Patent ID: 7984684

Claim:
A seal and a marine craft which is a hydrofoil craft having a hull and at least partly powered by an engine, said craft having at least one through-the-water propulsion device, said hull in operation supported by a structure comprising at least one hydrofoil post to lift at least part of said hull out of the water, with the foot of said post being attached to or integral with at least one substantially submerged element, and at least one substantially submerged hydrofoil mounted on said element, said propulsion device being mounted to at least one of said element and hydrofoil, said engine at least indirectly driving said propulsion device by any means, wherein said post is mounted about said hull to be selectively extendable from and retractable towards said hull, including at least two openable hatches, one of said hatches mounted in an upper portion of said element and another of said hatches provided in the underside of said hull, such that when said post with said element is in a most retracted position said hatches are substantially aligned, and when said hatches are opened human access is obtained to the interior of said element from within said hull and said seal is so configured that water is substantially prevented from entering the interior volumes of said hull and / or said element.