A watercraft drag apparatus may extend into the water from either the port or the starboard side of a watercraft or a hull of the watercraft. The drag apparatus may cause an increase in drag on one side of the watercraft. The increase in drag may slow the watercraft to a slower speed than the watercraft can typically maintain under normal power. The increase in drag may also cause the watercraft to change heading, requiring a watercraft pilot to repeatedly correct the heading to maintain an intended course. The watercraft drag apparatus may be useful for fishing, such as when trolling.

A trolling plate which, together with a supporting and deployment mechanism, is fixed to and strutted from an outboard motor without the need for engineering modifications or the use special tools; said trolling plate being pivotably deployable into the water in the zone immediately downstream of the propeller of the outboard motor to substantially block the efflux from said propeller and thereby reduce its propulsive effort; said deployment being effected in a universally variable way by means of a suitable actuator; control means of said actuator and/or said deployment mechanism incorporating means to permit the immediate retraction of said trolling plate should it impact an obstruction or should the power of said outboard motor suddenly be increased.

A trolling plate which, together with a supporting and deployment mechanism, is fixed to and strutted from an outboard motor without the need for engineering modifications or the use special tools; said trolling plate being pivotably deployable into the water in the zone immediately downstream of the propeller of the outboard motor to substantially block the efflux from said propeller and thereby reduce its propulsive effort; said deployment being effected in a universally variable way by means of a suitable actuator; control means of said actuator and/or said deployment mechanism incorporating means to permit the immediate retraction of said trolling plate should it impact an obstruction or should the power of said outboard motor suddenly be increased.

A method and a system for controlling a marine vessel having first and second trim deflectors is disclosed. The first and second trim deflectors have a first surface having a first area and a second surface having a second area, wherein the second planar surface is coupled to the first surface. The method and system control the first and second trim deflectors to induce 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 trim deflectors.

A method and a system for controlling a marine vessel having first and second trim deflectors is disclosed. The first and second trim deflectors have a first surface having a first area and a second surface having a second area, wherein the second planar surface is coupled to the first surface. The method and system control the first and second trim deflectors to induce 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 trim deflectors.

A boat propeller apparatus can be coupled to virtually any motor boat to cause the boat to safely and efficiently produce a surfable wake. The boat propeller apparatus can be configured to mount to the boat in a way that causes the apparatus to be positioned and secured behind but spaced from the propeller while the boat is moving forward. The apparatus will therefore be in the path of the propelled water and will function to divert the propelled water in such a way as to create a larger/taller wake than would otherwise be produced by the boat. The boat propeller apparatus can also function as a propeller shield and be used in conjunction with a propeller guard.

An autonomous navigation type marine buoy includes: a buoy body consisting of a floating body; an internal sensor; a detection unit that receives a GPS signal and information of the internal sensor; an on-water exploration unit that explores a state on a sea; an underwater exploration unit that explores a state under the sea; a determination unit that creates a navigation plan for the buoy body; a propulsion unit that propels the buoy body; a navigation control unit that performs drive control of the propulsion unit so that the buoy body navigates according to the navigation plan; a power generation unit; a power storage unit; a communication unit that communicates with an outside; an emergency signal unit that receives a distress signal and specifies a transmission position of the distress signal; and an evacuation room that accommodates a victim, in which the autonomous navigation type marine buoy has an autonomous navigation mode of performing autonomous navigation to a set position on the sea, a home position mode of autonomously holding a home position at the set position on the sea, and a rescue mode of performing autonomous navigation to the transmission position of the distress signal on the sea when the distress signal is received.

An autonomous navigation type marine buoy includes: a buoy body consisting of a floating body; an internal sensor; a detection unit that receives a GPS signal and information of the internal sensor; an on-water exploration unit that explores a state on a sea; an underwater exploration unit that explores a state under the sea; a determination unit that creates a navigation plan for the buoy body; a propulsion unit that propels the buoy body; a navigation control unit that performs drive control of the propulsion unit so that the buoy body navigates according to the navigation plan; a power generation unit; a power storage unit; a communication unit that communicates with an outside; an emergency signal unit that receives a distress signal and specifies a transmission position of the distress signal; and an evacuation room that accommodates a victim, in which the autonomous navigation type marine buoy has an autonomous navigation mode of performing autonomous navigation to a set position on the sea, a home position mode of autonomously holding a home position at the set position on the sea, and a rescue mode of performing autonomous navigation to the transmission position of the distress signal on the sea when the distress signal is received.

A vessel braking control system for a marine vessel that utilizes one or more of the vessel's features and effectors to increase the drag on the vessel both through increased drag on the features and effectors themselves and by creating a downward force on the vessel as a whole, increasing the wetted hull area and increasing hull drag thereby; the control system operates to place the features and effectors in a braking state through rotation relative to the vessel's direction of travel and relative to the water's surface, and may automatically return the features and effectors to their normal operating state upon the vessel's reaching a detected, predetermined speed.

A vessel braking control system for a marine vessel that utilizes one or more of the vessel's features and effectors to increase the drag on the vessel both through increased drag on the features and effectors themselves and by creating a downward force on the vessel as a whole, increasing the wetted hull area and increasing hull drag thereby; the control system operates to place the features and effectors in a braking state through rotation relative to the vessel's direction of travel and relative to the water's surface, and may automatically return the features and effectors to their normal operating state upon the vessel's reaching a detected, predetermined speed.