Airboat

Claim 2

A watercraft comprising a planing hull, means for propelling said hull through the water, at least one seat mounted to said hull adjacent the forward end thereof, first airfoil means mounted to said hull for lifting said hull partially out of the water in response to forward movement of said hull, second airfoil means pivotably mounted to the forward end of said hull and including a flap movable between upwardly and downwardly tilted positions for applying a selected amount of lift to the forward end of said hull, control means mounted adjacent said seat for controlling the tilting position of said second airfoil means and the direction and speed of said propelling means, said airfoil means comprising a box-like structure having horizontal top and vertical side walls extending generally parallel to the axis of said hull, the front, back, and bottom walls of said structure being open.

Claim 3

The watercraft of claim 1 wherein said first airfoil means further includes a flap hingedly secured to said top wall of said structure for pivotable movement between a first position closing said back of a second position in parallel alignment with said top wall, and means for securing said flap in a selected angled position between said first and second positions.

Claim 4

The watercraft of claim 2 wherein said flap, when between said first and second positions, is disposed above said propelling means.

Claim 5

A watercraft comprising a planing hull, means for propelling said hull through the water, at least one seat mounted to said hull adjacent the forward end thereof, first airfoil means mounted to said hull for lifting said hull partially out of the water in response to forward movement of said hull, second airfoil means pivotably mounted to the forward end of said hull and including a flap movable between upwardly and downwardly tilted positions for applying a selected amount of lift to the forward end of said hull, control means mounted adjacent said seat for controlling the tilting position of said second airfoil means and the direction and speed of said propelling means, a boom fixedly secured to the forward end of said hull and extending forwardly therefrom, a boom extension coupled to said boom for movement forwardly and rearwardly with respect therto, means for locking said extension in a selected position with respect to said boom, said seat being mounted to the distal end of said extension.

Claim 6

A watercraft comprising a planing hull, means for propelling said hull through the water, at least one seat mounted to said hull adjacent the forward end thereof, first airfoil means mounted to said hull for lifting said hull partially out of the water in response to forward movement of said hull, second airfoil means pivotably mounted to the forward end of said hull and including a flap movable between upwardly and downwardly tilted positions for applying a selected amount of lift to the forward end of said hull, control means mounted adjacent said seat for controlling the tilting position of said second airfoil means and the direction and speed of said propelling means, a boom fixedly secured to the forward end of said hull and extending forwardly therefrom, a boom extension coupled to said boom for movement forwardly and rearwardly with respect therto, means for locking said extension in a selected position with respect to said boom, said seat being mounted to the distal end of said extension.

Claim 7

The watercraft of claim 4 wherein there are two of said booms extending forwardly and oppositely outwardly from the forward end of said hull in spaced-apart relationship, there being a boom extension movably coupled to each said boom, a seat secured to the distal end of each said extension, and means for locking said extension in a selected position with respect to said boom, said control means including a first lever mounted adjacent one of said seats and means coupled between said lever and said propelling means for controlling the speed of said propelling means, a second lever mounted adjacent said one seat, second means coupled between said second lever and said propelling means for controlling the direction of said propelling means and thereby the direction of said watercraft, and a third control lever mounted adjacent the other of said seats and means coupled between said third lever and said second airfoil means for controlling the tilting position of said flap in response to movement of said third lever.

Claim 8

A watercraft comprising a planing hull, means for propelling said hull through the water, at least one seat mounted to said hull adjacent the forward end thereof, first airfoil means mounted to said hull for lifting said hull partially out of the water in response to forward movement of said hull, second airfoil means pivotably mounted to the forward end of said hull and including a flap movable between upwardly and downwardly tilted positions for applying a selected amount of lift to the forward end of said hull, control means mounted adjacent said seat for controlling the tilting position of said second airfoil means and the direction and speed of said propelling means, said planing hull further including a pair of outrigger pontoons secured to said hull in parallel, spaced-apart relationship to the sides thereof, said hull further including at least one arm extending rearwardly of said hull, a stabilizing pontoon secured to the distal end of said arm in spaced-apart relationship to the rear end of said hull, said stabilizing pontoon having substantial weight and being secured to said arm for movement forwardly and rearwardly with respect to said hull, said pontoon including means for locking said pontoon in a selected position on said arm, said arm extending rearwardly upwardly from the rear of said hull, whereby, said stabilizing pontoon engages the water in response to forwardly and upwardly tilting movement of said hull.

Claim 9

A watercraft comprising a planing hull, means for propelling said hull through the water, at least one seat mounted to said hull adjacent the forward end thereof, first airfoil means mounted to said hull for lifting said hull partially out of the water in response to forward movement of said hull, second airfoil means pivotably mounted to the forward end of said hull and including a flap movable between upwardly and downwardly tilted positions for applying a selected amount of lift to the forward end of said hull, control means mounted adjacent said seat for controlling the tilting position of said second airfoil means and the direction and speed of said propelling means, said planing hull further including a pair of outrigger pontoons secured to said hull in parallel, spaced-apart relationship to the sides thereof, said hull further including at least one arm extending rearwardly of said hull, a stabilizing pontoon secured to the distal end of said arm in spaced-apart relationship to the rear end of said hull, said stabilizing pontoon having substantial weight and being secured to said arm for movement forwardly and rearwardly with respect to said hull, said pontoon including means for locking said pontoon in a selected position on said arm, said arm extending rearwardly upwardly from the rear of said hull, whereby, said stabilizing pontoon engages the water in response to forwardly and upwardly tilting movement of said hull.

Claim 10

The watercraft of claim 4 wherein said second airfoil means includes an axle extending laterally between said boom, and a flap pivotably mounted to said axle and movable between upwardly and downwardly tilted positions to thereby impart positive and negative lift to the forward end of said hull in response to movement of said third lever.