Watercraft

Abstract

A watercraft, including; a mid section ( 2 ) and two side sections ( 3,4 ), whereby the mid section ( 2 ) has a seat ( 5 ) for a passenger and whereby the watercraft ( 1 ) has a steering mechanism. The watercraft ( 1 ) includes a front part ( 2 ) and a rear part, relative to a direction of travel of the watercraft ( 7 ), that are coupled together by means of a hinged coupling ( 8 ). The front part ( 2 ) of the watercraft ( 1 ) includes the mid section ( 2 ) of the watercraft ( 1 ), and the rear part ( 7 ) of the watercraft ( 1 ) includes the two side sections ( 3,4 ). The hinged coupling ( 8 ) forms part of the steering mechanism, such that as a result of a rotation of the front part ( 2 ) with respect to the rear part ( 7 ) of the watercraft ( 1 ) around the hinged coupling ( 8 ), the direction of travel of the watercraft ( 1 ) is changed.

1 . A watercraft comprising:
 a single mid section and two side sections, with which sections the watercraft can float on the water, whereby the mid section has a seat for a passenger positioned vertically above a floatation part of the mid section in the lateral direction and whereby the watercraft has a steering mechanism, and   a front part and a rear part that are coupled together by means of a hinged coupling, whereby the front part of the watercraft is primarily formed by the aforementioned mid section of the watercraft, and the aforementioned two side sections form part of the rear part of the watercraft, and whereby the hinged coupling forms part of the steering mechanism, such that as a result of a rotation of the front part with respect to the rear part of the watercraft around the hinged coupling, the sailing direction of the watercraft is changed.   
     
     
         2 . The watercraft according to  claim 1 , wherein the seat has a backrest and a seating surface, whereby the hinged coupling comprises two hinges and whereby a first hinge is affixed to the backrest of the seat and the second hinge is affixed below the seating surface of the seat. 
     
     
         3 . The watercraft according to  claim 2 , wherein the hinges enable a rotation of the front part and the rear part of the watercraft with respect to one another around an axis (AA′) that is oblique with respect to the bottom of the front part of the watercraft. 
     
     
         4 . The watercraft according to  claim 3 , wherein the side sections extend no further in the sailing direction than a plane that extends through the aforementioned axis (AA′) and transversely to the axial direction (EE′) of the watercraft. 
     
     
         5 . The watercraft according to  claim 1 , wherein the front part is constructed as a tub that acts as a support for the legs and feet of a passenger. 
     
     
         6 . The watercraft according to  claim 1 , wherein the rear part of the watercraft has handles that a passenger seated on the seat can hold on to, in order to make the front part of the watercraft rotate with respect to the rear part of the watercraft by moving his body. 
     
     
         7 . The watercraft according to  claim 1 , wherein the side sections comprise floating floats that are detachable from the watercraft. 
     
     
         8 . The watercraft according to  claim 1 , wherein the side sections comprise floating floats that are adjustable with respect to the watercraft. 
     
     
         9 . The watercraft according to  claim 1 , wherein the front part has a foil profile at a certain distance (G) below the bottom of the mid section. 
     
     
         10 . The watercraft according to  claim 9 , wherein the foil profile is such that with a sufficiently fast forward movement of the watercraft an upward force is exerted on the foil profile by the water, such that the front part of the watercraft is at least partially pushed out of the water. 
     
     
         11 . The watercraft according to  claim 9 , wherein the foil profile is affixed to a leeboard, whereby the foil profile includes two foils that extend to either side of the leeboard and whereby the foils are affixed at a distance (H) from the free end of the leeboard. 
     
     
         12 . The watercraft according to  claim 9 , wherein the foil profile is detachable. 
     
     
         13 . The watercraft according to  claim 1 , wherein the rear part of the watercraft has a motorized drive. 
     
     
         14 . The watercraft according to  claim 13 , wherein the motorized drive is formed by at least one engine. 
     
     
         15 . The watercraft according to  claim 13 , wherein the motorized drive is formed by two engines, where each of the two engines are affixed on each side section of the watercraft.