Patent ID: 7856937

Claim:
A personal watercraft comprising: a hull; a deck disposed on the hull, the deck including: a pedestal; a first gunnel disposed on a first side of the pedestal; a first footrest disposed between the pedestal and the first gunnel; a second gunnel disposed on a second side of the pedestal; a second footrest disposed between the pedestal and the second gunnel; and a rear platform disposed at least in part rearwardly of the pedestal, the rear platform being connected to the first and second footrests; a straddle-type seat disposed on the pedestal; a steering assembly disposed at least in part forwardly of the seat; an engine supported by the hull; a propulsion system connected to the hull and being operatively connected to the engine; a ballast tank disposed at least in part on the rear platform, the ballast tank having a first portion disposed on one of the first and second footrests laterally between the pedestal and a corresponding one of the first and second gunnels, the ballast tank including: a rigid ballast tank body; and at least two apertures in the ballast tank body; a connector releasably connecting the ballast tank to one of the hull and the deck; and a pump fluidly communicating with one of the at least two apertures in the ballast tank body.