Ships – Spars – Masts and masting
Patent
1996-12-16
1999-06-01
Swinehart, Ed L.
Ships
Spars
Masts and masting
B63B 1500
Patent
active
059080051
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a yacht having a particular configuration for its mast and keel. The invention will be described with reference to its use on monohull yachts, but it should be appreciated that the invention has much broader application, for example, on other types of sail craft and vessels, and may even find application on sail craft such as wind surfers etc.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Conventional monohull yachts use a fixed keel and a separate mast and sail plan supported by a number of stays. As the mast is basically fixed in a generally vertical orientation, when a conventional yacht is sailed into the wind, the boat tends to tilt (or heel) to angles of around 15.degree. from the horizontal (ie. due to the action of the wind on the sails of the yacht).
It is known that yachts sail fastest when the hull is maintained approximately in a horizontal orientation, and various attempts have been made in the art to reduce the tilting (or "heeling") of yachts. For example, sail shapes have been changed to quickly release wind from the sail to minimise heeling. Current yacht designs attempt to change the shape of the main sail by displacing the mast towards the bottom of the boat whilst at the same time bending upwardly the bow and stern of the yacht. Considerable force is required to effect such alteration and a large amount of stress is induced in the sail craft to achieve such configurations.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a yacht including a mast and keel that are mechanically connected in such a manner that movement of the mast in one direction causes a movement of the keel in an opposite direction, wherein the connection is: remainder of the yacht and that is not dependent upon a rotating seal; and
The provision of a sealing arrangement that enables the keel and mast to interact in this manner results in a leak-resistant, relatively economical yacht that can maintain its hull in a substantially horizontal orientation, especially when sailing into the wind; (ie. the deck of the yacht is essentially parallel with the surrounding flat water). Thus more efficient use of wind power is made and the yacht moves more quickly through the water because the hull is maintained in a substantially horizontal orientation.
When the term "yacht" is used herein it is intended to include all types of sail craft and may even extend to include wind surfers.
Preferably the water-seal compartment has an open upper end that in use is positioned above the surrounding water level.
Preferably the mast and keel are directly mechanically connected in a region adjacent to the base of the hull of the yacht for pivoting movement in a port-starboard aligned centre board casing water-seal compartment, the compartment allowing port and starboard pivotal movement of the mast with respect to the yacht. With a direct mechanical connection between the mast and keel a movement in one direction of the mast results in a corresponding and opposite movement in the keel.
Preferably the mast has a sail means arranged thereon so that in use, as the sail means and mast are displaced by the wind to leeward a corresponding movement is caused in the keel to windward.
Preferably the mast and keel are connected through one or more bearings arranged at the base of the hull. The or each bearing can be supported in a centre board frame, that also houses the water-seal compartment, the frame being generally arranged in a port-starboard configuration to facilitate pivoting movement of the mast between various port and starboard orientations.
Preferably the yacht includes a single bearing arranged below the centre of buoyancy of the yacht and connecting the mast and keel together, with a sealing means that connects and opens onto the compartment being provided at that part of the hull base wherein the mast and keel are connected to assist in preventing ingress of water into the compartment.
The sealing means can be a flexible sealing ring adapted for surrounding the bearing at the hull bas
REFERENCES:
patent: 3361106 (1968-01-01), Hildebrand
patent: 3885512 (1975-05-01), Marcil
patent: 3903827 (1975-09-01), Marcil
patent: 3972300 (1976-08-01), Adamski
patent: 4610212 (1986-09-01), Petrovich
patent: 5072682 (1991-12-01), Rodriguez Urroz et al.
patent: 5280760 (1994-01-01), Edwards
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