Patent ID: 9376189
Filing Date: 2016-06-28
CPC Classification: B63B,B63H

Claim Text:
1. A watercraft comprising: a hull forming a tunnel; a deck disposed on the hull; an engine compartment defined between the hull and the deck; an engine disposed in the engine compartment; a steering assembly disposed at least in part on the deck; a jet pump connected to the hull, the jet pump being disposed in the tunnel, and the jet pump being operatively connected to the engine; a venturi connected to a rearward end of the jet pump and being disposed at least in part in the tunnel; a left side bracket connected to a left side of the venturi; a right side bracket connected to a right side of the venturi; a variable trim system (VTS) support rotationally mounted to the left and right side brackets about a VTS axis, the VTS axis extending generally laterally and horizontally; a steering nozzle rotationally mounted to the VTS support about a steering axis such that the steering nozzle rotates about the VTS axis with the VTS support, the steering axis being generally perpendicular to the VTS axis, the steering nozzle being operatively connected to the steering assembly and being disposed at least in part rearwardly of the venturi; a gate rotationally mounted to the left and right side brackets about a gate axis, the gate axis extending generally laterally and horizontally, the gate being operatively connected to the VTS support such that rotation of the gate about the gate axis results in rotation of the VTS support about the VTS axis; and an actuator operatively connected to the gate to rotate the gate about the gate axis, the gate being operatively connected between the actuator and the VTS support.