Patent ID: 7913636

Claim:
A watercraft comprising: a central platform having lateral constraints, four hull units in the form of a forward hull unit pair and an aft hull unit pair, each at least comprising a displaceably mounted trailing hull that extends trailingly relative to the platform while the hull units of the respective hull unit pairs are located on opposing sides of the platform, the hull units of the aft hull unit pair being arranged to have their leading ends located over and at least substantially above the trailing ends of the corresponding hull units of the forward hull unit pair, as observed in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the watercraft, each hull unit curving outwards and rearwards from its leading end at which position it is pivotally mounted to the lateral constraints of the platform, the leading ends of the hull units being located above the water line of the watercraft while their trailing ends extend downwards and rearwards to below the level of the platform to support the watercraft in the water when at rest, each trailing hull being at least indirectly hingedly connected to the platform at its respective leading bow end by means of a hinge that is each configured to permit vertical hull movement at its leading end while constraining lateral and axial hull movement relative to the platform, the watercraft also including a suspension system that at least comprises a spring and damper unit for each trailing hull and which spring and damper units, as extending between the platform and a trailing end of a respective trailing hull, being arranged to control the vertical movement of the trailing ends of the trailing hulls relative to the platform and being configured to also constrain lateral and axial movement of the trailing ends of the trailing hulls relative to the platform.