Watercraft

Abstract

A motorised outrigger stabilised watercraft comprising a main hull extending in a fore-aft direction, a single outrigger arranged to stabilise the main hull, extending substantially parallel to the main hull and spaced laterally from the main hull, and at least one hydrofoil located at or proximate the stern of the main hull.

1 . A motorised outrigger stabilised watercraft comprising:
 a main hull extending in a fore-aft direction;   a single outrigger arranged to stabilise the main hull, extending substantially parallel to the main hull and spaced laterally from the main hull; and   at least one hydrofoil located at or proximate the stern of the main hull.   
     
     
         2 . The watercraft according to  claim 1 , wherein the hydrofoil is dynamically adjustable and arranged to apply a variable force to the main hull. 
     
     
         3 . The watercraft according to  claim 1 , wherein the outrigger is a small waterplane area hull. 
     
     
         4 . The watercraft according to  claim 1 , wherein the outrigger comprises a first portion arranged to be submerged below the waterline during operation. 
     
     
         5 . The watercraft according to  claim 4 , wherein the outrigger comprises a joining portion joining the first portion to the watercraft, the joining portion having a width perpendicular to the fore-aft direction which is less than that of the first portion. 
     
     
         6 . The watercraft according to  claim 5 , wherein the outrigger further comprises a second portion arranged to float during operation, the joining portion joining the first portion to the second portion. 
     
     
         7 . The watercraft according to any preceding  claim 1 , further comprising an arm connecting the outrigger to the main hull. 
     
     
         8 . The watercraft according to  claim 6 , wherein the first portion has substantially the same length as the second portion in the fore-aft direction. 
     
     
         9 . The watercraft according to  claim 1 , wherein the length of the outrigger parallel to the fore-aft direction is between 25% and 80% of the length of the main hull, preferably between 30% and 75% of the length of the main hull. 
     
     
         10 . The watercraft according to  claim 1 , wherein the extent of the outrigger in the fore-aft direction is between the stern and a point 80% of the total length of the main hull forward of the stern. 
     
     
         11 . The watercraft according to any preceding  claim 1 , wherein the hydrofoil is mounted aft of the stern. 
     
     
         12 . The watercraft according to  claim 2 , wherein the dynamically adjustable hydrofoil mounted at or proximate the stern of the main hull is arranged to be adjusted such that the hydrofoil supports between 0% and 30% of the total displacement of the vessel, preferably between 0% and 20% of the total displacement of the vessel. 
     
     
         13 . The watercraft according to  claim 1 , wherein the hydrofoil comprises a main hydrofoil body and a trailing edge flap arranged to move relative to the main body to thereby vary the force applied to the main hull and/or the angle of attack of the hydrofoil is adjustable to thereby vary the force applied to the main hull. 
     
     
         14 . The watercraft according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of:
 the hydrofoil is retractable   the span of the hydrofoil is larger than the beam of the main hull;   the hydrofoil is further joined to the outrigger; or   the hydrofoil is arranged to control the trim of the watercraft and/or to compensate for changes in loading of the watercraft.   
     
     
         15 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . The watercraft according to  claim 1 , wherein the main hull comprises a plurality of hydrofoils. 
     
     
         19 . The watercraft according to  claim 1 , wherein the outrigger further comprises at least one hydrofoil. 
     
     
         20 . The watercraft according to  claim 19 , wherein the hydrofoil located on the outrigger at least one of:
 is dynamically adjustable and arranged to apply a variable force to the outrigger;   is located at or proximate the stern of the first portion;   extends toward the main hull; or   is arranged to control roll of the watercraft.   
     
     
         21 - 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . The watercraft according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of:
 the main hull supports 70% or more of the total static displacement of the watercraft, preferably 70% to 95% of the total static displacement of the watercraft; or   the outrigger supports 30% or less of the total static displacement of the watercraft, preferably 5% to 30% of the total static displacement of the watercraft.   
     
     
         24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . The watercraft according to  claim 2 , further comprising a control system arranged to dynamically adjust the hydrofoil. 
     
     
         26 . The watercraft according to  claim 1 , further comprising a motorised propulsion device arranged to propel the watercraft, wherein the motorised propulsion device is positioned forward of the hydrofoil in the fore-aft direction.