Small watercraft

A small watercraft comprising a hull defining an engine compartment, and having at least one air duct that places the engine compartment in communication with atmospheric air outside the hull, the engine compartment being located between a bow and a stern of the watercraft, and an engine positioned within the engine compartment and powering a propulsion device, the engine including a flywheel assembly and a camshaft drive, the camshaft drive and the flywheel assembly being located on a bow side of the engine, the air duct including an opening into the engine compartment which is located on the bow side of and next to the camshaft drive.

A small watercraft comprising a hull having a keel line with a generally straight aft segment that extends in a fore-aft direction, the hull further having a passenger area and a control mast, the passenger area including at least one straddle-type, longitudinal seat extending in the force-aft direction, the hull defining an engine compartment, and an engine positioned within the engine compartment beneath at least the control mast or seat, the engine powering a propulsion device and including a crankshaft arranged within hull to lie in the fore-aft direction and in an orientation that is skewed relative to the aft segment of the keel line, the engine further including a crankcase member with a bottom edge and a flywheel enclosed within a cover, the cover extending below the bottom edge of the crankcase member, the flywheel disposed on the crankshaft and arranged on the side of the engine at which the crankshaft is at its highest point relative to the aft segment of the keel line.

A small watercraft comprising a hull defining an engine compartment, and having at least one air duct which places the engine compartment in communication with atmospheric air outside the hull, the engine compartment being located between a bow and a stern of the watercraft, and an engine positioned within the engine compartment and powering a propulsion device, the engine including a crankshaft and a flywheel assembly attached to an end of the crankshaft on a stern side of the engine, an output shaft connected to the flywheel assembly and a coupling connecting the output shaft to a drive shaft of the propulsion device and being located on the stern side of the flywheel assembly, the air duct including an opening that opens into the engine compartment on the stern side of the flywheel assembly, the coupling and the opening of the air duct being located next to each other so as to direct a flow of air over at least a portion of the coupling.

A small watercraft comprising a hull defining an engine compartment, and an engine positioned within the engine compartment and powering a propulsion device, the engine including the crankshaft rotating about a rotating axis which lies within a vertical plane and a cylinder head assembly affixed atop a cylinder block assembly, the cylinder head assembly including at least first and second camshafts, the first camshaft being closer to the vertical plane than the second camshaft, the engine further including a first power transfer device operating between the crankshaft and at least a first driven element attached to the first camshafts, and a second power transfer device operating between at least the first and second camshafts and including a second driven element attached to the second camshaft, the second driven element being smaller than the first driven element.

A small watercraft comprising a hull defining an engine compartment and having at least one air duct with at least one opening that supplies atmospheric air to the engine compartment, the engine compartment being located between a bow and a stern of the watercraft, and a propulsion system including an engine positioned within the engine compartment, the engine comprising a drive plate assembly including a ring gear and a crankshaft, the ring gear being coupled to the crankshaft, the engine further including an induction system which supplies air to the engine, the induction system being located between the air duct opening and the drive plate, and the air duct opening being located at a position below an upper periphery of the drive plate assembly.

A small watercraft comprising a hull having a keel line that extends in a fore-aft direction, the hull further including a passenger area and a control mast, the passenger area including at least one straddle-type seat, the hull further including an engine compartment enclosing an engine powering a propulsion device and including a crankshaft arranged within the hull to lie in the fore-aft direction, the engine further having a flywheel magneto and a camshaft drive positioned on a first side of the engine, and the flywheel magneto and camshaft drive are enclosed by a first cover.