US 7,513,204 B2
Fin stabilizer to reduce roll for boats in turns method and apparatus
William L. Hickok, Bellingham, Wash. (US); Mark R. Morgan, Lynden, Wash. (US); Richard M Benson, Ferndale, Wash. (US); and Michael A. Baker, Burlington, Wash. (US)
Assigned to Aluminum Chambered Boats, Inc., Bellingham, Wash. (US)
Filed on Mar. 09, 2007, as Appl. No. 11/684,462.
Application 11/684462 is a continuation of application No. 10/796472, filed on Mar. 08, 2004, granted, now 7,210,422.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/452710, filed on Mar. 07, 2003.
Prior Publication US 2008/0216730 A1, Sep. 11, 2008
Int. Cl. B63B 39/06 (2006.01); B63B 3/44 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 114—121  [114/126; 114/140; 114/142] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A watercraft stabilization system to reduce roll in a turn, comprising:
a hull having a transom and a substantially V-shaped lower planing surface flanked by substantially vertical sidewalls, a lower edge of the transom being contiguous with the lower planing surface;
a fin stabilization system comprising a pair of fins each having front and rear edges, the fins being rigidly and non-adjustably attached to the lower planing surface of the hull, wherein the fins are confined within a longitudinally rear one-third portion and transversely outer one-third portions of the hull, the rear edges of the fins being positioned substantially forwardly of the transom to create a gap region between the rear edges of the fins and the lower edge of the transom,
whereby the fin stabilization system is configured to maintain the roll of the watercraft about the longitudinal axis to within 20 degrees of a horizontal plane when the watercraft is negotiating a sharp turn in excess of speeds of 35 mph.