Vessel and driving means

Claim 1

A high speed watercycling sport device comprising the combination of an elongate and shallow draft body of generally surf board form having a bottom surface, a top surface, a bow and a stern, the bottom surface being generally flat so as to facilitate planing of the body at high speeds, operator supporting means comprising a seat portion disposed adjacent said top surface and a back rest portion inclined upwardly and toward said stern so that an operator of the device is supported in a reclining position to provide a low center of gravity of the operator and inherent stability, driving means for propelling the boat including fore-and-aft movable foot pedals mounted forwardly of the operator supporting means and engageable by the feet of an operator supported in said operator supporting means, said driving means including a screw propeller means located beneath the bottom surface of the device at the stern thereof with the propeller completely submerged in water when an operator is propelling the device, means drivingly connecting said pedals with said propeller, steering means including a member adjacent said propeller means and mounted for turning movement relative to said body, and steering control means connected with said member and including manually operated control members supported by said body at opposite sides of said operator supporting means for fore-and-aft movement and engageable by the hands of an operator supported in said operator supporting means whereby the driving movement of an operator's legs and feet and the steering movement of an operator's arms and hands affords maximum efficiency and the device may be effectively operated at high speeds.