A method for positioning a marine vessel includes receiving a measured actual position of the vessel and determining a first error between the actual position of the vessel and a desired target position of the vessel. In response to the first error being in a fore/aft direction of the vessel, the method includes commanding a first subset of marine propulsion devices in a plurality of marine propulsion devices to produce thrust to minimize the first error in the fore/aft direction, as appropriate, while a remainder of the marine propulsion devices in the plurality do not produce thrust. The method thereafter includes commanding the first subset of marine propulsion devices to cease producing thrust. The method may also include selecting whether to actuate all marine propulsion devices in the plurality of marine propulsion devices or a first subset thereof based on a magnitude and a direction of the first error.

A boat includes a boat body, a propulsion unit, a steering wheel that turns about a first turning axis and has a circular or substantially circular shape or an arcuate or substantially arcuate shape about the first turning axis, and an operator unit on the steering wheel including a first operator which is located in a first direction with respect to the first turning axis and a second operator which is located in a second direction with respect to the first turning axis, and that performs a throttle operation and a shift operation on the propulsion unit.

Marine vessel propulsion systems and methods for controlling speed and direction of marine vessel propulsion systems. A processing device can receive, from a user device, a signal indicative of a desired direction and speed input to the user device; store the desired direction and speed signal in the memory; generate control signals indicative of a power input, wherein each of the control signals is associated with a particular motor of the marine vessel propulsion system; and transmit each of the control signals to a corresponding one of the motors to move the marine vessel in a desired direction and at a desired speed.

Device designed to retrofit a marine propulsion system from an old shift interrupt control strategy with a new shift interrupt control strategy to improve shifting performance, reliability, and ease of use. Can also be used on new systems.

A system for controlling a marine vessel comprises an input device for inputting an operator command, a sensor which senses and signals an engine function variable or a vessel dynamic variable, and a first structural element and a second structural element. The first structural element and the second structural element each control speed or direction of motion of the marine vessel, and the first structural element and the second structural element each affect the marine vessel dynamic variable. There is a controller which receives the operator command and the engine function variable or the vessel dynamic variable. The controller moves the first structural element and the second structural element based on the engine function variable or the vessel dynamic variable, after receiving the single operator command.

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.

A method for calibrating a marine propulsion system that controls operation of a marine propulsion device on a marine vessel includes accepting an input signal from a user input device and determining an output signal corresponding to the input signal based on one or more stored parameters. The stored parameters are pre-calibrated to result in a predefined maneuver of the marine vessel. The marine propulsion device is operated according to the output signal and it is determined if any un-commanded maneuvers of the marine vessel result while operating the marine propulsion device according to the output signal. The method includes adapting one or more of the stored parameters so as to adjust operation of the marine propulsion device to abate the un-commanded vessel maneuvers. The one or more adapted parameters are saved and are used to determine subsequent output signals corresponding to subsequent input signals from the user input device.

A ship including: an out-drive unit that exerts a propulsion force on a ship hull by power from an engine; a detection device for detecting a current position, a bow direction, and a moving speed of the ship hull; a shift lever that changes magnitude and direction of an output from the out-drive unit; a lever sensor that detects a manipulation position of the shift lever; and a ship steering control device that is connected to the out-drive unit, the detection device, and the lever sensor. The ship steering control device acquires the operating status of the out-drive unit and the detection results obtained by the detection device and the lever sensor and controls the out-drive unit based on the detection results. The ship steering control device performs a dynamic positioning control when the shift lever is in the positioning position.

A method and system for providing a watercraft device are disclosed. The watercraft device comprises a board, a throttle coupled to a top surface of the board, a hydrofoil coupled to a bottom surface of the board, and an electric propeller system coupled to the hydrofoil. The electric propeller system powers the watercraft device using information generated from the throttle. A center of buoyancy in a non-foiling mode of the watercraft device and a center of lift in a foiling mode of the watercraft device are aligned.

A marine propulsion system for a marine vessel including a joystick, at least one steerable and trimmable marine drive, and a control system configured to receive a user input to engage full vessel control mode, receive a vessel speed parameter, and receive a joystick position from the joystick. The control system determines a thrust command, a steering command, and a trim command for the at least one marine drive based on the joystick position and the vessel speed parameter and to control the at least one marine drive accordingly.