A self-propelling watercraft system is provided. The watercraft has a base with a plurality of sidewalls extending from the base to form a cockpit. The base also has a recess, where a pump can detachably connect to the hull within the recess. The pump has an intake valve on a first end and a nozzle on a second end that is opposite the first end. The intake valve can intake water. The nozzle can jettison water received in the pump from the intake valve and agitate water surrounding the nozzle.

A controller receives a signal indicating an operating amount and an operating direction of a steering member. When the operating amount of the steering member is greater than or equal to a steering threshold, the controller causes right and left propulsion devices to generate thrusts oriented in opposite directions in a back-and-forth direction such that a vessel body is turned in a corresponding direction to the operating direction of the steering member.

A pontoon boat including a thruster system is disclosed.

A method for controlling a marine vessel having first and second steering nozzles and first and second trim deflectors comprises generating at least a first set of actuator control signals and a second set of actuator control signals. The first set of actuator control signals is coupled to and controls the first and second steering nozzles, and the second set of actuator control signals is coupled to and controls the first and second trim deflectors. The acts of generating and coupling the first set of actuator control signals and the second set of actuator control signals result in inducing any of a net yawing force, a net rolling force, and a net trimming force to the marine vessel without inducing any other substantial forces to the marine vessel by controlling the first and second steering nozzles and the first and second trim deflectors. Also disclosed is a system for controlling a marine vessel.

A rudder device for a hydrojet vessel. The rudder device includes a mounting plate, a primary rudder and a secondary rudder coupled to a hydrojet. The primary rudder and the secondary rudder providing steerage as the hydrojet vessel is displaced through the water.

Disclosed is a boat with at least one combustion engine positioned on or symmetrical with the vertical median plane of the boat and two engines provided symmetrical with respect to the vertical median plane, each including a propeller in a duct with: a central section on which the propeller is positioned, a rear section leading via a rear opening onto the transom of the hull, a front section with a continuous curved profile, leading via a side opening to the outside wall of the hull, the side opening having a larger cross-section than the cross-section of the rear opening in order for the duct to include at least one converging nozzle, the front section being oriented so that the stream of water exiting from the side opening is directed towards the front and forms an angle of 20 to 60 with respect to the wall of the hull.

A self-propelling watercraft system is provided. The watercraft has a base with a plurality of sidewalls extending from the base to form a cockpit. The base also has a recess, where a pump can detachably connect to the hull within the recess. The pump has an intake valve on a first end and a nozzle on a second end that is opposite the first end. The intake valve can intake water. The nozzle can jettison water received in the pump from the intake valve and agitate water surrounding the nozzle.

A system for controlling a marine vessel having first and second steering nozzles and corresponding first and second reversing buckets, comprises a processor configured to receive a first vessel control signal including at least a component corresponding to a translational thrust command in a port direction, and that is configured to provide a set of actuator control signals coupled to and control the first and second reversing buckets. The processor is configured to provide the set of actuator control signals so as to maintain the first reversing bucket substantially in a first discrete position and the second reversing bucket substantially in a second discrete position as long as the first vessel control signal includes a component corresponding to a translational thrust command in the port direction.

Disclosed are an improved nozzle for an unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV), and a method for operating the same. The nozzle includes a first rigid member operatively coupled to a UUV steering mechanism. The nozzle also has a second rigid member, coupled to the first rigid member by a flexible bellows according to a configurable operating angle. The nozzle does not extend beyond a bounding surface when stored but does when deployed. Water traversing the first rigid member and contacting the second rigid member produces a reactive force according to the configurable operating angle. Simultaneous and independent control of the volume of fluid traversing several such nozzles in the UUV, and their respective orientations and operating angles, permits automatic station-keeping or navigation according to another guidance objective.

A small marine vessel includes a vessel body, a propulsion device, a propulsion device housing provided in a rear portion of the vessel body and that houses the propulsion device, a first cover that substantially covers and seals the propulsion device housing, and a second cover disposed above the first cover and that covers the first cover and an opening of the propulsion device housing.