Water vehicle

Abstract

A top side of a deck can have a generally flat shape. A pedestal-like operator's seat base can be disposed slightly rearwardly from a central part of the deck. On an upper part of the operator's seat base, an operator's seat, a passenger's seat and a handlebar can be provided. A cowl can form a front face of the operator's seat base and can have an air inlet for introducing ambient air therethrough into an engine room. The air inlet can be provided with a water separating structure for separating ambient water from the ambient air to prevent any entry of the water into the engine room. A handrail can be provided on an upper part of the operator's seat base. Rails can be provided in a front part of a peripheral edge of the deck. A container including a containing recess and a lid can be provided in a front part of the top side of the deck.

1 . A water vehicle comprising a body including a hull on the lower side and a deck on the upper side, a steering handlebar and a straddle type seat, the handlebar and the seat being disposed on a top side of the deck, an engine and a jet pump, the engine and the jet pump being disposed within a space defined by the body, the engine being driven to operate the jet pump to thereby drive the water vehicle, and a pedestal-like operator's seat base in a central part on the top side of the deck, wherein the top side of the deck has a generally flat shape, and the handlebar and the seat are disposed at an upper part of the operator's seat base. 
   
   
       2 . The water vehicle according to  claim 1  further comprising an engine room, the engine being disposed in the engine room, and an air inlet in a front face of the operator's seat base, the air inlet introducing ambient air therethrough into the engine room. 
   
   
       3 . The water vehicle according to  claim 2  further comprising a water separating structure between the air inlet and the engine room, the water separating structure separating ambient water from the ambient air to prevent any entry of the water into the engine room. 
   
   
       4 . The water vehicle according to  claim 1 , wherein a distance from the front end of the operator's seat base to the front end of the body is longer than a distance from the rear end of the operator's seat base to the rear end of the body. 
   
   
       5 . The water vehicle according to  claim 1  further comprising a grip on an upper part of the operator's seat base and in a position proximate to the steering handlebar, the grip being positioned to allow a rider to hold onto the grip when walking on the deck. 
   
   
       6 . The water vehicle according to  claim 5 , wherein the grip is in a position lower than the steering handlebar. 
   
   
       7 . The water vehicle according to  claim 1  further comprising a rail on a part of a peripheral edge of the deck, the rail being formed of at least one of a tubular member and a rod-like member. 
   
   
       8 . The water vehicle according to  claim 1  further comprising a container in front of the operator's seat base on the top side of the deck, the container including a recess recessed downwardly from the top side of the deck and a lid configured to selectively cover a top opening of the recess. 
   
   
       9 . The water vehicle according to  claim 8 , wherein the lower end of the recess of the container is in a position lower than a waterline of the body, the water vehicle further comprising a water passage configured to introduce the ambient water into the recess, the water passage communicating with the lower end of the recess. 
   
   
       10 . The water vehicle according to  claim 1  wherein a flat portion of the deck disposed forwardly of the handlebar is sufficiently large to allow a person to stand on the flat portion. 
   
   
       11 . The water vehicle according to  claim 1  a forward portion of the deck disposed forwardly of the handlebar includes a storage compartment containing a water vehicle boarding ladder.