A pontoon boat including a thruster system is disclosed.

A marine outboard engine including an engine unit; a drive unit operatively connected to the engine unit; an engine unit housing for supporting and covering the engine unit, the engine unit housing having a top surface; and one or more bumpers connected to the engine unit housing. The bumper projects above the top surface of the engine unit housing; or rearward of an upper rear end of the engine unit housing; or both above the top surface of the engine unit housing and rearward of an upper rear end of the engine unit housing. When the marine outboard engine is located under a boat hatch is in a closed position and the marine outboard engine is pivoted in at least one portion of a tilt range, the bumper is adapted for abutting a bottom surface of the hatch.

A system and method for automatically joining a cut blank has a mandrel and clamps to conform the cut blank to the mandrel. The clamps include band clamps and pad clamps that pivot about axes that are obliquely angled with respect to the centerline of the mandrel. The clamp axes on one side of the centerline are a mirror image to the clamp axes on the other side. The cut blank has a line of symmetry and is clamped to the centerline of the mandrel with a locator bar. The clamps are then moved to a clamped position. In the clamped position, one edge of the cut blank meets another edge, and a robotic welder joins the edges.

A stowable propulsion system for a marine vessel. A base is configured to be coupled to the marine vessel. A propulsion device is configured to propel the marine vessel in water. A shaft extends along a length axis and pivotably couples the propulsion device to the base. The propulsion device is pivotable into and between a stowed position and a deployed position, wherein pivoting the propulsion device causes the shaft to rotate about the length axis.

A marine outboard engine including an engine unit; a drive unit operatively connected to the engine unit; an engine unit housing for supporting and covering the engine unit, the engine unit housing having a top surface; and one or more bumpers connected to the engine unit housing. The bumper projects above the top surface of the engine unit housing; or rearward of an upper rear end of the engine unit housing; or both above the top surface of the engine unit housing and rearward of an upper rear end of the engine unit housing. When the marine outboard engine is located under a boat hatch is in a closed position and the marine outboard engine is pivoted in at least one portion of a tilt range, the bumper is adapted for abutting a bottom surface of the hatch.

A pontoon boat is provided that includes at least two pontoons running longitudinally beneath the boat and providing buoyancy thereto; a deck framework mounted above and connected to the pontoons; a deck mounted on the deck framework; a recessed deck portion extending downwardly through the deck and the deck framework, the recessed deck portion forming a cavity into the deck including a bottom and side walls forming a basin extending into and beneath the deck; and at least one seat adjacent the recessed deck portion and mounted to the deck.

A pontoon boat is provided that includes at least two pontoons running longitudinally beneath the boat and providing buoyancy thereto; a deck framework mounted above and connected to the pontoons; a deck mounted on the deck framework; a recessed deck portion extending downwardly through the deck and the deck framework, the recessed deck portion forming a cavity into the deck including a bottom and side walls forming a basin extending into and beneath the deck; and at least one seat adjacent the recessed deck portion and mounted to the deck.

A propulsion device for marine vessel. A base is configured to be coupled to the marine vessel, the base having sides that extend downwardly from the marine vessel. A propulsor is pivotally coupled to the base and pivotable into and between a deployed position and a stowed position. The propulsor comprises a propeller having a hub with blades extending away therefrom. The propulsor is configured to propel the marine vessel in water when in the deployed position by rotating the propeller. An alignment device aligns the blades of the propeller between the sides of the base when the propulsor is in the stowed position.

A device for supporting a propulsor on a marine vessel. The device includes a base that is fixable to the marine vessel and a pivot arm for coupling the propulsor to the base. An actuator is configured to pivot the pivot arm relative to the base into and between a retracted position and a deployed position. A fastener is engageable to couple the actuator to the pivot arm, where when the fastener is engaged the pivot arm is prevented from pivoting other than by the actuator, and where applying a predetermined force on the pivot arm disengages the fastener to allow the pivot arm to pivot other than by the actuator.

A propulsion device for a marine vessel. The propulsion device includes a base configured to be coupled to the marine vessel. A propulsor is pivotally coupled to the base and pivotable into and between a deployed position and a stowed position. The propulsor is configured to propel the marine vessel in water when in the deployed position. A lock device has a rigid member and is selectively engageable such that the rigid member prevents the propulsor from pivoting away from the stowed position.