Catamaran righting apparatus and method

Claim 2

In a multihull boat having a lower boat portion with first and second outboard hulls, a mast with a lower end universally pivotally mounted on the lower boat portion and normally extending upwardly therefrom, and a plurality of cables extending from the upper end of the mast to the lower boat portion, including a stay cable extending towards a first end of the boat and a pair of shroud cables extending towards opposite sides of the boat and with directional components towards a second end of the boat opposite the first end, the improvement of apparatus for facilitating the righting of the boat when it capsizes on its side with one hull out of the water, comprising: first and second holding means for releaseably attaching a point at the lower end of a respective shroud cable to the lower boat portion, to maintain the mast substantially upright for normal sailing; first and second tensile means, each having a forward end attached to the lower end of a respective shroud cable and having a rearward end; and first and second attach means for holding the rearwards ends of the respective tensile means to the lower boat portion at positions closer to the second end of the boat than said holding means, whereby when a holding means is released to allow the mast of a capsized boat to pivot away from the hull that is out of the water, the mast is constrained to pivot primarily athwarthships.

Claim 3

The improvement described in claim 1 wherein: each of said tensile means includes an extension cable with a forward end joined to a respective shroud cable and a rearward end held to an attach means; and each holding means includes a pulley mounted on the lower boat portion, and an operating cable having a first end coupled to a shroud cable and a second pullable end extending about the pulley, the holding means also including a first latch portion mounted on the lower boat portion and a second latch portion attached to the operating cable and releaseably engaged with the first latch portion, the latch portions being disengageable to allow the shroud cable to release upwardly until only the extension cable is tensioned to couple the shroud cable to the lower boat portion, and the pullable section of the operating cable being pullable to return the shroud cable back to its original position so that the latch portions can engage again.

Claim 4

The improvement described in claim 1 wherein: each of said tensile means includes a lever having a first end attached to a shroud cable and a second end pivotally mounted on one of said tensile attach means.

Claim 5

The improvement described in claim 1 wherein: each of said tensile means includes an extension cable with a forward end joined to a respective shroud cable and a rearward end held to an attach means; and each holding means includes a pulley mounted on the lower boat portion, and an operating cable having a first end coupled to a shroud cable and a second pullable end extending around the pulley; and further including means for tensioning the pullable second end portion of said Operating cable to hold the mast to an erect position; and means for releasing the tension on said pullable end portion of said operating cable to permit the shroud cable to release upwardly until only the extension cable is tensioned to couple the shroud cable to the lower boat portion.

Claim 6

The improvement described in claim 4 wherein said means for tensioning the second end portion of said operating cable includes mechanical advantage apparatus coupled to the second end portion of the operating cable for multiplying manually applied tensioning force.

Claim 7

The improvement described in claim 4 wherein said means for tensioning the second end portion of said operating cable includes a releasable catch for normally locking said operating cable in a fixed position to maintain tension in said shroud cable.

Claim 8

In a multihull boat having a lower boat portion with first and second outboard hulls, a mast with a lower end universally pivotally mounted on the lower boat portion and normally extending upwardly therefrom, and a plurality of mast supporting cables extending from the upper end of the mast to the lower boat portion, including a stay cable extending toward a first end of the boat and a pair of shroud cables extending to predetermined attachment positions on opposite sides of the boat and with directional components towards a second end of the boat opposite the first end, the improvement of apparatus for facilitating the righting of the boat when it capsizes on its side with one hull out of the water, comprising: first means coupled to the shroud cable that is out of the water and manually operable for releasing the shroud cable from its predetermined attachment position; and second means coupled to said first means and responsive to operation of said first means for lengthening the shroud cable a predetermined amount and coupling the lengthened shroud cable to a new attachment position which is closer to the second end of the boat than the predetermined attachment position, whereby the lower boat portion and the mast of a capsized boat are permitted and constrained to tilt primarily sidewise with respect to each other to facilitate righting of the capsized boat and prevent forward collapse of the tilted mast.

Claim 9

In a multihull boat having a lower boat portion with first and second outboard hulls, a mast with a lower end universally pivotally mounted on the lower boat portion and normally extending upwardly therefrom, and a plurality of mast supporting cables extending from the upper end of the mast to the lower boat portion, including a stay cable extending toward a first end of the boat and a pair of shroud cables extending to predetermined attachment positions on opposite sides of the boat and with directional components towards a second end of the boat opposite the first end, the improvement of apparatus for facilitating the righting of the boat when it capsizes on its side with one hull out of the water, comprising: first means coupled to the shroud cable that is out of the water and manually operable for releasing the shroud cable from its predetermined attachment position; and second means coupled to said first means and responsive to operation of said first means for lengthening the shroud cable a predetermined amount and coupling the lengthened shroud cable to a new attachment position which is closer to the second end of the boat than the predetermined attachment position, whereby the lower boat portion and the mast of a capsized boat are permitted and constrained to tilt primarily sidewise with respect to each other to facilitate righting of the capsized boat and prevent forward collapse of the tilted mast.

Claim 10

The improvement defined in claim 7 wherein said second means includes returning apparatus manually operable for substantially simultaneously reshortening the shroud cable to its original length and reattaching the shroud cable to its predetermined attachment position to thereby permit reerection of the mast from a sidewise tilted position.

Claim 11

The improvement defined in claim 7 in which said second means includes a tensile member having substantial length and having a first end portion thereof coupled to the shroud cable adjacent its predetermined attachment position and a second end portion thereof coupled to the new attachment position.

Claim 12

The improvement defined in claim 9 in which said tensile member includes a lever having a first end portion attached to the shroud cable and releasably attached to the lower boat portion and a second end portion pivotally mounted adjacent the new attachment position.

Claim 13

A multihull boat easily rightable after it has capsized on its side with one hull out of the water, comprising: a lower boat portion with first and second outboard hulls; a mast with a lower end universally pivotally mounted on the lower boat portion and normally extending upwardly therefrom; a plurality of mast supporting cables extending from the upper end of the mast to the lower boat portion, including a stay cable extending toward a first end of the boat and a pair of shroud cables extending towards predetermined attachment positions on opposite sides of the boat and with directional components towards a second end of the boat opposite the first end; first means coupled to the shroud cable that is out of the water and manually operable for releasing the shroud cable from its predetermined attachment Position; and second means coupled to said first means and responsive to operation of said first means for lengthening the shroud cable a predetermined amount and coupling the lengthened shroud cable to a new attachment position which is closer to the second end of the boat than the predetermined attachment position, whereby the lower boat portion and the mast of a capsized boat are permitted and constrained to tilt primarily sidewise with respect to each other to facilitate righting of the capsized boat and prevent forward collapse of the tilted mast.

Claim 14

A multihull boat easily rightable after it has capsized on its side with one hull out of the water, comprising: a lower boat portion with first and second outboard hulls; a mast with a lower end universally pivotally mounted on the lower boat portion and normally extending upwardly therefrom; a plurality of mast supporting cables extending from the upper end of the mast to the lower boat portion, including a stay cable extending toward a first end of the boat and a pair of shroud cables extending towards predetermined attachment positions on opposite sides of the boat and with directional components towards a second end of the boat opposite the first end; first means coupled to the shroud cable that is out of the water and manually operable for releasing the shroud cable from its predetermined attachment Position; and second means coupled to said first means and responsive to operation of said first means for lengthening the shroud cable a predetermined amount and coupling the lengthened shroud cable to a new attachment position which is closer to the second end of the boat than the predetermined attachment position, whereby the lower boat portion and the mast of a capsized boat are permitted and constrained to tilt primarily sidewise with respect to each other to facilitate righting of the capsized boat and prevent forward collapse of the tilted mast.

Claim 17

In a catamaran boat having a lower boat structure with a pair of hulls coupled by a center member, a mast with a lower end pivotally mounted on the lower boat structure and having a buoyant upper portion, a stay cable extending downwardly from the upper portion of the mast in a forward direction, and a pair of shroud cables extending downwardly from the upper portion of the mast in largely opposite lateral direction, the improvement of apparatus for righting the boat after it has capsized, comprising: first and second maintaining means mounted on the lower boat structure for maintaining the lower portions of the respective shroud cables at positions rearward of the mast pivot location, to thereby hold the mast against pivoting to either side as well as against pivoting forwardly, each of said means being operable to release its respective shroud cable a predetermined amount to thereby permit the mast to tilt a limited amount towards the opposite side of the boat; and fixing means operable in conjunction with said maintaining means, for fixing the position of a lower portion of one of said shrouds to prevent the mast from tipping primarily forwardly, said fixing means including a length of cable with a first end connected to the lower end of a shroud cable and a second end attached to the lower boat structure at a location behind a corresponding maintaining means.

Claim 18

In a catamaran boat having a lower boat structure with a pair of hulls coupled by a center member, a mast with a lower end pivotally mounted on the lower boat structure and having a buoyant upper portion, a stay cable extending downwardly from the upper portion of the mast in a forward direction, and a pair of shroud cables extending downwardly from the upper portion of the mast in largely opposite lateral direction, the improvement of apparatus for righting the boat after it has capsized, comprising: first and second maintaining means mounted on the lower boat structure for maintaining the lower portions of the respective shroud cables at positions rearward of the mast pivot location, to thereby hold the mast against pivoting to either side as well as against pivoting forwardly, each of said means being operable to release its respective shroud cable a predetermined amount to thereby permit the mast to tilt a limited amount towards the opposite side of the boat; and fixing means operable in conjunction with said maintaining means, for fixing the position of a lower portion of one of said shrouds to prevent the mast from tipping primarily forwardly, said fixing means including a length of cable with a first end connected to the lower end of a shroud cable and a second end attached to the lower boat structure at a location behind a corresponding maintaining means.

Claim 19

In a catamaran boat having a lower boat structure with a pair of hulls coupled by a center member, a mast with a lower end pivotally mounted on the lower boat structure and having a buoyant upper portion, a stay cable extending downwardly from the upper portion of the mast in a forward direction, and a pair of shroud cables extending downwardly from the upper portion of the mast in largely opposite lateral direction, the improvement of apparatus for righting the boat after it has capsized, comprising: first and second maintaining means mounted on the lower boat structure for maintaining the lower portions of the respective shroud cables at positions rearward of the mast pivot location, to thereby hold the mast against pivoting to either side as well as against pivoting forwardly, each of said means being operable to release its respective shroud cable a predetermined amount to thereby permit the mast to tilt a limited amount towards the opposite side of the boat; fixing means operable in conjunction with said maintaining means, for fixing the position of a lower portion of one of said shrouds to prevent the mast from tipping primarily forwardly; said mast having a lower end pivotally mounted on said lower boat portion, and including a retainer cable having a first end fastened to the mast near the lower end thereof and a second end fastened to the lower boat portion near the support position of the mast to thereby prevent the mast from leaving its pivotal mount.

Claim 20

In a catamaran boat having a lower boat structure with a pair of hulls coupled by a center member, a mast with a lower end pivotally mounted on the lower boat structure and having a buoyant upper portion, a stay cable extending downwardly from the upper portion of the mast in a forward direction, and a pair of shroud cables extending downwardly from the upper portion of the mast in largely opposite lateral direction, the improvement of apparatus for righting the boat after it has capsized, comprising: first and second maintaining means mounted on the lower boat structure for maintaining the lower portions of the respective shroud cables at positions rearward of the mast pivot location, to thereby hold the mast against pivoting to either side as well as against pivoting forwardly, each of said means being operable to release its respective shroud cable a predetermined amount to thereby permit the mast to tilt a limited amount towards the opposite side of the boat; fixing means operable in conjunction with said maintaining means, for fixing the position of a lower portion of one of said shrouds to prevent the mast from tipping primarily forwardly; said mast having a lower end pivotally mounted on said lower boat portion, and including a retainer cable having a first end fastened to the mast near the lower end thereof and a second end fastened to the lower boat portion near the support position of the mast to thereby prevent the mast from leaving its pivotal mount.