Patent ID: 7101235

Claim:
In combination with a boat hull to be propelled by a rearward discharge of air therefrom and including air jet developing means for discharging a jet of air along a predetermined path, a sound suppressor and directional control system comprising: a propeller shroud fully encircling a propeller, said shroud including an aft fairing, said aft fairing having an inner surface converging to an exhaust aperture for discharge of said jet of air in a rearward direction, wherein said aft fairing includes a first clamshell door pivotally mounted on a first side of a longitudinal centerline of said boat hull and a second clamshell door pivotally mounted on a second side of said longitudinal centerline, said first and said second clamshell doors each being independently moveable between a stowed position and a deployed position, wherein said rearward jet of air is directed through said exhaust aperture while said first and said second clamshell doors are in said stowed position, wherein a portion of said rearward jet of air is diverted through said first clamshell door when pivoted to said deployed position, wherein a portion of said rearward jet of air is diverted through said second clamshell door when pivoted to said deployed position, whereby either said diverted jet of air defines a vector thrust, whereby said vector thrust is sufficient to cause directional movement of said boat hull, said shroud including a forward inwardly converging lip defining an air inlet for allowing air to enter said sound suppressor and directional control system, at least one steering vane mounted to said aft fairing for pivotal movement about a generally vertical axis and positioned within said reward jet of air; whereby air enters said air inlet and said propeller shroud and said aft fairing concentrate and direct said jet of air through said exhaust aperture and wherein pivotal movement of said at least one steering vane causes deflection of said jet of air causing directional movement of said boat hull, and wherein sound generated by said air jet developing means is substantially reduced.