Motorized kayak

Abstract

The motorized kayak includes foot pedal operated steering, and a selective lever that controls the polarity and speed of an electric motor, which can be retracted when not in use, as can the aft rudder. The kayak preferably has a topside axial enclosure, which may be rendered watertight and used as a bait tank or other liquid container, and typically at least one additional enclosure positioned transversely to the axial enclosure, which may or may not be watertight. These enclosures are preferably configured with the upper surfaces of their covers at a single level, for use collectively as an extended, relatively flat fishing seat.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This is a continuation-in-part of patent application Ser. No. 11 / 313,088, filed Dec. 20, 2005, now allowed for issuance, which, in turn, is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 11 / 183,150, filed Jul. 15, 2005 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,032,531. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] This invention relates to the field of kayaks for use in water sport activities and particularly to those incorporating motorized propulsion means. [0004] 2. Description of Prior Art [0005] At some time in the mists of prehistory, the Inuit discovered that a durable, lightweight, waterproof boat could be constructed from sealskins stretched tightly over a seal bone frame. Various improvements were made in these small, portable boats, over the years. One of the best known is version in which the user, dressed in warm, waterproof clothing, slides himself into the interior of the boat through a small opening at the top, ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0018] The first topside enclosure (e.g., a bait tank or beverage cooler) may be axially-positioned, with one additional, transversely positioned storage enclosure on one side of the first enclosure, or two additional, transversely positioned storage enclosures, one on either side of the first enclosure, either or both of which may be rendered watertight if desired Such additional enclosure(s) may be used for any handy purpose, such as storage of additional equipment, a battery and / or switch assembly or any other desired item(s). Preferably, such enclosure(s) may (each) be fitted with a selectively detachable or otherwise operable cover, to expose its interior as desired. Any of the two or three enclosures may be detachable from the kayak, or all may be integral with the kayak. The interior of such additional storage enclosure(s), particularly if integral with the hull, may be provided with an opening for access to the kayak's storage hold. Alternatively, if such additional enclosure(s) is / are detachable from the kayak, an access opening to the hold may be provided, for exposure when the respective storage enclosure is removed. These enclosures and their respective covers may be configured so that when closed their covers may be essentially coplanar and thus, together, provide expansive seating, usable, for example, as a relatively comfortable fishing seat.

[0019] Additionally, the kayak of the present invention is provided with a motor that the operator may engage and disengage as desired. Forward and backward speed control may also be provided. Hands-free rudder operation is provided, preferably controlled by use of foot pedals.

Problems solved by technology

This may prove difficult, or at least inconvenient.

The problem has been in what to do with the fishing gear.

While there is nothing particularly wrong with transverse mounting of fishing poles or paddles, in a utilitarian sense, the overall configuration appears clumsy and awkward.

These designs would appear to interfere with that aesthetic sense.

But the problem with these and the other conceptually similar designs is that the storage means are awkward, even ugly, and, perhaps even worse, seem to integrate poorly into the overall kayak design.

A corollary problem is that of passengers.

But this would mean that the driver could not constantly monitor the activities of the child passenger, who would probably be quite small, due to the apparently small size of the available seating.

The fact that the drive shaft is in the aft portion of the kayak further contributes to the small size of the seat.

Beres' large, horizontal hatches also reduce the structural integrity of the kayak, necessitating structural reinforcement or considerable risk of collapse.

While some of these designs may provide increased storage space, none provides easy access for storage and retrieval of long items, such as fishing poles.

Furthermore, none of these designs provides passenger seating at or near a forward hatch that does not materially reduce the storage volume of the hold.

Thus, without hands-free steering, the motorized kayak design suggested in the Becraft website would be essentially useless for trolling, being perhaps suitable for stationary fishing, but little else.

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