초록 ▼

A wake modifying system for modifying a wake produced by a watercraft traveling through water may include a rudder pivotally mounted to the watercraft for steering the watercraft, a fin pivotally mounted to the watercraft substantially along a centerline of the watercraft and forward the rudder, whe

A wake modifying system for modifying a wake produced by a watercraft traveling through water may include a rudder pivotally mounted to the watercraft for steering the watercraft, a fin pivotally mounted to the watercraft substantially along a centerline of the watercraft and forward the rudder, wherein the fin pivots about an upright axis to modify the wake produced by the watercraft traveling through the water, an actuator mounted within the watercraft and operably coupled to the fin for pivoting the fin relative to the centerline, and a controller mounted on the watercraft allowing an operator to control the actuator and selectively pivot the fin to a desired angle θd relative to the centerline.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A boat configured to produce a first wake when traveling through water and configured to produce a second wake different from said first wake when a wake surfer is surfing said second wake behind said boat; the boat comprising: a hull;an operator control;at least one wake modifier oriented substa

1. A boat configured to produce a first wake when traveling through water and configured to produce a second wake different from said first wake when a wake surfer is surfing said second wake behind said boat; the boat comprising: a hull;an operator control;at least one wake modifier oriented substantially vertically, wherein, when the boat is in said water, said wake modifier is oriented substantially perpendicular to a surface of said water;an actuator operably coupled to said wake modifier wherein actuation of said actuator moves said wake modifier between a first position and a second position, wherein one of said first position and said second position comprises said wake modifier being in a neutral position and the other of said first and said second position comprises said wake modifier being in an engaged position to form said second wake, said second wake comprising one of a left side surf wake or a right side surf wake different from said left side surf wake;a rudder configured to track said boat in a straight line through said water when said boat is traveling at least at a speed suitable for surfing with said water diverter in said engaged position; andan electronic controller configured to regulate said actuator responsive to electronic signals received by said electronic controller from said operator control, said electronic signals responsive to input into said operator control by an operator. 2. The boat of claim 1, wherein said at least one wake modifier comprises first and second wake modifiers;said actuator comprises first and second actuators;said controller being configured to regulate each of said first and second actuators; andsaid operator using said operator control can switch said first and second wake modifiers from said right side surf wake to said left side surf wake while the boat is moving through the water at a predetermined speed, said predetermined speed being greater than stationary. 3. The boat of claim 2, wherein said predetermined speed comprises a speed suitable for surfing. 4. The boat of claim 1, wherein when said at least one wake modifier is in the engaged position to allow said wake surfer to surf said second wake and said second wake forms said left side surf wake, said rudder is responsive to said operator control to steer said hull left to compensate for a tendency of the hull to track right in order to track said hull in a straight path as said boat travels through said water. 5. The boat of claim 1, wherein said actuator is responsive to move said at least one wake modifier to said neutral position when said boat travels through said water above a predetermined speed. 6. The boat of claim 1, wherein said at least one wake modifier comprises a first and second wake modifier and said operator control comprises an electronic surf left control for said left side surf wake and an electronic surf right control for said right side surf wake, and wherein single actuation of said surf left control causes at least said first wake modifier to move to the engaged position and wherein single actuation of said surf right control causes said at least said second wake modifier to move to the engaged position. 7. The boat of claim 6, wherein said first wake modifier and said second wake modifier individually move. 8. The boat of claim 6, wherein said first wake modifier and said second wake modifier cooperatively move. 9. The boat of claim 1, wherein said substantially vertical orientation comprises a somewhat inclined orientation. 10. The boat of claim 1, wherein said at least one wake modifier comprises a fin. 11. The boat of claim 6, wherein said engaged position comprises a fully engaged position. 12. A method of producing a surfing wake when a boat is configured for surfing as said boat travels through water, said surfing wake being different from a wake when said boat is configured for not surfing as said boat travels through water, the configuration of said boat from surfing to not surfing responsive to input to an electronic control, said method comprising: receiving input responsive to a selection of a right side surf wake; andactuating an actuator responsive to a controller to move a substantially vertically oriented wake modifier from a first position to a second position, wherein one of said first position and said second position comprises said wake modifier being in a neutral position and the other of said first and said second position comprises said wake modifier being in an engaged position to form said surfing wake, said surfing wake comprising a right side surf wake different from a left side surf wake. 13. The method of claim 12, wherein said substantially vertically oriented wake modifier comprises a somewhat inclined wake modifier and wherein said actuating comprises actuating said actuator to move said somewhat inclined wake modifier. 14. The method of claim 12, wherein said wake modifier comprises a fin and wherein said actuating comprises actuating said actuator to move said fin. 15. The method of claim 12, wherein said receiving input comprises receiving single actuation input responsive to a selection of the right side surf wake. 16. The method of claim 12, comprising: receiving input responsive to a selection of a left side surf wake; andactuating an actuator responsive to a controller to move a second substantially vertically oriented wake modifier from a first position to a second position, wherein one of said first position and said second position of said second wake modifier comprises said second wake modifier being in a neutral position and the other of said first and said second position comprises said second wake modifier being in an engaged position to form said surfing wake, said surfing wake comprising said left side surf wake. 17. A surf boat comprising: a hull;a rudder;a plurality of wake modifiers oriented substantially perpendicular to a surface of said water when said hull is in said water, said plurality of wake modifiers each having a deployed position and a neutral position, wherein when in said deployed position and said hull is moving through said water, at least one of said plurality of said wake modifiers modifying a wake of said hull to produce either a right side surf wake or a left side surf wake different from said right side surf wake; andan operator control including a right surf control and a left surf control, wherein selection of said right surf control causes at least one of said plurality of said wake modifiers to produce said right side surf wake and selection of said left surf control causes at least one of said plurality of said wake modifiers to produce said left surf wake. 18. The surf boat of claim 17, wherein said plurality of wake modifiers comprise fins. 19. The surf boat of claim 17, wherein the operator control is responsive to single actuation of one of said right surf control and said left surf control. 20. The method of claim 12, comprising tracking with a rudder said boat in a straight line through said water when said boat is traveling at least at a speed suitable for surfing with said water diverter in said engaged position.