Self-propelled watercraft

Abstract

A self-propelled watercraft is disclosed, wherein the watercraft includes a body made at least partially of a polymer material, the body including a surface and at least one of a deck and a hull, wherein the watercraft includes an item of outfitting welded to the surface of the body. Methods of manufacturing a self-propelled watercraft are also disclosed.

1 . A self-propelled watercraft, comprising: 
 a body made at least partially of a weldable polymer material, wherein the body includes a surface and at least one of a deck and a hull; and    an item of outfitting welded to the surface of the body.    
   
   
       2 . The personal watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein the watercraft is a kayak.  
   
   
       3 . The personal watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein the item of outfitting is a seat support.  
   
   
       4 . The personal watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein the item of outfitting is a structural member that supports the hull of the watercraft.  
   
   
       5 . The personal watercraft of  claim 4 , wherein the item of outfitting is a pillar that supports the hull of the watercraft.  
   
   
       6 . The personal watercraft of  claim 1 , further comprising an electrically conductive member disposed at least partially between the item of outfitting and the interior surface of the watercraft.  
   
   
       7 . The personal watercraft of  claim 6 , wherein the electrically conductive member is an electrically conductive cable with a weldable thermoplastic coating.  
   
   
       8 . The personal watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein the item of outfitting is welded to an interior surface of the body.  
   
   
       9 . The personal watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein the weldable polymer material is polyethylene.  
   
   
       10 . The personal watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein the weldable polymer material is a composite polyethylene material having a fiberous material dispersed within the polyethylene.  
   
   
       11 . The personal watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the deck and the hull is thermoformed.  
   
   
       12 . The personal watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein the watercraft is rotationally molded.  
   
   
       13 . The personal watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein the item of outfitting is at least partially made of the weldable polymer material.  
   
   
       14 . A self-propelled watercraft, comprising: 
 a body made at least partially of a weldable polymer material, wherein the body includes an interior surface;    an item of outfitting welded to the interior surface of the body; and    an electrical conductor disposed at least partially between the surface of the body and the item of outfitting.    
   
   
       15 . The personal watercraft of  claim 14 , wherein the item of outfitting is a seat support.  
   
   
       16 . The personal watercraft of  claim 14 , wherein the watercraft is a kayak.  
   
   
       17 . The personal watercraft of  claim 14 , wherein the item of outfitting is a structural member that supports at least one of the hull and the deck of the watercraft.  
   
   
       18 . The personal watercraft of  claim 17 , wherein the item of outfitting is a pillar that supports the deck and hull of the watercraft.  
   
   
       19 . The personal watercraft of  claim 14 , wherein the weldable polymer material is a thermoplastic material.  
   
   
       20 . The personal watercraft of  claim 14 , wherein the thermoplastic material is polyethylene.  
   
   
       21 . The personal watercraft of claim of  claim 14 , wherein the item of outfitting is made at least partially of the weldable polymer material.  
   
   
       22 . The personal watercraft of  claim 14 , wherein the electrical conductor is contained within a weldable intermediate that is disposed between and welded to the item of outfitting and the interior surface.  
   
   
       23 . The personal watercraft of  claim 14 , wherein the weldable intermediate includes an electrically conductive cable contained within an outer polyethylene portion.  
   
   
       24 . A method of manufacturing a self-propelled watercraft, wherein the watercraft includes a body made at least partially of a weldable polymer material and also includes an item of outfitting coupled to the body, the method comprising: 
 placing a weldable intermediate structure between the item of outfitting and the body such that the weldable intermediate structure is in contact with a surface of the item of outfitting and a surface of the body; and    heating the weldable intermediate structure to weld the weldable intermediate structure to the item of outfitting and the body.    
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the weldable intermediate structure, the body and the item of outfitting are each at least partially made of the same material.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the weldable intermediate structure includes an electrical conductor at least partially enclosed by a weldable polymer outer layer, and wherein heating the weldable intermediate structure includes running an electric current through the electrical conductor.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein running an electric current through the weldable intermediate structure heats the surface of the body and the surface of the item of outfitting sufficiently to bring the surface of the item of outfitting and the surface of the body to a temperature at which welding can occur.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the item of outfitting is a seat support.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the item of outfitting is a structural member that supports at least one of the deck and the hull of the watercraft.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the item of outfitting is a pillar that supports the deck and hull of the watercraft.  
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the watercraft is a kayak.  
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the weldable polymer material is polyethylene.  
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the item of outfitting is made at least partially of the weldable polymer material.  
   
   
       34 . A method of manufacturing a self-propelled watercraft, wherein the watercraft includes a body made at least partially of a weldable polymer material, and also includes an item of outfitting made of the weldable material and coupled to the body, the method comprising: 
 placing an electrically conductive element between a surface of the body and a surface of the item of outfitting, wherein the electrically conductive element is at least partially covered by a layer of the weldable material; and    heating the electrically conductive element by passing an electrical current through the electrically conductive element to cause the layer of the weldable material to weld to the surface of the item of outfitting to the surface of the body of the watercraft.    
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the item of outfitting is a seat support.  
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the body includes a deck and a hull, and wherein the item of outfitting is a structural member that supports at least one of the deck and the hull.  
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the item of outfitting is a pillar that supports the deck and hull of the watercraft.  
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the weldable material is polyethylene.