Field of invention:

A floating flexible assembly that protects a boat hull from marine growth whilst moored.

Background:

Boats moored on water attract organisms and marine life to grow on the hull when the vessel is static for more than three days. The invention is designed to prevent such growth whilst the boat is docked on top of it. This negates the need to apply anti-fouling products to be applied to the vessel hull or ancillaries.

Existing products on the market, with a similar mechanism, either involve a more complex operation or are too lightweight to allow easy entry without buckling for a variety of shaped hulls.

Statement of intention:

The invention is a floating flexible protector assembly that is made up of at least 2 layers*. An upper layer with a density higher than the density of the water it is to be used in, typically PVC material, and a lower layer of sufficiently low density that the entire construction floats on. The lower layer provides buoyancy, on the water, to the upper layer pressing against vessel hull.

*An additional layer of higher density, than water, may be added underneath the lower density layer to provide additional shear and impact resistance to the invention.

The protector is attached to the boat mooring. A boat floats onto the protector from the back and stops when the hull is fully covered. The back edge of the protector is manually lifted once the boat is docked and secured. The raised back section prevents additional water entering the invention which further stops marine growth forming on the boat transom and rear ancillaries. The protector envelops the boat hull from underneath starving oxygen, nutrients and light to marine life, thus preventing marine growth. Any excess water is advised to be drained from the invention, by means of an additional pump, as to minimise marine growth further.

The protector can also have the option of low density rods that run along both long edges and the front edge. The low density rods run the length and front edge of the invention and are fitted inside fabric channel sleeves. The rods provide structure, additional floatation to the invention and prevent buckling as the boat glides onto sheet and act as a water barrier.

The protector has multiple eyelets fixed along the outer edge to allow securing to a various moorings via rope. The upper layer is supported on the surface of the water by a low density layer underneath. The low density layer has a triangular section removed that is wider at back of the protector and tapers to a point towards the front. The shape mimics the shape of a hull. The cutout allows the protector to be submerged along the centre line in a typical boat hull shape. The submerged area allows the boat to glide on the water onto the protector with minimal resistance.

Existing products on the market involve either:

A. fully submerging the main sheet with only the edge of the product providing floatation by way of an inflatable tube or large foam tubes. This requires a more complex operation that requires mechanical or electrical assistance in closing off water supply to hull. The fully submerged sheet does not press against the hull due to lack of sheet buoyancy, allowing water to flow around the hull and marine growth to occur.

B. an alternative product requires manually forcing the product down upon steeper hulled boat entry as it is too lightweight and has no central flotation triangular cutout to allow easy entry without buckling for a variety of shaped hulls. The product does not utilise a means of preventing water from circulating the hull, allowing marine life to grow.

C. involve more complexity by raising the boat out of the water by means of mechanical lifts or compressed air