An improved multi-operational mode marine vessel is proposed that has blower pressurized air cushions that are utilized during high speed operations disposed in one or more secondary supporting hulls wherein said secondary supporting hulls are connected to a main hull by struts in the preferred embodiment of the invention and where, when the air cushions are not utilized, the secondary hulls are at least partially submerged thereby providing an exceptionally stable marine vehicle while stationary or at low speeds. This submergence of the secondary hulls can be enhanced by use of one or more water buoyancy tanks that would generally be disposed in the secondary supporting hulls. In the preferred version of the invention, blower pressurized air is ducted from blowers in the main hull through the struts to the air cushion recesses in the secondary supporting hulls. When more than one secondary supporting hull is used, it is preferable that a duct(s) connects separate air cushion recesses in separate secondary supporting hulls by way of the struts and/or a hollow hydrofoil that connects gas cushions in the secondary supporting hulls. The optional hydrofoil can improve stability and also add to vessel weight carrying capabilities. The gas cushion recesses are defined as being generally boat shaped with more narrow bows than sterns and as having aft seals.
展开▼
