Personal Watercraft

Abstract

Personal watercraft systems, watercraft power systems, and methods of developing and managing engine powered systems between and end user and an original equipment manufacturer are described. The personal watercraft power systems include a housing for supporting a water jet pump and engine system. The housing is constructed to support the power system and removably engage a watercraft. The power system has a reduced profile and is particularly applicable for watercraft having a modular construction. Preferably, the housing is constructed to removably engage a number of watercraft configurations and provides a watercraft power system that is easily serviceable, highly versatile, and dynamic.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A watercraft comprising:
 a body having a top side;   a support pad for an operator on the top side of the body;   at least one float removably connected to the body;   an engine disposed in the body; and   a mechanism for steering the personal watercraft.   
     
     
         2 . The watercraft of  claim 1  wherein the personal watercraft weighs less than approximately 200 pounds. 
     
     
         3 . The watercraft of  claim 2  wherein the body and engine weigh less than 110 pounds. 
     
     
         4 . The watercraft of  claim 3  further comprising a portage mechanism that removably cooperates with at least one of the body and the at least one float and facilitates overland manual single person transport of the body or the at least one float to which the portage mechanism is attached. 
     
     
         5 . The watercraft of  claim 1  wherein the mechanism for steering includes a control disposed below a plane of the cover. 
     
     
         6 . The watercraft of  claim 1  further comprising a gas tank removably connected to the body and constructed to be removed therefrom without emptying. 
     
     
         7 . The watercraft of  claim 1  further comprising a hatch that sealably cooperates with the body. 
     
     
         8 . The watercraft of  claim 1  wherein the body is constructed to interchangeably cooperate with different shaped hulls that define a shape of the watercraft. 
     
     
         9 . A watercraft apparatus comprising:
 a housing for enclosing an engine;   a water jet for propelling the watercraft;   a support for supporting an operator of the watercraft;   a gasket for sealingly attaching the support to the housing; and   an exterior surface of the housing having a first protrusion and at least a second protrusion parallel to the first protrusion such that the first and second protrusion define a geometric interlocking arrangement.   
     
     
         10 . A personal marine system comprising:
 an enclosure for engaging a water surface;   an engine having an external surface disposed in the enclosure;   a water jet powered by the engine for propelling the personal marine system;   at least one sponson removably connectable to the enclosure and offset in a lateral direction relative to the enclosure for stabilizing buoyancy once the system is on a water surface; and   a water jacket defined by at least one of the engine and an external engine surface for engine cooling.   
     
     
         11 . The personal marine system of  claim 10  further comprising a handlebar for directing a discharge of the water jet. 
     
     
         12 . The personal marine system of  claim 10  further comprising a pump for circulating water that is at least thermally connected to an operating environment through the water jacket. 
     
     
         13 . The personal marine system of  claim 10  further comprising a support for engaging an operator. 
     
     
         14 . The personal marine system of  claim 10  further comprising a seal for sealing an opening of the enclosure during operation of the personal marine system. 
     
     
         15 . The personal marine system of  claim 10  further comprising a steering mechanism connected to the system for allowing an operator to control direction of travel of the system, and wherein the steering mechanism is configured for preventing inadvertent operator contact therewith. 
     
     
         16 . The personal marine system of  claim 10  wherein the at least one sponson is further defined as a first sponson and a second sponson that are each removably detachable to the enclosure to facilitate breakdown of the system into more easily transportable components. 
     
     
         17 . The personal marine system of  claim 10  further comprising a top plane on the enclosure, wherein the plane includes a padded seat connected thereto, and wherein the seat is constructed and configured to engage anatomy of an operator during operation of the system. 
     
     
         18 . The personal marine system of  claim 10  wherein the at least one sponson is constructed of at least one of a deformable material, a thermoformed material, and a flotation foam to provide a lightweight construction that is sufficiently rigid to withstand impacts thereof 
     
     
         19 . The personal marine system of  claim 10  wherein the support is formed from a closed foam to provide a first suspension feature and further comprising a pad attached to an upper surface of the at least one sponson and configured to engage anatomy of an operator. 
     
     
         20 . A watercraft power system comprising:
 an engine;   a pump having an inlet, a discharge, and a pump shaft that is operationally connected to the engine; and   a housing constructed for removably engaging a hull of a watercraft and positioned about the engine and the pump, wherein the housing has a first opening for being positioned about the inlet, a second opening for being positioned about the discharge, and is at least partially disposed within the hull of the watercraft when engaged with the watercraft.   
     
     
         21 . The watercraft power system of  claim 20  further comprising at least one passage formed through the housing, the at least one passage constructed to fluidly connect at least one of a fluid reservoir, a gas tank, and a combustion gas source to the engine. 
     
     
         22 . The watercraft power system of  claim 20  further comprising an endless drive that operationally connects the pump to the engine. 
     
     
         23 . The watercraft power system of  claim 20  wherein the pump is further defined as a centrifugal pump that includes an impeller having a plurality of blades. 
     
     
         24 . The watercraft power system of  claim 20  further comprising a nozzle movably connected to the discharge and connected to a control linkage of the watercraft. 
     
     
         25 . A watercraft power pod comprising:
 an engine;   a pump operationally connected to the engine; and   a housing configured to enclose the engine and the pump and removably engage a watercraft.   
     
     
         26 . The watercraft power pod of  claim 25  wherein the housing is configured to independently engage a watercraft having a first hull shape and another watercraft having another hull shape and wherein the housing is at least partially disposed within a hull of the watercraft when engaged therewith. 
     
     
         27 . The watercraft power pod of  claim 25  wherein the housing is constructed of a waterproof material. 
     
     
         28 . The watercraft power pod of  claim 25  further comprising an endless drive disposed between the engine and the pump and a tensioner constructed to engage the endless drive for adjusting pressure between the endless drive and a crankshaft of the engine and a shaft of the pump. 
     
     
         29 . The watercraft power pod of  claim 25  further comprising a fuel connection extending through the housing and constructed to removably engage a fuel source contained in a hull of a watercraft. 
     
     
         30 . A removable watercraft power system comprising:
 a pump having an impeller;   an engine;   an endless drive connected between the engine and the pump;   a pump shaft connected to the impeller and the endless drive;   a crankshaft connected to the engine and the endless drive and offset from the pump shaft; and   a housing for removably engaging the power system with a hull of a watercraft wherein the housing is at least partially disposed within the hull of the watercraft when engaged with the watercraft.   
     
     
         31 . The removable watercraft power system of  claim 30  wherein the housing further comprises a first opening constructed to be generally aligned with a fluid inlet of the pump and a second opening constructed to be generally aligned with a fluid discharge outlet of the pump. 
     
     
         32 . The removable watercraft power system of  claim 31  wherein the first opening and the second opening are constructed to be generally aligned with openings formed in the hull of the watercraft when the power system is connected thereto. 
     
     
         33 . The removable watercraft power system of  claim 30  wherein the housing further comprises at least one passage formed therethrough, the at least one passage constructed to fluidly connect the engine to one of a fuel source, an air source, and an oil source positioned in the hull of the watercraft. 
     
     
         34 . The removable watercraft power system of  claim 30  wherein the housing is constructed to engage a first watercraft and a second watercraft. 
     
     
         35 . The removable watercraft power system of  claim 34  wherein the first watercraft has a hull configuration that is different than a hull configuration of the second watercraft. 
     
     
         36 . The removable watercraft power system of  claim 30  wherein the engine and pump are oriented in the housing to provide a low center of gravity for the power system. 
     
     
         37 . The removable watercraft power system of  claim 30  wherein the power system weighs less than 150 lbs.