A propulsion system on a marine vessel includes at least one steerable propulsion device and at least one lateral thruster. A steering wheel is mechanically connected to and operable by a user to steer the at least one propulsion device. A user interface device is operable by a user to provide at least a lateral thrust command to command lateral movement and a rotational thrust command to command rotational movement of the vessel. A controller is configured to determine a difference between a steering position of the propulsion device and a centered steering position. A user interface display is controllable to indicate at least one of the steering position of the propulsion device and the difference between the steering position and the centered steering position. The controller is further configured to determine that the steering position is within a threshold range of the centered steering position.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide an apparatus and method for determining the target area associated with the vessel. The apparatus includes a motion data receiver and processing circuitry. The motion data receiver is configured to determine a motion-related data of a vessel. The processing circuitry is communicably coupled to the motion data receiver. Further, the processing circuitry is configured to cause the apparatus to determine a change in a moving direction of the vessel based at least on the motion-related data of the vessel. Furthermore, the processing circuitry is configured to adaptively determine a target area associated with the vessel based on the change in the moving direction of the vessel, thereby enabling the apparatus to determine the target area based on the change in the moving direction of the vessel.

A marine propulsion system includes at least two parallel propulsion devices that each generate forward and reverse thrusts, wherein the parallel propulsion devices are oriented such that their thrusts are parallel to one another, and at least one drive position sensor configured to sense a drive angle of the parallel propulsion devices. A lateral thruster is configured to generate starboard and port thrust to propel the marine vessel. A user input device is operable by a user to provide at least a lateral thrust command to command lateral movement of the marine vessel and a rotational thrust command to command rotational movement of the marine vessel. A controller is configured to control the parallel propulsion devices and the lateral thruster based on the lateral steering input and/or the rotational steering input and the drive angle so as to provide the lateral movement and/or the rotational movement commanded by the user without controlling the drive angle.

A method for steering control for a marine vessel includes determining a first position of a hand wheel of the marine vessel. The method also includes determining, after a first period, a second position of the hand wheel. The method also includes determining a difference between the first position of the hand wheel and the second position of the hand wheel. The method also includes, in response to a determination that the difference between the first position of the hand wheel and the second position of the hand wheel is less than a threshold: capturing a first heading of the marine vessel; and selectively controlling steering of the marine vessel according to the first heading.

A steering system on a marine vessel includes a steering wheel, a wheel sensor configured to measure wheel movement of the steering wheel, a steering actuator configured to rotate a steerable component based on movement of the steering wheel, and a variable resistance device controllable to apply a variable resistance amount to resist movement of the steering wheel. The system further comprises a controller that controls the variable resistance device and is configured to receive the wheel movement measurements by the wheel sensor and determine a resistance amount based on the wheel movement measurements and a corresponding steering response relative to the response capability of the steering system, and then to control the variable resistance device based on the resistance amount.

A hydraulic steering device for boats, vessels or the like, includes a hydraulic pump coupled to a drive motor to feed a drive fluid alternately according to two flow directions; a hydraulic actuating cylinder connected to the delivery and return of the pump; and a fluid flow distributor switching the connection of the delivery and suction of the pump alternatively to one of two inlets/outlets of the cylinder communicating with one of two chambers of the cylinder. The actuating cylinder is mechanically articulated to a steering member, which determines direction change by modifying its orientation relative to an axis of the boat, the vessels or the like, preferably to a longitudinal axis, the modification of steering member orientation being implemented by the actuating cylinder according to the supply of the drive fluid to the cylinder caused by operation of the pump. The motor has inputs for a power supply signal to drive the pump to supply fluid flow according to one of the two predetermined directions of flow.

A marine vessel maneuvering system includes a propulsion device, a steering device, a forward/reverse drive switch, a steering wheel, a forward drive operator, a reverse drive operator, and a controller. The forward drive operator and the reverse drive operator are respectively located on one and the other sides of a pivot axis of the steering wheel, and are pivotable together with the steering wheel. The controller performs a forward drive propulsion control and a reverse drive propulsion control to set the propulsive force direction and control a magnitude of the propulsive force according to the operation of the forward drive operator and the reverse drive operator. The controller enables the forward drive propulsion control in a forward drive operation valid range. The controller enables the reverse drive propulsion control in a reverse drive operation valid range.

A marine vessel control system comprises an outer port engine which has an actuator for imparting steering motion to the outer port engine and an outer starboard engine which has an actuator for imparting steering motion to the outer starboard engine. There is an inner port engine and a tie bar coupling the inner port engine to the outer port engine. There is an inner starboard engine and a tie bar coupling the inner starboard engine to the outer starboard engine. There is an input device for inputting user steering commands to the marine vessel control system in which movement of the input device actuates the said actuators to impart steering motion to the said engines.

A navigation controller for a watercraft powered by an engine is comprises a grip member with a facing portion, and a reverse portion opposite the facing portion. The grip member is configured and dimensioned to be gripped by a hand of a user in such a manner that when the user is gripping the grip member, (i) the palm of the hand may engage the facing portion of the grip member, (ii) the tips of one or more of the fingers of the hand, other than the thumb, may simultaneously engage the reverse portion of the grip member and (iii) the thumb of the hand is free to perform another action. A control support is secured to the grip member. The control support has a switch support portion. A plurality of control switches are provided for generating control output signals for controlling at least the speed of the watercraft. The control switches are positioned at points on the switch support portion of the control support. The location of the points allows the user to simultaneously push one of the control switches with the thumb of their hand, while it overlies the facing portion of the grip member. The tips of one or more of the fingers securely grip the grip member while operating one or more of the control switches, with the thumb gripping the grip member.

A marine power steering system includes a first steering input device and a second steering input device. The first steering input device includes a first steering sensor that provides a first signal indicative of at least one of a torque and an angular position of a first steering wheel. The first steering input device further includes a controller arranged to receive the first signal. The second steering input device includes a second steering sensor that provides a second signal indicative of at least one of a torque and an angular position of a second steering wheel to the controller.