Abstract: A sprayskirt for a watercraft, such as a kayak, having a cockpit opening formed therein, includes a shell having a first open end sized for accommodating a person's torso therein and a second open end sized so as to facilitate attachment to the cockpit opening of the kayak. A semi-rigid or rigid member defines a peripheral boundary of the sprayskirt shell, wherein the semi-rigid member has an elasticity so that it tends to recover to the first peripheral boundary after having been deformed. An attachment means secures the second open end of the shell to the raised rim of the kayak for creating a substantially watertight seal between the second open end of the sprayskirt shell and the rim of the kayak. The semi-rigid or rigid member comprises a rod attached to the shell, where the rod defines the peripheral boundary. The rod forms a closed loop and is circular in cross-section. An extension member may be permanently attached to the shell, extending away from the peripheral boundary of the shell.

Abstract: A open cockpit kayak is provided including an improved thighstrap arrangement. The arrangement includes left and right thighstraps situated on respective sides of the cockpit area and extending in the longitudinal direction of the hull. Opposite ends of each thighstrap are movably connected to the hull at respective fore and aft connection locations. Each of the thighstraps includes an elastic element to maintain it in tension between the respective fore and aft connection locations. As a result, the thighstraps will generally remain taut against the hull when not in use. Further, the thighstraps will remain in engagement with a paddler's knees during use so that the paddler may easily achieve positive control of the kayak.

Abstract: Moulded fibre protectors for rectangular edges or corners of articles and having convergent ribbed and grooved walls contacting surfaces of the articles adjacent the edge or corner, the walls being joined by hollow ridges so that the walls of the article converge within channels inside the ridges, or within a convergence of the channels in the case of a corner protector, are improved by arranging the ribbing of the walls so that the hollow ridges adjacent the convergence of the walls are provided with maximum support by internal primary land portions on the protector walls which are uninterrupted by grooves formed on the inner surface of these walls. These primary land portions are divided from remaining land portions by primary grooves extending generally parallel to those edges of the protector walls remote from the convergence.

Abstract: A method of pumping fluid through a hose by means of progressively sequentially momentarily causing adjacent portions thereof to contract is disclosed. A rotary and a linear pump construction are described.