Patent ID: 6544085
Filing Date: 2003-04-08
Classification: B63B,B63H,F01P,F28D

Abstract:
A watercraft comprising:a hull having an exterior surface with a tunnel formed therein, wherein at least a portion of the hull is submerged in a body of water; an engine that generates power supported by the hull; a propulsion system positioned in the tunnel and operatively connected to the engine to propel the watercraft across the body of water using the power generated by the engine; a circulating system containing a supply of coolant that flows through the circulating system during operation of the engine, wherein the circulating system includes an engine heat absorbing portion, which is positioned adjacent portions of the engine that generate heat during operation to facilitate heat transfer to the coolant, and a heat exchanger, which is positioned at the exterior surface of the hull and forms the bottom of the tunnel to facilitate heat transfer from the coolant to the body of water, wherein the heat exchanger forms a ride plate that is at least partially formed from a heat conductive material and has a coolant fluid path defined therein with an inlet port and an outlet port in communication with the engine heat absorbing portion, wherein the tunnel is defined by a groove formed in the hull having a width that is transverse to a center line of the watercraft, and wherein the ride plate extends across the width of the tunnel.