Maritime vehicle with recessed tow points

Abstract

A tow assembly for a maritime vehicle and a maritime vehicle including a hull, a first opening formed in the hull, and the tow assembly, the tow assembly coupled to the hull. The tow assembly includes a housing disposed in the first opening of the hull, the housing defining a cavity recessed relative to an exterior surface of the hull. The two assembly also includes a bar coupled to the housing at a position within the cavity, such that the bar is recessed relative to the exterior surface of the hull. The bar defines one or more tow points for the maritime vehicle.

1 . A maritime vehicle, comprising:
 a hull;   a first opening formed in the hull; and   a tow assembly coupled to the hull, the tow assembly comprising:
 a housing disposed in the first opening of the hull, the housing defining a cavity recessed relative to an exterior surface of the hull; and 
 a bar coupled to the housing at a position within the cavity, such that the bar is recessed relative to the exterior surface of the hull, wherein the bar defines one or more tow points for the maritime vehicle. 
   
     
     
         2 . The maritime vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the hull is a mono-hull. 
     
     
         3 . The maritime vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the first opening is formed in a stern of the hull. 
     
     
         4 . The maritime vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the hull comprises a bow, a stern, two sides, and a keel coupled to one another, and wherein the first opening is partially formed in the stern and partially formed in one of the two sides. 
     
     
         5 . The maritime vehicle of  claim 1 , the tow assembly further comprising a plate coupled to the housing at a position outside of the cavity. 
     
     
         6 . The maritime vehicle of  claim 5 , further comprising a relay or supervisor board coupled to the plate. 
     
     
         7 . The maritime vehicle of  claim 5 , wherein the plate is disposed within an interior of the hull. 
     
     
         8 . The maritime vehicle of  claim 5 , the tow assembly further comprising an antenna holder sized to hold an antenna therein, the antenna holder coupled to the plate. 
     
     
         9 . The maritime vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the bar is welded to the housing. 
     
     
         10 . The maritime vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the bar comprises a first bar portion and a second bar portion, wherein the first bar portion extends in a first direction and the second bar portion extends in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction. 
     
     
         11 . The maritime vehicle of  claim 1 , the tow assembly further comprising an antenna holder sized to hold an antenna therein. 
     
     
         12 . A maritime vehicle, comprising:
 a hull;   a first opening formed in a first portion of the hull;   a second opening formed in a second portion of the hull;   a first tow assembly coupled to the first portion of the hull, the first tow assembly comprising:
 a first housing disposed in the first opening of the hull, the housing defining a first cavity recessed relative to an exterior surface of the hull; and 
 a first bar coupled to the first housing at a position within the first cavity, such that the first bar is recessed relative to the exterior surface of the hull, wherein the first bar defines one or more first tow points for the maritime vehicle; and 
   a second tow assembly coupled to the second portion of the hull, the second tow assembly comprising:
 a second housing disposed in the second opening of the hull, the second housing defining a second cavity recessed relative to the exterior surface of the hull; and 
 a second bar coupled to the second housing at a position within the second cavity, such that the second bar is recessed relative to the exterior surface of the hull, wherein the second bar defines one or more second tow points for the maritime vehicle. 
   
     
     
         13 . The maritime vehicle of  claim 12 , wherein each of the first and second openings is formed in a stern of the hull. 
     
     
         14 . The maritime vehicle of  claim 12 , wherein the hull comprises a bow, a stern, two sides, and a keel coupled to one another, wherein the first opening is partially formed in the stern and partially formed in one of the two sides, and wherein the second opening is partially formed in the stern and partially formed in the other of the two sides. 
     
     
         15 . The maritime vehicle of  claim 12 , the first tow assembly further comprising a first plate coupled to the first housing at a position outside of the first cavity. 
     
     
         16 . The maritime vehicle of  claim 15 , wherein the first plate is disposed within an interior of the hull. 
     
     
         17 . The maritime vehicle of  claim 15 , the first tow assembly further comprising an antenna holder sized to hold an antenna therein, the antenna holder coupled to the first plate. 
     
     
         18 . The maritime vehicle of  claim 12 , wherein the first bar is welded to the first housing. 
     
     
         19 . The maritime vehicle of  claim 12 , wherein the first bar comprises a first bar portion and a second bar portion, wherein the first bar portion extends in a first direction and the second bar portion extends in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction. 
     
     
         20 . A tow assembly for a maritime vehicle, the tow assembly comprising:
 a housing adapted to be disposed in a first opening of a hull of the maritime vehicle, the housing defining a cavity recessed relative to an exterior surface of the hull; and   a bar coupled to the housing at a position within the cavity, such that the bar is recessed relative to the exterior surface of the hull, wherein the bar defines one or more tow points for the maritime vehicle.