Patent Publication Number: US-2022227460-A1

Title: Personal watercraft

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to a personal watercraft maneuvered by a rider on a water surface. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application Publication No. 2002-79988 discloses a personal watercraft including a deck having a streamlined front portion. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A personal watercraft according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes: a handle; and a watercraft body supporting the handle and including a front upper portion anterior to the handle, the watercraft body further including: a center elongated protrusion constituting a part of the front upper portion, the center elongated protrusion being located at a center of the watercraft body in a left-right direction, extending in a front-rear direction, and having an upwardly convex cross-sectional shape; a drainage channel constituting a part of the front upper portion, the drainage channel being outward of and adjacent to the center elongated protrusion in the left-right direction, lying along the center elongated protrusion in the front-rear direction, extending rearward and outward in the left-right direction, and having a downwardly convex cross-sectional shape; and an outside elongated protrusion outward of and adjacent to the drainage channel in the left-right direction, the outside elongated protrusion lying along the drainage channel in the front-rear direction, having an upwardly convex cross-sectional shape, and facing the drainage channel from outside in the left-right direction. 
     In the above configuration, since the watercraft body includes the drainage channel extending rearward and outward in the left-right direction, water impinging on the front of the watercraft body of the personal watercraft can be led into the drainage channel, directed outward in the left-right direction, and finally discharged outside. Thus, water impinging on the front of the watercraft body of the personal watercraft can be prevented from flowing toward the rider. This can reduce the amount of water splashing onto the rider and therefore the discomfort felt by the rider due to splashing water. Additionally, since the drainage channel has a cross-sectional shape convex downward and toward the center of the watercraft body in the left-right direction, water entering the drainage channel can be efficiently guided and discharged outside. Additionally, since the watercraft body further includes the outside elongated protrusion outward of and adjacent to the drainage channel in the left-right direction, water impinging obliquely on the front of the watercraft body and flowing toward the rider can be blocked by the outside elongated protrusion to reduce the amount of water splashing onto the rider. 
     A personal watercraft according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes: a handle; and a watercraft body supporting the handle and including a front upper portion anterior to the handle, the watercraft body further including a guide protruding from an upper edge of a drainage channel and extending along the upper edge, the drainage channel having a downwardly convex cross-sectional shape. 
     In the above configuration, since the watercraft body includes the guide, when, for example, water climbs over the upper edge of the drainage channel and flows toward the rider, the guide pushes down the flowing water and blocks the water from flowing out of the drainage channel, thereby preventing the water from splashing onto the rider. Thus, water can be prevented from reaching the rider beyond the drainage change. This can reduce the discomfort felt by the rider due to splashing water. 
     The above and further objects, features and advantages of the present disclosure will be more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of a personal watercraft according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a front portion of the personal watercraft of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3A  is a cross-sectional view taken along the plane S 1  of  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 3B  is a cross-sectional view taken along the plane S 2  of  FIG. 2 , and  FIG. 3C  is a cross-sectional view taken along the plane S 3  of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line L 1  of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 5  is a front view of the personal watercraft of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view showing a guide and its vicinity in the personal watercraft of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view taken along the plane S 5  of  FIG. 6 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. The up-down, left-right, and front-rear directions are defined herein as those based on the viewpoint of a rider (operator) of a personal watercraft who sits on a seat of the watercraft. The left-right direction and the front-rear direction are defined with respect to a horizontal plane in which the personal watercraft is located when moored at rest on a water surface. 
       FIG. 1  is a partially cutaway side view of a personal watercraft  1  according to an exemplary embodiment. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the personal watercraft  1  includes a watercraft body  2 , and the watercraft body  2  includes a hull  3  and a deck  4  covering the upper portion of the hull  3 . The personal watercraft  1  of the present embodiment is a sitting-type watercraft having the watercraft body  2  equipped with a seat  5  on which the rider sits in a straddling position. The watercraft body  2  includes an internal space, in which an engine E is accommodated as a prime mover. 
     The engine E includes an output shaft  6  extending toward the rear of the watercraft body  2 . The output shaft  6  has an output end connected to a propeller shaft  8  via a coupler  7 . A water jet pump P is disposed in the rear of the hull  3  and located at the center in the left-right direction. The water jet pump P includes a pump shaft  9 , to which the propeller shaft  8  is connected. Thus, the pump shaft  9  rotates in conjunction with rotation of the output shaft  6 . An impeller  10  is mounted on the pump shaft  9 , and a stator vane  11  is disposed behind the impeller  10 . A tubular pump casing  12  is mounted around the impeller  10  to enclose the impeller  10 . 
     A water inlet  13  opens at the bottom of the watercraft body  2 . The water inlet  13  is in communication with the pump casing  12  through a water passage  14 . To the pump casing  12  is connected a pump nozzle  15  disposed in the rear of the watercraft body  2 . The pump nozzle  15  has a diameter that decreases from front to rear, and an ejection orifice opens at the rear end of the pump nozzle  15 . To the ejection orifice of the pump nozzle  15  is connected a steering nozzle  16 , which is swingable to the left and right. 
     In the personal watercraft  1 , water drawn into the hull  3  through the water inlet  13  located at the bottom of the hull  3  is pressurized and accelerated by rotational power of the impeller  10  of the water jet pump P driven by the engine E. The flow of water is controlled by the stator vane  11  and ejected vigorously rearward through the ejection orifice of the pump nozzle  15  and the steering nozzle  16 . Thus, the personal watercraft  1  obtains propulsion power using a reaction force produced by water ejected from the water jet pump P to the outside through the steering nozzle  16 . 
     A handle  19  to be gripped by the rider for steering maneuver is disposed on a front portion of the deck  4 . The handle  19  is fixedly connected to the steering shaft  20 . In the present embodiment, the handle  19  is located anterior to the seat  5 . The steering shaft  20  is pivotally supported by the watercraft body  2  with the aid of a bearing (not illustrated). Thus, the steering shaft  20  provides a connection between the handle  19  and the watercraft body  2 . The steering shaft  20  extends downward from the handle  19 . In the present embodiment, the steering shaft  20  is inclined in the front-rear direction with respect to the watercraft body  2  in such a manner that the upper end of the steering shaft  20  is posterior to the lower end of the steering shaft  20 . The deck  4  is provided with an upwardly opening recess located anterior to the handle  19  and serving as a storage. The storage is a space for accommodating items. The watercraft body  2  includes a hatch cover  22  configured to close the upwardly opening recess of the deck  4  from above. 
     A steering cable (not shown) is attached to the vicinity of the lower end of the steering shaft  20 . The steering cable is made of a flexible material and therefore bendable. The steering cable extends between the steering shaft  20  and the steering nozzle  16 . Thus, the handle  19  is connected to the steering nozzle  16  via the steering shaft  20  and the steering cable. The steering cable transmits a tensile force induced by tilting operation of the handle  19  to the steering nozzle  16 . As such, the steering nozzle  16  swings to the left and right in conjunction with tilting of the handle  19  to the left and right. 
     The handle  19  is equipped with an operation member (not illustrated). The rider can accelerate or decelerate the watercraft to a desired degree by operating the operation member. By rotating the handle  19  to the left or right, the rider can, as needed, change the direction in which the watercraft body  2  moves. Thus, the rider can control the behavior of the watercraft body  2  by operating the handle  19  and the operation member. 
       FIG. 2  is a front, right, top perspective view of the personal watercraft  1 .  FIG. 3A  is a cross-sectional view of the watercraft body  2  taken along the plane S 1  of  FIG. 2  which is perpendicular to the front-rear direction.  FIG. 3B  is a cross-sectional view of the watercraft body  2  taken along the plane S 2  of  FIG. 2  which is perpendicular to the front-rear direction.  FIG. 3C  is a cross-sectional view of the watercraft body  2  taken along the plane S 3  of  FIG. 2  which is perpendicular to the front-rear direction. In  FIG. 2 , the planes S 1 , S 2 , and S 3  are arranged in this order from the front of the watercraft body  2 .  FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C  show the watercraft body  2  as viewed from the front.  FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the watercraft body  2  taken along the line L 1  of  FIG. 2  which extends along the flow path of a drainage channel  25 .  FIG. 4  shows the watercraft body  2  as viewed in the horizontal direction.  FIG. 5  is a front view of the personal watercraft  1 . As seen from  FIG. 2 , the front portion of the watercraft body  2  is formed such that its length in the left-right direction increases from front to rear. Thus, the watercraft body  2  has a streamlined shape when viewed in plan. The deck  4  includes a front upper portion  23  constituting a part of the front of the personal watercraft  1 , and the front upper portion  23  is formed such that its height increases from front to rear. Specifically, the surface of the front upper portion  23  is curved in an upwardly convex shape such that the height of the surface increases from front to rear. In the present embodiment, the “front upper portion”  23  refers to a streamlined portion of that region of the watercraft body  2  which extends approximately from the front end of the watercraft body  2  to the steering shaft  20  in the front-rear direction, the portion being formed such that its height increases from front to rear. A center elongated protrusion  24  and a pair of drainage channels  25  are disposed in the front upper portion  23 . The center elongated protrusion  24  and drainage channels  25  will be described in detail later. In the present embodiment, the center elongated protrusion  24  and the drainage channels  25  constitute a part of the front upper portion  23 . Each drainage channel  25  is recessed downward and extends in the front-rear direction. A pair of outside elongated protrusions  26  are respectively located outward of and adjacent to the pair of drainage channels  25  in the left-right direction. Each outside elongated protrusion  26  protrudes upward with respect to a bottom surface  25   i  ( FIGS. 3A to 3C ) of the adjacent drainage channel  25  and extends in the front-rear direction of the watercraft body  2 . A guide  27  is located on an extension of a boundary plane between each drainage channel  25  and the center elongated protrusion  24  in the watercraft body  2 . The guide  27  lies along the drainage channel  25 . A pair of side mirrors  31  are disposed between the handle  19  and the hatch cover  22  in the front-rear direction of the watercraft body  2 . The rider can view the environment behind the watercraft with the aid of the side mirrors  31 . A speaker  32  is disposed ahead of the guide  27 . The rider can, for example, enjoy music by causing the speaker  32  to output the music. 
     The center elongated protrusion  24  is a part of the front upper portion  23  of the deck  4 . The center elongated protrusion  24  is located at the center of the watercraft body  2  in the left-right direction and extends in the front-rear direction. In a front view of the watercraft body  2 , the center elongated protrusion  24  has an upwardly convex cross-sectional shape over the entire length in the front-rear direction. The center elongated protrusion  24  includes an upper surface  24   a  located at the center thereof in the left-right direction, and the upper surface  24   a  extends in the front-rear direction in an inclined manner such that the height of the upper surface  24   a  increases from front to rear. The upper surface  24   a  of the center elongated protrusion  24  has opposite outer ends  24   b  in the left-right direction. The center elongated protrusion  24  includes side walls  24   c  extending downward from the outer ends  24   b  of the upper surface  24   a . The side walls  24   c  are opposite each other in the left-right direction. The distance between the side walls  24   c  in the left-right direction increases from front to rear. The side walls  24   c  as viewed in plan are inclined with respect to the center line L 2  ( FIGS. 3A to 3C ) dividing the watercraft body  2  in two in the left-right direction. Specifically, the left side wall  24   c  extends rearward and leftward, and the right side wall  24   c  extends rearward and rightward. The angle of inclination of each side wall  24   c  to the center line is larger in a rear region of the side wall  24   c  than in a front end region of the side wall  24   c . Thus, the front portion of the side wall  24   c  faces outward in the left-right direction, and the rear portion of the side wall  24   c  faces outward in the left-right direction and forward. The center elongated protrusion  24  includes a connection portion  24   d  located between the upper surface  24   a  and each side wall  24   c . The connection portion  24   d  is inclined downward toward the outside in the left-right direction. The angle of inclination of the connection portion  24   d  to the upper surface  24   a  is smaller than that of the side wall  24   c . The center elongated protrusion  24  need not include the connection portions  24   d , and the upper surface  24   a  may be directly adjacent to the side walls  24   c.    
     The drainage channels  25  are outward of and adjacent to, respectively, the opposite sides of the center elongated protrusion  24  in the left-right direction. Each drainage channel  25  lies along the center elongated protrusion  24  in the front-rear direction, and extends rearward and outward in the left-right direction. In a plan view of the watercraft body  2 , the drainage channel  25  is bent in a shape convex toward the inside of the watercraft body  2 . The drainage channel  25  is a part of the front upper portion  23  of the deck  4 . The flow path of the drainage channel  25  is surrounded on both sides in the left-right direction by the side wall  24   c  of the center elongated protrusion  24  and the outside elongated protrusion  26 . In a front view of the watercraft body  2 , the flow path of the drainage channel  25  has a downwardly convex cross-sectional shape over the entire length in the front-rear direction. The flow path allows water to flow therethrough. The bottom surface  25   i  ( FIGS. 3A to 3C ) of the drainage channel  25  is located below the upper surface  24   a  of the center elongated protrusion  24  to which the drainage channel  25  is adjacent in the left-right direction of the watercraft body  2 . 
     The drainage channel  25  includes a front end  25   b , a rear end  25   c , and a peak point  25   d  located between the front and rear ends  25   b  and  25   c  and at the maximum height in the drainage channel  25 . The region of the drainage channel  25  from the front end  25   b  to the peak point  25   d  is defined as a “front region  25   e ”, and the front region  25   e  extends obliquely upward and rearward as seen from  FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 4 . The region of the drainage channel  25  from the peak point  25   d  to the rear end  25   c  is defined as a “rear region  25   f ”. As seen from  FIGS. 3C and 4 , the rear region  25   f  extends obliquely downward and rearward. In the present embodiment, the front region  25   e  corresponds to the region of the drainage channel  25  that is anterior to an imaginary plane S 4  perpendicular to the direction of water flow in the drainage channel  25  and passing through the peak point  25   d , and the rear region  25   f  corresponds to the region that is posterior to the plane S 4 . The drainage channel  25  opens at the rear end  25   c  to the outside. Water entering the drainage channel  25  from the front end  25   b  is discharged outside through the rear end  25   c . The drainage channel  25  includes an upper edge  25   a  which is not only an upper edge in the up-down direction of the watercraft body  2  but also an inner edge in the left-right direction of the watercraft body  2 . Since the drainage channel  25  is inclined downward toward the outside in the left-right direction of the watercraft body  2 , the inner edge of the drainage channel  25  in the left-right direction forms the upper edge  25   a  of the drainage channel  25 . The upper edge  25   a  is inclined upward from the front end  25   b  to the peak point  25   d  so that the height of the upper edge  25   a  increases from front to rear. In the region posterior to the peak point  25   d , the upper edge  25   a  extends outward in the left-right direction, and is inclined downward toward the outside in the left-right direction so that the height of the upper edge  25   a  decreases from inside to outside in the left-right direction. 
     As seen from  FIGS. 3A and 3B , the flow path of the front region  25   e  of the drainage channel  25  is surrounded on both sides in the left-right direction by the side wall  24   c  of the center elongated protrusion  24  that is adjacent to the drainage channel  25  and an inner side wall  26   c  of the outside elongated protrusion  26  that is adjacent to the drainage channel  25 . Thus, water entering the drainage channel  25  flows rearward in the front-rear direction while being surrounded on both sides in the left-right direction by the side wall  24   c  of the center elongated protrusion  24  and the side wall  26   c  of the outside elongated protrusion  26 . In a cross-sectional view of the drainage channel  25  taken along a plane perpendicular to the front-rear direction of the watercraft body  2 , the front region  25   e  of the drainage channel  25  has a downwardly convex cross-section defined by the side wall  24   c  of the center elongated protrusion  24 , the bottom surface  25   i , and the side wall  26   c  of the outside elongated protrusion  26 . Thus, in the present embodiment, the cross-section of the drainage channel  25  taken along the plane perpendicular to the front-rear direction is defined by the two side walls and one bottom wall. As such, the cross-section of the drainage channel  25  taken along the plane perpendicular to the front-rear direction has a downwardly convex shape. The bottom surface  25   i  of the drainage channel  25  is located below the upper surface  24   a  of the center elongated protrusion  24  and the upper end of the outside elongated protrusion  26  over the entire length in the front-rear direction. 
     In the present embodiment, the side wall  24   c  of the center elongated protrusion  24  includes a vertically extending surface facing the drainage channel  25 . The side wall  24   c  of the center elongated protrusion  24  includes a rear-side region located in the vicinity of the guide  27  and inclined inward from top to bottom. 
     In the present embodiment, the hatch cover  22  includes a part of the center elongated protrusion  24  and a part of each drainage channel  25 . Specifically, the center elongated protrusion  24  and the front region of each drainage channel  25  are disposed in the upper surface of the hatch cover  22 . In a cross-sectional view of the front region of the drainage channel  25  taken along a plane perpendicular to the flow path of the drainage channel  25 , the side wall  24   c  of the center elongated protrusion  24  and the bottom surface  25   i  of the drainage channel  25  constitute a part of the hatch cover  22 . The guide  27  is disposed in a part of the watercraft body  2  that is other than the hatch cover  22 . 
     The drainage channel  25  includes an intermediate point  25   g  located substantially at the midpoint between the front end  25   b  and the rear end  25   c  in the front-rear direction of the watercraft body  2 . The guide  27  extends between the intermediate point  25   g  and rear end  25   c  of the drainage channel  25  in the front-rear direction of the watercraft body  2 . 
     In the present embodiment, a width w 1  in the left-right direction of the front end  25   b  of the drainage channel  25  is greater than a width w 2  in the left-right direction of a portion of the center elongated protrusion  24  that is at the same location as the front end  25   b  of the drainage channel  25  in the front-rear direction. 
     The rear region  25   f  of the drainage channel  25  is located in a different region than the hatch cover  22 . In the present embodiment, the rear region  25   f  is located in a region of the upper surface of the deck  4  other than the region in which the hatch cover  22  is located. The boundary line between the drainage channel  25  and the center elongated protrusion  24  in the left-right direction extends in a curve rearward and outward in the left-right direction. As seen from  FIG. 4 , the drainage channel  25  extends to a region posterior to the center elongated protrusion  24 . 
     The outside elongated protrusions  26  are located outward, respectively, of the left and right drainage channels  25  in the left-right direction. In a front view of the watercraft body  2 , each outside elongated protrusion  26  has an upwardly convex cross-sectional shape over the entire length in the front-rear direction. In the present embodiment, the outside elongated protrusion  26  protrudes upward with respect to the bottom surface  25   i  of the drainage channel  25 . The outside elongated protrusion  26  lies along the drainage channel  25  in the front-rear direction. The outside elongated protrusion  26  faces the drainage channel  25  from outside in the left-right direction. 
     The guide  27  extends along the upper edge  25   a  of the drainage channel  25 . The guide  27  protrudes upward from the upper edge  25   a . In the region of the watercraft body  2  where the guide  27  is located, that portion of the drainage channel  25  which is at the same location as the guide  27  in the front-rear direction extends in a direction having a component corresponding to the left-right direction of the watercraft body  2 . Thus, the guide  27  also extends in the direction having a component corresponding to the left-right direction of the watercraft body  2 . In the present embodiment, the guide  27  extends rearward and outward in the left-right direction of the watercraft body  2 . In the present embodiment, the guide  27  is located above the outside elongated protrusion  26  over the entire length in the front-rear direction. The guide  27  is located below the highest point of the hatch cover  22  over the entire length in the front-rear direction. The highest point of the hatch cover  22  is referred to as the “peak point  22   a ”. As seen from  FIG. 4 , the entire guide  27  is located below the peak point  22   a .  FIG. 6  is an enlarged perspective view of the guide  27 .  FIG. 7  is a top perspective cross-sectional view of the drainage channel  25  taken along the plane S 5  of  FIG. 6 . The guide  27  includes a guide surface  28  for guiding water flowing through the drainage channel  25 . 
     In the present embodiment, the guide  27  is in the shape of a blade extending in the front-rear direction of the watercraft body  2 . The guide  27  includes a blade-shaped central portion  27   a  protruding outward in the left-right direction of the watercraft body  2 , in particular toward the drainage channel  25  ( FIG. 7 ). That is, the guide  27  includes an overhang facing the drainage channel  25 . In other words, the guide  27  as viewed in plan overlaps the bottom of the drainage channel  25 . Since the central portion  27   a  of the guide  27  in the up-down direction protrudes toward the drainage channel  25 , the guide surface  28  located below the central portion  27   a  faces downward. Thus, the guide surface  28  faces water flowing through the drainage channel  25  from above. Such a guide surface  28  can control the flow of water through the drainage channel  25  to prevent upward spattering of the water. The guide surface  28  extends rearward in a direction having a component directed outward in the left-right direction. Thus, when water is flowing through the drainage channel  25  in the front-rear direction, the guide surface  28  acts on the flowing water downwardly in the up-down direction and outwardly in the left-right direction. In the present embodiment, the guidance of the water flow in the drainage channel  25  by the guide  27  is effected at a location posterior to the center elongated protrusion  24  in the front-rear direction. 
     The guide  27  includes a lock  29  configured to lock a string-like element such as a rope. In the present embodiment, the guide  27  is provided with a hole  33  extending through the guide  27  in the up-down direction. Thus, for example, the watercraft body  2  can be moored by locking one end of the string-like element such as a rope to the guide  27  and winding the other end of the string-like element around a support such as a pole which is situated on the land. For example, a hooking device such as a karabiner may be attached to one end of the string-like element, and the string-like element may be locked to the lock  29  by means of the hooking device. 
     The guide  27  is located over the rear region  25   f  of the drainage channel  25 . Thus, the guide  27  is located downstream of the peak point  25   d  of the drainage channel  25 . 
     The watercraft body  2  includes foot rest surfaces  30  located on the opposite sides of the seat  5  in the left-right direction. The rear end  25   c  of the rear region  25   f  of the drainage channel  25  is located outward of the foot rest surface  30  in the left-right direction. 
     In the present embodiment, the outer end  26   b  of the outside elongated protrusion  26  in the left-right direction extends rearward and outward in the left-right direction. The outer end  24   b  of the upper surface  24   a  of the center elongated protrusion  24  in the left-right direction is located above a ridge line  26   a  of the outside elongated protrusion  26  when the outer end  24   b  and the ridge line  26   a  are compared at the same location in the front-rear direction. The “ridge line”  26   a  refers to a line drawn through peak points of the outside elongated protrusion  26 , and a “peak point” of the outside elongated protrusion  26  refers to the highest point of the outside elongated protrusion  26  at a location in the front-rear direction. In the present embodiment, the bottom surface  25   i  of the drainage channel  25  is located below an imaginary line drawn between any peak point of the outside elongated protrusion  26  and the upper surface  24   a  of the center elongated protrusion  24 . 
     In the present embodiment, when the outside elongated protrusion  26  is viewed from the side, the portion of the ridge line  26   a  that is anterior to the guide  27  is inclined upward from front to rear, and the portion of the ridge line  26   a  that extends over the same region as the guide  27  in the front-rear direction is inclined downward from front to rear ( FIG. 1 ). Further, the front end portion of the outside elongated protrusion  26  is shaped to conform to the tapered shape of the watercraft body  2 . Specifically, the front end portion of the outside elongated protrusion  26  is shaped to extend obliquely rearward and outward in the left-right direction. 
     A light  34  is disposed in the vicinity of the front end of the watercraft body  2  to emit light forward from the watercraft body  2 . In the present embodiment, the light  34  emits light from the location of the front end of the outside elongated protrusion  26 . In the present embodiment, the light  34  and an element for allowing the light  34  to emit light (e.g., a driving circuit) are placed within the outside elongated protrusion  26 . 
     When the personal watercraft  1  configured as described above is moving straight on a water surface, water impinges on the front of the watercraft body  2  in the direction D 1  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ) and flows rearward along the watercraft body  2 . In the present embodiment, impinging water located relatively inward and close to the center of the watercraft body  2  in the left-right direction flows into the drainage channel  25 . Specifically, water impinging on a front region of the watercraft body  2  that is inward of the outer end  25   h  of the drainage channel  25  in the left-right direction is led into the drainage channel  25 . Most of water impinging on the center elongated protrusion  24  is directed outward in the left-right direction along the center elongated protrusion  24  which extends rearward and outward in the left-right direction, and the water thus directed enters the drainage channel  25 . 
     Since the drainage channel  25  extends rearward and outward in the left-right direction, water impinging on the front of the watercraft body  2  and entering the drainage channel  25  can be directed outward in the left-right direction and thus discharged outside. Most of the water entering the drainage channel  25  flows rearward through an inner region in the left-right direction of the drainage channel  25 . Since the inner end of the drainage channel  25  in the left-right direction extends rearward and outward in the left-right direction, most of the water entering the drainage channel  25  can be directed outward in the left-right direction and thus discharged outside. As such, the water flowing in the drainage channel  25  can be prevented from moving toward the rider. This can reduce the amount of water splashing onto the rider and therefore the discomfort felt by the rider due to splashing water. Additionally, the water entering the drainage channel  25  can be efficiently guided and discharged outside since the flow path of the drainage channel  25  is surrounded on both sides in the left-right direction by the side wall  24   c  of the center elongated protrusion  24  and the side wall  26   c  of the outside elongated protrusion  26  and since the flow path has a cross-sectional shape convex downward when viewed from the front and convex toward the center of the watercraft body  2  in the left-right direction. The water flowing in the drainage channel  25  is guided by the side wall  26   c  of the outside elongated protrusion  26  to flow rearward in the front-rear direction without flowing outward from the drainage channel  25  in the left-right direction, and redirected outward in the left-right direction by the center elongated protrusion  24  and the guide  27 . 
     Water impinging on a front region of the watercraft body  2  that is outward of the outer end  25   h  of the drainage channel  25  in the left-right direction collides with the outside elongated protrusion  26 . The water colliding with the outside elongated protrusion  26  flows along the outside elongated protrusion  26  and is directed outward in the left-right direction since the outer end  26   b  of the outside elongated protrusion  26  in the left-right direction extends rearward and outward in the left-right direction. Thus, water colliding with the outside elongated protrusion  26  without entering the drainage channel  25  can be made to flow outward in the left-right direction along the outer end  26   b  of the outside elongated protrusion  26 . This can reduce the amount of water moving toward the rider. 
     In the present embodiment, the watercraft body  2  includes the outside elongated protrusion  26  outward of and adjacent to the drainage channel  25  in the left-right direction. Thus, for example, when the personal watercraft  1  is turning, water impinging obliquely on the front of the watercraft body  2  and moving toward the rider can be blocked by the outside elongated protrusion  26 . The personal watercraft  1  is usually decelerated when making a turn. Upon deceleration of the personal watercraft  1 , a moment acts on the watercraft body  2  in the pitch direction, causing the front end of the watercraft body  2  to sink downward. Thus, during turning of the personal watercraft  1 , water impinging obliquely on the front of the personal watercraft  1  could climb over the front end portion of the personal watercraft  1  toward the rider, and the rider could be splashed with a lot of water. However, in the present embodiment, where the watercraft body  2  includes the outside elongated protrusion  26  outward of the drainage channel  25  in the left-right direction, water impinging obliquely on the front of the personal watercraft  1  can be blocked by the outside elongated protrusion  26 . During turning, since the front end portion of the watercraft body  2  sinks downward, water is more likely to reach the rider beyond the watercraft body  2  than in other situations. In the present embodiment, where the outside elongated protrusion  26  has an upwardly convex cross-sectional shape over the entire length in the front-rear direction in a front view of the watercraft body  2 , water impinging on the watercraft body  2  can be prevented from climbing over the outside elongated protrusion  26 . This can reduce the amount of water splashing onto the rider. Even if water climbs over the outside elongated protrusion  26 , the water can be blocked by the center elongated protrusion  24 . In particular, since the side wall  24   c  of the center elongated protrusion  24  includes a portion inclined inward from top to bottom, part of water climbing over the outside elongated protrusion  26  collides with that inclined portion of the side wall  24   c  and is thus redirected downward. As such, water having passed beyond the outside elongated protrusion  26  can be prevented from climbing over the center elongated protrusion  24 . 
     In the present embodiment, where the rear region  25   f  of the drainage channel  25  extends obliquely downward and rearward, water entering the drainage channel  25  when the personal watercraft  1  is moving at a relatively low speed (10 to 30 km/h, for example) is made to flow downward through the drainage channel  25  and discharged outside in a direction as indicated by the arrow D 2  of  FIG. 2 . That is, the water is discharged outside through the drainage channel  25  in an obliquely downward direction. Thus, water is not likely to splash upward out of the drainage channel  25  during movement of the personal watercraft  1 . This can reduce the amount of water splashing onto the rider and therefore the discomfort felt by the rider due to splashing water. 
     In the present embodiment, where the rear end  25   c  of the drainage channel  25  is outward of the foot rest surface  30  in the left-right direction, water flowing in the drainage channel  25  can be prevented from moving toward the foot rest surface  30 . This can reduce the amount of water retained on the foot rest surface  30  and therefore the discomfort felt by the rider due to retained water. 
     In the present embodiment, the width w 1  in the left-right direction of the front end  25   b  of the drainage channel  25  is greater than the width w 2  in the left-right direction of the portion of the center elongated protrusion  24  that is at the same location as the front end  25   b  of the drainage channel  25  in the front-rear direction. Thus, water imping on the front of the watercraft body is likely to enter the drainage channel  25 . As such, much of the impinging water can be made to flow outward in the left-right direction through the drainage channel  25 , so that the amount of water moving toward the rider can be reduced. 
     In the present embodiment, the outer end  24   b  of the upper surface  24   a  of the center elongated protrusion  24  is located above the ridge line  26   a  of the outside elongated protrusion  26  when the outer end  24   b  and the ridge line  26   a  are compared at the same location in the front-rear direction. Thus, water climbing over the outside elongated protrusion  26  during turning of the personal watercraft  1  can be blocked by the center elongated protrusion  24 . This can further reduce the amount of water moving toward the rider. 
     In the present embodiment, the personal watercraft  1  includes the guide  27  including the guide surface  28  facing the drainage channel  25  from above. Thus, for example, when a large amount of water flows in the drainage channel  25  and some of the water climes over the drainage channel  25  toward the rider, the guide surface  28  pushes down the water from above. For example, when water climbs over the drainage channel  25  in a direction as indicated by the arrow D 3  of  FIG. 6 , the water is pushed back by the guide surface  28  and then flows in a direction as indicated by the arrow D 4 . When the personal watercraft  1  is moving at a relatively high speed and water is flowing swiftly in that front region  25   e  of the drainage channel  25  which is inclined upward from front to rear, the water could jump upward by inertia above the rear region  25   f . Also in this case, the guide surface  28  pushes down the splashing water from above and prevents the water from moving toward the rider. Thus, water flowing in the drainage channel  25  can be prevented from moving toward the rider. This can reduce the discomfort felt by the rider due to splashing water. 
     In the present embodiment, where the guide  27  is located over the rear region  25   f  of the drainage channel  25 , the guide surface  28  can push down water passing through the peak point  25   d  of the drainage channel  25  and flowing in the downwardly and rearwardly extending portion of the drainage channel  25 . This further ensures that water flowing in the drainage channel  25  is prevented from moving toward the rider. 
     In the present embodiment, where the guide  27  is disposed in a part other than the hatch cover  22 , the need to form the hatch cover  22  in a complicated shape is eliminated. This can result in reduced manufacturing cost of the watercraft body  2 . 
     In the present embodiment, the guide  27  is produced in a different manufacturing step than the deck  4 . In the present embodiment, the deck  4  is made of resin and formed by one-piece molding. If the guide  27 , which has the central portion  27   a  located at the center of the guide  27  in the up-down direction and protruding toward the drainage channel  25 , were produced together with the deck  4 , mold release would be so difficult that the manufacturing process would be complicated. In the present embodiment, the guide  27  is made of resin and formed by one-piece molding in a different manufacturing step than the deck  4 , and the guide  27  thus formed is attached to the deck  4 . As such, the deck  4  provided with the guide  27  can easily be produced. 
     In the present embodiment, the guide surface  28  extends in a direction having a component corresponding to the left-right direction. Such a guide surface  28  can, when water is flowing in the drainage channel  25 , efficiently guide the water outward in the left-right direction. This can prevent water from flowing upward out of the drainage channel  25 , further ensuring that the water is prevented from moving toward the rider. 
     In the present embodiment, the guide  27  extends between the intermediate point  25   g  and rear end  25   c  of the drainage channel  25 . Thus, the guide  27  can reliably guide water toward the outside in the region of the drainage channel  25  from the intermediate point  25   g  to the rear end  25   c . This can reliably prevent water from flowing upward out of the drainage channel  25  and moving toward the rider in the region of the drainage channel  25  from the intermediate point  25   g  to the rear end  25   c.    
     In the present embodiment, the boundary line between the drainage channel  25  and the center elongated protrusion  24  in the left-right direction (in particular, the upper edge  25   a  of the drainage channel  25 ) extends rearward and outward in the left-right direction. Thus, most of water flowing in the drainage channel  25  can be efficiently guided outward in the left-right direction. In the present embodiment, the amount of water flowing in the drainage channel  25  is larger in the vicinity of the boundary line between the drainage channel  25  and the center elongated protrusion  24  than in other regions of the inside of the drainage channel  25 . When the personal watercraft  1  is moving straight, water flowing on the upper surface of the watercraft body  2  tends to move straight from the front of the watercraft body  2  in the front-rear direction of the watercraft body  2 . Thus, water entering the drainage channel  25  tends to flow straight rearward in the front-rear direction of the watercraft body  2 . Water entering the inner region of the drainage channel  25  in the left-right direction tends to move straight rearward along the center elongated protrusion  24 , while water entering the outer region of the drainage channel  25 , which also tends to move straight rearward, comes into the inner region of the drainage channel  25  with the progress of the rearward flow since the drainage channel  25  is shaped to extend rearward and outward in the left-right direction. Consequently, water flowing in the drainage channel  25  is gathered inward in the left-right direction of the watercraft body  2  with the progress of the rearward flow. Thus, the amount of water flowing in the drainage channel  25  is larger in the inner region of the drainage channel  25  (including the region lying along the side wall  24   c  of the center elongated protrusion  24 ) in the left-right direction than in the outer region of the drainage channel  25  in the left-right direction. 
     Since the amount of water flowing in the drainage channel  25  is larger in the vicinity of the boundary line between the drainage channel  25  and the center elongated protrusion  24  than in other regions of the inside of the drainage channel  25 , the amount of water directed outward in the left-right direction can be increased by shaping the boundary line so that the boundary line extends rearward and outward in the left-right direction. In the present embodiment, the boundary line between the drainage channel  25  and the center elongated protrusion  24  in the left-right direction extends in a curve. Thus, the direction of water flowing in the drainage channel  25  can be gradually changed with the progress of the rearward flow to prevent the water from overflowing out of the drainage channel  25 . 
     In the present embodiment, where the guide  27  includes the lock  29 , the watercraft body  2  need not include any additional element for locking of the string-like element. This can reduce the number of parts constituting the watercraft body  2 . 
     In the present embodiment, where a part of the center elongated protrusion  24  and a part of the drainage channel  25  are constituted by the hatch cover  22 , the center elongated protrusion  24  and the drainage channel  25  can easily be formed. In particular, in the present embodiment, a part of the center elongated protrusion  24  and a part of the front region  25   e  of the drainage channel  25  are disposed in the upper surface of the hatch cover  22 . Thus, the formation of the center elongated protrusion  24  and the front region  25   e  of the drainage channel  25  can easily be accomplished. 
     In the present embodiment, where the outside elongated protrusion  26  of the personal watercraft  1  is provided with the light  34 , the personal watercraft  1  can inform the outside world of its presence. Since the light  34  is disposed in the outside elongated protrusion  26 , the light  34  and an element for allowing the light  34  to emit light (e.g., a driving circuit) can be placed within the outside elongated protrusion  26 . Thus, the available space of the watercraft body  2  can be efficiently used to prevent size increase of the personal watercraft  1 . 
     While in the embodiment described above the center elongated protrusion  24  is higher than the outside elongated protrusion  26 , this configuration is not limiting. The outside elongated protrusion  26  may be higher than the center elongated protrusion  24 . 
     In the embodiment described above, the front end of the drainage channel  25  is wider in the left-right direction than a portion of the center elongated protrusion  24  that is at the same location as the front end of the drainage channel  25  in the front-rear direction. However, this configuration is not limiting. The front end of the center elongated protrusion  24  may be wider in the left-right direction than the front end of the drainage channel  25 . 
     While in the embodiment described above the watercraft body  2  includes the guide  27 , this configuration is not limiting. The watercraft body  2  need not include the guide  27  insofar as the watercraft body  2  includes the center elongated protrusion  24 , drainage channel  25 , and outside elongated protrusion  26  and water impinging on the watercraft body  2  can be discharged outside without moving toward the rider. 
     While in the embodiment described above the watercraft body  2  includes the outside elongated protrusion  26 , this configuration is not limiting. The watercraft body  2  need not include the outside elongated protrusion  26  insofar as the watercraft body  2  includes the center elongated protrusion  24 , drainage channel  25 , and guide  27  and water impinging on the watercraft body  2  can be discharged outside without moving toward the rider. 
     While in the embodiment described above, the personal watercraft  1  is equipped with the light  34 , this configuration is not limiting. The personal watercraft  1  need not be equipped with the light  34 . While in the embodiment described above the outside elongated protrusion  26  of the personal watercraft  1  is equipped with the light  34 , this configuration is not limiting either. The light may be disposed in a part other than the outside elongated protrusion  26 . The light may be arranged to emit light in a direction other than the forward direction, and may be disposed at any location in the personal watercraft  1 .