Watercraft with selectively retractable and stowable propulsion device

Abstract

A watercraft includes a hull having a hull bottom with an opening and a trunk surrounding the opening. The watercraft also includes a propulsion device pivotally mounted to a portion of the hull other than the trunk. The propulsion device can include a transmission and a propeller on an end of the transmission, and can be movable between a deployed position and an onboard stowed position. In the deployed position, the transmission extends through the trunk and through the opening such that the propeller is positioned below the hull bottom. In the onboard stowed position, no portion of the transmission or the propeller is located within the trunk or below the hull bottom.

1 . A watercraft comprising:
 (a) a hull having a hull bottom with an opening therethrough and a trunk surrounding the opening; and   (b) a propulsion device pivotally mounted to a portion of the hull other than the trunk, the propulsion device comprising a transmission and a propeller on an end of the transmission, the propulsion device being movable between a deployed position and an onboard stowed position;   (c) wherein in the deployed position, the transmission extends through the trunk and through the opening such that the propeller is positioned below the hull bottom; and   (d) wherein in the onboard stowed position, no portion of the transmission or the propeller is located within the trunk or below the hull bottom.   
   
   
       2 . A watercraft according to  claim 1  wherein the propulsion device includes foot pedals operably connected to the transmission and the propeller. 
   
   
       3 . A watercraft according to  claim 1  wherein the propulsion device includes a motor operably connected to the transmission and the propeller. 
   
   
       4 . A watercraft according to  claim 1  wherein all portions of the propulsion device are located forward of the trunk when the propulsion device is in the onboard stowed position. 
   
   
       5 . A watercraft according to  claim 1  and further comprising a seat proximate to the trunk. 
   
   
       6 . A watercraft according to  claim 1  wherein the hull further comprises opposed first and second side walls, and wherein the propulsion device is pivotally connected to the opposed first and second side walls. 
   
   
       7 . A watercraft according to  claim 6  wherein the propulsion device further comprises an arm and a shaft connected to the arm, the shaft being pivotally connected between the first and second side walls. 
   
   
       8 . A watercraft comprising:
 (a) a hull comprising a bottom, a first side wall, and an opposed second side wall, the bottom and first and second sidewalls defining an occupant compartment;   (b) an upright trunk surrounding an opening in the hull bottom, the trunk being located within the occupant compartment and including an open top; and   (c) a propulsion device comprising an elongated transmission having a propeller proximate to a first end and a support arm proximate to an opposed second end, and a pivot shaft connected to the support arm, wherein the pivot arm is pivotally disposed between the first and second sidewalls such that the propulsion device is movable between a deployed position and a stowed position;   (d) wherein in the deployed position, the transmission downwardly extends through the trunk and through the opening in the hull bottom such that the propeller is positioned beneath the hull bottom; and   (e) wherein in the stowed position, the propulsion device is located forward of the trunk and substantially within the occupant compartment.   
   
   
       9 . A watercraft according to  claim 8  and further comprising a seat in the occupant compartment aft of the trunk, the propulsion device being configured to be operated by a person seated in the seat. 
   
   
       10 . A watercraft according to  claim 8  wherein the propulsion device includes foot pedals operably connected to the transmission and the propeller. 
   
   
       11 . A watercraft according to  claim 8  wherein the propulsion device includes a motor operably connected to the transmission and the propeller. 
   
   
       12 . A watercraft according to  claim 8  and further comprising a rudder. 
   
   
       13 . A watercraft according to  claim 8  wherein the propulsion device further comprises a deflector plate, the deflector plate being at least partially disposed within the trunk when the propulsion device is in the deployed position. 
   
   
       14 . A watercraft according to  claim 8  wherein the propulsion device is selectively operable to propel the watercraft in a forward direction and in a reverse direction. 
   
   
       15 . A watercraft according to  claim 8  further comprising a cap removably covering the open top of the trunk. 
   
   
       16 . A watercraft according to  claim 15  wherein the propulsion device is movable to a service position wherein the propeller end of the transmission rests atop the cap when the cap covers the open top of the trunk, and the propeller is positioned proximate to the trunk. 
   
   
       17 . A watercraft comprising:
 (a) a hull having a bottom with an opening and an upright trunk surrounding the opening;   (b) a propulsion device having a transmission and a propeller operably connected to an end of the transmission, the motor propulsion device being removably connected to the hull such that the motor propulsion device is movable between a deployed position and an onboard stowed position, wherein the transmission downwardly extends through the trunk and through the hull opening and the propeller is located below the hull bottom when the propulsion device is in the deployed position, and wherein no portion of the propulsion device is within the trunk when the propulsion device is in the onboard stowed position;   (c) wherein the motor propulsion device is operable to be selectively moved between the deployed position and the onboard stowed position without disconnecting the propulsion device from the hull.   
   
   
       18 . A watercraft according to  claim 17  wherein the all portions of the propulsion device are located forward of the trunk when the propulsion device is in the onboard stowed position. 
   
   
       19 . A watercraft according to  claim 17  further comprising a seat positioned aft of the trunk. 
   
   
       20 . A watercraft according to  claim 17  further comprising foot pedals operably connected to the transmission and the propeller. 
   
   
       21 . A watercraft according to  claim 17  further comprising a motor operably connected to the transmission and the propeller. 
   
   
       22 . A watercraft according to  claim 21  wherein the motor comprises an electric motor.