Personal watercraft with multiple hulls

Abstract

Personal watercraft with three hulls arranged in a substantially triangular configuration that offers better efficiency compared to existing kayaks or paddleboards, with the stability of a multiple-hull watercraft in a form that is useable as a kayak or paddleboard. In some examples, the personal watercraft includes a propulsion means such as an engine-powered water jet drive.

1 . A personal watercraft, comprising:
 a body comprised of an upper surface, a lower surface, a first pontoon, a second pontoon, and a third pontoon, wherein:
 each of the first pontoon, the second pontoon, and the third pontoon are comprised of a hull that is shaped hydrodynamically and attached to the upper surface, with a keel that runs longitudinally; 
 the first pontoon and the second pontoon are disposed adjacent to each other; and 
 the third pontoon is disposed behind the first pontoon and the second pontoon, and is positioned so that at least a portion of the keel of the third pontoon is centered between the first pontoon and the second pontoon; and 
   a seat disposed upon the upper surface of the body, located approximately in front of the third pontoon and centered between and behind the first pontoon and the second pontoon.   
     
     
         2 . The personal watercraft of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of recesses disposed on the upper surface of the body opposite the seat, so as to receive a user's feet. 
     
     
         3 . The personal watercraft of  claim 1 , further comprising a platform disposed upon the upper surface of the body above the rear of the third pontoon. 
     
     
         4 . The personal watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein the first pontoon and the second pontoon each possess a hollow interior cavity that can be accessed from the upper surface. 
     
     
         5 . The personal watercraft of  claim 4 , wherein the third pontoon possesses a hollow interior cavity that can be accessed from the upper surface. 
     
     
         6 . The personal watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein the body is constructed from either thermoplastic polyolefin or high density polyethylene. 
     
     
         7 . The personal watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein the hull of the third pontoon is narrower in width and has a longer keel than the hull of the first pontoon and the hull of the second pontoon. 
     
     
         8 . The personal watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein the seat is removably affixed to the upper surface of the body. 
     
     
         9 . The personal watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein the seat is molded into the upper surface of the body. 
     
     
         10 . A personal watercraft, comprising:
 a body comprised of an upper surface, a lower surface, a first pontoon, a second pontoon, and a third pontoon, wherein:
 each of the first pontoon, the second pontoon, and the third pontoon are comprised of a hull that is shaped hydrodynamically and attached to the upper surface; and 
 the first pontoon, the second pontoon and the third pontoon are arranged so that water flowing around the hull of the first pontoon and the hull of the second pontoon is at least partially directed onto the hull of the third pontoon so as to improve the stability of the personal watercraft; and 
   a seat disposed upon the upper surface of the body.   
     
     
         11 . The personal watercraft of  claim 10 , further comprising a propulsion means. 
     
     
         12 . The personal watercraft of  claim 11 , wherein the propulsion means is comprised of an engine affixed to the third pontoon. 
     
     
         13 . The personal watercraft of  claim 12 , wherein the first pontoon and the second pontoon have a hollow cavity inside that can be accessed for storage. 
     
     
         14 . The personal watercraft of  claim 12 , wherein the propulsion means further comprises an impeller-driven water jet drive unit that is operably connected to the engine. 
     
     
         15 . The personal watercraft of  claim 12 , wherein the propulsion means further comprises a propeller that is operably connected to the engine. 
     
     
         16 . The personal watercraft of  claim 10 , wherein the first pontoon is disposed adjacent to the second pontoon, and the third pontoon is disposed behind and centered between the first pontoon and the second pontoon. 
     
     
         17 . The personal watercraft of  claim 16 , wherein the seat is disposed behind and centered between the first pontoon and the second pontoon, and in front of the third pontoon. 
     
     
         18 . A personal watercraft, comprising:
 a body comprised of an upper surface, a lower surface, a first pontoon, a second pontoon, and a third pontoon, wherein:
 each of the first pontoon, the second pontoon, and the third pontoon are comprised of a hull that is shaped hydrodynamically and attached to the upper surface, with a symmetrical cross section and a keel that runs longitudinally; 
 the first pontoon and the second pontoon each have an interior watertight cavity that can be accessed from the upper surface; 
 the first pontoon and the second pontoon are disposed adjacent to each other; and 
 the third pontoon is disposed behind the first pontoon and the second pontoon such that at least a part of the keel of the third pontoon is located between the hull of the first pontoon and the hull of the second pontoon, and is positioned so that the keel of the third pontoon is centered between the first pontoon and the second pontoon; 
   a seat disposed upon the upper surface of the body, located approximately in front of the third pontoon and centered between and behind the first pontoon and the second pontoon;   a plurality of recesses, with one recess disposed on top of the first pontoon and one recess disposed on top of the second pontoon, the plurality of recesses positioned so as to receive the feet of a user sitting in the seat; and   a platform disposed on top of the third pontoon.   
     
     
         19 . The personal watercraft of  claim 18 , wherein the hull of the first pontoon and the hull of the second pontoon are each shaped so as to direct at least a part of water flowing around the hull onto the hull of the third pontoon. 
     
     
         20 . The personal watercraft of  claim 19 , wherein the body is constructed from either thermoplastic polyolefin, high density polyethylene, or both.