A kayak as in  claim 1 , wherein, in the retracted position, a front surface of the first float is positioned immediately adjacent to a transom of the hull. 
   
   
       17 . A kayak, comprising:
 a hull, a deck and a cockpit, and having a bow, a stern, and a waterline for a particular load; and   a first float movably connected to the hull and having a retracted position wherein at least a substantial portion of the float is received within the hull, the first float being selectively movable by a user into a deployed position extending away from the hull;   the first float being configured such that when the first float is in one of the retracted position and the deployed position, at least a portion of the first float is lower than the waterline   wherein in the deployed position, the first float is positioned at a distance from the hull that is greater than a distance between the first float and the hull when the first float is in the retracted position.   
   
   
       18 - 32 . (canceled) 
   
   
       33 . A kayak, comprising:
 a hull, a deck and a cockpit, and having a bow and a stern; and   a float having a retracted position wherein the float constitutes the stern, the float being selectively movable by a user into a deployed position extending away from the hull   wherein the float is configured to be oriented generally longitudinally relative to the hull during movement of the float to the deployed position.   
   
   
       34 - 46 . (canceled) 
   
   
       47 . A kayak comprising:
 a hull, a deck and a cockpit, and having a centerline, bow, and a stern; and   a float having a lengthwise orientation and having a retracted position wherein an outer surface of the float constitutes a portion of the hull contour; and   means for deploying the float at a distance from the hull, wherein when deployed at a distance from the hull, the lengthwise orientation of the float is substantially aligned with the kayak centerline.   
   
   
       48 . A kayak as in  claim 47 , wherein the means for deploying the float comprises an arm pivotally attached to the hull, and the float is pivotally attached to the arm. 
   
   
       49 . A kayak, comprising:
 a hull, a deck and a cockpit, and having a bow, a stern, and a waterline for a particular load;   first and second arms movably connected to the hull;   first and second selectively deployable floats connected to the first and second arms respectively, and movable relative to the first and second arms respectively, each float having a retracted position and a deployed position;   wherein the first and second floats are both positioned lower than the waterline in both the deployed position and the retracted position; and   in the retracted position, the floats are positioned aft of the cockpit, the floats form at least a portion of the hull, and the floats substantially follow the contours of the hull below the waterline.   
   
   
       50 . A kayak as in  claim 49 , wherein, in the retracted position, the first and second floats form a continuous extension of the length of the hull at the stern. 
   
   
       51 . A kayak as in  claim 49 , wherein the first and second arms are pivotally connected to the hull, and the first and second selectively deployable floats are pivotally connected to the first and second arms respectively. 
   
   
       52 . A kayak as in  claim 51 , wherein each of the first and second deployable floats has a lengthwise orientation, the kayak has a centerline, and in the deployed position, the lengthwise orientation of each of the first and second floats is substantially aligned with the kayak centerline. 
   
   
       53 . kayak as in  claim 49 , wherein, in the deployed position, each of the first and second floats is oriented such that a front surface of each float is angled toward a centerline of the kayak. 
   
   
       54 . A kayak as in  claim 1 , wherein the float comprises an elongated float that is substantially parallel to the kayak centerline in the deployed position. 
   
   
       55 . A kayak as in  claim 17 , wherein the float is movably connected to the hull with an arm. 
   
   
       56 . A kayak as in  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a second float movably connected to the hull and having a retracted position wherein at least a substantial portion of the float is received within the hull, the second float being selectively movable by a user into a deployed position extending away from the hull;   the second float being configured such that when the second float is in one of the retracted position and the deployed position, at least a portion of the second float is lower than the waterline;   wherein in the deployed position, the second float is positioned at a distance from the hull that is greater than a distance between the second float and the hull when the second float is in the retracted position.   
   
   
       57 . A kayak as in  claim 56 , wherein the kayak has a centerline and each of the first and second floats has a lengthwise orientation, and in the deployed position, the lengthwise orientation of each of the first and second floats is substantially aligned with the kayak centerline. 
   
   
       58 . A kayak as in  claim 17 , wherein in the deployed position, a closest point of the first float to the hull is positioned at a distance from the hull that is greater than a distance between the closest point of first float to the hull when the first float is in the retracted position. 
   
   
       59 . A kayak as in  claim 17 , wherein the first float is configured such that when the first float is in the retracted position, at least a portion of the float is lower than the waterline. 
   
   
       60 . A kayak as in  claim 33 , further comprising an arm pivotally connected to the hull, wherein the float is pivotally connected to the arm. 
   
   
       61 . A kayak as in  claim 60 , wherein the orientation of the float relative to the arm is dictated by the angle of the arm relative to the kayak.