Patent ID: 7748334

Claim:
A personal watercraft comprising: a hull; a deck disposed above the hull; an engine disposed at least in part in the hull; a propulsion system connected to the hull and operatively connected to the engine; a helm assembly disposed on the deck; a straddle-type seat disposed on the deck at least in part rearwardly of the helm assembly; left and right footrests disposed on the deck laterally of the seat; left and right storage compartments disposed at least in part rearwardly of the seat; and a rear channel merging with the left and right footrests and being disposed on a longitudinal centerline of the watercraft rearwardly of the seat, the rear channel being defined at least in part between the left and right storage compartments; and a rear platform pivotally connected to a rear portion of the watercraft, the rear platform extending laterally across the rear portion of the watercraft, the rear platform being pivotable relative to the hull between a raised position and a lowered position, the rear platform permitting access to the left and right storage compartments when in the raised position, the rear platform sealingly closing the left and right storage compartments when in the lowered position, the rear platform extending laterally above at least a portion of the rear channel when the rear platform is in the lowered position.