Patent ID: 6264518
Filing Date: 2001-07-24
Classification: B63H

Abstract:
A propulsion means for a vessel comprising a motor propelled boat capable of operating at relatively high speeds and capable of navigating heavily vegetated waterways wherein the bottom of said vessel is substantially flat and wherein the vessel has a steering means mounted near the bow of said vessel with said steering means comprising a rudder support arm mounted on top of said vessel at the bow of said vessel with said rudder support arm being pivotably fixed near the top of said vessel and freely upwardly pivotable about a horizontal axis at the rear of said rudder support arm with no wheels present at the front of said vessel and having an engine means mounted inboard of said vessel connected to a transmission means mounted inboard of said vessel wherein said transmission means is connected to a paddle wheel drive means comprising said paddle wheel mounted on a supporting frame means attached to the top of said vessel outboard of said vessel near the stern of said vessel and said supporting frame means having a pivotable section with said paddle wheel means being attached to said pivotable section of said supporting frame means so that said paddle wheel is outboard of said vessel and can be adjusted upward to reduce digging-in at high speed and adjusted downward to give maximum traction and forward thrust in dense vegetation.