Abstract: In a personal watercraft and a buffer member of the present invention, a gunnel or the buffer member (bumper) functions as a sponson. An elongate-plate shaped sponson portion is protruded in a lower portion of a corner bumper provided on a side portion of a body along the longitudinal direction of the body. The sponson portion extends such that its longitudinal direction substantially corresponds with the longitudinal direction of the body. A rear end portion of the sponson portion has a width larger than that of a front end portion thereof. The corner bumper functions as the sponson as well as the conventional buffer member.

Abstract: A substantially U-shaped front bumper as seen in a plan view is mounted on a gunnel at a front end of the watercraft so as to partially cover the gunnel. The front bumper has a base portion attached to the gunnel, and an extending portion extending upwardly from the base portion so as to partially cover a streamlined surface of a deck. The base portion is provided with right and left concave portions extending in the lateral direction of the body. The extending portion is provided with a concave portion extending from one end to the other end in the lateral direction.

Abstract: A substantially U-shaped front bumper as seen in a plan view is mounted on a gunnel at a front end of the watercraft so as to partially cover the gunnel. The front bumper has a base portion attached to the gunnel, and an extending portion extending upwardly from the base portion so as to partially cover a streamlined surface of a deck. The base portion is provided with right and left concave portions extending in the lateral direction of the body. The extending portion is provided with a concave portion extending from one end to the other end in the lateral direction.

Abstract: In a personal watercraft and a buffer member of the present invention, a gunnel or the buffer member (bumper) functions as a sponson. An elongate-plate shaped sponson portion is protruded in a lower portion of a corner bumper provided on a side portion of a body along the longitudinal direction of the body. The sponson portion extends such that its longitudinal direction substantially corresponds with the longitudinal direction of the body. A rear end portion of the sponson portion has a width larger than that of a front end portion thereof. The corner bumper functions as the sponson as well as the conventional buffer member.

Abstract: The present invention provides a watercraft having steering components (steering tabs or stabilizers) for maintaining steering capability even while amount of water ejected from a propulsion pump is decreased. The steering components are movably disposed on a hull of the watercraft at or below the water level on both right and left sides to be in an “Operating State” in which resistance of water is larger or to be in a “Non-operating State” in which the resistance of water is smaller in accordance with steering operation. Furthermore, a mechanism for absorbing an external force acting on the steering components in the “Operating State” is located in a system for operating the steering components. The mechanism reacts to the external force to allow the steering components to be transformed into the “Non-operating State.

Abstract: Provided is a hull shape of a personal watercraft which can enhance speed performance, and still more, can also reduce rolling of a body. A bulging face 12 is formed on an outside part of a rear portion of a hull bottom 20 having a substantially V-shaped cross section and protrudes downward from an outside front face 20a positioned in front of the outside part. The bulging face 12 includes a fore part 13 inclined downward in the rearward direction, and a rear part 14 positioned above a virtual face A extended rearwardly from the fore part 13.

Abstract: The present invention provides a watercraft having steering components (steering tabs or stabilizers) for maintaining steering capability even while amount of water ejected from a propulsion pump is decreased. The steering components are movably disposed on a hull of the watercraft at or below the water level on both right and left sides to be in an “Operating State” in which resistance of water is larger or to be in a “Non-operating State” in which the resistance of water is smaller in accordance with steering operation. Furthermore, a mechanism for absorbing an external force acting on the steering components in the “Operating State” is located in a system for operating the steering components. The mechanism reacts to the external force to allow the steering components to be transformed into the “Non-operating State.

Abstract: A bottom structure of a personal watercraft enhances the running performance of a personal watercraft. A concavo-convex face (21) having very small concave or convex portions for drawing air from an outside of a watercraft is formed on a water contact face (S) in a bottom surface (20) of the personal watercraft during planing. The air is drawn by the concavo-convex face (21), thereby separating a water flow from the bottom surface (20). Consequently, frictional resistance to the water in the bottom surface (20) can be reduced.

Abstract: A method of making a keyboard including, a number of switch keys fixedly provided on one surface of a resilient plastic sheet a number of moving contacts formed on the other surface of the resilient plastic sheet. The keys are formed of a plastic material having a melting temperature lower than that of the resilient plastic sheet.Thermoplastic bond layers are deposited on both surfaces of the resilient plastic sheet. The melting point of the thermoplastic bond layers is lower than that of the switch keys.The resilient plastic sheet is placed in a metal mold which has cavities (101a) at predetermined places.Melted plastic material is injected into the cavities to form the switch keys and at the same time cause the portions of thermoplastic bond layers which contact the injected melted plastic to be melted by the heat of the injected melted plastic material and to bond the switch keys onto the resilient plastic sheet.