A method for controlling a valve to disengage a gear in a transmission. The method includes reducing, after receiving a request to disengage the gear, a current supplied to the valve from a starting to a first current. The method further includes counting a first elapsed time since the valve was reduced to the first current, comparing the first elapsed time to a first wait time, and increasing the current supplied to the valve to a second current once the first elapsed time exceeds the first wait time. The method further includes counting a second elapsed time since the valve was increased to the second current, comparing the second elapsed time to a second wait time, and reducing the current supplied to the valve to a third current once the second elapsed exceeds the second wait time. The valve is closed when the current is the third current.

A method for controlling a valve to disengage a gear in a transmission. The method includes reducing, after receiving a request to disengage the gear, a current supplied to the valve from a starting to a first current. The method further includes counting a first elapsed time since the valve was reduced to the first current, comparing the first elapsed time to a first wait time, and increasing the current supplied to the valve to a second current once the first elapsed time exceeds the first wait time. The method further includes counting a second elapsed time since the valve was increased to the second current, comparing the second elapsed time to a second wait time, and reducing the current supplied to the valve to a third current once the second elapsed exceeds the second wait time. The valve is closed when the current is the third current.

A hull propulsion mechanism includes a ship body; a wind blade, which is set to the top of the ship body and has a plurality of sails for obtaining a rotating force from wind blade; a shaft, which sustains the wind blade and is a rolling axis as well for conveying the rotating force by the wind blade; a water pump, which is a power unit that circulates water by making use of a turning force from the shaft; and an engine, which obtains hull propulsion from screws that are rotated by a circulated water pressure from the water pump. With this configuration, the hull propulsion mechanism can obtain enough propulsive force without consuming fossil fuels.

A hull propulsion mechanism includes a ship body; a wind blade, which is set to the top of the ship body and has a plurality of sails for obtaining a rotating force from wind blade; a shaft, which sustains the wind blade and is a rolling axis as well for conveying the rotating force by the wind blade; a water pump, which is a power unit that circulates water by making use of a turning force from the shaft; and an engine, which obtains hull propulsion from screws that are rotated by a circulated water pressure from the water pump. With this configuration, the hull propulsion mechanism can obtain enough propulsive force without consuming fossil fuels.

A watercraft comprising a battery ballast system is shown and described. The battery ballast system comprises a plurality of carriage assemblies, each comprising a plurality of tiers along the watercraft's height axis, and each being movable along the watercraft's length axis. The batteries sit on movable supports that are movable along the watercraft's width axis. Each tier is loaded to less than 50 percent with batteries and battery supports so that the batteries in each tier can be moved along the ship's width axis relative to the hull in a manner that will affect the ship's list. The carriage assemblies occupy a portion of the length along which they are movable so that they can be moved along the ship's length axis relative to the hull to affect the ship's trim. In certain examples, the ship's potable water system is used to change the watercraft's total amount of ballast by changing the total volume of treated water on board such as by expelling treated water overboard or changing the rate of untreated water being fed to the potable water system.

A watercraft comprising a battery ballast system is shown and described. The battery ballast system comprises a plurality of carriage assemblies, each comprising a plurality of tiers along the watercraft's height axis, and each being movable along the watercraft's length axis. The batteries sit on movable supports that are movable along the watercraft's width axis. Each tier is loaded to less than 50 percent with batteries and battery supports so that the batteries in each tier can be moved along the ship's width axis relative to the hull in a manner that will affect the ship's list. The carriage assemblies occupy a portion of the length along which they are movable so that they can be moved along the ship's length axis relative to the hull to affect the ship's trim. In certain examples, the ship's potable water system is used to change the watercraft's total amount of ballast by changing the total volume of treated water on board such as by expelling treated water overboard or changing the rate of untreated water being fed to the potable water system.

A hull propulsion mechanism includes a ship body; a wind blade, which is set to the top of the ship body and has a plurality of sails for obtaining a rotating force from wind blade; a shaft, which sustains the wind blade and is a rolling axis as well for conveying the rotating force by the wind blade; a water pump, which is a power unit that circulates water by making use of a turning force from the shaft; and an engine, which obtains hull propulsion from screws that are rotated by a circulated water pressure from the water pump. With this configuration, the hull propulsion mechanism can obtain enough propulsive force without consuming fossil fuels.

A hull propulsion mechanism includes a ship body; a wind blade, which is set to the top of the ship body and has a plurality of sails for obtaining a rotating force from wind blade; a shaft, which sustains the wind blade and is a rolling axis as well for conveying the rotating force by the wind blade; a water pump, which is a power unit that circulates water by making use of a turning force from the shaft; and an engine, which obtains hull propulsion from screws that are rotated by a circulated water pressure from the water pump. With this configuration, the hull propulsion mechanism can obtain enough propulsive force without consuming fossil fuels.

Wakeboat propulsion apparatuses are provided that can include: a wakeboat having a hull; an engine mounted to the hull; a hydraulic pump driven by the engine; a hydraulic motor powered by the hydraulic pump; and a propeller powered by the hydraulic motor. Methods for propelling a wakeboat are also provided. The methods can include: engaging a hydraulic pump from a drive of an engine operationally mounted to a hull of the wakeboat; driving a hydraulic motor with hydraulic fluid received from the hydraulic pump; and operationally engaging a propeller using the hydraulic motor.

Wakeboat propulsion apparatuses are provided that can include: a wakeboat having a hull; an engine mounted to the hull; a hydraulic pump driven by the engine; a hydraulic motor powered by the hydraulic pump; and a propeller powered by the hydraulic motor. Methods for propelling a wakeboat are also provided. The methods can include: engaging a hydraulic pump from a drive of an engine operationally mounted to a hull of the wakeboat; driving a hydraulic motor with hydraulic fluid received from the hydraulic pump; and operationally engaging a propeller using the hydraulic motor.