Patent ID: 8056308

Claim:
A manual mobile apparatus for harvesting bottom growing aquatic vegetation in shallow areas of water that does not disturb the water bottom ecology comprising: a perforated self-draining deck with wheels on a transverse axle; means for attaching aquatic cutting devices to either or both ends of said deck; wherein said aquatic cutting devices comprise a stationary blade, and a moveable blade vertically separated from said stationary blade, wherein said moveable blade is able to be moved back and forth to enhance cutting of bottom growing vegetation, and wherein said moveable blade is connected at a spring end to an extension spring; wherein said moveable blade is operably connected, at an end opposite from said spring end, to a gas actuating cylinder and to an actuator valve, said actuator valve operably connected to at least one of said wheels with a cam device wherein when said actuator valve is activated, said gas actuating cylinder causes said moveable blade to move; a steel tension filament at the back end of the apparatus for cutting any vegetation which said aquatic cutting devices fail to cut; means attached to said deck including a flexible plastic or metal sheet enclosing the deck on three sides, a plastic top cover and flexible plastic grid with selected mesh-sized openings at the back end of the apparatus to collect the cut aquatic vegetation; means connected to said wheels to control a minimal distance of said cutting devices above the bottom; and a manual push or pull handle attached to the deck.