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Commercial Parasailing - The Brain Child Behind it all ! by David Carminito
 
Impassioned with the sport of (para-sailing) at age 15.  Mark McCulloh is an accomplished inventor, motivational speaker and internationally recognized as the original inventor of the winchboat and modern day parasailing equipment. > read more

 

RELEASE 09/26/09: We have launched the National Foundation for Parasail Regulations to collect comments, suggestions and responses from operators, the general public and especially those families who have lost loved ones will support this initiative to support nationwide regulations and operating guidelines that will present to State and Federal authorities for their consideration to mandate specific operating guidelines for all U.S. Coast Licensed Parasail Captains. > read more

  RELEASE 10/20/09: While we move forward lobbying for parasailing regulations, we are offering licensed parasail captains a safe operator endorsement certificate issued by the Parasail Safety Council (PSC) and their parasail location listed and promoted on our website in exchange for  agreeing to voluntarily abide by 6 distinctive parasail operating guidelines for parasailing safety.  Click here to view a sample of the approved parasail operators page that will be launched next month. 

**NEW** Parasail Captain Endorsement Registration


  McCulloh's innovations, inventions and accomplishments (see pictorial below) within the parasailing industry are broad in scope with a focus on improving parasail safety through equipment design.  His Winchboat invention set the standards which comprises 95% of all commercial parasailing worldwide .  Click here to view a flash Biography

      1971 Tandem Bar for Parasailing.  Key Biscayne, Florida
> learn more
      1971  Stationary Platform     Key Biscayne, Florida
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      1972  Motorized Platform     Key Biscayne, Florida
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      1974  World's First Winchboat / US Pat No. 3,987,746  Key Biscayne, Florida
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      1980  Military Training Winchboat   Turkey Point, Florida
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      1985  Aerial Recliner Passenger Support / US Pat No. 4,738,414  Marathon, Florida  
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      1986  Outboard Powered Winchboat    Key Biscayne, Florida
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      1987  Tandem Skyrider    Marathon, Florida  
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      1989  Mega Yacht Winchboat   Marathon, Florida  
 > learn more
      1994 Parasail Rope Guide / US Patent No. 5,367,972   Marathon, Florida  
 > learn more
      1994  First Disney Operation     Orlando, Florida
 > learn more
      1994  UL Approved Sportboat      Orlando, Florida
 > learn more
      1994   Conversion Kits for Harness Winchboats         Orlando, Florida
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      1995  Surveillance Skyrider / US Pat No. D392,242     Orlando, Florida
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      1996 Conversion Flight Deck    Orlando, Florida
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      1996  Auto-Winch System        Orlando, Florida
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      1998 Three Passenger Skyrider / US Pat No. # 5,816,184    Orlando, Florida
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1999  Riser Assembly for Parasailing US Pat No. 6,085,682.  McCulloh's last invention inspired the riser line assembly design utilized on NASA’s X-38 Crew Rescue Vehicle.     
 

1974 "THE FIRST" PARASAIL WINCHBOAT

 
The worlds first Parasail Winchboat was invented by Mark McCulloh of Miami, Florida.  In  1974, the proof of concept was completed and a patent was granted to McCulloh in October 26, 1976.  Due to numerous accidents,  the commercial application was delayed until 1980. The First Recorded Winchboat Accident occurred in 1977 during a media event at Sunset Beach, Treasure Island, Florida. Where a girl almost drown after the parasail went into the water.
Today Winchboat parasailing represents more than 95% of all commercial parasailing offered throughout the World.
 
 

1980 "THE FIRST" MILITARY WINCHBOAT FOR WATER SURVIVAL TRAINING

 
In 1980, McCulloh was contracted by the US AIR FORCE to build a Winchboat for their Water Survival Training Program that provided pilots and astronauts life saving techniques to escape a parasail during a waterlanding in high winds.   Waterlandings can be dangerous in high winds since the canopy will stay inflated after landing in the water thus dragging the parasailor backwards through the water and in some case drowning.       

The McCulloh's Winchboat design is still in use at the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Florida.

 
 
PARASAIL SAFETY COUNCIL
The Clayton & McCulloh Building
1065 Maitland Center Commons Blvd.
Maitland, FL 32751
Phone (407) 650-3300
 
click envelope to email us

 

 

 

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