An amphibian includes a planing hull, first and second sides, at least one retractable wheel, at least one prime mover, at least one steerable wheel which is connected to a steering control device operable by a driver to steer the amphibian, wherein the steering control device includes at least one of handlebars, a steering wheel, and steering levers, and is positioned to be grasped by an operator while operating the amphibian and wherein the steering control device is moveable between at least two distinct laterally spaced positions across a width of the amphibian between a center line and the respective sides of the planing hull.

A multipurpose watercraft has a pair of catamaran pontoons supported by way of a transverse control bar at forward regions thereof. The watercraft may have an arched equipment rack framework extending above rearward regions of the pontoons. The watercraft also has a pair of electric motor thrusters located respectively beneath each pontoon and the control bar comprises a pair of controls operable by hand, each control operable to control a respective thruster forwards or backwards. Alternatively, the thrusters may be remotely controlled. This configuration allows an operator to be pulled behind the control bar horizontally between the pontoons, snorkellers to be pulled behind the watercraft for recreational sightseeing and/or for remote-control rescue operations.

An amphibious vehicle includes a vehicle body, a prime mover, a drive wheel, a water propulsion device, a drive wheel transmission, and a propulsion transmission. The drive wheel is disposed on a front side of the prime mover. The water propulsion device is disposed on a rear side of the prime mover. The drive wheel transmission is disposed on the front side of the prime mover and transmits power from the prime mover to the drive wheel. The propulsion transmission is disposed on the rear side of the prime mover and transmits the power from the prime mover to the water propulsion device.

A sit-astride amphibious vehicle configuration which supports a high performance envelope both on land as well as in water. The vehicle has a planing hull and four retractable wheels. Handlebars provide for directional control in both modes of operation. Each road wheel is retractable by pivoting through at least 45 so as to maximize ground clearance when in the land mode of operation and to minimize drag at substantial lean angles when in the marine mode of operation. While a jet drive may remain directly connected to the engine at all times, the driven wheels are only connected during land mode via a speed-change transmission. The entire power train is supported by a frame that is separable from the hull which in turn has a detachable top deck portion, whereby such configuration simplifies the construction, repair and servicing of the vehicle.

A two wheeled planing amphibian (10) has a hull (20), bow (24), front wheel (30) and rear wheel (40). Front suspension (32) and rear suspension (42) are retractable, separately or simultaneously. Front wheel (30) may retract vertically or rotationally. Steering is by handlebars (50), link (54), and forks (36). Front wheel (20) may be located outside the hull in both protracted and retracted positions. The underside of hull (20) may be continuous in both land mode and marine mode along and across its centreline from the bow to the rearmost underside point on the hull along the centreline; or from the forwardmost underside point on the hull when it is planing at its lowest speed to the rear. There may be no wheel closures attached to the hull. A wheel bay (22), which is open at its top side, may be provided to allow rear wheel retraction.

An amphibious vehicle includes a vehicle body, a prime mover, a drive wheel, a water propulsion device, a drive wheel transmission, and a propulsion transmission. The drive wheel is disposed on a front side of the prime mover. The water propulsion device is disposed on a rear side of the prime mover. The drive wheel transmission is disposed on the front side of the prime mover and transmits power from the prime mover to the drive wheel. The propulsion transmission is disposed on the rear side of the prime mover and transmits the power from the prime mover to the water propulsion device.

An amphibious vehicle that includes a hull comprising a plurality of hull sections, a hull positioning device configured to position one of more hull sections from the plurality of hull sections into a plurality of positions, a first propulsion device configured to move the amphibious vehicle when the amphibious vehicle is on land, a second propulsion device configured to move the amphibious vehicle when the amphibious vehicle is in a body of water, and a buoyancy device configured to provide buoyancy for the amphibious vehicle when the amphibious vehicle is in the body of water.

An improved amphibious vehicle comprising: a drive train; a plurality of ground engaging wheels; a cooling system; a water propulsion system; and a hull which defines a passenger compartment, wherein the form/shape of the hull below the waterline is substantially defined by a plurality of buoyancy modules that are demountably mountable to the amphibious vehicle.

A lightweight amphibious vehicle system enables a user to traverse the land or water in the same craft. The wheels have paddles attached on the sides and are powered by a transmission that multiplies the force of a user to enable the system to travel without great effort. The transmission is driven by pedal power input by the user.

An amphibian (1) for use on land and water, comprising: a hull having a planing surface (2), and at least one retractable suspension apparatus (4) movable from a vehicle supporting position to a retracted position, comprising for each wheel (5), upper and lower suspension arms (8, 9) that are pivotably connected at inboard ends to a support structure within the hull; and are pivotably connected at outboard ends to a suspension upright (7). Upright (7) extends from a first, upper connection past a second, lower connection to a location (10) for a wheel hub mounting. The suspension upright when deployed in land use extends externally of the hull across a side face (2A) of the planing surface; while lower suspension arm (9) remains above the top of planing surface (2) throughout use of the amphibian on land. This suspension arrangement allows the hull to have no cutouts in its planing surface.