A bracket for mounting a thruster to a boat includes a horizontal neck portion, an upper mounting support portion, a support plate portion that extends downward from the upper mounting support portion, and an enclosure portion. The support plate portion and the rear of the upper mounting support portion form a transom-facing surface in a plane that is generally at a right angle relative to a horizontal plane, within a small range of angles. The transom-facing surface can angled to match the angle of the transom of a boat to which the thruster bracket is mounted. A thruster can be mounted to the thruster bracket at a level where the thruster will be out of the water when the boat is moving fast and up on plane, and will be in the water when the boat is moving very slow.

A stowable propulsion device for a marine vessel. A base is configured to be coupled to the marine vessel. A propulsor is configured to propel the marine vessel in water. An arm pivotably couples the propulsor to the base to move the propulsor into and between a stowed position located proximate to the marine vessel and a deployed position located relatively distal from the marine vessel as compared to the stowed position. An actuator linkage includes a first link that is pivotably coupled to the base and a second link that pivotably couples the first link to the arm. An actuator pivots the actuator linkage to move the propulsor into and between the stowed position and the deployed position.

A stowable propulsion device for a marine vessel. A base is configured to be coupled to the marine vessel. A propulsor is configured to propel the marine vessel in water. An arm pivotably couples the propulsor to the base to move the propulsor into and between a stowed position located proximate to the marine vessel and a deployed position located relatively distal from the marine vessel as compared to the stowed position. An actuator linkage includes a first link that is pivotably coupled to the base and a second link that pivotably couples the first link to the arm. An actuator pivots the actuator linkage to move the propulsor into and between the stowed position and the deployed position.

A watercraft includes a hull, an engine compartment defined at least in part by the hull, an engine disposed in the engine compartment, an air intake conduit fluidly connected to the engine, an air filter fluidly connected to the air intake conduit, and a shroud connected to an inlet end of the air intake conduit located in the engine compartment. The shroud has an open end and a closed end. The open end is open to flow of air therethrough and the closed end is closed to flow of air therethrough. The shroud has a sidewall extending between the closed and open ends. The shroud is oriented such that the open end is disposed rearward of the closed end. Noise exiting the inlet end of the air intake conduit and the air filter is reflected generally rearward by the shroud. An engine assembly for a watercraft is also disclosed.

A watercraft includes a hull, an engine compartment defined at least in part by the hull, an engine disposed in the engine compartment, an air intake conduit fluidly connected to the engine, an air filter fluidly connected to the air intake conduit, and a shroud connected to an inlet end of the air intake conduit located in the engine compartment. The shroud has an open end and a closed end. The open end is open to flow of air therethrough and the closed end is closed to flow of air therethrough. The shroud has a sidewall extending between the closed and open ends. The shroud is oriented such that the open end is disposed rearward of the closed end. Noise exiting the inlet end of the air intake conduit and the air filter is reflected generally rearward by the shroud. An engine assembly for a watercraft is also disclosed.

A bracket for mounting a thruster to a boat includes a horizontal neck portion, an upper mounting support portion, a support plate portion that extends downward from the upper mounting support portion, and an enclosure portion. The support plate portion and the rear of the upper mounting support portion form a transom-facing surface in a plane that is generally at a right angle relative to a horizontal plane, within a small range of angles. The transom-facing surface can angled to match the angle of the transom of a boat to which the thruster bracket is mounted. A thruster can be mounted to the thruster bracket at a level where the thruster will be out of the water when the boat is moving fast and up on plane, and will be in the water when the boat is moving very slow.

A bracket for mounting a thruster to a boat includes a horizontal neck portion, an upper mounting support portion, a support plate portion that extends downward from the upper mounting support portion, and an enclosure portion. The support plate portion and the rear of the upper mounting support portion form a transom-facing surface in a plane that is generally at a right angle relative to a horizontal plane, within a small range of angles. The transom-facing surface can angled to match the angle of the transom of a boat to which the thruster bracket is mounted. A thruster can be mounted to the thruster bracket at a level where the thruster will be out of the water when the boat is moving fast and up on plane, and will be in the water when the boat is moving very slow.

A bracket for mounting a thruster to a boat includes a horizontal neck portion, an upper mounting support portion, a support plate portion that extends downward from the upper mounting support portion, and an enclosure portion. The support plate portion and the rear of the upper mounting support portion form a transom-facing surface in a plane that is generally at a right angle relative to a horizontal plane, within a small range of angles. The transom-facing surface can angled to match the angle of the transom of a boat to which the thruster bracket is mounted. A thruster can be mounted to the thruster bracket at a level where the thruster will be out of the water when the boat is moving fast and up on plane, and will be in the water when the boat is moving very slow.

A bracket for mounting a thruster to a boat includes a horizontal neck portion, an upper mounting support portion, a support plate portion that extends downward from the upper mounting support portion, and an enclosure portion. The support plate portion and the rear of the upper mounting support portion form a transom-facing surface in a plane that is generally at a right angle relative to a horizontal plane, within a small range of angles. The transom-facing surface can angled to match the angle of the transom of a boat to which the thruster bracket is mounted. A thruster can be mounted to the thruster bracket at a level where the thruster will be out of the water when the boat is moving fast and up on plane, and will be in the water when the boat is moving very slow.

The present disclosure describes recreational watercraft that provide a ballast system and an open platform passenger deck. An example is an aluminum hull including a ballast system to regulate displacement by the recreational watercraft and an open platform passenger deck as an integral upper surface to the aluminum hull. Multiple sides, continuous from the aluminum hull, include a stern side, a bow side, a port side, and a starboard side that surround a perimeter of the open platform passenger deck. An inboard power plant is located within a stern portion of the aluminum hull to propel the recreational watercraft.