Watercraft

Abstract

A watercraft ( 1 ) comprising a hull ( 2 ) and retention means ( 7, 10, 20, 20 a, 20 b ) to connect a sea scooter ( 8 ) and said hull ( 2 ) together in such a manner that said sea scooter can at least contribute to the propulsion of said watercraft.

1 . A watercraft ( 1 ) comprising a floating hull ( 2 ), characterised by comprising retention means ( 7 ,  10 ,  20 ,  20   a ,  20   b ) to connect a sea scooter ( 8 ) and said hull ( 2 ) together in such a manner that said sea scooter can at least contribute to the propulsion of said watercraft. 
   
   
       2 . A watercraft as claimed in  claim 1 , characterised in that said retention means ( 7 ,  10 ,  20 ,  20   a ,  20   b ) are arranged to connect said hull and said sea scooter together rigidly. 
   
   
       3 . A watercraft as claimed in  claim 1 , characterised in that said retention means comprise a seat ( 7 ) to house at least part of said sea scooter. 
   
   
       4 . A watercraft as claimed in  claim 3 , characterised in that said seat ( 7 ) extends such as to house a large part of the sea scooter. 
   
   
       5 . A watercraft as claimed in  claim 3 , characterised in that said seat ( 7 ) is provided in the stem ( 6 ) of said watercraft. 
   
   
       6 . A watercraft as claimed in  claim 3 , characterised in that said seat ( 7 ) presents guide means ( 10 ) arranged to impose the same roll and/or the same pitch and/ore the same yaw on the sea scooter and on the watercraft. 
   
   
       7 . A watercraft as claimed in  claim 4 , characterised in that said guide means ( 10 ) comprise a profile ( 12 ) arranged to at least partially house a perimetral projection ( 13 ) on said sea scooter. 
   
   
       8 . A watercraft as claimed in  claim 4 , characterised in that said guide means comprise a profile ( 12   a ) shaped to correspond to the outer profile ( 8   a ) of the sea scooter. 
   
   
       9 . A watercraft as claimed in  claim 4 , characterised in that said seat ( 7 ) comprises a support ( 14 ) for at least partially supporting the sea scooter. 
   
   
       10 . A watercraft as claimed in  claim 1 , characterised in that said retention means comprise fixing means ( 20 ,  20   a ,  20   b ) to prevent said sea scooter from leaving said seat ( 7 ). 
   
   
       11 . A watercraft as claimed in  claim 10 , characterised in that said fixing means comprise at least one tie rod ( 20 ) connected to said hull. 
   
   
       12 . A watercraft as claimed in  claim 10 , characterised in that said fixing means comprise a pair of tie rods ( 20 ), each of which presents an end ( 21 ) connected to the hull ( 2 ) and an end ( 23 ) connected to the sea scooter. 
   
   
       13 . A watercraft as claimed in  claim 11 , characterised in that said tie rods comprise means ( 25 ) for adjusting their tension. 
   
   
       14 . A watercraft as claimed in  claim 10 , characterised in that said fixing means comprise at least one jaw ( 20   a ) arranged to at least partially obstruct access to said seat after the sea scooter has entered it. 
   
   
       15 . A watercraft as claimed in  claim 14 , characterised in that said jaw ( 20   a ) presents means for locking said jaw in its closed position. 
   
   
       16 . A watercraft as claimed in  claim 10 , characterised in that said fixing means comprise an inflatable element ( 20   b ) positioned between said hull ( 2 ) and said sea scooter ( 8 ), said inflatable element, when inflated, adhering to the profile of said sea scooter ( 8 ) and preventing its exit from said seat ( 7 ). 
   
   
       17 . A watercraft as claimed in  claim 16 , characterised in that said inflatable element ( 20   a ) comprises, for regulating its internal pressure, a circuit connected to a pressurized fluid feed source. 
   
   
       18 . A watercraft as claimed in  claim 1 , characterised in that said hull ( 2 ) comprises independent steering and/or propulsion means. 
   
   
       19 . A watercraft as claimed in  claim 1 , characterised in that said hull ( 2 ) presents, associated with it, one or more fire-fighting pumps powered by electrical generators also provided on said hull. 
   
   
       20 . A watercraft as claimed in  claim 19 , characterised in that said fire-fighting pumps present remote control means. 
   
   
       21 . A watercraft as claimed in  claim 1 , characterised in that said hull presents tower-mounted lighting devices powered by electrical generators also provided on said hull. 
   
   
       22 . A watercraft as claimed in  claim 1 , characterised in that said hull is equipped with a compressor to maintain self-ballasted lighting buoys under pressure.