Detachable pod and kayak

A kayak comprising:

• an elongated hull having a hull interior and an upper hull portion in which a cockpit is formed for accommodating a boater in a seated position;
• a perimeter hull flange formed in said upper hull portion of said kayak defining a deck opening;
• a detachable pod deck carried in said deck opening;
• a cockpit rim formed in said pod deck defining a cockpit opening;
• a pod compartment carried in said hull interior below said pod deck generally closed and isolated from said hull interior;
• a cockpit seat carried in said pod compartment in which a boater may be seated in said pod compartment;
• attachment means for attaching said pod deck and said upper hull portion together in an integral manner during normal kayak operation and sealing between hull and said pod deck against the entry of water;
• and
• said attachment means being releasable to allow said pod deck to be detached and separated from said hull in an emergency to facilitate removal of said pod deck and compartment.

A kayak comprising:

• an elongated kayak hull having an upper hull portion;
• a detachable and removable pod deck carried by said upper hull portion of said kayak;
• a kayak cockpit formed in said removable pod deck;
• attachment means securing and retaining said removable pod deck and said upper hull portion together in an integral manner during normal kayak operations;
• a self supporting pod carried within said hull below said removable pod deck having a self-supporting form for enclosing a boater seated in said cockpit isolating said boater from interior of said hull;
• a cockpit seat carried in said pod for seating said boater;
• and
• said detachable pod deck and said pod being removable from said kayak hull for emergency escape from said kayak.