Lever powered watercraft

Abstract

Embodiments of the disclosure include a flotation device or watercraft propelled through the water using a lever powered propulsion system. The lever powered propulsion system includes human powered actuating levers operably connected to a reciprocating propulsion device. As a rider powers the levers up and down, that motion translates to the propulsion device, which cycles through a high drag propulsion phase and low drag recovery phase.

1 . A lever-powered watercraft comprising:
 a hull having a rider side;   a plurality of lever assemblies extending in a direction of said rider side; and   a propulsion mechanism different from the lever assembly configured to translate lever actuation into forward movement of said watercraft, said propulsion system including at least one mechanical translation mechanism itself configured to not capture water in a high or low drag configuration.   
   
   
       2 . The lever-powered watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein said lever assemblies stow during a portion of operation of said watercraft. 
   
   
       3 . The lever-powered watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein said propulsion assembly includes devices having a high drag configuration and a low drag configuration, said devices operably coupled to said at least one mechanical translation mechanism which is operably coupled to said lever assemblies. 
   
   
       4 . The lever-powered watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein each lever assembly includes a grip portion and a pivot portion. 
   
   
       5 . The lever-powered watercraft of  claim 4 , wherein the grip portion is independently movable with respect to the pivot portion. 
   
   
       6 . The lever-powered watercraft of  claim 4 , wherein the pivot portion is operably mounted off-center of the rider side of said hull, thereby positioning the grip portions of the lever assemblies on either side of a center-positioned rider. 
   
   
       7 . The lever-powered watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein actuation of said lever assemblies is caused by at least some vertical motion toward and away from said rider side. 
   
   
       8 . The lever-powered watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein the hull comprises a surfboard. 
   
   
       9 . The lever-powered watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein the propulsion mechanism comprises a hydraulic system. 
   
   
       10 . The lever-powered watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein the lever assemblies can be disengaged from said propulsion mechanism. 
   
   
       11 . A method of propelling a surfboard through water, the method comprising:
 laying, standing, or kneeling on a surfboard;   griping ends of at least one lever; and   raising and lowering said at least one lever, at least one of said raising and lower of said at least one lever causing a propulsion assembly to move from a low drag configuration into a high drag configuration, wherein movement in said high drag configuration propels said surfboard forward through water, said propulsion system operably translating said raising and lowering through a non-water born assembly to one or more oars having said drag configurations.   
   
   
       12 . A rider-driven board for propelling a rider through water, the board comprising:
 a deck configured to be ridden by a rider;   a base opposite said deck;   a first assembly operable by a rider while on said deck;   a second assembly operably connected to said first assembly, said second assembly translating motion of said first assembly into a different motion, said second assembly associated with said deck; and   a third assembly operably connected to said second assembly, said third assembly having an active configuration causing said board to move through said water.   
   
   
       13 . The rider-driven board of  claim 12 , wherein said deck and said base comprise a surfboard. 
   
   
       14 . The rider-driven board of  claim 12 , wherein said deck and said base comprise a paddleboard. 
   
   
       15 . The rider-driven board of  claim 12 , wherein said deck and said base comprise a watercraft. 
   
   
       16 . The rider-driven board of  claim 12 , wherein the third assembly comprises oars. 
   
   
       17 . The rider-driven board of  claim 12 , wherein said first assembly stows during a portion of operation of said board. 
   
   
       18 . The rider-driven board of  claim 12 , wherein said first assembly comprises one or more levers. 
   
   
       19 . The rider-driven board of  claim 18 , wherein each lever includes a grip portion and a pivot portion. 
   
   
       20 . The rider-driven board of  claim 12 , wherein the first assembly can be disengaged from at least one of said second and third assemblies.