Watercraft cart system

Abstract

A cart system for a watercraft, a watercraft with the cart system, and a method of transporting a watercraft using the cart system. The cart system has a skid plate configured to be fixedly mounted to a hull of the watercraft, and a wheeled cart removably attachable to the skid plate. The skid plate remains attached to the hull during use of the watercraft in the water. The wheeled cart is attached to the skid plate during launch of the watercraft and the wheeled cart is removed from the skid plate during use of the watercraft in the water.

1 . A cart system for a watercraft, comprising:
 a skid plate configured to be fixedly mounted to a hull of the watercraft; and   a wheeled cart removably attachable to the skid plate,   wherein the skid plate remains attached to the hull during use of the watercraft in the water, and the wheeled cart is attached to the skid plate during launch of the watercraft and the wheeled cart is removed from the skid plate during use of the watercraft in the water.   
     
     
         2 . The cart system of  claim 1 , wherein the skid plate comprises at least one of an engagement slot and an engagement post; and
 the wheeled cart comprises:
 at least one wheel; and 
 a chassis configured to removably engage the skid plate, the chassis comprises the other of the engagement slot and the engagement post for quickly connecting and disconnecting the chassis to the skid plate. 
   
     
     
         3 . The cart system of  claim 2 , wherein the skid plate comprises a plurality of L-shaped engagement slots, and the chassis comprises a corresponding number of engagement posts, wherein attaching the chassis to the skid plate comprises sliding the chassis in a rearward direction relative to the skid plate. 
     
     
         4 . The cart system of  claim 1 , wherein the wheeled cart comprises a draw latch for securing the wheeled cart to the skid plate. 
     
     
         5 . The cart system of  claim 1 , wherein no portion of the wheeled cart extends around the watercraft. 
     
     
         6 . The cart system of  claim 1 , wherein no portion of the wheeled cart extends through the hull of the watercraft. 
     
     
         7 . A portable watercraft, comprising:
 a shell having a hull;   a skid plate fixedly mounted to the hull of the shell; and   a wheeled cart removably attachable to the skid plate;   wherein the skid plate remains attached to the hull during use of the shell in the water, and   wherein the wheeled cart is attached to the skid plate during launch of the shell and the wheeled cart is removed from the skid plate during use of the shell in the water.   
     
     
         8 . The watercraft of  claim 7 , wherein the skid plate comprises at least one of an engagement slot and an engagement post; and
 the wheeled cart comprises:
 at least one wheel; and 
 a chassis configured to removably engage the skid plate, the chassis comprises the other of the engagement slot and the engagement post for quickly connecting and disconnecting the chassis to the skid plate. 
   
     
     
         9 . The watercraft of  claim 8 , wherein the skid plate comprises a plurality of L-shaped engagement slots, and the chassis comprises a corresponding number of engagement posts, wherein attaching the chassis to the skid plate comprises sliding the chassis in a rearward direction relative to the skid plate. 
     
     
         10 . The watercraft of  claim 7 , wherein the wheeled cart comprises a draw latch for securing the wheeled cart to the skid plate. 
     
     
         11 . The watercraft of  claim 7 , wherein no portion of the wheeled cart extends around the watercraft. 
     
     
         12 . The watercraft of  claim 7 , wherein no portion of the wheeled cart extends through the hull of the watercraft. 
     
     
         13 . A method of transporting a watercraft, the watercraft having a skid plate attached to a hull of the watercraft, the method comprising:
 attaching a wheeled cart directly to the skid plate, the wheeled cart comprising at least one wheel; and   pulling the watercraft such that the at least one wheel supports a portion of the weight of the watercraft and rolls along the terrain.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the skid plate comprises at least one of an engagement slot and an engagement post, and the wheeled cart further comprises a chassis, the chassis comprises the other of the engagement slot and the engagement post for quickly connecting and disconnecting the chassis to the skid plate. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the skid plate comprises a plurality of L-shaped engagement slots, and the chassis comprises a corresponding number of engagement posts, wherein attaching the chassis to the skid plate comprises sliding the chassis in a rearward direction relative to the skid plate. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the wheeled cart comprises a pair of wheels, and attaching the wheeled cart comprises locating the pair of wheels on opposite sides of a keel of the watercraft. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein attaching the wheeled cart comprises removably attaching the wheeled cart directly to the skid plate. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising removing the wheeled cart from the skid plate prior to using the watercraft. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising securing the wheeled cart to the skid plate with a draw latch.