Watercraft
AssigneeYamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorKeijiro Ikeda
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A number of embodiments of small watercraft wherein at least a portion of the propulsion system is disposed beneath a longitudinally extending raised seat that is adapted to accommodate at least a pair of riders seated in straddle tandem fashion or a rider-operator in two different longitudinal positions. The engine for the watercraft, which may be a V-type engine in some embodiments, is positioned at least in part beneath the seat and may accessed for servicing through an access opening closed by a removable cushion portion of the seat. The access opening is not large enough to permit removal of the engine, but a further access opening is formed through which the engine may be removed.
Claims30
A small watercraft comprised of a hull, said hull defining a rider's area having a raised seat portion adapted to accommodate at least one rider, an engine compartment formed in said hull at least in part beneath said raised seat portion, an internal combustion engine supported in said engine compartment, a propulsion device for propelling said hull supported said hull and driven by said internal combustion engine, said seat portion being formed with a service access opening through which at least one component of said engine may be accessed for servicing, a first removable closure detachably covering said service access opening, said service access opening not being large enough to pass said internal combustion engine as a unit therethrough, a further replacement access opening formed in said hull at a location spaced from said service access opening and through which said internal combustion engine may be removed as a unit, and a second removable closure for closing said replacement access opening.
A small watercraft comprised of a hull, said hull defining a rider's area having a longitudinally extending raised seat portion adapted to accommodate at least one rider seated thereon in straddle fashion, a pair of foot areas formed on opposite sides of said raised seat portion on which a seated rider may place his feet, a propulsion system for said watercraft comprised of an internal combustion engine, a propulsion device for propelling said hull and a transmission for driving said propulsion device from said engine, at least a portion of said propulsion system being disposed beneath said raised seat portion, an access opening formed in a upper surface of said raised seat portion through which at least a portion of said propulsion system may be accessed, a further opening formed in said upper surface of said raised seat portion for accommodating a storage compartment, a first seat cushion detachably connected to said raised seat portion and forming a closure for said access opening, and a second seat cushion detachably connected to said raised seat portion for forming a closure for said further opening.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.