Small Vessel Capable Of High Tow Force

Abstract

A small watercraft with watertight hull and an area at the rear in close proximity to the waterline that provides a means to mount payloads. Engines powering propellers are installed forward of the payload area and are covered by a water-tight deck with openings for intake air. Ancillary systems to support the engines and electrical components are provided in a conventional manner. A feature of the present invention is that the hull has been modified to permit a tow cable to pass through the hull from a towing winch to a towed body. The present invention moves the reaction from the tow force forward of the craft transom and low in the hull which greatly improves the stability of the small vessel particularly when it is operating in rough water. The present invention is applicable to any size of the hull and any materials that the hull is fabricated from.

What I claim as my invention is: 
     
         1 . A watercraft that is constructed with conventional materials, powered by at least one internal combustion engine, moved forward through the water with a propulsor, that has a means to provide directional control, and has a longitudinal slot though the hull that extends vertically though the hull beginning at the transom and extending some distance forward of the transom. 
     
     
         2 . A watercraft as described in  claim 1 , wherein the perimeter of the slot though the hull is continuously open from the forward most point of the slot on the upper surface rearward to the top of the transom, down to the bottom of the transom and forward to the forward most point of the slot on the lower surface. 
     
     
         3 . A watercraft as described in  claim 1 , wherein structural support is provided around the slot though the hull so that the craft deflections due to forces imposed on it are similar to those of the craft without the slot. 
     
     
         4 . A watercraft as described in  claim 1 , that when used for towing, the tow cable can pass from the upper surface of the craft through the slot though the hull. 
     
     
         5 . A watercraft as described in  claim 4 , wherein structural support is provided around the slot though the hull so that the deflections of the edges of the slot due to forces imposed on it by the tow cable do not permanently deform the slot. 
     
     
         6 . A watercraft as described in  claim 4 , wherein the rear and lower edges of the slot though the hull are covered with anti-wear material to protect the craft structure and the tow cable from damage due to chaffing. 
     
     
         7 . A watercraft as described in  claim 4 , wherein the rear and lower edges of the slot though the hull are covered to increase the radius of the tow cable to prevent damage to the tow cable due to making too small of a radius around a sharp corner. 
     
     
         8 . A watercraft as described in  claim 4 , wherein the forces imposed by the tow cable are applied closer to the longitudinal center of gravity of the craft than they would have been if the slot though the hull were not present. 
     
     
         9 . A watercraft as described in  claim 4 , wherein the forces imposed by the tow cable are applied closer to the vertical center of gravity of the craft than they would have been if the slot though the hull were not present. 
     
     
         10 . A watercraft as described in  claim 1 , that when used for towing, a rigid tow bar can pass from the upper surface of the craft through the slot though the hull. 
     
     
         11 . A watercraft as described in  claim 10 , wherein structural support is provided around the slot though the hull so that the deflections of the edges of the slot due to forces imposed on it by the rigid tow bar do not permanently deform the slot. 
     
     
         12 . A watercraft as described in  claim 10 , wherein the rear and lower edges of the slot though the hull are covered with anti-wear material to protect the craft structure and the tow cable from damage due to chaffing. 
     
     
         13 . A watercraft as described in  claim 10 , wherein the end of the rigid tow bat has provisions to increase the radius of the tow cable to prevent damage to the tow cable due to making too small of a radius at the end of the rigid tow bar. 
     
     
         14 . A watercraft as described in  claim 10 , wherein the forces imposed by the rigid tow bar are applied closer to the longitudinal center of gravity of the craft than they would have been if the slot though the hull were not present. 
     
     
         15 . A watercraft as described in  claim 10 , wherein the forces imposed by the rigid tow bar are applied closer to the vertical center of gravity of the craft than they would have been if the slot though the hull were not present. 
     
     
         16 . A watercraft that is constructed with conventional materials, powered by at least one internal combustion engine, moved forward through the water with a propulsor, that has a means to provide directional control, and has a longitudinal slot through the hull that extends vertically though the hull beginning at the bow and extending some distance aft of the bow. 
     
     
         17 . A watercraft as described in  claim 16 , wherein the perimeter of the slot though the hull is continuously open from the forward most point of the slot on the upper surface rearward to the top of the rear transverse edge of the slot, down to the bottom of the transverse edge of the slot and forward to the forward most point of the slot on the lower surface of the hull. 
     
     
         18 . A watercraft as described in  claim 16 , wherein structural support is provided around the slot though the hull so that the craft deflections due to forces imposed on it are similar to those of the craft without the slot. 
     
     
         19 . A watercraft as described in  claim 16 , that when used for towing, the tow cable can pass from the upper surface of the craft through the slot though the hull. 
     
     
         20 . A watercraft as described in  claim 19 , wherein structural support is provided around the slot though the hull so that the deflections of the edges of the slot due to forces imposed on it by the tow cable do not permanently deform the slot. 
     
     
         21 . A watercraft as described in  claim 19 , wherein the rear and lower edges of the slot though the bull are covered with anti-wear material to protect the craft structure and the tow cable from damage due to chaffing. 
     
     
         22 . A watercraft as described in  claim 19 , wherein the rear and lower edges of the slot though the hull are covered to increase the radius of the tow cable to prevent damage to the tow cable due to making too small of a radius around a sharp corner. 
     
     
         23 . A watercraft as described in  claim 19 , wherein the forces imposed by the tow cable are applied closer to the longitudinal center of gravity of the craft than they would have been if the slot though the hull were not present. 
     
     
         24 . A watercraft as described in  claim 19 , wherein the forces imposed by the tow cable are applied closer to the vertical center of gravity of the craft than they would have been if the slot though the hull were not present. 
     
     
         25 . A watercraft as described in  claim 16 , that when used for towing, a rigid tow bar can pass from the upper surface of the craft through the slot though the hull. 
     
     
         26 . A watercraft as described in  claim 25 , wherein structural support is provided around the slot though the hull so that the deflections of the edges of the slot though the hull due to forces imposed on it by the rigid tow bar do not permanently deform the slot. 
     
     
         27 . A watercraft as described in  claim 25 , wherein the rear and lower edges of the slot though the hull are covered with anti-wear material to protect the craft structure and the rigid tow bar from damage due to chaffing. 
     
     
         28 . A watercraft as described in  claim 25 , wherein the end of the rigid tow bat has provisions to increase the radius of the tow cable to prevent damage to the tow cable due to making too small of a radius at the end of the rigid tow bar. 
     
     
         29 . A watercraft as described in  claim 25 , wherein the forces imposed by the rigid tow bar are applied closer to the longitudinal center of gravity of the craft than they would have been if the slot though the hull were not present. 
     
     
         30 . A watercraft as described in  claim 25 , wherein the forces imposed by the rigid tow bar are applied closer to the vertical center of gravity of the craft than they would have been if the slot though the hull were not present.