A thruster system for improved steering and maneuverability of a marine vessel when operating at relatively low, or wakeless speeds, such as in the vicinity of docks, swimmers or other obstacles, or when trailering, beaching or mooring. The thruster system has a modularized design adapted to independently control separate motor/propeller units located at various positions on the vessel's hull. Each propeller of the modular thruster motor system has its own relatively small, electric motor and mounting bracket, permitting each motor to be separately mounted to a location on the hull of the marine vessel apart from other thruster motors. The thruster system is further enhanced by an electrical control system for controlling each modular thruster motor system of the thruster system. In some embodiments, a charging system is provided that permits each electrical control system to be separately charged from the marine vessel's main battery.

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 bracket for mounting a thruster to a boat includes horizontal and vertical members disposed at right angles to each other. The horizontal member includes an enclosure which contains a lamp. A thruster is mounted to the horizontal member, and the vertical member is affixed to the transom of a boat. The thruster is therefore held in spaced-apart relation to the boat, optimizing the flow of water through the thruster, and minimizing the amount of space required, on the transom, for installation of components. The horizontal member, and one of the connectors holding the vertical member to the boat, are hollow, allowing wires to extend into the horizontal member, to provide power to the thruster and the lamp.

A small craft includes a craft body, a propulsion device configured to propel the craft body, a position acquisition portion configured to acquire positional information about a trailer on which the craft body is loadable, and a controller configured to control the propulsion device on the basis of the positional information about the trailer acquired by the position acquisition portion during an operation for releasing the craft body from the trailer and/or an operation for attaching the craft body to the trailer.

A small craft includes a craft body, a propulsion device configured to propel the craft body, a position acquisition portion configured to acquire positional information about a trailer on which the craft body is loadable, and a controller configured to control the propulsion device on the basis of the positional information about the trailer acquired by the position acquisition portion during an operation for releasing the craft body from the trailer and/or an operation for attaching the craft body to the trailer.

According to an example aspect of the present invention, there is provided a manoeuvring system comprising at least one unit comprising a channel having a longitudinal axis and comprising at least one water intake opening, at least one water nozzle arranged within the channel and configured to guide a water flow through the at least one water intake opening at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis and in a plane perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the Earth’s normal, at least one piping connected to the channel at a first end and connected to the at least one water nozzle at a second end, and at least one pump arranged between the first end and the second end and configured to control a water flow through the at least one water nozzle.

According to an example aspect of the present invention, there is provided a manoeuvring system comprising at least one unit comprising a channel having a longitudinal axis and comprising at least one water intake opening, at least one water nozzle arranged within the channel and configured to guide a water flow through the at least one water intake opening at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis and in a plane perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the Earth’s normal, at least one piping connected to the channel at a first end and connected to the at least one water nozzle at a second end, and at least one pump arranged between the first end and the second end and configured to control a water flow through the at least one water nozzle.

A pontoon boat including a thruster system is disclosed. The pontoon boat executes various operations relating to a speed and heading of the pontoon boat.

A propulsion system on a marine vessel includes at least one steerable propulsion device and at least one lateral thruster. A steering wheel is operable by a user to steer the at least one propulsion device. A user interface device is operable by a user to provide at least a lateral thrust command to command lateral movement and a rotational thrust command to command rotational movement of the vessel. A controller is configured to determine a difference between a steering position of the propulsion device and a centered steering position. A user interface display is controllable to indicate at least one of the steering position of the propulsion device and the difference between the steering position and the centered steering position. The controller is further configured to determine that the steering position is within a threshold range of the centered steering position prior to enabling a joystick thrust control mode.

A propulsion system on a marine vessel includes at least one steerable propulsion device and at least one lateral thruster. A steering wheel is operable by a user to steer the at least one propulsion device. A user interface device is operable by a user to provide at least a lateral thrust command to command lateral movement and a rotational thrust command to command rotational movement of the vessel. A controller is configured to determine a difference between a steering position of the propulsion device and a centered steering position. A user interface display is controllable to indicate at least one of the steering position of the propulsion device and the difference between the steering position and the centered steering position. The controller is further configured to determine that the steering position is within a threshold range of the centered steering position prior to enabling a joystick thrust control mode.