Personal watercraft with fishtail propulsion system

Abstract

Watercraft and propulsion systems therefor are described herein. In one example, a watercraft includes a hull configured to float in water and a cockpit configured to carry at least one passenger. The watercraft further includes a fishtail propulsion system that includes a pivot body pivotally coupled to a stern of the hull, the pivot body configured to pivot about an axis, the pivot body further comprising a recess configured to receive a pump system, a flexible paddle coupled to the pivot body such that the paddle pivots about the axis with the pivot body, and a pedal system comprising pedals operably coupled to the pivot body, wherein the pedals are configured to be actuated to cause the pivot body and the paddle to pivot about the axis, thereby causing the paddle to move in a side-to-side manner.

1 . A watercraft comprising:
 a hull configured to float in water and including a cockpit configured to carry at least one passenger;   a fishtail propulsion system comprising:
 a pivot body pivotally coupled to a stern of the hull, the pivot body configured to pivot about an axis, the pivot body further comprising a recess configured to receive a pump system, 
 a flexible paddle coupled to the pivot body such that the paddle pivots about the axis with the pivot body, and 
 a pedal system comprising pedals operably coupled to the pivot body, wherein the pedals are configured to be actuated to cause the pivot body and the paddle to pivot about the axis, thereby causing the paddle to move in a side-to-side manner; and 
   a pump system received in the recess of the pivot body, the pump system comprising a water intake and a water exhaust, the pump system configured to intake water through the water intake and exhaust water through the water exhaust to provide a propulsive force for the watercraft.   
     
     
         2 . The watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein the pedals are positioned within the cockpit and configured to be foot-operable. 
     
     
         3 . The watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein the pedals comprise a right pedal and a left pedal, and the pedal system is configured such that alternatingly depressing the pedals causes the paddle to move back and forth in the side-to-side manner. 
     
     
         4 . The watercraft of  claim 3 , wherein the right pedal is operably connected to a right portion of the pivot body by a first linking mechanism, and the left pedal is operably connected to a left portion of the pivot body by a second linking mechanism. 
     
     
         5 . The watercraft of  claim 4 , wherein the first linking mechanism comprises a first cable, and the second linking mechanism comprises a second cable. 
     
     
         6 . The watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein the paddle comprises a flexibility that varies along a length of the paddle. 
     
     
         7 . The watercraft of  claim 6 , wherein the flexibility of the paddle increases from a proximal end of the paddle to a distal end of the paddle. 
     
     
         8 . The watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein the axis about which the pivot body pivots comprises a vertical axis. 
     
     
         9 . The watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein the paddle is configured to move in the side-to-side manner with a range of motion of at least 30 degrees. 
     
     
         10 . The watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein the paddle is configured to move in the side-to-side manner with a range of motion of at least 45 degrees. 
     
     
         11 . The watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein the paddle is configured to move in the side-to-side manner with a range of motion of at least 60 degrees. 
     
     
         12 . The watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein the pump system is removably received within the recess of the pivot body. 
     
     
         13 . The watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein the hull further comprises a recess formed on an underside of the hull, and further comprising a second pump system received in the recess of the hull. 
     
     
         14 . The watercraft of  claim 13 , wherein the second pump system is removably received in the recess of the hull. 
     
     
         15 . The watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein the paddle does not extend lower than a lowest surface of the hull. 
     
     
         16 . The watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein the paddle extends at most 20 cm lower than a lowest surface of the hull. 
     
     
         17 . The watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein the watercraft comprises a kayak. 
     
     
         18 . A watercraft comprising:
 a hull configured to float in water and including a cockpit configured to carry at least one passenger; and   a fishtail propulsion system comprising:
 a pivot body pivotally coupled to a stern of the hull, the pivot body configured to pivot about an axis, the pivot body further comprising a recess configured to receive a pump system, 
 a flexible paddle coupled to the pivot body such that the paddle pivots about the axis with the pivot body, and 
 a pedal system comprising pedals operably coupled to the pivot body, wherein the pedals are configured to be actuated to cause the pivot body and the paddle to pivot about the axis, thereby causing the paddle to move in a side-to-side manner. 
   
     
     
         19 . The watercraft of  claim 18 , wherein the pedals are positioned within the cockpit and configured to be foot-operable. 
     
     
         20 . The watercraft of any of  claim 18 , wherein the pedals comprise a right pedal and a left pedal, and the pedal system is configured such that alternatingly depressing the pedals causes the paddle to move back and forth in the side-to-side manner. 
     
     
         21 - 33 . (canceled)