A pedal assembly and steering assembly are disclosed for converting an inflatable, drop stitch paddle watercraft into a pedal watercraft. The pedal assembly includes a mounting plate and mounting bracket for supporting a geared drive shaft in an opening extending through the floor of the watercraft. The steering assembly includes a rudder connected to a tiller through push pull cables.

An apparatus and methods according to the present invention provides a human powered catamaran-styled watercraft and methods of configuring and operating the watercraft. The watercraft generally comprises at least one hull in communication with a folding collapsible frame, wherein in the frame comprises a center rack pivotally joining hulls of hull sets to provide for common pivoting of the hulls during articulation of the watercraft, thereby the hulls and frame are in further communication through a at least one pivot pad which provides for slidable pivoting of the hulls during articulation of the watercraft. A method of folding and reversibly extending the watercraft to provide for optimized storage is provided. A method of operation of the watercraft to provide for articulation of the watercraft is provided.

The invention comprises a paddle board apparatus and method of use thereof, comprising: a manual crank connected to a drive shaft, a rotatable housing, and a set of paddle wheels connected to an outer surface of the rotatable housing, where a child manually turning the crank simultaneously propels the paddle board forward in water through use of the paddle wheels and drives an air pump in the rotatable housing to blow bubbles about the paddle board for enjoyment of the child riding the paddle board.

An apparatus and methods according to the present invention provides a human powered catamaran-styled watercraft and methods of configuring and operating the watercraft. The watercraft generally comprises at least one hull in communication with a folding collapsible frame, wherein in the frame comprises a center rack pivotally joining hulls of hull sets to provide for common pivoting of the hulls during articulation of the watercraft, thereby the hulls and frame are in further communication through a at least one pivot pad which provides for slidable pivoting of the hulls during articulation of the watercraft. A method of folding and reversibly extending the watercraft to provide for optimized storage is provided. A method of operation of the watercraft to provide for articulation of the watercraft is provided.

The foot pedal-powered impeller system comprises a foot crank coupled to an impeller drive via a vertical drive shaft. The foot crank, mounted on the top surface of a water craft, may comprise two pedals that couple to a central spindle via crank arms. The spindle may pass through a right angle gear box which translates rotational motion of the spindle into rotational motion of the drive shaft. The drive shaft may turn a shaft gear on the underside of the water craft which engages an impeller tube gear and turns an impeller tube. An impeller mounted within the impeller tube may force water to enter the front of the impeller drive via an intake nozzle, pass through the impeller tube, and exit through a discharge nozzle. The discharge of water may move the water craft.

A system of brackets and rails for attaching wheels, towing devices, and other accessories to small pontoon watercraft in various locations and combinations to increase the transportability and utility of the watercraft. Among the advantages are the ability to tow the watercraft by hand or bicycle, and to allow other devices such as a human powered pedal drive, trolling motor, bike rack, cargo rack, and other accessories to be attached easily and without the use of tools.

Method and apparatus for an improved recreational canopy which may be used with watercraft wherein the canopy is constructed by using a pair of flexible, resilient rod-like members wherein one end of each of the flexible rods is inserted through mating apertures in an upright support member mounted onto the watercraft, or other structure, so that the rods are bowed outwardly and frictionally held in the stanchion. A canopy, which may incorporate solar cell fabric, is attached between the rods so that the canopy generally appears to be in an elongated V-shaped structure which stretches across a portion of the supporting structure, such as a watercraft, between the flexible rods. The upper end of the upright support member may be pivotable and the rod-like members may be disposed in a cap removably disposed on the upper end of the upright support member. A lighting system including an alternative power source being provided on the canopy. Also, a user driven pedal system for providing propulsion to a kayak watercraft is shown which includes a generator driven by the pedal system for providing additional electrical energy for use on the watercraft and for propelling a kayak by either a propeller or flappers.

A watercraft includes left and right hull members that are held in spaced apart, parallel relation by a supporting frame structure. A pendulum propulsion assembly mounts to the frame structure, between the hull members, and includes left and right pendulum assemblies that are each movable in a forward and rear direction by the operator's arms and legs. Each pendulum assembly includes at least a forward pendulum member extending through an upper pivotal connection to a lower pivot element coupled to a horizontal pendulum plane. A paddle holder mounted below the pendulum plane supports an arrangement of spaced paddles. Operation of the left and right pendulum assemblies in the forward and reverse alternating action through a normal stride causes the paddles to propel the watercraft in a forward direction. Forward flexing of the paddles in the power stroke is limited by tethers connecting between the paddles and the paddle support.

Disclosed is a pedal drive system for use with a watercraft that facilitates propelling of the watercraft. The pedal drive system of the present invention is placed through an opening in the bottom of the watercraft and affixed to the body of the watercraft. The propeller is then attached to a drive shaft. The user provides mechanical input (e.g., rotational force) by rotating pedals of a pedal arrangement of the pedal drive system. The rotational force is transferred from the drive assembly through the gears to the drive shafts that rotates the propeller, thus driving the watercraft forward as well as backward.

A water propulsion apparatus operatively connected to a body moving on or through a body of water, may produce a propulsive force by sweeping fins in an oscillating motion in a generally transverse direction relative to a longitudinal axis of the body. The fins may be mounted on opposite sides of a frame and are rotatable about a first axis coplanar to the center longitudinal axis of the frame. Drive members rotatable about a second axis that is canted relative to the first axis may be operatively connected to the fins. The oscillatory motion of the fins may be controlled by torque applied at the canted second axis by reciprocating the drive members in a generally vertical plane parallel to the center longitudinal axis of the frame. The oscillating fins may provide a propulsive force during both oscillating directions of the fins as they sweep back and forth.