A watercraft maneuvering system includes a watercraft maneuvering input on a watercraft operable by an operator of the watercraft so as to command generation of a propulsive force, a controller on the watercraft and configured or programmed to control operation of a propulsion system of the watercraft according to the operation of the watercraft maneuvering input, and a disembarkation sensor to detect disembarkation of the operator from the watercraft. The controller is configured or programmed to perform an operation state maintaining control operation to maintain the propulsion system in a propulsive force non-generation state when the disembarkation sensor detects that the operator has disembarked from the watercraft irrespective of the operation of the watercraft maneuvering input.

A watercraft maneuvering system includes an overboard sensor to detect an operator overboard event when a watercraft operator falls overboard from a watercraft, and a controller provided on the watercraft and configured or programmed to control a propulsion system of the watercraft. The controller is configured or programmed to perform a fixed point holding control operation to control the propulsion system to maintain a fixed position of the watercraft when the overboard sensor detects the operator overboard event. The overboard sensor is provided on the watercraft, and includes a communicator that wirelessly communicates with an operator fob to be carried by the operator. The operator sensor may detect the operator overboard event based on a state of communication between the operator fob and the communicator.

Disclosed is a method for controlling a hydrofoil board powered by a motor driven propeller. The motor is controlled by a hand controller configured with user selectable operating pre-sets including a first operating pre-set, wherein the board is accelerated to a first speed which is less than that required for the board to hydrofoil, and a second operating pre-set, wherein the board is accelerated to a second speed sufficient for the board to hydrofoil. Alternatively, the operating pre-sets may limit the motor power. A system for operating a hydrofoil board is also disclosed, which includes a propulsion control unit comprising a propulsion source, and a hand controller configured to receive a first user input and a second user input and to transmit the user inputs to the propulsion control unit.

Example steering control systems for multiple devices are provided herein. A system includes a trolling motor assembly having a propulsion motor and a steering actuator and a sonar assembly comprising a transducer assembly and a directional actuator. The system further includes a user input assembly that is configured to detect user activity related to controlling operation of the trolling motor assembly and operation of the sonar assembly. The system further includes a processor that is configured to determine a direction of turn based on user activity, generate an electrical turning input signal indicating the direction of turn, and direct one of the steering actuator and the directional actuator, via the turning input signal, to rotate one of the propulsion motor and the transducer assembly, respectively, in a direction of turn based on the turning input signal.

A method of operating a handheld device for controlling a watercraft motor is provided. The method comprises determining whether the handheld device is operating in an anchor mode or a heading hold mode; receiving movement data when the joystick is in a non-neutral position that includes a direction of movement; generating steering command(s), with a steering command of the steering command(s) being based on the movement data; causing motor rotation based on the steering command; detecting the joystick shifting to the neutral position, with the watercraft being at a location when the joystick shifts to the neutral position; when in the anchor mode, causing the motor to cease operation proximate to the location after the joystick has shifted to the neutral position; and, when in the heading hold mode, causing the motor to continue operating so that the watercraft travels in the new heading direction after the joystick shifts.

Motor assembly for providing propulsion of a floating vessel, comprising: motor device (23), mounting means (24, 32) for attaching the motor device (23) to the floating vessel, the motor device (23) comprising an electrical motor (4) and a propeller (5) arrange inside a propeller house (3).

A watercraft control system is configured to track and follow a lead watercraft cruising ahead of a host watercraft. The watercraft control system basically includes a detector and a digital controller. The watercraft control system can be integrated with a main watercraft control system of the host watercraft, or can be an add-on watercraft control system that supplements the main watercraft control system of the host watercraft. The detector is configured to detect the lead watercraft in front of the host watercraft. The digital controller is configured to communicate with the detector's processor to receive a detection signal from the detector. The digital controller is configured to output at least one control command related to a propulsion direction of the host watercraft and a propulsion force of the host watercraft to at least a propulsion unit of the host watercraft to track and follow the lead watercraft.

An internal combustion engine (1) for a vehicle is equipped with a variable compression ratio mechanism (2) capable of changing the mechanical compression ratio. An idle stop, which is for automatically stopping the internal combustion engine (1) when the vehicle stops, and a sailing stop, which is for stopping the internal combustion engine (1) in conjunction with the release of a forward clutch (8) during inertial travel, are carried out. A target compression ratio during normal travel is set on the basis of the load and rotation speed of the internal combustion engine (1). During an idle stop the target compression ratio is set to an idle stop restart compression ratio (εis). During a sailing stop the target compression ratio is set to a sailing stop restart compression ratio (εss). The sailing stop restart compression ratio (εss) is lower than the idle stop restart compression ratio (εis).

Boat handling and control systems and methods related to one or more of steering and propulsion of a pontoon boat.

An electric outboard motor 1 includes an operating part 33 that is switchable between forward and reverse rotation positions; a control device 35 configured to switch, based on the position of the operating part, a drive state of an electric motor 8 between forward, reverse, and neutral states. When the position of the operating part is switched from the forward rotation position to the reverse rotation position (ST1 Yes) while a watercraft is moving (ST2: Yes), the control device causes the drive state to transition from the forward rotation state to the reverse rotation state (ST3) such that, before completion of the transition, the drive state is held to be the neutral state for a predetermined time period (ST4).