Patent ID: 7775173
Filing Date: 2010-08-17
Classification: B63H

Abstract:
1. A retractable boat rudder system for a boat, said boat comprising a hull with a bow or forward portion, stern or rearward portion, transom, and steering interface said retractable rudder system comprising: a rudder with a first end and a second end, said rudder comprised of an elongate planar member containing a pivot hole in the first end of said rudder; said rudder having a first edge and a second edge; said first edge facing rearward from said boat and said second edge facing forward and adjacent to said hull of said boat when rudder resides in a generally down position; one or more mounting bearings, said mounting bearings configured to attach to said boat with fasteners; a rudderpost, said rudderpost oriented generally parallel to said transom of said boat, said rudderpost attached to said one or more mounting bearings, said mounting bearings allowing a left and right motion of said rudderpost with said rudderpost attached to said steering interface; one or more rudder brackets attached to said rudder post, said one or more rudder brackets extending generally rearward, said one or more rudder brackets having pivot holes corresponding to said pivot hole of said rudder; a fastener passing through said pivot hole of one or more said rudder brackets and said pivot hole in said rudder such that rudder is mounted to said rudder brackets and free to rotate in a plane parallel to a plane of said one or more said rudder brackets; an uphaul line, an upper end of said uphaul line passing from a top end rudderpost, down said rudderpost, through a pulley fixed to a first edge periphery of said first end of said rudder, and a lower end of said uphaul line being fixed to said rudderpost; at least one compressible resistance members, a first end of said at least one compressible resistance members attached to said rudderpost and a second end of said at least one compressible resistance members attached to said first end of said rudder; wherein said rudder is configured to move between a said generally down position and a generally up position, with said at least one compressible resistance members configured to push said rudder down in said generally down position and to hold said rudder up in said generally up position.