Abstract: In a rough terrain vehicle, at a time of preparing to start movement, in a case that a left paddle switch and a right paddle switch are operated together with an accelerator pedal, an ECU disengages a clutch of an automatic transmission, and causes an output of an engine to increase. On the other hand, at a time of starting movement, in a case that the left paddle switch and the right paddle switch are returned to their initial positions, the ECU engages the clutch and transmits the output of the engine from the engine to vehicle wheels via the automatic transmission, to thereby rapidly start movement of the rough terrain vehicle.

Abstract: In a rough terrain vehicle, at a time of preparing to start movement, in a case that a left paddle switch and a right paddle switch are operated together with an accelerator pedal, an ECU disengages a clutch of an automatic transmission, and causes an output of an engine to increase. On the other hand, at a time of starting movement, in a case that the left paddle switch and the right paddle switch are returned to their initial positions, the ECU engages the clutch and transmits the output of the engine from the engine to vehicle wheels via the automatic transmission, to thereby rapidly start movement of the rough terrain vehicle.

Abstract: A small boat with a sponson for preventing splashing of spray onto the deck of the boat. The small boat is provided with a hull sponson at an outer periphery of the hull in order to fit the deck constituting an upper part of a boat body to the hull constituting a lower part of the boat body. A deck sponson is provided at an outer periphery of the deck, and the deck sponson is overlaid so as to bond with the hull sponson. The extent of projection of one member of the hull sponson and the deck sponson at the front section of the boat body is larger than the extent of projection of a member of the hull sponson and the deck sponson at a second member of the boat body. As a result, when the small boat is gliding and collides with a wave, the sponson prevents spray from the wave from splashing onto the deck.

Abstract: A trim adjusting device for a surface boat is provided that includes a nozzle for projecting jet water rearward arranged rearwardly of a jet propeller arranged in a boat body; a nozzle drive mechanism connected to the nozzle for operating the nozzle upward or downward; and an operating means arranged on a handle being connected to the nozzle drive mechanism. The nozzle drive mechanism includes a lever member connected to a trim operation lever of the operating means, a cam member provided with an engaging portion that engages the lever member arranged so as to be capable of rotating freely, a reverse rotation preventing claw member that engages the engaging portion, a link member that comes into abutment with the cam member at one end thereof, and the nozzle connected to the other end of the link member.

Abstract: A jet-propelled watercraft capable of maintaining a propulsion force required for a turn made at the same time as closing of a throttle valve. The jet-propelled watercraft has an auxiliary intake valve and an ECU. The auxiliary intake valve in an intake pipe opens/closes an auxiliary intake passage to bypass a throttle valve. The ECU performs control such that an opening of the auxiliary intake valve in a state where the rotation speed of the engine is not lower than a threshold value is larger than the opening of the auxiliary intake valve in a state where the engine is idling. When in a state where the rotation speed is not lower than the threshold value, it is detected that the throttle valve is completely closed and that a steering mechanism has been turned by a prescribed angle or more, a current opening of the auxiliary intake valve is maintained.

Abstract: A jet-propelled watercraft capable of maintaining a propulsion force required for a turn made at the same time as closing of a throttle valve. The jet-propelled watercraft has an auxiliary intake valve and an ECU. The auxiliary intake valve in an intake pipe opens/closes an auxiliary intake passage to bypass a throttle valve. The ECU performs control such that an opening of the auxiliary intake valve in a state where the rotation speed of the engine is not lower than a threshold value is larger than the opening of the auxiliary intake valve in a state where the engine is idling. When in a state where the rotation speed is not lower than the threshold value, it is detected that the throttle valve is completely closed and that a steering mechanism has been turned by a prescribed angle or more, a current opening of the auxiliary intake valve is maintained.

Abstract: A small boat has left and right sponsons extending in a longitudinal direction and respectively attached to left and right side walls forming a boat body. The sponsons are provided with an attachment section contacting a left side wall, a gliding section extending substantially horizontally from a lower edge of the attachment section, an inclined section connecting to a side edge of the gliding section, an upper edge of the attachment section, and projecting sections extending from an upper edge to a lower edge of the inclined section. Water flowing along the inclined section is guided by the projection sections and removed or separated from the inclined section. Accordingly, a small boat that turns through a small arc turning locus is provided, e.g., a small boat that is capable of relatively tight turning.

Abstract: A trim adjusting device for a surface boat is provided that includes a nozzle for projecting jet water rearward arranged rearwardly of a jet propeller arranged in a boat body; a nozzle drive mechanism connected to the nozzle for operating the nozzle upward or downward; and an operating means arranged on a handle being connected to the nozzle drive mechanism. The nozzle drive mechanism includes a lever member connected to a trim operation lever of the operating means, a cam member provided with an engaging portion that engages the lever member arranged so as to be capable of rotating freely, a reverse rotation preventing claw member that engages the engaging portion, a link member that comes into abutment with the cam member at one end thereof, and the nozzle connected to the other end of the link member.

Abstract: A small boat with a sponson for preventing splashing of spray onto the deck of the boat. The small boat is provided with a hull sponson at an outer periphery of the hull in order to fit the deck constituting an upper part of a boat body to the hull constituting a lower part of the boat body. A deck sponson is provided at an outer periphery of the deck, and the deck sponson is overlaid so as to bond with the hull sponson. The extent of projection of one member of the hull sponson and the deck sponson at the front section of the boat body is larger than the extent of projection of a member of the hull sponson and the deck sponson at a second member of the boat body. As a result, when the small boat is gliding and collides with a wave, the sponson prevents spray from the wave from splashing onto the deck.

Abstract: A control unit is provided for increasing the number of engine revolutions per minute to a predetermined number of revolutions per minute when the throttle is closed and when the engine has been rotated for more than a prescribed time period at more than a prescribed number of revolutions per minute, and the throttle has been opened for more than a prescribed time period at more than a prescribed opening. The control unit increases the number of engine revolutions per minute to a predetermined number of revolutions per minute irrespective of the throttle and maintains the same for a predetermined retention time when the steering handle is turned to the left or the right by more than a prescribed angle. The time to start controlling the number of engine revolutions per minute may be delayed by providing a delay time for delaying the time to start controlling the engine revolutions. The number of engine revolutions per minute may be controlled after the hull is underwater.

Abstract: A personal watercraft having an engine, a water jet propeller on the rear side of the engine, a jet nozzle for ejecting jet water, and a steering nozzle swingable in the left-right direction. The axis of the water jet propeller is set with a rearwardly downward gradient at an angle ?1, and the bottom surface of a ride plate is set with a rearwardly upward gradient at an angle ?2.

Abstract: To provide an engine control unit for facilitating steering control. In particular, the invention relates to a controller of a boat propelled by jetting water pressurized and accelerated by a water jet pump. If a throttle angle of an engine for driving the water jet pump is a predetermined value or less and a steering angle by a steering handlebar of the jet propulsion boat is a predetermined value or more, a throttle valve of the engine is operated in an opened direction and advance angle control is made over the normal ignition timing of the engine.

Abstract: A small boat has left and right sponsons extending in a longitudinal direction and respectively attached to left and right side walls forming a boat body. The sponsons are provided with an attachment section contacting a left side wall, a gliding section extending substantially horizontally from a lower edge of the attachment section, an inclined section connecting to a side edge of the gliding section, an upper edge of the attachment section, and projecting sections extending from an upper edge to a lower edge of the inclined section. Water flowing along the inclined section is guided by the projection sections and removed or separated from the inclined section. Accordingly, a small boat that turns through a small arc turning locus is provided, e.g., a small boat that is capable of relatively tight turning.

Abstract: A trim operating lever device is disclosed which can downwardly or vertically swing a nozzle capable of adjusting the jet direction of jet water. When the trim operating lever is gripped with a finger of the hand which is gripping the steering handle, a lever of the lever lock means can be substantially simultaneously operated with the finger, to effect locking. Therefore, the number of operations by the left hand necessary for swinging the nozzle is reduced. Also, because the trim operating lever makes it possible to enlarge the operating force, the nozzle can be swung quickly.

Abstract: To provide a jet propulsion watercraft that allows a step, a vent hole, and the like to be easily provided on a bottom surface thereof. A ride plate of a jet propulsion watercraft is a member, which is formed into a substantially rectangular shape in compliance to an opening in a bottom surface of a hull bottom. The ride plate is provided with a lock tab at a front edge thereof, and bolt holes are made in a right and left end portion thereof. The ride plate is further provided with a step portion that forms part of a general bottom surface, since it is flush with the general bottom surface, a higher level surface that forms a flat surface higher than the step portion by a predetermined distance, and a pair of vent holes that pass vertically through the higher level surface at a position therein closer to the step portion.

Abstract: To provide an engine control unit for facilitating steering control. In particular, the invention relates to a controller of a boat propelled by jetting water pressurized and accelerated by a water jet pump. If a throttle angle of an engine for driving the water jet pump is a predetermined value or less and a steering angle by a steering handlebar of the jet propulsion boat is a predetermined value or more, a throttle valve of the engine is operated in an opened direction and advance angle control is made over the normal ignition timing of the engine.

Abstract: A controller that executes engine output control that a throttle is closed when a boat is navigated at a predetermined speed or higher and the output of an engine is gradually increased up to predetermined output when a steering system is steered right or left at a predetermined angle or more is provided. Thus, an overshoot phenomenon that the engine speed is held at a predetermined engine speed after the engine speed once increases up to the predetermined engine speed or higher when the engine speed is increased in deceleration can be avoided. As a result, the body of the boat can be prevented from sliding laterally to a great extent at the beginning of turning and the turning performance of the body can be enhanced.

Abstract: A personal watercraft having an engine, a water jet propeller on the rear side of the engine, a jet nozzle for ejecting jet water, and a steering nozzle swingable in the left-right direction. The axis of the water jet propeller is set with a rearwardly downward gradient at an angle &thgr;1, and the bottom surface of a ride plate is set with a rearwardly upward gradient at an angle &thgr;2.

Abstract: A trim operating lever device is disclosed which can downwardly or vertically swing a nozzle capable of adjusting the jet direction of jet water. When the trim operating lever is gripped with a finger of the hand which is gripping the steering handle, a lever of the lever lock means can be substantially simultaneously operated with the finger, to effect locking. Therefore, the number of operations by the left hand necessary for swinging the nozzle is reduced. Also, because the trim operating lever makes it possible to enlarge the operating force, the nozzle can be swung quickly.

Abstract: A personal watercraft designed to advance suitably in a forward direction, to prevent an influence of side waves, and to incline to the turning center side when being steered by an operator from a forward direction to a turned direction. The personal watercraft includes a keel provided at a middle portion in the widthwise direction of the bottom of the body and extending from the bow to the stern. The keel is formed in an arc in the widthwise direction of the body. The keel is configured such that, at the rear half portion of the body, the center of the arc of the keel substantially coincides with the position G of the center of gravity of the body. On the other hand, at the front half portion of the body, the radius R2 of the arc of the keel gradually decreases in the forward direction.