Patent ID: 6546888
Filing Date: 2003-04-15
Classification: B63B

Abstract:
A watercraft comprising:a hull for buoyantly supporting said watercraft on a surface of a body of water; a power-operated propulsion system constructed and arranged to move said watercraft along the surface of the body of water; a steering control system including a steering input device, said steering control system being constructed and arranged to steer said watercraft based on movement of said steering input device by an operator riding said watercraft; and at least one stabilizing fin assembly comprising a mounting structure fixedly attached to an associated one of a port and starboard side portions of said hull; a stabilizing fin structure disposed externally of said hull and adjacent the associated one of said port and starboard side portions of said hull in an operative position wherein at least a portion of said stabilizing fin structure extends into the body of water while said watercraft is in a normal upright position; and a releasable securement structure disposed in a releasably secured position wherein said releasable securement structure releasably secures said stabilizing fin structure to said mounting structure with said releasable securement structure and said mounting structure cooperating to releasably retain said stabilizing fin structure in said operative position thereof, said releasable securement structure being constructed and arranged to be moved from said releasably secured position to a released position wherein said releasable securement structure releases said stabilizing fin structure from said mounting structure so as to permit said stabilizing fin structure to be removed from said operative position thereof, and being accessible entirely externally of said hull without the need for accessing an interior of said hull for movement between said releasably secured and released positions thereof, wherein said mounting structure has a threaded bore, said stabilizing fin structure has a fastener receiving opening, and said releasable securement structure comprises a threaded fastener, said threaded fastener being inserted through the fastener receiving opening of said stabilizing fin structure in said operative position thereof and threaded onto the threaded bore of said mounting structure to provide the releasably secured position of said releasable securement structure.