Battery Powered, Center Mounted, Motorized Stand Up Paddle Board System

Abstract

Conversion of a stand up paddle (SUP) board or similar personal watercraft to enable it to be powered by a battery and an electric motor and propeller apparatus requires a practical and performance oriented configuration to be successful. This patent describes an optimal configuration that utilizes a vertical hollow protrusion through the stand up paddle board that supports the propulsion system and is comprised of two assemblies; a motor and propeller assembly, and a battery and control assembly. The location of the hollow protrusion on the board is a critical feature of this invention. Placing the hollow protrusion in a central location on the board mitigates, to the greatest extent possible, the negative aspects of propelling the board with a propeller and the extra weight of the motorized system on the board's balance and maneuverability characteristics. This is accomplished by locating the hollow protrusion and equipment associated with the motorized system relatively close to, and forward of the rider. This allows the rider to efficiently counterbalance the weight of the motorized system and effectively manage the forward thrust provided by propulsion. This invention allows battery powered, motorized stand up paddle boarding to be developed into an affordable, attractive and performance oriented recreational sport.

1 . A stand up paddle board or comparable elongated platform water vessel operated in a standing position, comprising:
 a nose end and a tail end;   a vertical hollow protrusion, wherein said vertical hollow protrusion comprises a surface end and a submerged end, said vertical hollow protrusion located forward the center of the stand up paddle board or comparable elongated platform water vessel operated in a standing position and extends through the entire thickness of the stand up paddle board or comparable elongated platform water vessel, said vertical hollow protrusion further comprising a round, oval, or other geometric shape.   
     
     
         2 . The stand up paddle board or comparable elongated platform water vessel in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a removable submergible electric motor assembly comprising an internal electric motor, an external submergible waterproof housing, an external submergible propeller for propulsion, a plurality of electrical connection wires, an external submergible waterproof support shaft, and a watertight fitting, said plurality of electrical connection wires extending through said external submergible waterproof support shaft and said watertight fitting, said external submergible waterproof support shaft comprising a base section and an upper section, wherein the external submergible waterproof support shaft is attached at the base section perpendicular to the external waterproof housing and the watertight fitting located at the terminal end of the upper section of the external submergible waterproof support shaft.   
     
     
         3 . The stand up paddle board or comparable elongated platform water vessel of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a removable waterproof case located at a position near the vertical hollow protrusion at said surface end of said vertical hollow protrusion, comprising an internal battery, an internal electronic control circuit, an external watertight fitting to connect the plurality of electrical connection wires via the watertight fitting of the upper section of the external submergible waterproof support shaft, and supply power to the removable submergible electric motor assembly.   
     
     
         4 . The external submergible waterproof support shaft in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a round, oval, or other geometric shape identical to the round, oval, or other geometric shape of the vertical hollow protrusion to allow horizontal twisting movement on a vertical axis;   a securing device located near the terminal end of the upper section of the external submergible waterproof support shaft, said securing device used to secure the external submergible waterproof support shaft to the stand up paddle board or comparable elongated platform water vessel in a completely fixed position within the vertical hollow protrusion.   
     
     
         5 . The external submergible waterproof support shaft in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a securing device located near the terminal end of the upper section of the external submergible waterproof support shaft, said securing device used to secure the external submergible waterproof support shaft to the stand up paddle board or comparable elongated platform water vessel in a fixed vertical position within the vertical hollow protrusion but allows horizontal rotational movement along a vertical axis.   
     
     
         6 . The external submergible waterproof support shaft in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a removable steering shaft attached near the terminal end of the upper section of the external submergible waterproof support shaft, said steering shaft comprising handles to manipulate steering and a vertical adjustable-length shaft.   
     
     
         7 . The removable waterproof case of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 an external hook and loop fastener, external locking latch, or other external non-permanent fastening device to fasten said removable waterproof case to the stand up paddle board or comparable elongated platform water vessel at a position near the vertical hollow protrusion.   
     
     
         8 . A first method for determining a general position of the vertical hollow protrusion in  claim 1 , comprising:
 placing a stand up paddle board or comparable elongated platform water vessel in a body of water;   having a person standing on the stand up paddle board or comparable elongated platform water vessel in a balanced position so as to not fall off the stand up paddle board or comparable elongated platform water vessel;   determining end points of the total length of the portion of the stand up paddle board or comparable elongated platform water vessel submerged as a result of a person standing on said stand up paddle board or comparable elongated platform water vessel;   determining a positional length by multiplying 0.13 by said total length of the portion of the stand up paddle board or comparable elongated platform water vessel submerged;   determining the midpoint of said end points of said total length of the portion of the stand up paddle board or comparable elongated platform water vessel submerged;   marking a position point forward said midpoint of said end points, the total distance from said midpoint to said position point being equal to the length of said positional length;   creating a vertical hollow protrusion at said position point by drilling or other intrusive means.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 marking a position point forward said midpoint of said end points within a range of 14-22 inches from said midpoint,   creating a vertical hollow protrusion at said position point by drilling or other intrusive means.   
     
     
         10 . A second method for determining a general position of the vertical hollow protrusion in  claim 1 , comprising:
 determining the total length of the stand up paddle board or comparable elongated platform water vessel of  claim 1  by measuring the length of the stand up paddle board or comparable elongated platform water vessel from the tail end to the nose end of said stand up paddle board or comparable elongated platform water vessel;   determining a general ratio length by dividing the total length of the stand up paddle board or comparable elongated platform water vessel by 1.618;   determining a ratio point forward the tail end of said stand up paddle board or comparable elongated platform water vessel, wherein the length from said tail end to said ratio point is equal to the said ratio length;   creating a vertical hollow protrusion at said ratio point by drilling or other intrusive means.   
     
     
         11 . The method in  claim 10 , further comprising:
 marking a position point within 4 inches of the ratio point;   creating a vertical hollow protrusion at said position point by drilling or other intrusive means.