Frederick G Hood

US Patent:

6349659, Feb 26, 2002

Filed:

Sep 18, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/663548

Inventors:

Frederick E. Hood - Portsmouth RI 02871

International Classification:

B63B 3579

US Classification:

114 3921, 114132

Abstract:

A Rotatable Keel Appendage comprising a conical hollow support fixed to a sailboat hull into which is juxtapositioned a rotatable cone member which supports a fin keel carrying a heavy ballast bulb. The rotatable cone member has a threaded shaft at its peak which has a diameter greater than the thickness of the fin and is lockable to the fixed appendage conical hollow support by a nut on the threaded shaft. In another embodiment, the rotatable cone member carries two fins, in either spaced parallel relationship or in spaced aligned relationship. Mathematical Formulas for Energy Balance are developed to establish that a tacking sailboat with the appendages in the Specification will hydrodynamically generate forces to both decrease the leeward drift and increase the forward velocity of the hull. Methods for sailing more quickly to reach a windward destination are set forth using the appendages in the specification.

US Patent:

6796259, Sep 28, 2004

Filed:

Aug 23, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/226701

Inventors:

Frederick E. Hood - Portsmouth RI 02871
Bernard Olcott - Weekawken NJ 07086

International Classification:

B63B 338

US Classification:

114140

Abstract:

For eliminating the dynamic drag of the member which supports the ballast by completely enveloping it with a indispensable component of the sailing vessel, namely, the hollow rotatable monolithic rigid hydrodynamic fin, and thereby reducing the dynamic drag of the canoe body when it is sailing. The elongated four-sided symmetrical diamond shaped ballast support is adapted to be fixed to the interior of the canoe body. The top of the rotatable fin enters into the interior of the canoe body so that the water turbulence is substantially less than in the prior art when the top of the rotatable fin is spaced from the bottom of the canoe body. With sliding convex/concave contact, the rotatable fin is laterally supported by the stationary diamond shaped member. A first and second cylinder are fixed to the canoe body sole and canoe body cabin top to provide strong support to the rotatable fin and ballast. An energy analysis explains how a reduction in the leeward drift will increase the forward speed of the canoe body.