A vessel propulsion system includes a bow thruster located at a bow of a hull, an outboard motor located on the hull and provided separately from the bow thruster, and a navigation controller. The navigation controller controls at least one of the bow thruster and the outboard motor in accordance with a state of at least one other of the bow thruster and the outboard motor.

A vessel propulsion system includes a bow thruster located at a bow of a hull, an outboard motor located on the hull and provided separately from the bow thruster, and a navigation controller. The navigation controller controls at least one of the bow thruster and the outboard motor in accordance with a state of at least one other of the bow thruster and the outboard motor.

A ship handling device enabling easy turning calibration. With a ship handling device (7), during turning calibration with the ship handling device (7), the joystick lever (10) is turned to rotate the forward-backward propellers (4) on the port and starboard sides of the ship, and the joystick lever (10) is tilted to change a forward-thrust/backward-thrust ratio of the forward-backward propeller (4) on the port or starboard side or to change the rotation speeds. When a calibration execution switch (10a) is operated, thrusts generated with the changed forward-thrust backward-thrust ratio are set as correction coefficients, or, among thrusts generated at the changed rotation speeds (Npn, Nsn) of the forward-backward propellers (4) on the port and starboard sides, thrusts generated by the forward-backward propellers (4) on the port and starboard sides according to the tilting of the joystick lever (10) are set as correction coefficients (Cp, Cs).

A ship handling device enabling easy turning calibration. With a ship handling device (7), during turning calibration with the ship handling device (7), the joystick lever (10) is turned to rotate the forward-backward propellers (4) on the port and starboard sides of the ship, and the joystick lever (10) is tilted to change a forward-thrust/backward-thrust ratio of the forward-backward propeller (4) on the port or starboard side or to change the rotation speeds. When a calibration execution switch (10a) is operated, thrusts generated with the changed forward-thrust backward-thrust ratio are set as correction coefficients, or, among thrusts generated at the changed rotation speeds (Npn, Nsn) of the forward-backward propellers (4) on the port and starboard sides, thrusts generated by the forward-backward propellers (4) on the port and starboard sides according to the tilting of the joystick lever (10) are set as correction coefficients (Cp, Cs).

A boat comprises a hull, a primary steering mechanism carried by the hull, a control station located on the hull, a helm located at the control station, and a thruster system carried by the hull. The primary steering mechanism, such as a rudder, is operable via the helm with a helm input being derived from operation of the primary steering mechanism thereby. The thruster system includes at least one thruster mounted to the hull, distinct from the primary steering mechanism, and a controller. The controller receives the helm input and is configured with program instructions to operate the at least one thruster responsive to the helm input to supplement a corresponding movement of the hull. The controller can also automatically operate the thruster responsive to direction, speed and ballast inputs.

A boat comprises a hull, a primary steering mechanism carried by the hull, a control station located on the hull, a helm located at the control station, and a thruster system carried by the hull. The primary steering mechanism, such as a rudder, is operable via the helm with a helm input being derived from operation of the primary steering mechanism thereby. The thruster system includes at least one thruster mounted to the hull, distinct from the primary steering mechanism, and a controller. The controller receives the helm input and is configured with program instructions to operate the at least one thruster responsive to the helm input to supplement a corresponding movement of the hull. The controller can also automatically operate the thruster responsive to direction, speed and ballast inputs.

A propulsion method includes: providing a pair of synchronized rotors rotatably mounted on a frame with a bearing having a bearing outer race, bearing balls, and bearing inner race; providing a plurality of permanent magnets mounted on the pair of synchronized rotors; rotating the pair of synchronized rotors such that one of the pair of synchronized rotors rotates in a clockwise direction and the other of the pair of synchronized rotors rotates in a counterclockwise direction; loading an outer portion of the outer bearing race, bearing ball, and inner bearing race of each of the bearings, a load on the outer portion of the bearings corresponding to an attractive force between the permanent magnets of the pair of synchronized rotors. A thrust is imparted on the frame in a direction corresponding to a direction of loading of the inner bearing race.

A marine vessel has a hull with a bottom, a bow, a stern, and a propulsion arrangement including at least three propulsion units arranged at the stern of the marine vessel. The marine vessel has a base line and a centerline. The at least three propulsion units include a fixed centerline shaft propulsion unit with a shaft line and a propeller, and two turnable propulsion units with respective propellers and arranged at opposite sides of the fixed centerline shaft propulsion unit for steering of the marine vessel. For improving thrust efficiency, while maintaining optimal steering capability, the propeller of the fixed centerline shaft propulsion unit is arranged at a given distance aft of the stern of the marine vessel.

A marine vessel has a hull with a bottom, a bow, a stern, and a propulsion arrangement including at least three propulsion units arranged at the stern of the marine vessel. The marine vessel has a base line and a centerline. The at least three propulsion units include a fixed centerline shaft propulsion unit with a shaft line and a propeller, and two turnable propulsion units with respective propellers and arranged at opposite sides of the fixed centerline shaft propulsion unit for steering of the marine vessel. For improving thrust efficiency, while maintaining optimal steering capability, the propeller of the fixed centerline shaft propulsion unit is arranged at a given distance aft of the stern of the marine vessel.

A first outboard motor attached to a vessel body receives an electric operating signal and is controlled in accordance with the electric operating signal. A second outboard motor attached to the vessel body receives a mechanical operating amount and is controlled in accordance with the mechanical operating amount. An operating tool controls shifting and a throttle opening degree of each of the first and second outboard motors. The electric operating signal is transmitted through a first transmission path to the first outboard motor based on an operation of the operating tool. The mechanical operating amount is transmitted through a second transmission path to the second outboard motor based on an operation of the operating tool.