Patent ID: 7431621
Filing Date: 2008-10-07
Classification: B63H

Abstract:
1. In a small boat of the type comprising: a boat body having a hull and a deck, the hull constituting a lower part of the boat body and the deck covering the hull, wherein the hull has a downwardly directed recess formed in a rear bottom surface thereof, defining a water introduction channel at a front part of the recess, the water introduction channel configured and arranged to permit water entry into the recess during operation of the boat, the water introduction channel having a wall with an opening formed therein communicating with an interior portion of the hull, a pump which is operatively attached to a rear part of the water introduction channel, an engine provided in the boat body forward of the water introduction channel, and a drive shaft extending rearwardly from the engine in the boat body, the drive shaft passing through the opening provided on the wall of the water introduction channel, the drive shaft being operatively connected to the pump, the improvement comprising a drive shaft supporting structure for the small boat, the drive shaft supporting structure comprising: