Accessory mounting systems for stand up paddle boards are disclosed. In one example, the accessory mounting system includes a mounting plug secured to a stand up paddleboard, a accessory plate secured to the mounting plug, and one or more accessories secured to the accessory plate. In other examples, the accessory plate is provided with an adhesive backing and can be mounted and secured to the stand up paddle board, thereby allowing the accessory mounting system to be used on boards not having mounting plugs and/or at locations where mounting plugs are not present. In yet another example, a mounting track is provided instead of a accessory plate such that one or more accessories, such as fishing rod holder, can be slidably mounted on the stand up paddle board.

A utility sled is formed from a lightweight material and includes a handle flexibly attached to the front end thereof. The handle includes a hook that is seated within a small opening of the utility sled when not in use. A pair of retractable wheels is attached to an exterior of each sidewall of the utility sled. The sidewalls are biased outward when no load is present. When loaded, the sidewalls advantageously tend to straighten vertically. The formed bottom of the sled includes a plurality of ribs which both add strength to the sled as well as function as sled runners when the wheels are retracted. The ribs operate to reduce friction between the sled bottom and the underlying surface.

A fishing rod holding apparatus is provided. The apparatus may include a crossbar and one or more rod receivers affixed to the crossbar. Each of the rod receivers may be configured to receive a fishing rod. Further, the apparatus may include at least one bracket engaged with the crossbar and configured to engage a boat. The apparatus may additionally include an actuator engaged with crossbar and configured to rotate the crossbar to change an angle of the one or more rod receivers with respect to the vertical plane. A related boat and a related boat accessory operation method are also provided.

A trolling motor assembly for use with a watercraft and for wirelessly communicating marine data with a remote electronic device. The assembly includes a trolling motor housing coupled to a second end of a main shaft and having mounted therein a propulsion motor for providing propulsion power to the watercraft and a sonar transducer assembly for generating marine data about an underwater environment relative to the watercraft, and a main housing coupled to a first end of the main shaft and having mounted therein a processor for processing the marine data received from the sonar transducer assembly, and a wireless module for wirelessly transmitting the marine data to the remote electronic device.

A portable canopy for use with a boat having a covered helm and at least two fishing rod holders mounted thereto. The portable canopy employs a first tubular shaped support member having a proximal end securable to a rod holder found on a fishing boat. A second tubular shaped support member having a proximal end is secured to a second rod holder, adjacent to, but spaced apart from, the first support member. The first and second support members are secured to the rod holders by use of locking pins. A spreader bar is attached to the distal end of each said support member, forming a rigid frame between the support members and the rod holders. A fabric cover extends between the support members, providing shade to the occupants beneath the canopy.

A secure accessory mounting track may comprise an elongated body with a tee-slot formed into the body. At least one end of the tee-slot terminates in an angled slot that may allow entry of device attachment hardware, but which will not permit the device attachment hardware to escape from the track when a device attached to the track is loosened only enough to adjust the position of a device. This fully secures the device along the entire length of the track, even when adjusting the position of the device. Attachment of the device may be achieved by fully tightening the attachment hardware to clamp a retaining flange between the hardware and the device. Removal of the device may require the attachment hardware to be loosened farther than what would be required for adjusting the position of the device.

The invention provides a method for operating a marine vessel (1) comprising a plurality of propulsion units (106, 107, 108, 206, 207, 208), each being arranged to deliver thrust to water in which the vessel (1) is floating, the thrust delivery levels of the propulsion units (106, 7, 108, 206, 207, 208) being individually controllable, the method comprising controlling (S2) a first (106, 207) of the propulsion units so as to deliver a thrust in a direction (T106, T207) which has a component in a first direction (F) of the vessel, simultaneously controlling (S2) a second (107, 208) of the propulsion units so as to deliver less thrust than the first propulsion unit (106, 207), and subsequently increasing (S4) the thrust delivered by the 10 second propulsion unit (107, 208) in a direction (T107, T208) which has a component in the first direction (F), the method further comprising simultaneously with increasing the thrust delivered by the second propulsion unit (107, 208) decreasing (S5) the thrust delivered by the first propulsion unit (106, 207).

A system for providing marine propulsion is provided including an input shaft driven by a prime mover, a pinion gear coupled to the input shaft, a plurality of planet gears coupled to the pinion gear, a planet carrier having the plurality of planet gears rotationally mounted thereto, and a ring gear surrounding the planet gears and coupled thereto. The planet carrier and ring gear are coupled to internal and external output shafts that are coaxially aligned, which are coupled to aft and forward propulsor elements. The ring gear and planet carrier rotate in opposite directions to provide contra-rotating forward and aft propulsor elements. The ring gear and planet gear are each coupled to rotation altering devices that, when at least one is activated, the rotation of both the planet carrier and ring gear will be altered, thereby altering the rotation of the propulsor elements.

A fishing rod holding apparatus is provided. The apparatus may include a crossbar and one or more rod receivers affixed to the crossbar. Each of the rod receivers may be configured to receive a fishing rod. Further, the apparatus may include at least one bracket engaged with the crossbar and configured to engage a boat. The apparatus may additionally include an actuator engaged with crossbar and configured to rotate the crossbar to change an angle of the one or more rod receivers with respect to the vertical plane. A related boat and a related boat accessory operation method are also provided.

Steering apparatus having variable steering ratios are disclosed herein. An apparatus disclosed herein includes a steering drum having an oblong shaped cross section and a cable wrapped around an outer surface of the steering drum.