Patent ID: 7467594

Claim:
A personal watercraft comprising: a hull; an engine disposed generally in the hull; a propulsion system connected to the hull and operatively connected to the engine; a helm assembly operatively connected to the propulsion system; a deck disposed above the hull, a straddle-type seat disposed on the deck at least in part rearwardly of the helm assembly; the seat being pivotally connected to the deck via a pivotal connection and being pivotable with respect to the deck between a raised position having a raised seat angle and a lowered position having a lowered seat angle smaller than the raised seat angle; the pivotal connection having first and second links; the seat being pivotally connected to the first link and being pivotable with respect thereto about a first axis, the first axis being movable with respect to the deck; the seat being pivotally connected to the second link and being pivotable with respect thereto about a second axis, the second axis being generally parallel to and spaced apart from the first axis, the second axis being movable with respect to the deck; wherein when the seat is in the raised position: the seat permits access to the engine via an aperture in the deck; the first axis is in a first position; and the second axis is in a second position; and wherein when the seat is in the lowered position: the seat covers the aperture in the deck and prevents access to the engine; the first axis is in a third position forward of the first position; and the second axis is in a fourth position forward of the second position.