PERSONAL WATERCRAFT

Abstract

A personal watercraft includes a watercraft body and a front bumper unit. The watercraft body includes a hull, a deck, and a gunnel line being a joint between the hull and the deck. The front bumper unit is attached to a front of the watercraft body. The front bumper unit has a front end located above and forward of the gunnel line in a side view of the watercraft body.

Claims

1. A personal watercraft, comprising: a watercraft body including a hull, a deck, and a gunnel line being a joint between the hull and the deck; and a front bumper unit attached to a front of the watercraft body, wherein the front bumper unit has a front end located above and forward of the gunnel line in a side view of the watercraft body.

2. The personal watercraft according to claim 1, wherein the front bumper unit has a sloping surface sloping horizontally outward from the watercraft body relative to a vertical direction of the watercraft body as advancing upward from a lower end of the sloping surface.

3. The personal watercraft according to claim 2, wherein the sloping surface has an upper portion which is at a larger tilt angle than a lower portion of the sloping surface relative to the vertical direction.

4. The personal watercraft according to claim 1, further comprising: a steering handlebar attached to the watercraft body, wherein the front bumper unit includes a side bumper located forward of the steering handlebar and covering a side portion of the deck in a width direction of the watercraft body.

5. The personal watercraft according to claim 1, wherein the front bumper unit includes: an upper surface covering an area including a front end of the deck; and a first guide surface provided to the upper surface to guide water fallen onto the upper surface outward in a width direction of the watercraft body.

6. The personal watercraft according to claim 1, wherein the front bumper unit includes: a front bumper including the front end and an upper surface covering an area including a front end of the deck; and a deck cover leading to a rear of the upper surface of the front bumper and covering the area of the deck.

7. The personal watercraft according to claim 6, wherein the watercraft body includes a footwell to put feet of an occupant thereon, and the deck cover is located in front of a footwell.

8. The personal watercraft according to claim 6, wherein the deck cover includes a second guide surface to guide water fallen onto an upper surface of the deck cover outward in a width direction of the watercraft body.

9. The personal watercraft according to claim 6, wherein the deck includes a luggage compartment located rearward of the front bumper unit, and a hatch to open and close an upper surface of the luggage compartment, and the deck cover has a rear edge portion at a higher position than a front edge portion of the hatch.

10. The personal watercraft according to claim 1, further comprising: a steering handlebar attached to the watercraft body; an accessory mounting part located between the steering handlebar and the front bumper unit; and an accessory cover that covers the accessory mounting part, wherein the watercraft body includes a footwell to put feet of an occupant thereon, and the accessory cover includes a third guide surface located in front of the footwell to guide water fallen onto the accessory cover outward in a width direction of the watercraft body.

11. The personal watercraft according to claim 1, wherein the front bumper unit includes an aggregation of divisional segments arranged in a width direction of the watercraft body.

12. The personal watercraft according to claim 1, further comprising: a reinforcement member attached to the watercraft body to support the front bumper unit.

13. The personal watercraft according to claim 12, wherein the front bumper unit includes an aggregation of divisional segments arranged in a width direction of the watercraft body, and the reinforcement member includes divisional support segments that support the divisional segments individually.

14. The personal watercraft according to claim 12, wherein the watercraft body includes a fixing part that fixes the reinforcement member and the front bumper unit at the joint between the hull and the deck.

15. The personal watercraft according to claim 1, wherein the front bumper unit includes a design light located above and rearward of the front end.

16. The personal watercraft according to claim 1, further comprising: a filler between an upper surface of the deck and an inner surface of the front bumper unit.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a personal watercraft according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0006] FIG. 2 is a side view of a front part of the personal watercraft with a cross-sectional view of a portion including a gunnel line.

[0007] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a front bumper, a reinforcement member, and a front of a watercraft body.

[0008] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view based on FIG. 3 and additionally illustrating a deck cover.

[0009] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the front of the watercraft body to which the reinforcement member is attached

[0010] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a front bumper unit and the reinforcement member.

[0011] FIG. 7 is a schematic view illustrating a situation of wave motion in relation to a personal watercraft in a comparative example.

[0012] FIG. 8 is a schematic view illustrating a situation of wave motion in relation to the personal watercraft including the front bumper in the embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0013] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the front part of the personal watercraft to explain a wave returning performance in the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014] Hereinafter, an embodiment of a personal watercraft 1 according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Some of the drawings show directions of front, rear, left, and right each agreeing with a sight direction of an occupant who is on the personal watercraft 1. The embodiment to be described hereinafter exemplifies the personal watercraft 1 as a jet propulsion personal watercraft that jets a water flow rearward and moves on water as a reaction.

[Overall Structure of the Personal Watercraft]

[0015] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the personal watercraft 1 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a side view of a front part of the personal watercraft 1. The personal watercraft (PWC) 1 is a straddle-type watercraft that jets a water flow rearward and moves on water as a reaction. The personal watercraft 1 includes a watercraft body 10 and a front bumper unit 2 attached to a front of the watercraft body 10.

[0016] The watercraft body 10 includes a hull 11, a deck 12 that extends over an upper surface of the hull 11, and a gunnel line 10G. The hull 11 accommodates therein an engine and a jet pump constituting a propulsion device, a fuel tank, and other components. The watercraft body 10 is propelled with a jet water flow generated by the jet pump. The gunnel line 10G serves as a joint 10J to join the hull 11 and the deck 12 to each other over an entire periphery of the watercraft body 10.

[0017] FIG. 2 is accompanied by a cross-sectional view of the joint 10J constituting the gunnel line 10G. The hull 11 includes an upper end edge portion having a lower flange 111 extending horizontally outward from the watercraft body 10 and a lower bent part 112 extending downward from a protrusive end of the lower flange 111. The deck 12 includes a lower end edge portion having an upper flange 121 extending horizontally outward from the watercraft body 10 and an upper bent part 122 extending downward from a protrusive end of the upper flange 121. The upper flange 121 lies on the lower flange 111 and the upper bent part 122 is in close contact with the lower bent part 112 from outside to form the joint 10J. The gunnel line 10G is on a mating plane of horizontal surfaces of the hull 11 and the deck 12, that is, on a joint interface between the lower flange 111 and the upper flange 121.

[0018] A steering handlebar 13, an occupant seat 14, and a display screen 15 are arranged on the deck 12. The steering handlebar 13 is attached at a position slightly forward of the center of the watercraft body 10 in a front-rear direction. The steering handlebar 13 includes a throttle lever and is manipulated by the occupant to steer the personal watercraft 1. The occupant seat 14 is arranged at substantially the center in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction of the deck 12 to allow a driver and a passenger to sit thereon. The display screen 15 is arranged in front of the steering handlebar 13 to display various kinds of information about navigation of the personal watercraft 1, such as a sailing speed, a residual fuel amount, and an operation mode.

[0019] The deck 12 further includes a front hatch 16, a footwell 17, speaker covers 18, and design lights 19. The front hatch 16 covers an opening in an upper surface of a luggage compartment 16A (see FIG. 3) located in front of the display screen 15 and rearward of the front bumper unit 2. The front hatch 16 is openable and closable to open the opening in the upper surface for putting a luggage into or out of the luggage compartment 16A. The footwell 17 is a space to put feet of an occupant sitting on the occupant seat 14.

[0020] The speaker covers 18 cover speakers 18A attached to the watercraft body 10 at left and right positions respectively in front of the steering handlebar 13. A mounting part for each speaker 18A serves as an example accessory mounting part located between the steering handlebar 13 and the front bumper unit 2. The speaker cover 18 serves as an example accessory cover. The accessary may be an electrical component or ornament, such as a monitor, or a meter or gauge. The design lights 19 are arranged at left and right positions respectively around a front end of the watercraft body 10. Each design light 19 includes an LED light source to give illumination to the front of the watercraft body.

[0021] The front bumper unit 2 covers the watercraft body 10 from a frontmost portion to a side portion thereof located forward of the steering handlebar 13. The front bumper unit 2 has a lower end at almost the same height position as the gunnel line 10G. The front bumper unit 2 includes a front bumper 21 and a deck cover 22. The front bumper 21 has a U-shape in a top view and constitutes a region protruding most forward and lateralward in the front bumper unit 2. The front bumper 21 serves to absorb an impact of a collision of the personal watercraft 1 with an obstacle in sailing. The design light 19 is located above and rearward of the front end 2F of the front bumper 21.

[0022] The front bumper 21 includes the front end 2F, an upper surface 2U, and a side bumper 23. The front end 2F protrudes most forward in the front bumper unit 2, furthermore, protrudes most forward in the personal watercraft 1. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the front end 2F is located above and forward of a leading end 10T of the gunnel line 10G in a side view of the watercraft body 10. A protrusive portion extending rearward from the front end 2F also protrudes most outward in the front bumper unit 2. The upper surface 2U extends rearward from the protrusive portion including the front end 2F and covers an upper surface of an area including a front end of the deck 12. The side bumper 23 is located forward of the steering handlebar 13 and covers a side portion of the deck 12 in a width direction of the watercraft body.

[0023] The deck cover 22 leads to a rear of the upper surface 2U of the front bumper 21 and covers the upper surface of the front end of the deck 12. The deck cover 22 has a U-shape in a top view and is located between the front bumper 21 and the front hatch 16. The speaker cover 18 is located between a rear end edge of the deck cover 22 and the footwell 17.

[Details of the Front Bumper Unit]

[0024] The front bumper unit 2 briefly explained above will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 3 to FIG. 6. The personal watercraft 1 includes a reinforcement member 3 attached to the watercraft body 10 to support the front bumper unit 2. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the front bumper 21, the reinforcement member 3, and the front of the watercraft body 10. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view based on FIG. 3 and additionally illustrating the deck cover 22. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the watercraft body 10 to which the reinforcement member 3 is attached. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the front bumper unit 2 and the reinforcement member 3.

[0025] The front bumper unit 2 includes an aggregation of divisional segments arranged in a width direction of the watercraft body 10, that is, in a left-right direction. This achieves facilitated production of the front bumper unit 2 and facilitated attachment thereof to the watercraft body 10. Specifically, each of the front bumper 21 and the deck cover 22 in the embodiment includes an aggregation of three divisional segments arranged in the width direction. Similarly, the reinforcement member 3 includes three divisional segments arranged in the width direction in the same manner as the front bumper 21 and the deck cover 22. The division manner is not particularly limited. Each of the front bumper 21 and the deck cover 22 may include an aggregation of two divisional segments, or four or more divisional segments, or may be an integrated member.

[0026] The front bumper 21 includes a front segment 211 and a pair of left and right side segments 212 as divisional segments. The front segment 211 is a divisional segment located most forward in a central region in the left-rear direction in the front bumper 21. The front segment 211 includes the upper surface 2U and the front end 2F, connection parts 213 and bottom fixing parts 214, a sloping surface 24 illustrated in FIG. 2 and FIG. 6, and an upper end 25 and a lower end 26.

[0027] The upper surface 2U is smooth and gently curves, and has a substantially trapezoid shape. The front end 2F is a foremost portion of the front segment 211. Each connection part 213 is on a lateral side of the upper surface 2U and has a through hole in which a rivet is inserted for connection to the side segment 212. The sloping surface 24 extends downward and rearward from the front end 2F. The bottom fixing parts 214 extend leftward and rightward respectively from a lower end of the sloping surface 24. Each bottom fixing part 214 is fixed to a lower surface of the joint 10J to attach the front segment 211 to the watercraft body 10. The bottom fixing part 214 further serves as a fixing part to fix the front bumper unit 2 to the watercraft body 10. The upper end 25 serves as a rear end of the upper surface 2U and lies on a front end of the deck cover 22. The lower end 26 serves as a rear end of the sloping surface 24 to cover the joint 10J from below.

[0028] The sloping surface 24 slopes horizontally outward from the watercraft body 10 relative to a vertical direction of the watercraft body 10 as advancing upward from the lower end of the sloping surface. The sloping surface 24 serves to guide water progressing toward the front of the watercraft body 10 outward and away from the watercraft body 10. That is to say, this configuration enables wave to return along the sloping surface 24, and thus prevents the water from hitting the occupant on the occupant seat 14.

[0029] The sloping surface 24 has a lower portion 241, an upper portion 242, and a leading end portion 243 in this order from below. The lower portion 241 is a substantially flat slope at a predetermined tilt angle. The upper portion 242 constitutes an R surface extending obliquely upward from an upper end of the lower portion 241. The R surface means that the upper portion 242 is a slope to be closer to a horizontal plane as advancing upward. It is seen from these perspectives that the upper portion 242 is at a larger tilt angle than the lower portion 241 relative to the vertical direction of the watercraft body 10. The sloping surface 24 having the lower portion 241 and the upper portion 242 provides an excellent wave returning effect. Specifically, wave having reached the sloping surface 24 is guided along the R surface of the upper portion 242 further horizontally outward from the watercraft body 10 as advancing upward on the sloping surface 24. This more effectively prevents water from hitting the occupant. The leading end portion 243 is a flat slope connecting the upper portion 242 and the front end 2F to each other. The leading end portion 243 may be a slope which is much closer to the horizontal plane than the lower portion 241. In this case, the lower portion 241 and the leading end portion 243 being flat slopes at different tilt angles may be connected to each other without the upper portion 242.

[0030] The pair of left and right side segments 212 are respectively connected to a left side and a right edge of the front segment 211, and each segment being a member gently curving in a top view. The left side segment 212 constitutes a left-front portion and a left portion of the front bumper 21. The right side segment 212 constitutes a right-front portion and a right portion of the front bumper 21. Each of the left portion and the right portion of the pair of left and right side segments 212 constitutes the side bumper 23 of the front bumper 21. Each side segment 212 has a rivet hole 215 around a front end thereof. The through hole of the connection part 213 at the front segment 211 and the rivet hole 215 align to receive a rivet 27 shown in FIG. 6 therein so that the front segment 211 and the side segment 212 are connected to each other.

[0031] The side segment 212 also includes portions corresponding to the upper surface 2U, the front end 2F, the sloping surface 24, the upper end 25, and the lower end 26 of the front segment 211. Specifically, the side segment 212 includes: an upper surface covering the front end of the deck 12; a portion corresponding to the front end 2F and protruding most outward; a sloping surface that exerts the wave returning performance; an upper end leading to the deck cover 22; and a lower end covering the joint 10J from below.

[0032] As illustrated in FIG. 4, the deck cover 22 includes divisional segments of a front deck cover 221 and a pair of side deck covers 222. The front deck cover 221 covers the deck 12 between the upper surface 2U of the front segment 211 and the front hatch 16. The front deck cover 221 has a V-shape in a top view, and has a front edge portion 22F having a fixing hole 223, and a rear edge portion 22E facing a front edge portion 16F of the front hatch 16. The fixing hole 223 serves as an engagement part for connection to the front bumper 21. The connection part 213 located in a rear of the front segment 211 and the fixing hole 223 align to receive a rivet therein for the connection.

[0033] As illustrated in FIG. 6, the rear edge portion 22E of the front deck cover 221 is at a higher position than the front edge portion 16F of the front hatch 16. The rear edge portion 22E forms a bent face advancing downward at a short distance. The front edge portion 16F has a positional relation with the bent face to face an intermediate portion of the bent face in the up-down direction. In other words, the front edge portion 16F is at a lower position than the rear edge portion 22E, and thus, the front deck cover 221 and the front hatch 16 define a step difference based on the height difference between the front edge portion and the rear edge portion. The step difference prevents even the water fallen onto the upper surface 2U and progressing toward the front hatch 16 over the front deck cover 221 from reaching the front edge portion 16F. This consequently reduces damage to the front hatch 16 and suppresses infiltration of the water into the luggage compartment 16A.

[0034] The pair of side deck covers 222 are connected to a left side and a right side of the front deck cover 221 respectively, and each side deck cover being a member having a substantially half-moon shape. The left side deck cover 222 constitutes a left portion of the deck cover 22, and covers the deck 12 between the left side segment 212 and a left side of the front hatch 16. The right side deck cover 222 constitutes a right portion of the deck cover 22, and covers the deck 12 between the right side segment 212 and a right side of the front hatch 16. Each side deck cover 222 has a rivet hole 224 around a front end thereof for connection to the front deck cover 221. The side deck cover 222 has a front edge portion and a rear edge portion respectively corresponding to the front edge portion 22F and the rear edge portion 22E of the front deck cover 221.

[0035] The side deck cover 222 is located in front of the footwell 17 of the watercraft body 10. In the embodiment, the speaker cover 18 and the side deck cover 222 are arranged in this order above and in front of the footwell 17 extending in the front-rear direction at each of the left and right positions of the occupant seat 14. Each of the speaker cover 18 and the side deck cover 222 serves as a barrier to suppress infiltration of water into the footwell 17.

[Reinforcement Member]

[0036] The reinforcement member 3 is located on a rear surface of the front bumper unit 2, that is, located between the deck 12 and the front bumper unit 2 to support the front bumper unit 2. The reinforcement member 3 supporting the front bumper unit 2 in this manner achieves suppression of deformation of the front bumper unit 2 and a reduction in damage to the front bumper unit. In this regard, it is noted here that the reinforcement member 3 does not rigidly support the whole rear surface of the front bumper unit 2 as illustrated in FIG. 6. An inner surface of the front bumper 21 and the reinforcement member 3 define a space R therebetween to exert an impact absorption performance.

[0037] As illustrated in FIG. 3, the reinforcement member 3 includes a front support segment 31 and a pair of left and right side support segments 32 as divisional support segments. The front support segment 31 and the side support segments 32 support the divisional segments of the front bumper unit 2 individually. The front support segment 31 is attached to the center of a front of the deck 12 to support the front segment 211 of the front bumper 21 and the front deck cover 221 of the deck cover 22. The side support segments 32 are attached to the deck 12 at left and right positions of the front support segment 31 to support the side segments 212 and the side deck covers 222. In this manner, the front support segment 31 and the side support segments 32 support the divisional segments of the front bumper unit 2 individually, and thus easily and rigidly support these divisional segments.

[0038] The front support segment 31 includes, as fixing parts for the watercraft body 10, a pair of left and right lower end fixing parts 311, a pair of left and right upper end fixing parts 312, and a center fixing part 313. Each lower end fixing part 311 is fixed to an upper surface of the joint 10J. Each upper end fixing part 312 is fixed to the deck 12 around a front of the luggage compartment 16A. The center fixing part 313 is located between the pair of lower end fixing parts 311 and fixed to the upper surface of the joint 10J. As illustrated in FIG. 6, a lower end surface of the front support segment 31 including the lower end fixing parts 311 and the center fixing part 313 is in contact with the upper surface of the joint 10J, and an upper end surface of the front support segment 31 is in contact with the inner surface of the front deck cover 221 to support the front bumper unit 2.

[0039] As illustrated in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, a center support member 33 is attached to an upper surface of a front end of the joint 10J. The center support member 33 has a gently bent V-shape in a side view, and has predetermined springiness. The center support member 33 has a stop section 33A and a base section 33B. The stop section 33A tilts forward and upward. The stop section 33A is in contact with the sloping surface 24 on an inner side thereof to support the sloping surface 24. The base section 33B is flat and extends rearward from the stop section 33A. The base section 33B is fastened to the joint 10J with a fastener 331 in a state of sandwiching the center fixing part 313 of the front support segment 31 therebetween. The center support member 33 supports the sloping surface 24 with some flexibility when strong wave reaches the sloping surface 24. This configuration hence attains an ensured impact absorption performance of the front bumper 21 while maintaining reinforcement and the wave returning performance of the sloping surface 24.

[0040] Each side support segment 32 includes, as fixing parts for the watercraft body 10, a lower end fixing part 321, an upper end fixing part 322, and an intermediate fixing part 323. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the lower end fixing part 321 is fixed to the joint 10J. The upper end fixing part 322 is fixed to the deck 12 around the front of the luggage compartment 16A. The intermediate fixing part 323 is fixed to a side portion of a front of the deck 12.

[Guiding Structure for Water on a Top Surface of the Watercraft Body]

[0041] The personal watercraft 1 has a water guiding structure including first guide surfaces G1, second guide surfaces G2, and third guide surfaces G3 to prevent water fallen onto the upper surface 2U of the front bumper unit 2 from hitting the occupant on the occupant seat 14. The sloping surface 24 which is at a higher position than the gunnel line 10G guides water progressing toward the front of the watercraft body 10 outward from the watercraft body 10. However, some of the water may fall onto the upper surface 2U over the sloping surface 24. The guide surfaces G1 to G3 prevent such water from hitting the occupant.

[0042] A pair of left and right first guide surfaces G1 are provided to the upper surface 2U of the front bumper 21. Each first guide surface G1 extends along an upper edge of the design light 19 in the left-right direction at the associated side segment 212. The first guide surface G1 faces downward, is thin and long in the left-right direction, and extends outward in the width direction of the watercraft body 10 as advancing rearward. The first guide surface G1 having this configuration can guide the water on the upper surface 2U outward in the width direction. This consequently prevents the water from hitting the occupant.

[0043] A pair of left and right second guide surfaces G2 are provided to an upper surface of the deck cover 22. Each second guide surface G2 extends outward from a left or right portion of the front hatch 16 in a width direction thereof around a rear end of the associated side deck cover 222. The second guide surface G2 faces substantially forward, and extends outward in the width direction of the watercraft body 10 as advancing rearward. The second guide surface G2 having this configuration can guide water fallen onto the upper surface of the deck cover 22 outward in the width direction of the watercraft body 10. This consequently prevents the water from hitting the occupant. In addition, the second guide surface G2 serves as a standing wall in front of the footwell 17, and thus further suppresses infiltration of the water into the footwell 17.

[0044] A pair of left and right third guide surfaces G3 are provided respectively to the speaker covers 18 serving as accessory covers. Each third guide surface G3 extends rearward and outward in the width direction around a lower end of the associated speaker cover 18. The third guide surface G3 faces obliquely downward. The third guide surface G3 is at substantially the same height position as the second guide surface G2 and extends further outward in the width direction from the rear of the second guide surface G2. The third guide surface G3 can guide water fallen onto the speaker cover 18 outward in the width direction of the watercraft body 10. This consequently prevents the water from hitting the occupant. In addition, the third guide surface G3 is located just in front of the footwell 17, and thus further suppresses infiltration of the water into the footwell 17.

[Wave Returning Performance]

[0045] The personal watercraft 1 in the embodiment includes the front bumper unit 2 having the front end 2F and the sloping surface 24 located above and forward of the gunnel line 10G, and further includes the guide surfaces G1 to G3. The personal watercraft 1 has a wave returning performance to suppress splashing of water at low-speed planing. This results in preventing the water from hitting an occupant, and suppressing infiltration of the water into the footwell 17. The performance will be described with reference to FIG. 7 to FIG. 9.

[0046] FIG. 7 is a schematic view illustrating a situation of wave motion in relation to a personal watercraft 1A in a comparative example. The personal watercraft 1A includes a watercraft body 100 provided with no front bumper at a front thereof. The watercraft body 100 has such a planing posture that the front thereof rises at high-speed planing of the personal watercraft 1A. In this planing posture, the bottom surface of the watercraft body 100 receives wave WA on a water surface, and thus the water is unlikely to progress toward an occupant seat 14.

[0047] In contrast, the watercraft body 100 has such a planing posture that the front slightly falls below the water surface at a low-speed planing of the personal watercraft 1A. In the low-speed planing posture, a leading end 10T of a gunnel line 10G lies below the water surface. Hence, the wave WA is likely to progress toward the top surface of the watercraft body 100 from a foremost portion of the watercraft body 100. This increases wave splashing toward the occupant seat 14.

[0048] FIG. 8 is a schematic view illustrating a situation of wave motion in relation to the personal watercraft 1 including the front bumper unit 2 in the embodiment. As described above, the front bumper unit 2 has the front end 2F located above and forward of the gunnel line 10G, and further has the sloping surface 24. The watercraft body 10 has such a planing posture that the front thereof rises at high-speed planing of the personal watercraft 1. In this planing posture, the bottom surface of the watercraft body 10 receives wave WA on a water surface, and thus the water is unlikely to progress toward the occupant seat 14 in the same manner as the comparative example.

[0049] A notable difference from the comparative example in wave splashing is seen at low-speed planing of the personal watercraft 1. As aforementioned, the watercraft body 10 has the low-speed planing posture that the front slightly falls below the water surface, and the leading end 10T of the gunnel line 10G also lies below the water surface. In contrast, the front end 2F and the sloping surface 24 are located above the water surface even in the low-speed planing posture. This is because the front end 2F is located above and forward of the leading end 10T of the gunnel line 10G, and the sloping surface 24 is at a higher position than the leading end 10T. The wave WA thus cannot easily go over the front bumper unit 2. This suppresses wave splashing toward the occupant seat 14.

[0050] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the front part of the personal watercraft 1 to explain the wave returning performance in the personal watercraft 1. Wave WA1 coming from the water face toward the front bumper unit 2 is guided and led downward along the sloping surface 24 at the front end 2F, or is guided lateralward from the watercraft body 10 along the sloping surface 24 at a side portion. Water fallen onto the upper surface 2U of the front bumper unit 2 is guided outward in the width direction of the watercraft body 10 by the first guide surfaces G1, the second guide surfaces G2, and the third guide surfaces G3.

[0051] Specifically, the associated first guide surface G1 guides water WA2 fallen onto a periphery around the design light 19 at the front bumper 21 outward in the width direction. The associated second guide surface G2 guides water WA3 fallen onto the side deck cover 222 of the deck cover 22 outward in the wide direction. The associated third guide surface G3 guides water WA4 fallen onto the speaker cover 18 outward in the width direction. In absence of the guide surfaces G1 to G3, the water WA2 to WA4 is likely to progress toward the occupant seat 14 or the footwell 17. In the embodiment, each of the guide surfaces G1 to G3 forms a water flow of making the water WA2 to WA4 progress outward in the width direction. This suppresses water splashing toward the occupant seat 14 and the footwell 17.

Other Embodiments

[0052] The embodiment of the present disclosure is described heretofore, but the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiment described above. For instance, the following modified embodiments may be adopted.

[0053] The embodiment exemplifies the configuration of the front bumper unit 2 including two unit components of the front bumper 21 and the deck cover 22. The front bumper unit 2 may be an integrated member including components corresponding to the front bumper 21 and the deck cover 22.

[0054] The embodiment shows an example in which the reinforcement member 3 supports the front bumper unit 2. In place of the reinforcement member 3, a filler, such as a foam material, may be used to fill an inside of the front bumper unit 2 and support the front bumper unit 2. In this case, for instance, the space R shown in FIG. 6, that is, a space defined between the upper surface of the deck 12 and an inner surface of the front bumper unit 2 is filled with the filler. Alternatively, the filler to fill the space R may be utilized in addition to the reinforcement member 3.

[0055] The embodiment exemplifies the personal watercraft 1 of a jet propulsion type. The personal watercraft 1 according to the present disclosure may be a personal watercraft of another type except the jet propulsion type. The embodiment further exemplifies the personal watercraft of a straddle-type. The personal watercraft 1 may be a personal watercraft of a standing type.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0056] The embodiments described in detail heretofore cover the disclosure of the following configurations.

[0057] A personal watercraft according to a first feature of the present disclosure includes: a watercraft body including a hull, a deck, and a gunnel line being a joint between the hull and the deck; and a front bumper unit attached to a front of the watercraft body. The front bumper unit has a front end located above and forward of the gunnel line in a side view of the watercraft body.

[0058] In the first feature, the front end of the front bumper unit is located above and forward of the gunnel line. Hence, the front bumper unit suppresses splashing of water. This consequently prevents the water from hitting an occupant on the personal watercraft. For example, the watercraft body comes to an almost horizontal posture instead of the posture that the front thereof rises relative to the water surface, and the gunnel line is accordingly at a tilt closer to a horizontal plane at the low-speed planing of the personal watercraft. In this example, if the front end of the front bumper unit is located on an extension line of the gunnel line or below the extension line, the wave returning performance to suppress water splashing will reduce. In this regard, the first feature allows the front bumper unit to exert the wave returning performance even in the state where the gunnel line is at a tilt closer to the horizontal plane.

[0059] In the personal watercraft according to a second feature, in the first feature of the personal watercraft, the front bumper unit has a sloping surface sloping horizontally outward from the watercraft body relative to a vertical direction of the watercraft body as advancing upward from a lower end of the sloping surface.

[0060] In the second feature, the sloping surface serves to guide water progressing toward the front of the watercraft body outward from the watercraft body. That is to say, the configuration enables the wave to return along the sloping surface, and thus easily suppresses water splashing.

[0061] In the personal watercraft according to a third feature, in the second feature of the personal watercraft, the sloping surface has an upper portion which is at a larger tilt angle than a lower portion of the sloping surface relative to the vertical direction.

[0062] The third feature enables the sloping surface to provide an excellent wave returning effect. Specifically, the wave having reached the sloping surface is guided along the sloping surface further horizontally outward from the watercraft body as advancing upward on the sloping surface. This more effectively prevents water from hitting the occupant.

[0063] The personal watercraft according to a fourth feature further includes, in the first to third features of the personal watercraft, a steering handlebar attached to the watercraft body. The front bumper unit includes a side bumper located forward of the steering handlebar and covering a side portion of the deck in a width direction of the watercraft body.

[0064] The fourth feature in which the side bumper covers the side portion of the deck achieves suppression of water splashing attributed to wave coming from the side portion of the watercraft body.

[0065] In the personal watercraft according to a fifth feature, in the first to fourth features of the personal watercraft, the front bumper unit includes: an upper surface covering an area including a front end of the deck; and a first guide surface provided to the upper surface to guide water fallen onto the upper surface outward in a width direction of the watercraft body.

[0066] Even when water falls onto the upper surface of the front bumper unit, the fifth feature allows the water to progress outward in the width direction of the watercraft body along the first guide surface. This consequently prevents the water from hitting the occupant.

[0067] In the personal watercraft according to a sixth feature, in the first to fifth features of the personal watercraft, the front bumper unit includes: a front bumper including the front end and an upper surface covering an area including a front end of the deck; and a deck cover leading to a rear of the upper surface of the front bumper and covering the area of the deck.

[0068] The sixth feature enables the deck cover to form such a shape as to smooth a portion leading to the deck from the front bumper. In other words, the deck cover easily attains a watercraft shape without exposing a standing portion where water splashing attributed to wave hitting is likely to occur.

[0069] In the personal watercraft according to a seventh feature, in the sixth feature of the personal watercraft, the deck cover is located in front of a footwell.

[0070] In the seventh feature, the location of the deck cover leads to achievement in suppression of infiltration of water into the footwell.

[0071] In the personal watercraft according to an eighth feature, in the sixth feature of the personal watercraft, the deck cover includes a second guide surface to guide water fallen onto an upper surface of the deck cover outward in a width direction of the watercraft body.

[0072] The eighth feature enables the second guide surface to guide the water on the deck cover outward in the width direction of the watercraft body. This consequently prevents the water from hitting the occupant.

[0073] In the personal watercraft according to a ninth feature, in the sixth feature of the personal watercraft, the deck includes a luggage compartment located rearward of the front bumper unit, and a hatch to open and close an upper surface of the luggage compartment. The deck cover has a rear edge portion at a higher position than a front edge portion of the hatch.

[0074] The ninth feature prevents even water progressing toward the hatch over the deck cover from reaching a front edge of the hatch. This consequently reduces damage to the hatch and suppresses infiltration of the water into the luggage compartment 16A.

[0075] The personal watercraft according to a tenth feature further includes, in the first to ninth features of the personal watercraft: a steering handlebar attached to the watercraft body; an accessory mounting part located between the steering handlebar and the front bumper unit; and an accessory cover that covers the accessory mounting part. The watercraft body includes a footwell to put feet of an occupant thereon. The accessory cover includes a third guide surface located in front of the footwell to guide water fallen onto the accessory cover outward in a width direction of the watercraft body.

[0076] The tenth feature allows the accessory cover to protect the accessory mounting part. Moreover, even when water falls onto the accessory cover, this configuration allows the water to progress outward in the width direction of the watercraft body along the third guide surface.

[0077] In the personal watercraft according to an eleventh feature, in the first to tenth features of the personal watercraft, the front bumper unit includes an aggregation of divisional segments arranged in a width direction of the watercraft body.

[0078] The eleventh feature achieves facilitated production of the front bumper unit and facilitated attachment thereof to the watercraft body.

[0079] The personal watercraft according to a twelfth feature further includes, in the first to eleventh features of the personal watercraft, a reinforcement member attached to the watercraft body to support the front bumper unit.

[0080] In the twelfth feature, the reinforcement member supporting the front bumper unit achieves suppression of deformation of the front bumper unit and a reduction in damage to the front bumper unit.

[0081] In the personal watercraft according to a thirteenth feature, in the twelfth feature of the personal watercraft, the front bumper unit includes an aggregation of divisional segments arranged in a width direction of the watercraft body, and the reinforcement member includes divisional support segments that support the divisional segments individually.

[0082] In the thirteenth feature, the divisional support segments support the divisional segments of the front bumper unit individually, and thus easily and firmly support of these divisional segments.

[0083] In the personal watercraft according to a fourteenth feature, in the twelfth feature of the personal watercraft, the watercraft body includes a fixing part that fixes the reinforcement member and the front bumper unit at the joint between the hull and the deck.

[0084] In the fourteenth feature, the joint between the hull and the deck, i.e., the gunnel line, is utilized to fix the reinforcement member as well as the front bumper unit. This configuration attains a facilitated supporting structure for the front bumper unit and the reinforcement member by the watercraft body.

[0085] In the personal watercraft according to a fifteenth feature, in the first to fourteenth features of the personal watercraft, the front bumper unit includes a design light located above and rearward of the front end.

[0086] In the fifteenth feature, the design light is located above and rearward of the front end of the front bumper unit. This configuration achieves a reduction in damage to the design light attributed to hitting of the wave to the design light.

[0087] The personal watercraft according to a sixteenth feature further includes, in the first to fifteenth features of the personal watercraft, a filler between an upper surface of the deck and an inner surface of the front bumper unit.

[0088] In the sixth feature, incorporation of the filler results in achievement in reinforcement of the front bumper unit.