Abstract: A vehicle seat comprising a seating substrate, an outer seat covering, and a housing containing an integrated self-inflating floatation device. The self-inflating flotation device includes one or more inflatable flotation bladders and an inflator that is activated to automatically inflate the one or more inflatable flotation bladders when the seat or a vehicle to which it is attached is immersed in water. The one or more inflatable flotation bladders are releasably received and secured within the housing when the bladders are deflated. The housing is received within the vehicle seat such that upon activation of the inflator the one more inflatable flotation bladders inflate and are completely released and detached from the housing and from the vehicle seat.

Abstract: An improved control system for a sailing vessel for controlling the position of the sail and the rudder, and affixed to a slidable seat apparatus. A movement of the seat apparatus does not alter the position of the sail or the rudder. A ballast control, steering control and sail control are located on the slidable seat apparatus. The slidable seat apparatus provides a ballast control means using the helmsperson's weight and the seat itself as movable ballast. Furthermore, the steering control and the sail controls are mounted to the movable seat and are operable independently and simultaneously with the movement of the seat. A base provides a base connection means for the seat, and in the case of a multi-hull embodiment of the sailboat, the base is substantially in the form of a scissoring “X” shape. The scissoring base functions as both a connecting means and a means to adjust the distance between the hulls for operation or storage.

Abstract: A movable chair assembly for a boat is suspended on the stern rails of the boat. The chair is movably mounted to the stern rail so that it may rotate from one side of the boat to the other allowing a person to move about the cockpit of a boat without the use of his legs. The chair assembly includes a braking assembly that allows the position of the chair to be locked.

Abstract: An adjustable foot brace and optional shock absorbing system for decked kayaks that employs a heel and arch of the foot contact, and in which the adjustment arms are selectively securely affixed to a base plate located in the center of the kayak from the forward most portion of the seat or central structural support member forward. This base plate is then securely affixed to the forward most portion of the seat of the kayak, or to the forward most portion of a central structural support member in boats utilizing this device. The bulkhead configuration for this foot brace system employs a full or near full foot contact and the adjustment arm is attached directly to a guide located in the forward most portion of the seat or central structural support member for boats using this device. Either of these foot brace systems may also be attached in a “floating” configuration to an optional shock absorbing mechanism.

Abstract: A novel rotatable seating arrangement for a motorized watercraft has an integral console with instrumentation and watercraft controls thereon to allow the watercraft's operator to control operation of the watercraft from one location, and to perform other functions, such as fishing without obstruction from the console and from the same position while retaining the ability to control the watercraft. The seating arrangement has a generally upright pedestal fixed to the watercraft's deck and a platform pivotally mounted atop the pedestal. A seat is fixed to the platform for supporting the operator in an upright seated position, the seat and platform being rotatable about a longitudinal axis of said pedestal to make available to the operator a 360 degree viewing area while operating the watercraft from the seated position. A locking system on the platform engages the pedestal for controlling rotation of the seat.

Abstract: A portable toilet for marine craft securely located on the deck of a boat, and including a privacy cover. The toilet includes a seat assembly and a box-shaped housing for a portable toilet. A support brace connects the boat seat assembly to the housing. The boat seat assembly includes a boat seat, a boat seat back, and the support brace, made up of first and second support members hinged together. The first member connects the boat seat back to the second support member. The inner surface of the second support member defines a seat receiving portion for the boat seat. The portable marine privacy toilet can also have a swivel attached to the bottom for allowing the toilet to be vertically pivoted, and a clamp for removably fastening the privacy cover to the toilet.

Abstract: An assembly and method for installing a back-band utilize ratchet straps and pawl members interconnected with the back band and cockpit area of a kayak. The pawl member may be mounted to either the back-band or kayak. The ratchet strap has a first end insertable in the pawl members, and inclined teeth engage the pawl member. A second end of the ratchet strap is secured to either the kayak or back-band. In addition, a band and buckle assembly may interconnect with the back-band and kayak to support and align the back-band in the kayak cockpit.

Abstract: An assembly mountable to the transom of a watercraft, such as a pontoon boat, provides an easy-to-set up, temporarily deployable, changing room or privacy region on watercraft which do not carry an enclosed cabin. A generally Z-shaped frame is rotatably attached to a portion of the boat displaced from the deck. A boater's seat is attached on one side of the frame. A generally U-shaped curtain hoop is rotatably attached to a second side of the frame. When the bracket and seat are rotated toward the deck, the hoop is positioned in a stored position. When the bracket and seat are rotated away from the deck, the hoop can be deployed from its stored position thereby extending an enclosure fabric forming, temporarily, an enclosed privacy region for changing and the like. The fabric support member can be springloaded as can the bracket. Stowing the assembly is easily carried out by pressing the fabric support element against the bottom of the seat. This draws the fabric back against the seat.

Abstract: A convertible seat and deck apparatus includes a frame having a first guide wall and a second guide wall. The first guide wall has a first elongated slot and a second elongated slot. The second guide wall has a third elongated slot and a fourth elongated slot. A seat back has a first seating surface, an opposite second deck surface, a first side and a second side. A first guide pin and a second guide pin project from the first side. A third guide pin and a fourth guide pin project from the second side. The seat back is moveable with respect to the frame between a first seating position and a second deck position.

Abstract: The invention provides a seat suspension for a vehicle such as a snowmobile. The vehicle has a generally U-shaped structural tunnel having a top and opposed sides that are connected to the top extending along a portion of the vehicle. The tunnel has a first end and a second end. A seat support member is provided that has a first end and a second end. The first end of the seat support member is pivotally connected to the first end of the tunnel. The seat support member has a base and opposed side walls that extend from the base. The base is positioned in spaced apart relationship over at least a portion of the top of the tunnel. The opposed side walls of the seat support member extend in immediate spaced apart relationship over at least a portion of the sides of the tunnel. A flange is positioned to extend from each side of the seat support member. A yieldable support member is operatively connected to each flange and to the tunnel.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing vertical and horizontal adjustment of a helm seat in the cockpit of a boat. The apparatus can be mounted on a wall of the cockpit, without requiring any floor-based support, thereby providing better access to the floor area beneath the seat.

Abstract: A boat including a hull with a cockpit section, and a rear cabin section normally concealed by a horizontally extending cushioned deck element located adjacent the stern. The deck element is hinged along its rear edge so as to be elevatable to expose a sunken floor wherein sink and toilet facilities may be provided. An enclosure for the rear cabin area may be deployed to provide privacy for changing clothes or using the toilet. In combination with the sunken floor, the height of the enclosure permits a person to stand erect and move about freely. A portable toilet may be stored under a captain's chair immediately in front of the rear cabin area and slid rearwardly for use in the rear cabin area as needed.

Abstract: The present personal watercraft is comprised of a hull with a center portion, and a pair of elongated side pontoons extending substantially behind the center portion. A rear-facing seat is arranged on the rear of the center portion. The rear of the hull behind the seat and between the pontoons is open for enabling a rider to kick for propulsion. The center portion and the pontoons each have a curved bottom for improving directional control. The hull includes a bow with a substantially slanted bottom, and sides that converge to a point for improving speed and gliding over seaweed. The hull is preferably made of a floatable rigid material. A watertight storage compartment is provided in the center portion for stowing equipment. Seat belts are connected across the seat for securing a rider in rough water. A removable apron is stretched across the pontoons behind the seat for use in fly fishing. A detachable harness attached to the top of the pontoons allow the watercraft to be carried on the back of a person.

Abstract: A versatile motor boat having front and rear casting platforms and side platforms, a center console and oppositely facing, front and rear seat assemblies. Both seat assemblies can be opened to provide maximum seating when the boat is to be used for cruising. The front seat assembly may be collapsed to provide an extended front casting platform when it is desired to use the boat as a bay or striper boat. Both seat assemblies can be folded down to extend the front and rear casting platforms for use of the boat as a bass boat. When the seat assemblies are collapsed, supports are provided for a rigid back member forming part of each seat back and latches secure the seat backs in their collapsed position so that the rear surfaces of the rigid members provide stable extended casting platforms.

Abstract: A seat lock device allows a seat to be unlocked and removed with one hand by rotating a lever member with one's fingertips and lifting an end portion of the seat. An engaging rod is mounted on either a bottom plate of a seat or a seat mounting bed. A support block, which has a locking rod, is mounted on the other of the seat bottom plate and the seat mounting bed. A lever member that engages with a bridge portion of the locking rod is pivotally mounted relative to the support block. Upon rotating the lever member with one's fingertips, both end portions of the locking rod are retracted against a biasing force of a spring from a receiving groove formed in the support block. Then, the engaging rod can be removed from the receiving groove to unlock the seat.

Abstract: It is an object of the invention to provide a personal watercraft having a rear deck floor which can house goods necessary for water-skiing or the like and is provided with a space where a water-skier or the like sits when getting into the water or a space for embarkation when coming out of the water into a watercraft. In a personal watercraft having a whole plane view almost shell-shaped comprising a riding seat S provided from an almost central portion of a body A of a watercraft to a rear portion thereof, a steering handlebar 21 provided in front of the riding seat S, an engine E for propulsion provided below the riding seat S, and a jet pump P provided behind the engine, the jet pump being provided with an outlet port rearward for being driven by the engine, a rear deck floor 1 having a space for at least one adult to sit is provided behind the riding seat S and has an openable hatch cover 1A formed on the space, and a rear storage box 1B is formed under the hatch cover 1A.

Abstract: A suspension system for personal water craft. The personal water craft suspension system includes a gas-inflated bladder (10) that is adapted for placement between a hull and seat of a personal water craft. The suspension system further includes at least one telescopic connector between the seat and the hull. For the typical personal water craft, the suspension system includes a back seat telescopic latch stud (18) and a front seat telescopic U hook(40). These telescopic connectors enable the seat to move up and down with respect to the hull with the bladder sandwiched between the seat and hull. The suspension system is operative to absorb or dampen the effects of bumps and other forces acting on personal water craft when a user is seated on the personal water craft and is riding over rough water.

Abstract: A sit-on-top kayak having a seating and footwell arrangement that allows users to sit comfortably in a relatively small cockpit area defined by the kayak. Preferably, two or three seating surfaces and footwells are employed. The footwells associated with any given seating surface straddle the seating surface in front of the given seating surface if the given seating surface is not the forwardmost seating surface.

Abstract: A deck floor for a personal watercraft establishes the foot placement based on the body build of the driver without the soles of the feet being bent back. The deck floor includes: a pair of floor faces with a floor face positioned on each side of a seat, a pair of step faces formed ahead of the floor faces, and a pair of intermediate step faces formed between the floor faces and the step faces. Each floor face includes a first plane portion which is substantially horizontal and is continuous to the intermediate step face, and the step face includes a second plane portion which also is continuous to the intermediate step face and is inclined forwardly and upwardly. The intermediate step face is a plane which is inclined at a middle inclined angle between an inclined angle of the first plane portion and an inclined angle of the second plane portion.

Abstract: A sit-on-top kayak having a seating and footwell arrangement that allows three people to sit comfortably in a cockpit of the kayak. Three seating surfaces and footwells are preferably employed. The footwells associated with the two rearmost seating surfaces straddle the two forwardmost seating surfaces. An improved hull is provided having a keel and winglets extending on either side of the keel. The keel and winglets terminate at the front in a bow portion of the hull lower surface and come together at a point at the stern of the kayak.

Abstract: An improved cushioning apparatus on a watercraft enhances the comfort of the ride, reduce rider fatigue, and cushion impact forces experienced by the watercraft hull, while allowing for convenient and easy access to various engine components for maintenance and repair of the engine. The cushioning apparatus absorbs at least a portion of any impact force which the rider experienced from the hull, as well as provides at least one degree of movement between the seated rider and the hull in order to cushion such impact forces. The cushioning apparatus may also isolate the rider, at least to some degree, from vibrations experienced by the hull. In one mode, the cushioning apparatus is connected to the watercraft by quick-disconnect fittings, which allow the seat and support frame to be easily moved away from an engine access opening for maintenance of the engine.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a peddle powered aquatic vehicle with a propeller driven by pedal cranks, a flywheel, and water-cooled belt drive transmission, the vehicle hull including T-bar steering handles, a saddle seat and lateral outriggers to enable a passenger to ride the vehicle like a bicycle on water. The aquatic vehicle has a buoyant hull with a central longitudinal body with the saddle seat allowing a passenger to be supported in a startling position. To provide lateral stability two elongate outriggers are disposed laterally from the central hull body with outrigger arms connecting the body to the outriggers. A manual steering mechanism is attached to the hull for steering by the passenger; preferably in the form of a T-bar journaled to the hull connected with cords to a rear mounted rudder. Pedal powered drive means are mounted in the hull for driving a stern mounted propeller. A pair of pedal cranks are journaled for rotation about the transverse axis.

Abstract: A pedestal seat assembly for supporting a boat seat thereon includes first and second self-biasing locking mechanisms for restricting rotational and longitudinal movement of the boat seat. A base is configured for mounting to a supporting surface and includes a mounting socket therein. A pedestal or extension has its lower end mounted within the socket of the base. The first self-biasing locking mechanism is mounted within the extension and releasably interconnects the extension and the base, such that the extension is restricted from rotational and longitudinal movement within the base. A seat mount has an upper portion configured to fixedly attach a seat thereto, and a lower portion configured to rotatably mount within the upper end of the extension. The lower end of the seat mount can alternatively be mounted within the socket of the base.

Abstract: A height adjustment mechanism is provided for a seat of a kayak whereby to position the seat at a desired elevation above a waterline of the kayak, as determined when on a body of water. The kayak is comprised of a hull section and a deck section provided with an opening to accommodate a user person. The seat is positioned in the opening and secured on an inner wall of the hull section. The adjustment means may be constituted by various mechanisms or elements.

Abstract: A retractable handle apparatus is grasped and extended by an occupant of a marine craft to restrain motion of the occupant during sudden movement of the vessel. The apparatus includes a hand grip, a retracting mechanism, and a flexible member interconnecting the hand grip and retracting mechanism. The hand grip is pulled by the occupant to unwind the flexible member from the retracting mechanism. In the fully extended position, the apparatus provides resistance which the occupant uses to restrain against motion. When the hand grip is released, the retracting mechanism retrieves the flexible member.

Abstract: The invention refers to driver's seat for boats, including at least a seat and a steering device. The purpose of the invention is to provide a seat and steering device which reduce the risk of injuries when driving boats during hard conditions and in bad weather. By means of the invention the driver should have the possibility to use his arms, legs and thigh muscles as shock absorbing elements which will reduce the risk of injuries to the driver's back. The driver's seat should at the same time be designed to create good comfort and good control possibilities for driving the boat. The invention is characterized by that the seat is saddle shaped, elastic and designed with elements for absorbing side forces and, that the steering device is designed as a handlebar with controls, at least the control for the gas, arranged at one end of the handlebar.

Abstract: The invention is a pedestal mount for a boat seat including means for locking the seat in selected rotational positions or permitting the seat to swivel in either direction. A cylindrical sleeve attached to the seat rotates within the vertical stanchion. A series of apertures in the sleeve are engaged by a locking pin to stop rotation of the seat in a selected position. A circumferential groove in the sleeve may be engaged by the locking pin, permitting the sleeve and seat to rotate but not be withdrawn from the stanchion.

Abstract: The canoe and boat seat incliner apparatus is designed to provide a paddler with an apparatus that will provide the ability to shift from a sitting position in a canoe or boat to a kneeling position in the canoe without shifting balance in the water craft and while maintaining a firm, solid and comfortable position on the seat in either position. The apparatus is comprised of a pivoting incliner unit that is attached to the hull section of the canoe or gunwale of a boat. The attachment unit provides a stable solid connection to the hull of the canoe or the boat. The incliner unit is also connected to the seat in the canoe or boat in such a manner as to allow the seat to pivot as the incliner unit does, which allows the paddler to move from the seated position to the kneeling position without losing his or her balance while making the transition.

Abstract: A multi-function boat seat mount enables a single boat seat to be selectively attached to a seat mounting rail on a boat deck, or a pedestal support. The mounting system converts a prior art seat mounting plate on the bottom of a seat which includes a connector adapted to be attached to a complementary connector on a seat mounting rail, to a pedestal mounted seat. To this end, a separate pedestal mounting plate is provided which includes a rail having substantially the same configuration as the seat mounting rail. The pedestal mounting plate can thereby be connected to the seat mounting plate with a spring-loaded catch on the pedestal mounting plate engaging the trailing edges of the seat mounting plate. A spyder is carried by the bottom of the pedestal mounting plate with a pedestal element telescopingly engageable with a pedestal pole rotatably carried in a bushing on a pedestal base attached to the boat deck.

Abstract: An improved watercraft and seat design increases the ability of the rider of a small watercraft to maintain his or her position in the watercraft while sitting in a rearward facing direction. The watercraft includes a contoured seat having a protrusion that divides the seat into forward and rearward seat sections. Upwardly inclined surfaces on the protrusion inhibit movement of the riders on the seat in either forward or rearward directions. The seat also includes a roughened upper surface texture with generally smooth surface textures on the sides of the seat. This provides additional traction to the seated rider without irritating or chafing the rider's legs. Handles are also provided for the rider's use, when seated in both a forward-facing and a rearward-facing direction.

Abstract: A boat seat is pivotably hingedly attached along a line parallel to its front edge to a supporting member spaced below the boat seat with shock-absorbing resilient padding located in the spacing between the underside of the boat seat and the supporting member. Preferably the padding is slidably adjustable and also can be removed and replaced with padding of different durometers as necessary for differing conditions.

Abstract: A seat and foot rest assembly to convert a surf board or sail board into a kayak type paddling craft. The assembly comprises a chassis, connectors to easily secure said chassis to the top wall of the water buoyant board, a seat secured to the rear portion of the chassis and a foot rest adjustably mounted on the front section of the chassis. The connectors include suction cups and board encircling straps or screws to be screwed within screw inserts carried by the board top wall. The conversion kit can easily be detached to allow the user to use the board in its original configuration. An optional steering mechanism is provided for more precise directional control of the craft. The steering mechanism includes a stern mounted rudder and a control stick operable by the user's feet and connected to the rudder by adjustable cables.

Abstract: A personal watercraft body has an elongate seat for the rider, elongate foot wells each disposed below a respective opposite elongate side of the seat, and sidewalls each extending from a respective opposite elongate side of the seat to a said foot well. Each foot well is defined by a said sidewall, a floor, and an outer wall disposed in facing relation to the sidewall. A back-of-the-leg support member is releasably attached within each foot well beneath each elongate side of the seat and at least part of the bottom of the support member is disposed above a floor of the foot well to define a water passageway. The support members brace the back of the rider's lower legs during riding. Each support member is formed from resilient foam or is pneumatically cushioned and is inflatable, and releasable attachment is provided by frictional engagement between the foot well and the support member.

Abstract: This invention pertains to personal watercraft and to brace assemblies for use on personal watercraft. The brace assembly enables a rear-facing rider to be stabilized so that the rider is not uncomfortable and does not readily fall from the watercraft. Such rear-facing rider spots for a water skier being pulled by the personal watercraft. The brace assembly includes an engagement structure, a support column supporting the engagement structure, and a support housing supporting and containing the support column. The support column raises the engagement structure to a first raised position and retracts into the support housing at a second lowered position. Height adjustment apparatus controls moving the engagement structure between the raised and lowered positions. Mounting apparatus, including a mounting bracket, mounts the brace assembly to the personal watercraft. Fasteners preferably mount the brace assembly to a boarding handle of the personal watercraft.

Abstract: A seat pedestal assembly including a center post having a lower distal end adapted to be slidingly and rotatably received by a boat deck; a support frame including a center sleeve and a plurality of seat members disposed parallel to and in spaced relation with the center sleeve, the seat members being angularly spaced equidistantly around the center post, each of the seat members having an inner diameter, an outer diameter and a length, each of the seat members being respectively connected to the center sleeve by a connecting member; the center sleeve having an inner diameter adapted to slidingly and rotatably receive the center post therethrough; and, each of the seat members inner diameter being adapted to respectively receive for axial and rotational movement therein a seat post provided depending downwardly from an existing seat.

Abstract: The invention is directed a damping system for the foot rest of a kayak comprising a foot support member adapted to support the feet of the user, at least one mounting rail is provided, the rail having first and second ends, the first end of the mounting rail is connected to the foot support, the second end of the mounting rail is fixed to the hull of the boat, the mounting rail includes a damping mechanism disposed between the first and second end whereby forces transmitted to the fixed second end are damped at the foot support member.

Abstract: A canoe attachment includes a frame made of cylindrical members arranged in a substantially rectangular configuration. A seat is suspend between the forward frame member and the rearward frame member. A "forward-facing" rowing assembly is rotatably mounted on each of the opposite side frame members.

Abstract: A water craft that has an adjustable steering column to fit the physical characteristics of individual riders, a shock absorber system for the seat and a braking and suspension system to improve handling characteristics and safety while a user is riding the craft. In addition, the craft has a multi-hull design which also improves the handling characteristics and safety.

Abstract: A kinesthetic seat assembly is disclosed for a watercraft used in white water conditions of the type having a hull and a cockpit opening formed in the hull for access to a cockpit seat assembly of the watercraft. The seat assembly includes a contoured seat with a pair of opposing contoured upper leg supports, a contoured buttock support, and an adjustable kinesthetic crotch pod assembly. The crotch pad assembly is carried by a medial portion of the seat assembly between the opposing upper leg supports, and includes a crotch pod constructed from a shapeable material which may be contoured and customized for the anatomy of an individual boater. An adjustment mechanism mounts the crotch pod to the medial portion of the seat assembly for adjusting the position of the crotch pod on the medial portion in a longitudinal direction relative to a longitudinal axis of the kayak to fit the boater.

Abstract: An anchor storage apparatus comprising a cylindrical container having opposing notches formed along the upper rim thereof for receiving opposing ends of the anchor pivot bar therein to support the anchor. The container comprises a hollow tube mounted to the bottom of the container in the center thereof for receiving therein the anchor shank and a portion of the anchor rode and/or chain. The rode is preferably stored in a coiled manner around the hollow tube within the side walls of the container. The bottom of the container has a plurality of drainage holes therethrough to allow water to drain from the container. The bottom of the container is raised relative to the bottom of the side walls to promote water drainage. The side walls of the container have a plurality of holes therethrough to allow air flow so that the rode can adequately dry. An annular ring of soft rubber is affixed along the bottom of the side walls to prevent slippage of the container along the surface of the boat.

Abstract: An improved watercraft and seat design that provides back support for one or more riders of small watercraft. The watercraft includes a moveable rider support, pivotally mounted to the upper deck of the watercraft. This rider support may be pivoted to a number of predetermined positions, dependent upon the number of riders on the watercraft. Handles and a grip are provided for the riders' use. This rider support may be alternately be used as support stand for an inverted watercraft during underbelly maintenance of the craft. Furthermore, the improved watercraft design of the present invention provides an increased flow of cooling air to the riders of the watercraft.

Abstract: A collapsible portable boat with enhanced rigidity, comprising a main skeleton frame and hull, including an end stem section and gunwales connected to each other by a gunwale connecting means, further characterized in that the hull is of flexible material, a floor section affixed to that portion of the hull section which defines the bottom of the boat and which is disposed between the stringers and the flexible material of the hull, characterized in that the skeleton frame comprises a plurality of support stringers running the length of the boat along the bottom and sides of said boat, including support formers arranged transverse to said lengthwise support stringers, characterized in that the support stringers themselves comprise a plurality of short sectional support elements which are affixed to one another by means for maintaining tension between said short sections, and a means for developing tension between said skeleton structure and the outer flexible hull positioned between the flexible material of t

Abstract: A sit-on-top kayak having a seating and footwell arrangement that allows three people to sit comfortably in a cockpit of the kayak. Three seating surfaces and footwells are preferably employed. The footwells associated with the two rearmost seating surfaces straddle the two forwardmost seating surfaces. An improved hull is provided having a keel and winglets extending on either side of the keel. The keel and winglets terminate at the front in a bow portion of the hull lower surface and come together at a point at the stern of the kayak.

Abstract: A number of embodiments of small watercraft having a seat that affords at least two different seating positions in generally side by side fashion. A steering control is supported forwardly of the seat and is movable between two different positions, each in front of a respective one of the seating positions while maintaining the steering axis generally perpendicular to the seat and for varying the distance between the steering element and the seat in the respective positions. The support for the steering element is also pivotal about a transversely disposed horizontally extending axis to permit different height positioning for the steering control when it is in its steering position. A variety of seat arrangements and boarding facilitating devices are also disclosed.

Abstract: A seat for a small watercraft includes a shock-absorbing member that helps to absorb shocks transmitted to the seat during watercraft operation. The seat and the watercraft are configured to protect the shock-absorbing member from heat and water damage. The watercraft includes a hull having a length and a width. The hull carries an engine and includes a raised pedestal. A plurality of ventilation devices are located along the length of the hull. The seat is supported by the raised pedestal and includes a seat base, a cushion arrangement, and a seat skin that substantially covers the cushion arrangement. The cushion arrangement includes a cushion and the aforementioned viscoelastic member. A seal is provided between the seat base and the raised pedestal to protect the viscoelastic member from water damage. The viscoelastic member is provided at least partially between a pair of the ventilation devices. The seat base includes a first base portion and a second base portion and a plurality of air flow openings.

Abstract: A straddle-type seat for a personal watercraft includes an operator seating portion and a juxtaposed passenger seating portion. A generally incurved seat support is provided between the operator seating portion and the passenger seating portion. The seat support includes a generally vertical rear face that provides back support for an occupant facing rearward in the passenger seating portion during operation or servicing of the watercraft and a generally incurved front face that includes a transversely extending member for supporting an occupant sitting in the operator seating portion during operation of the watercraft.

Abstract: A pedestal made of inner and outer tubes with a pair of bearings carried by the inner tube and carrying the outer tube. The inner tube has elongated slots extending downwardly from the top end thereof with the top bearing having projections extending through these slots and into the inner tube. A spring shock absorber is connected at its lower end to the lower end of the inner tube and at its upper end to the projections on the top bearing. A pin releasably connects the outer tube to the top bearing for unitary movement.

Abstract: A device designed to enable a sailor to move easily fore and aft and side-to-side about a watercraft. The device includes separate port and starboard bench units that are pivotally coupled to the watercraft and are movingly coupled to outboard rail systems extending fore and aft along the port and starboard gunwales of the watercraft. Additional rail systems incorporated into the bench units allow side-to-side movement. The bench units is designed and coupled to the rail systems and pivot points such that the sailor can remain on the bench unit and pivotally move it fore and aft, or slidingly move side-to-side by pushing his or her feet on the underlying substrate above which the sailor sits. The bench unit is preferably designed to permit the sailor to straddle it. The seat portions of the bench units are extendable beyond the outer edge of the watercraft. A handrail affixed to the bench enhances stability for the sailor.

Abstract: A pedestal structure for a boat seat is disclosed which is a push-together design. The pedestal is made of at least two components, one of which has a male end insertable into a bushing. The bushing has an opening adjacent its lower end to receive the male end in an interference fit. The bushing has sufficient flexibility to allow the male end to pass whereupon a recess shoulder on the male end is trapped by the bushing. The pedestal can still swivel but a pull-apart force of a predetermined value is required in order to assemble or pull apart the seat pedestal assembly.

Abstract: A seating system especially well adapted for use in high-speed and high-performance water craft provides improved support for a user, in both standing and sitting positions. The seating system includes a fixed base upon which is mounted a frame positionable and lockable in a chosen forward/aft position. The frame supports independent backrest and seat units, each of which is independently vertically positionable along the frame. The seat unit further includes bolster and seat portions which are pivotable between a first position in which the seat portion is operative and a second position in which the seat portion hangs downwardly, in an inoperative orientation, and where the bolster provides support for the standing occupant.