A tiller for an outboard motor has a tiller body that is elongated along a longitudinal center axis between a proximal end and a distal end, a throttle grip on the distal end of the tiller body, and a control switch located on the tiller body adjacent the throttle grip. A microcontroller is located inside the tiller body, remote from the control switch, and is in signal communication with an engine controller of the engine. The control switch is configured to be selectively electrically connected to the microcontroller. In response to actuation of the control switch, the microcontroller sends a signal to the engine controller. In one example, the control switch is an idle speed control switch.

To improve prediction accuracy in model predictive control.

The ship control device includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry estimates an initial search value of a throttle opening by an estimation method based on uncertainty with a distance between a position of the ship and a target position of dynamic positioning, and a true wind velocity as preconditions. The processing circuitry searches an action for moving the ship to the target position by a model predictive control in a search range having the initial search value as an origin, and determines a command throttle opening based on the search result.

A device for mounting one or more electric motors to a kayak or a small non-powered vessel, whereby a rotatable assembly is mounted on the gunnel of the vessel on either the port or starboard side, or both. The rotatable assembly includes an axle and an adjustable arm rotatably mounted thereon, with a motor on the end of the adjustable arm The rotatable assembly may be manipulated to move the motor(s) into or out of the water and lock in either position. The adjustable arm allows the motor to be adjusted in the pitch, yaw, and roll orientations. The motor(s) are powered by a battery and controlled by a hand-held unit that allows the motors to be independently operated.

A marine propulsion unit of a marine vessel includes a casing provided above a duct to house a steering shaft and a controller configured or programmed to control driving of a propeller, the casing being rotatable by the steering shaft, a power supply wire to supply power to a stator, and a signal wire to transmit a drive signal to the controller. The power supply wire and the signal wire are located outside and along the casing so as to pass in front of the steering shaft along a rotation direction of the steering shaft from a first side to a second side of the casing, the first and second sides being opposite to each other with respect to a forward-rearward direction in a plan view thereof.

A watercraft (10) including a board (12), a mast (16) extending below the board, (12) the mast (16) carrying a foil (20) and a propeller (30) that is driven by a motor (32), the motor (32) being carried in a tube (18) connected to or extending from the mast (16), wherein a motor controller (34) is also positioned within the tube (18). In this manner, heat generated by the motor controller during use is dissipated into the water through which the watercraft is travelling. The watercraft (10) may also have a receptacle for holding lubricant, the receptacle being located above the motor, wherein the mast has a conduit that provides fluid communication between the receptacle and the lubricant lubricating the motor and/or driveshaft such that lubricant in the receptacle provides a hydrostatic head of pressure to prevent or minimise water ingress around a propeller seal or a driveshaft seal located adjacent a region where the driveshaft exits into the water.

A shift mechanism of an outboard motor has an electric actuator having a movable rod, and a guide structure for guiding a linear motion of a sliding body connected to the movable rod. In addition, the shift mechanism includes a link rod connected to the sliding body and bent to extend in a direction different from the direction of the linear motion of the sliding body. Furthermore, the shift mechanism includes a shift shaft part which is connected to the link rod, performs a rotational motion on the basis of a displacement of the link rod, and switches a range of a transmission mechanism provided below on the basis of the rotational motion.

A vessel control system for a marine vessel propelled by at least one propulsion device includes a wireless lanyard system including at least one fob worn by an individual on the marine vessel and a helm transceiver at a helm area of the marine vessel configured to receive radio signals from the at least one fob. A controller is configured to detect, based on communications between each of the at least one fob and the helm transceiver, that each of the at least one fob is present on the marine vessel. A missing fob is detected if at least one of the fobs is no longer detected at the helm transceiver, and then a man overboard event is generated. The vessel control system is configured to automatically activate one or more search assistance functions based on the man overboard event.

A marine vessel includes a steering mechanism to improve the operability of an operator that changes a speed of the marine vessel. The steering mechanism includes a steering wheel, a speed increasing paddle to accelerate the marine vessel, and a speed decreasing paddle to decelerate the marine vessel.

A self-contained battery assembly is provided that is configured to be removably coupled to a watercraft. The battery assembly comprises a waterproof housing including a top portion and a bottom portion that houses a plurality of battery modules. The battery assembly includes a plurality of battery separators manufactured from a material to provide passive protection against thermal event propagation and an electronics module. Each of the battery modules is surrounded on four sides by the one or more of the plurality of battery separators. The plurality of battery separators are disposed within the housing and in physical contact with the top portion and the bottom portion.

Example steering control systems and methods 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 either one or both of the steering actuator and the directional actuator, via the turning input signal, to adjust a direction of either one or both of the propulsion motor and the transducer assembly accordingly.