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1. A boat having supporting gas cushions disposed in catamaran-like sidehulls v/ith said catamaran-like sidehulls in mechanical communication with connecting hull structure, and with said supporting gas cushions supplied with pressurized gas by gas pressurization means, characterized by a recess in each catamaran-like sidehull with said recesses at least partially restraining the pressurized gas cushions, each of said catamaran-like sidehulls having inner and outer sidewalls, with the recess in at least one of said catamaran-like sidehulls, as seen in a horizontal water contacting plane of said boat, enlarging in width over at least a portion of its longitudinal length going aft from its forward portions when said boat is operating at speeds of over 25 knots in a calm sea with its gas cushions pressurized to a sufficient pressure to support a majority of boat weight.
2. A boat having supporting gas cushions disposed in catamaran-like sidehulls with said catamaran-like sidehulls in mechanical communication with connecting hull structure, said supporting gas cushions supplied with pressurized gas by gas pressurization means, and said supporting gas cushions pressurized at sufficient pressure to support a majority of boat weight, characterized by said catamaran-like sidehulls being, at least in part, individually boat shaped with substantially more narrow bows than aft sections where said boat shape is defined by an intersection of said catamaran-like sidehulls and a calm sea surface waterline when said supporting gas cushions are pressurized at sufficient pressure to support a majority of boat weight and the boat is underway at speeds of more than 25 knots, said catamaran-like sidehulls having recesses in their undersides for restraining at least a part of said pressurized supporting gas cushions and a lower water
contacting surface of said catamaran-like sidehull both, at least in part, bounds a recess and diverges further from the catamaran-like sidehull's vertical centerline plane going aft from proximal said recess' forward portions.
3. The boat of claim 2, characterized in that said lower water contacting surface that at least partially bounds a recess of the catamaran-like sidehull, after diverging, becomes substantially more parallel to the vertical centerline plane of the sidehull over at least portions of an aft section of said catamaran-like sidehull.
4. The boat of claim 2 or 3, characterized in that said recesses in the catamaran-like sidehulls enlarge in width by at least twenty-five percent from their forward sections to their aft sections.
5. The boat of claim 2, 3 or 4, characterized in that an average height of said recess above a lowest portion of a catamaran-like sidehull keel is less than fifty percent of a distance from the lowest portion of the catamaran-like sidehull keel to a wetdeck of said boat.
6. The boat of any of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that said catamaran-like sidehulls are asymmetrical when viewed in a calm sea surface waterline plane of said boat.
7. The boat of any of claims 2 to 6, characterized by a center bow in mechanical communication with said connecting hull structure.
8. The boat of claim 7, characterized in that said center bow extends, at least in part, forwardly of said sidehulls.
9. The boat of any of claims 2 to 8, characterized by at least one substantially rigid seal member disposed, at least partially, proximal one of said catamaran-like sidehull recesses and said substantially rigid seal member's underside, when viewed in at least one
vertical transverse plane of the boat, contains surfaces that are angled to horizontal over a majority of said seal member's width.
10. The boat of claim 9, characterized in that said substantially rigid seal member, as seen in a vertical transverse plane of the boat, extends over a majority of catamaran-like sidehull recess width.
11. The boat of claim 9, characterized in that said substantially rigid seal member comprises, at least in part, lower sealing surfaces that are substantially more horizontal, as viewed in a vertical transverse plane of the boat, than said substantially rigid seal member's surfaces proximal to and forward of said lower sealing surfaces.
12. The boat of claim 9, 10 or 11, characterized in that at least one of the substantially rigid seal members, as seen in a vertical transverse plane of the boat has an inverted-V shape.
13. The boat of any of claims 2 to 12, characterized by vertically oriented vented steps in a side surface of each of said catamaran-like sidehulls.
14. The boat of claim 13, characterized in that at least a part of said catamaran-like sidehull's side surface, as viewed in a horizontal plane of said boat, is closer to a vertical centerline plane of said catamaran-like sidehull over an aft portion than a more forward portion.
15. The boat of any of claims 2 to 14, characterized by first forward movable seals disposed proximal a forward portion of said catamaran-like sidehull recesses where said first forward movable seals are movable in relation to the boat.
16. The boat of claim 15, characterized in that said first forward movable seals, when in lower positions, extend below catamaran-like sidehull keels.
17. The boat of claim 15 or 16, characterized by a second forward movable seal that is movable in relation
to the boat and that is longitudinally positioned, at least in part, aft of and proximal to the first forv/ard movable seal.
18. The boat of any of claims 2 to 17, characterized by an intermediate movable seal that is at least partially disposed proximal a catamaran-like sidehull recess with said intermediate movable seal movable in relation to the boat.
19. The boat of claim 2, characterized by a first and a second recess in each of the catamaran-like sidehulls, said first and second recesses, at least in part, separated by recess seal members.
20. The boat of claim 19, characterized in that the gas pressurization means is capable of supplying gas at different pressures to the first and the second recesses.
21. A boat having supporting gas cushions disposed in catamaran-like sidehulls with said catamaran-like sidehulls in mechanical communication with a connecting hull structure, said supporting gas cushions supplied with pressurized gas by gas pressurization means, and said supporting gas cushions pressurized at sufficient pressure to support a majority of boat weight, characterized by a recess in each catamaran-like sidehull with said recesses at least partially restraining the pressurized gas cushions, and lower water contacting surfaces of said catamaran-like sidehulls that both bound the recesses and diverge further, when the supporting gas cushions are pressurized at a sufficient pressure to support a majority of boat weight, from vertical centerline planes of said catamaran-like sidehulls going aft from proximal forward portions of said recesses and said lower water contacting surfaces of the catamaran-like sidehulls, after diverging, then become substantially more parallel to the vertical centerline planes of the sidehulls over at least portions of their aft sections.
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22. The boat of claim 21, characterized in that said recesses in the catamaran-like sidehulls enlarge in width by at least twenty-five percent from their forward sections to their aft sections.
23. The boat of claim 21 or 22, characterized in that an average height of said recess above a lowest portion of a catamaran-like sidehull keel is less than fifty percent of a distance from the lowest portion of the catamaran-like sidehull keel to a wetdeck of said boat.
24. The boat of claim 21, 22 or 23, characterized in that said catamaran-like sidehulls are asymmetrical when viewed in a calm sea surface waterline plane of said boat.
25. The boat of any of claims 21 to 24, characterized by a center bow that is in mechanical communication with said connecting hull structure.
26. The boat of any of claims 21 to 25, characterized by at least one substantially rigid seal member disposed, at least partially, proximal one of said catamaran-like sidehull recesses and said substantially rigid seal member's underside, when viewed in at least one vertical transverse plane of the boat, contains surfaces that are angled to horizontal over a majority of said seal member's width.
27. The boat of claim 26, characterized in that said substantially rigid seal member, as seen in a vertical transverse plane of the boat, extends over a majority of catamaran-like sidehull recess width.
28. The boat of claim 26 or 27, characterized in that said substantially rigid seal member comprises, at least in part, lower sealing surfaces that are substantially more horizontal, as viewed in a vertical transverse plane of the boat, than said substantially rigid seal member's surfaces proximal to and forward of said lower sealing surfaces.
29. The boat of claim 26, 27 or 28, characterized in that at least one of the substantially
rigid seal members, as seen in a vertical transverse plane of the boat, has an inverted-V shape.
30. The boat of any of claims 21 to 29, characterized by a vertically oriented vented steps in a side surface of at least one of said catamaran-like sidehulls.
31. The boat of claim 30, characterized in that at least a part of said side surface of said catamaran-like sidehull in way of said vertically oriented vented steps, as viewed in a horizontal plane of said boat, is narrower over an aft portion than a more forward portion.
32. The boat of any of claims 21 to 31, characterized by a first forward movable seal disposed proximal a forward portion of one of said catamaran-like sidehull recesses where said first forward movable seal is movable in relation to the boat.
33. The boat of claim 32, characterized in that said first forward movable seal, when in lover positions, extends below a catamaran-like sidehull keel line of said catamaran-like sidehull.
34. The boat of claim 32 or 33, characterized by a second forward movable seal that is movable in relation to the boat and that is longitudinally positioned, at least in part, aft of and proximal to the first forward movable seal.
35. The boat of any of claims 21 to 34, characterized by an intermediate movable seal that is at least partially disposed proximal a catamaran-like sidehull recess with said intermediate movable seal movable in relation to the boat.
36. The boat of any of claims 21 to 35, characterized by the connecting hull structure being in mechanical communication with an air flow turbulence generator.
37. The boat of any of claims 21 to 36, characterized by a first and a second recess in each of
the catamaran-like sidehulls, said first and second recesses, at least in part, separated by recess seal members.
38. The boat of claim 37, characterized in that the gas pressurization means is capable of supplying gas at different pressures to the first and the second recesses.
39. A boat having supporting gas cushions disposed in catamaran-like sidehulls with said catamaran-like sidehulls in mechanical communication with connecting hull structure, said supporting gas cushions supplied with pressurized gas by gas pressurization means, and said supporting gas cushions pressurized at sufficient pressure to support a majority of boat weight, characterized by a center bow that extends forwardly of upper forward portions of said catamaran-like sidehulls with said center bow in mechanical communication with the connecting hull structure, said connecting hull structure extending from proximal an upper forward portion of said catamaran-like sidehulls to proximal an upper forward portion of said center bow thereby forming a boat shape with a substantially pointed bow as defined by deck lines of said boat as seen in a top plan view of said boat and said catamaran-like sidehulls have recesses in their undersides for restraining at least part of said pressurized supporting gas cushions, and wherein at least one of said catamaran-like sidehull recesses enlarges going aft from its forward portions.
40. The boat of claim 39, characterized by at least one substantially rigid seal member disposed proximal one of said catamaran-like sidehull recesses and said substantially rigid seal member's underside, when viewed in at least one vertical transverse plane of the boat, contains surfaces that are angled to horizontal over a majority of said seal member's width.
41. The boat of claim 40, characterized in that said substantially rigid seal member, as seen in a
vertical transverse plane of the boat, extends over a majority of catamaran-like sidehull recess width.
42. The boat of claim 39, 40 or 41, characterized by vertically oriented vented steps in a side surface of at least one of said catamaran-like sidehulls.
43. The boat of any of claims 39 to 42, characterized by a first forward movable seal disposed proximal a forward portion of one of said catamaran-like sidehull recesses where said first forward movable seal is movable in relation to the boat.
44. The boat of any of claims 39 to 43, characterized by a first and a second recess in each of the catamaran-like sidehulls, said first and second recesses, at least in part, separated by recess seal members.
45. The boat of claim 44, characterized in that the gas pressurization means is capable of supplying gas at different pressures to the first and the second recesses.
46. A boat having supporting gas cushions disposed in catamaran-like sidehulls with said catamaran-like sidehulls in mechanical communication with connecting hull structure, said supporting gas cushions supplied with pressurized gas by gas pressurization means, and said supporting gas cushions pressurized at sufficient pressure to support a majority of boat weight, characterized by each of said catamaran-like sidehulls having, at least in part, a substantially single bow with said catamaran-like sidehulls, at least in part, being lower than the connecting hull structure, said connecting hull structure having a wetdeck on its underside with said wetdeck extending a majority of a distance between the catamaran-like sidehulls, and said catamaran-like sidehulls having recesses in their undersides for restraining at least part of said pressurized supporting
gas cushions with a recess in one of said catamaran-like sidehulls, over at least a portion of its longitudinal length, enlarging in width going aft from its forward portions as seen in a horizontal water contacting plane of said boat v/hen said boat is operating in a calm seal with the gas cushions pressurized to a sufficient pressure to support a majority of boat weight.
47. The boat of claim 46, characterized in that the recess in one of the catamaran-like sidehulls that is enlarging in width then becomes more constant in width over at least a portion of its longitudinal length.
48. The boat of claim 46 or 47, characterized in that said recesses in the catamaran-like sidehulls enlarge in width by at least twenty-five percent from their forward sections to their aft sections.
49. The boat of claim 46, 47 or 48, characterized in that an average height of said recess above a lowest portion of a catamaran-like sidehull keel is less than fifty percent of a distance from the lowest portion of the catamaran-like sidehull keel to a wetdeck of said boat.
50. The boat of any of claims 46 to 49, characterized in that said catamaran-like sidehulls are asymmetrical when viewed in a calm sea surface waterline plane of said boat.
51. The boat of any of claims 46 to 50, characterized in that a center bow in mechanical communication with said connecting hull structure.
52. The boat of claim 51, characterized in that said center bow extends, at least in part, forwardly of said sidehulls.
53. The boat of any of claims 46 to 52, characterized by at least one substantially rigid seal member disposed, at least partially, proximal one of said catamaran-like sidehull recesses and said substantially rigid seal member's undersides, when viewed in at least
one vertical transverse plane of the boat, contains surfaces that are angled to horizontal over a majority of said seal member's width.
54. The boat of claim 53, characterized in that said substantially rigid seal member, as seen in a vertical transverse plane of the boat, extends over a majority of catamaran-like sidehull recess width.
55. The boat of claim 53, characterized in that said substantially rigid seal member comprises, at least in part, lower sealing surfaces that are substantially more horizontal, as viewed in a vertical transverse plane of the boat, than said substantially rigid seal member's surfaces proximal to and forward of said lower sealing surfaces.
56. The boat of claim 53, characterized in that at least one of the substantially rigid seal members, as seen in a vertical transverse plane of the boat, has an inverted-V shape.
57. The boat of any of claims 46 to 56, characterized by vertically oriented vented steps in a side surface of at least one of said catamaran-like sidehulls.
58. The boat of claim 57, characterized in that at least a part of said side surface of said catamaran-like sidehull in way of said vertically oriented vented steps, as viewed in a horizontal plane of said boat, is narrower over an aft portion than a more forward portion.
59. The boat of any of claims 46 or 58, characterized by a first forward movable seal disposed proximal a forward portion of one of said catamaran-like sidehull recesses where said first forward movable seal is movable in relation to the boat.
60. The boat of claim 59, characterized in that said first forward movable seal, when in lower positions, extends below a keel of said catamaran-like sidehull.
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61. The boat of claim 59, characterized by a second forward movable seal that is movable in relation to the boat and that is longitudinally positioned, at least in part, aft of and proximal to the first forward movable seal.
62. The boat of any of claims 46 to 61, characterized by an intermediate movable seal that is at least partially disposed proximal a catamaran-like sidehull recess with said intermediate movable seal movable in relation to the boat.
63. The boat of any of claims 46 to 62, characterized by a first and a second recess in each of the catamaran-like sidehulls, said first and second recesses, at least in part, separated by recess seal members.
64. The boat of claim 63, characterized in that the gas pressurization means is capable of supplying gas at different pressures to the first and the second recesses.
65. A boat having supporting gas cushions disposed in catamaran-like sidehulls with said catamaran-like sidehulls in mechanical communication with a connecting hull structure, said supporting gas cushions supplied with pressurized gas by gas pressurization means, and said supporting gas cushions pressurized at sufficient pressure to support a majority of boat weight, characterized by a first forward movable seal that is movable relative to the boat with said first forward movable seal disposed, at least partially, between substantially parallel internal surfaces of a catamaran-like sidehull and a recess in said catamaran-like sidehull that at least partially restrains the catamaran-like sidehull's pressurized supporting gas cushion and said recess enlarges aft of the catamaran-like sidehull's substantially parallel internal surfaces.
66. The boat of claim 65, characterized in that after enlarging, said recess becomes substantially
constant in width over at least portions of its aft sections.
67. The boat of claim 65 or 66, characterized in that said recesses in the catamaran-like sidehulls enlarge in width by at least twenty-five percent from their forward portions to their aft portions.
68. The boat of claim 65, 66 or 67, characterized in that an average height of said recess above a lowest portion of a catamaran-like sidehull keel is less than fifty percent of a distance from the lowest portion of the catamaran-like sidehull keel to a wetdeck of said boat.
69. The boat of any of claims 65 to 68, characterized in that said catamaran-like sidehulls are asymmetrical when viewed in a calm sea surface waterline plane of said boat.
70. The boat of any of claims 65 to 69, characterized by a center bow in mechanical communication with said connecting hull structure.
71. The boat of any of claims 65 to 70, characterized by at least one substantially rigid seal member disposed, at least partially, proximal one of said catamaran-like sidehull recesses and said substantially rigid seal member's underside, when viewed in at least one vertical transverse plane of the boat, contains surfaces that are angled to horizontal over a majority of said substantially rigid seal member's width.
72. The boat of any of claims 65 to 71, characterized by vertically oriented vented steps in a side surface of each of said catamaran-like sidehulls.
73. The boat of claim 72, characterized in that at least a part of said catamaran-like sidehull in v/ay of said side surface, as viewed in a horizontal plane of said boat, is closer to a vertical centerline plane of said catamaran-like sidehull over an aft portion than a more forward portion of said catamaran-like sidehull.
74. The boat of any of claims 65 to 73, characterized in that said first forward movable seal, when in lower positions, extends below a catamaran-like sidehull keel of said catamaran-like sidehull.
75. The boat of any of claims 65 to 74, characterized by a second forward movable seal that is movable in relation to the boat and that is longitudinally positioned, at least in part, aft of and proximal to the first forward movable seal.
76. The boat of claim 75, characterized in that said second forv/ard movable seal extends, at least in part, transversely outward beyond said first forward movable seal.
77. The boat of any of claims 65 to 76, characterized by an intermediate movable seal that is at least partially disposed proximal a catamaran-like sidehull recess with said intermediate movable seal movable in relation to the boat.
78. The boat of any of claims 65 to 77, characterized by a first and a second recess in each of the catamaran-like sidehulls, said first and second recesses, at least in part, separated by recess seal members.
79. The boat of claim 78, characterized in that the gas pressurization means is capable of supplying gas at different pressures to the first and the second recesses.
80. The boat of any of claims 65 to 79, characterized by a movable seal that is positioned proximal an aft end of the catamaran-like sidehull's recess.
81. A boat having supporting gas cushions disposed in catamaran-like sidehulls with said catamaran-like sidehulls in mechanical communication with connecting hull structure, said supporting gas cushions supplied with pressurized gas by gas pressurization means,
and said supporting gas cushions pressurized at sufficient pressure to support a majority of boat weight, characterized by said catamaran-like sidehulls having recesses in their undersides for restraining at least part of said pressurized supporting gas cushions, substantially rigid seal members disposed, at least partially, proximal said catamaran-like sidehull recesses and said substantially rigid seal members' undersides, when viewed in at least one vertical transverse plane of the boat, contain surfaces that are angled to horizontal over a majority of said seal members' width, and wherein at least one of said catamaran-like sidehull recesses enlarges going aft from its forward portions.
82. The boat of claim 81, characterized in that at least one of said catamaran-like sidehull recesses enlarges by one or more step-like enlargements.
83. The boat of claim 81 or 82, characterized in that said catamaran-like sidehull recess, after enlarging, then becomes more constant in width over at least part of its aft portions.
84. The boat of claim 81, 82 or 83, characterized in that said substantially rigid seal member, as seen in a vertical transverse plane of the boat, extends over a majority of catamaran-like sidehull recess width.
85. The boat of any of claims 81 to 84, characterized in that said substantially rigid seal member comprises, at least in part, lower sealing surfaces that are substantially more horizontal, as viewed in a vertical transverse plane of the boat, than said substantially rigid seal member's surfaces proximal to and forward of said lower sealing surfaces.
86. The boat of any of claims 81 to 85, characterized by a step inset into lower sealing surfaces of the substantially rigid seal member thereby reducing a wetted area of said substantially rigid seal member.
87. The boat of claim 86, characterized by means to supply pressurized gas to said step inset into the lov/er sealing surfaces of the rigid seal member.
88. The boat of any claim 81 to 87, characterized in that at least one of the substantially rigid seal members, as seen in a vertical transverse plane of the boat, has an inverted-V shape.
89. The boat of any of claims 81 to 88, characterized by vertically oriented vented steps in a side surface of at least one of said catamaran-like sidehulls.
90. The boat of any of claims 81 to 89, characterized by a center bow in mechanical communication with said connecting hull structure.
91. The boat of any of claims 81 to 90, characterized by a first and a second recess in each of the catamaran-like sidehulls, said first and second recesses, at least in part, separated by recess seal members.
92. The boat of claim 91, characterized in that the gas pressurization means is capable of supplying gas at different pressures to the first and the second recesses.
93. The boat of any of claims 81 to 92, characterized in that the substantially rigid seal member's underside, when viewed in at least one vertical transverse plane of the boat, contains surfaces that are biased to one side of a vertical centerline plane of the catamaran-like sidehull.
94. The boat of any of claims 81 to 93, characterized by a movable seal with said movable seal positioned proximal an aft end of the catamaran-like sidehull's recess.
95. A boat having supporting gas cushions disposed in catamaran-like sidehulls with said catamaran-like sidehulls in mechanical communication with
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sidewalls being, on average, substantially lower than the inner sidewalls when the boat is running level, as seen in at least one vertical transverse plane of the boat, and at speeds of more than 25 knots.
104. The boat of claim 103, characterized in that the catamaran-like sidehull's inner sidewalls are, on average, substantially narrower than the catamaran-like sidehull's outer sidewalls.
105. The boat of claim 104, characterized in that catamaran-like sidehull's inner sidewalls are, on average, less than half the width of the catamaran-like sidehull's outer sidewalls.
106. The boat of claim 103, 104 or 105, characterized in that the catamaran-like sidehull's outer sidewalls have lower surfaces that are comprised of angled surfaces forward and more rounded surfaces aft.
107. The boat of any of claims 103 to 106, characterized in that said catamaran-like sidehulls have substantially more narrow bows than aft sections.
108. The boat of any claims 103 to 107, characterized in that at least one of said sidehull's sidewalls, at least in part, diverges going aft from a catamaran-like sidehull's bow toward the stern of the boat.
109. The boat of claim 108, characterized in that the sidehull's sidewall, after diverging, becomes substantially parallel to a vertical centerline plane of the boat.
110. The boat of any of claims 103 to 109, characterized in that the catamaran-like sidehulls are asymmetrical when viewed in a calm seal surface waterline plane of said boat.
111. The boat of any of claims 103 to 110, characterized in that the catamaran-like sidehulls extend substantially more forward than a forward part of the connecting hull structure.
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117. The boat of claim 116, characterized in that the catamaran-like sidehull's inner sidev/alls are, on average, less than half the width of the catamaran-like sidehull's outer sidewalls.
118. The boat of claim 116 or 117, characterized in that the catamaran-like sidehull's outer sidewalls are, on average, substantially lower than the inner sidev/alls when the boat is running level and at speeds of more than 25 knots.
119. The boat of claims 116, 117 or 118, characterized in that the catamaran-like sidehull's outer sidewalls have lower surfaces that are comprised of angled surfaces forward and more rounded surfaces aft.
120. The boat of any of claims 116 to 119, characterized in that said catamaran-like sidehulls have substantially more narrow bows than aft sections.
121. The boat of any of claims 116 to 120, characterized in that at least one of said sidehull's sidewalls, at least in part, diverges going aft from a catamaran-like sidehull's bow toward the stern of the boat.
122. The boat of claim 121, characterized in that the sidehull's sidewall, after diverging, becomes substantially parallel to a vertical centerline plane of the boat.
123. The boat of any of claims 116 to 122, characterized in that the catamaran-like sidehulls are asymmetrical when viewed in a calm sea surface waterline plane of said boat.
124. The boat of any of claims 116 to 123, characterized in that the catamaran-like sidehulls extend substantially more forward than a forward part of the connecting hull structure.
125. The boat of any of claims 116 to 124, characterized by a center bow in mechanical communication with said connecting hull structure.
126. The boat of any of claims 116 to 125, characterized by at least one substantially rigid seal
the gas pressurization means is capable of supplying gas at different pressures to the separate gas cushions in the catamaran-like sidehull.
130. The boat of claim 129, characterized in that the intermediate movable seal is in mechanical communication with a force means that applies a downward force to the intermediate movable seal.
131. The boat of claim 129 or 130, characterized in that the force means is, at least in part, resilient.
132. The boat of claim 129, 130 or 131, characterized in that the intermediate movable seal is comprised of multiple separate elements.
133. The boat of any of claims 129 to 132, characterized in that the intermediate movable seal is attached to the boat by a hinge-like mechanism.
134. The boat of any of claims 129 to 133, characterized in that said catamaran-like sidehulls have substantially more narrow bows than aft sections.
135. The boat of any of claims 129 to 134, characterized by at least one substantially rigid seal member disposed, at least partially, proximal one of said catamaran-like sidehull's recesses and said substantially rigid seal member's underside, when viewed in at least one vertical transverse plane of the boat, contains surfaces that are angled to horizontal over a majority of said seal member's width.
136. A boat having supporting gas cushions disposed in catamaran-like sidehulls with said catamaran-like sidehulls in mechanical communication with connecting hull structure, and with said supporting gas cushions supplied with pressurized gas by gas pressurization means, characterized by a recess in each catamaran-like sidehull with said recesses at least partially restraining the pressurized gas cushions, each of said catamaran-like sidehulls having inner and outer sidewalls, with the recess in at least one of said
catamaran-like sidehulls, as seen in a horizontal water contacting plane of said boat, enlarging in width over at least a portion of its longitudinal length going aft from its forward portions when said boat is operating at speeds of over 25 knots in a calm sea with its gas cushions pressurized to a sufficient pressure to support a majority of boat weight, and wherein at least one of said recesses is, at least partially, asymmetrical.
137. The boat of claim 136, characterized in that the recess in one of the catamaran-like sidehulls that is enlarging in width then becomes more constant in width over at least a portion of its longitudinal length.
138. The boat of claim 136 or 137, characterized in that at least one of said sidehull's inner and outer sidewalls have outer water contacting surfaces that are, at least in part, asymmetrical to each other.
139. The boat of any of claims 136 to 138, characterized in that an average height of said recess above a lowest portion of a catamaran-like sidehull keel is less than fifty percent of a distance from the lowest portion of the catamaran-like sidehull keel to a wetdeck of said boat.
140. The boat of any of claims 136 to 139, characterized by a center bow in mechanical communication with said connecting hull structure.
141. The boat of any of claims 136 to 140, characterized by at least one substantially rigid seal member disposed, at least partially, proximal one of said catamaran-like sidehull recesses and said substantially rigid seal member's undersides, when viewed in at least one vertical transverse plane of the boat, contains surfaces that are angled to horizontal over a majority of said seal member's width.
142. The boat of claim 141, characterized in that said substantially rigid seal member is, at least partially, asymmetrical.
143. The boat of claim 141 or 142, characterized in that said substantially rigid seal member comprises, at least in part, lower sealing surfaces that are substantially more horizontal, as viewed in a vertical transverse plane of the boat, than said substantially rigid seal member's surfaces proximal to and forward of said lower sealing surfaces.
144. The boat of any of claims 136 to 143, characterized by vertically oriented vented steps in a side surface of at least one of said catamaran-like sidehulls.
145. The boat of claim 144, characterized in that at least a part of said side surface of said catamaran-like sidehull in way of said vertically oriented vented steps, as viewed in a horizontal plane of said boat, is narrower over an aft portion than a more forward portion.
146. The boat of any of claims 136 to 145, characterized by a first forward movable seal disposed proximal a forward portion of one of said catamaran-like sidehull recesses where said first forward movable seal is movable in relation to the boat.
147. The boat of any of claims 136 to 146, characterized by an intermediate movable seal that is at least partially disposed proximal a catamaran-like sidehull recess with said intermediate movable seal movable in relation to the boat.
148. The boat of claim 147, characterized in that the intermediate movable seal is in mechanical communication with a force means that applies a downward force to the intermediate movable seal.
149. The boat of claim 148, characterized in that the force means is, at least in part, resilient.
150. The boat of claim 148 or 149, characterized in that the intermediate movable seal is comprised of multiple separate elements.
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