Ballast apparatus for righting a capsized boat

Claim 1

Ballast apparatus for aiding in righting a capsized boat, comprising: container means for holding a quantity of water as ballast, said container means being formed of flexible sheet material and changeable between an open condition for receiving and holding a quantity of water as ballast and a relatively flat, compact condition for stowage while not in use, said container means further including a collapsible sidewall adapted to open at an upper end and closed at a lower end by a bottom wall; a stiffening element around a periphery of said bottom wall tending to open said sidewall around said bottom wall when said container means is deployed into the water, said stiffening element comprising a continuous pocket formed around a peripheral edge of said bottom wall containing flowable particulate material denser than water for submerging a lower end of said container means when deployed into the water, said container means further including stiffening ring means around said upper end of said sidewall ready to receive water for ballast when said container means is deployed in the water, said stiffening ring means comprising a plurality of relatively stiff, but flexible, hollow elongated elements aligned end to end forming a generally circular, floatable, hollow stiffener ring extending around said open end of said container, said hollow elongated elements comprising hollow tubes of flexible material pivotally interconnected together at adjacent ends thereof by elongated flexible elements projecting into the hollow interior thereof; and support means for securing said container of water to a person outwardly of said boat for exerting a righting moment thereon comprising shoulder strap means secured to said container means adjacent an upper level thereon for supporting the same from a persons shoulders.