Personal watercraft with deflector

1. A personal watercraft comprising:

a hull;

a sub-deck disposed on the hull, the hull and sub-deck together forming a hull and sub-deck (HSD) assembly;

an engine disposed in the HSD assembly;

a propulsion system connected to the hull and operatively connected to the engine;

a deck disposed above the sub-deck, the deck having a pedestal;

a straddle-type seat disposed on the pedestal;

a helm assembly operatively connected to the propulsion system and disposed at least in part forwardly of the straddle-type seat; and

a deflector disposed on the HSD assembly and extending outwardly therefrom, the deflector being disposed at least in part forwardly of a forward-most portion of the deck, the deflector extending laterally along a majority of the width of the HSD assembly.

2. The personal watercraft of claim 1 , the HSD assembly further including:

upwardly-extending left and right gunnels; and

at least one recessed portion at least partially defined by the gunnels, the at least one recessed portion being disposed lower than an upper edge of the gunnels;

wherein the deflector is disposed at least in part forwardly of the at least one recessed portion.

3. The personal watercraft of claim 1 , wherein the deflector is disposed at least in part in front of the helm assembly.

4. The personal watercraft of claim 1 , wherein the deflector has an upper end and a lower end, the upper end being disposed at least in part forwardly and upwardly of the lower end.

5. The personal watercraft of claim 1 , wherein the HSD assembly further includes a recessed portion disposed at least in part forwardly of the pedestal of the deck; wherein the deflector is disposed at least in part forwardly of the recessed portion.

6. The personal watercraft of claim 5 , wherein the deflector extends laterally along substantially an entire width of the recessed portion.

7. The personal watercraft of claim 1 , wherein the deflector has an arcuate profile when viewed from the top.

8. The personal watercraft of claim 1 , wherein the deflector is disposed on the sub-deck.

9. A personal watercraft comprising:

a hull;

a deck disposed on the hull, the hull and the deck forming an engine compartment therebetween;

an engine disposed in the engine compartment;

a propulsion system connected to the hull and operatively connected to the engine;

a pedestal formed in the deck;

a straddle-type seat disposed on the pedestal;

a helm assembly operatively connected to the propulsion system and disposed at least in part forwardly of the straddle-type seat;

a hood pivotably attached to the deck forwardly of the helm assembly, the hood being pivotable between an open position and a closed position for selectively providing access to a storage bin; and

a deflector disposed on the deck and extending outwardly therefrom, the deflector being disposed at least in part forwardly of the hood, the deflector extending laterally along a majority of the width of the deck.

10. The personal watercraft of claim 9 , the deck further including:

upwardly-extending left and right gunnels; and

at least one recessed portion at least partially defined by the gunnels, the at least one recessed portion being disposed lower than an upper edge of the gunnels;

wherein the deflector is disposed at least in part forwardly of the at least one recessed portion.

11. The personal watercraft of claim 9 , wherein the deflector has an upper end and a lower end, the upper end being disposed at least in part forwardly and upwardly of the lower end.

12. The personal watercraft of claim 9 , wherein the deck further includes a recessed portion disposed at least in part forwardly of the pedestal; wherein the deflector is disposed at least in part forwardly of the recessed portion.

13. The personal watercraft of claim 12 , wherein the deflector extends laterally along substantially an entire width of the recessed portion.

14. The personal watercraft of claim 9 , wherein the deflector has an arcuate profile when viewed from the top.