An amphibious pumping vehicle has a floatable vehicle body, a ground engaging propulsion structure, a fluid pump, a plurality of fluid nozzles comprising a first fluid nozzle connected by a fluid conduit to the fluid pump and at least one second fluid nozzle connected to the fluid conduit, a valve structure in the fluid conduit, the plurality of fluid nozzles and the valve structure co-operating to provide directional control and motive power for the vehicle when floating, and a power source configured to provide power to both the ground engaging propulsion structure and the fluid pump.

A propeller-powered propulsion system and method of remote-controlled waterway navigation is configured to navigate a waterway in a navigation route while being controlled remotely, and being tracked by a GPS system. The watercraft provides a watercraft body that carries a propeller subassembly having multiple propellers that operate independently of each other for variable propulsion and steering. A mobile communication device transmits a command signal to a receiver in the propeller subassembly. A microcontroller converts the command signal to a speed for each propeller, independently of the other. The propeller speeds create a disproportionate level of thrust from each propeller to enable remote controlled steering of the watercraft toward port and starboard directions, at variable speeds, and preprogrammed navigation routes. The mobile communication device also acquires location data of the watercraft body obtained by a GPS system. The microcontroller processes the location data to automate the navigation of the watercraft.

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.

An amphibious pumping vehicle has a floatable vehicle body, a ground engaging propulsion structure, a fluid pump, a plurality of fluid nozzles comprising a first fluid nozzle connected by a fluid conduit to the fluid pump and at least one second fluid nozzle connected to the fluid conduit, a valve structure in the fluid conduit, the plurality of fluid nozzles and the valve structure co-operating to provide directional control and motive power for the vehicle when floating, and a power source configured to provide power to both the ground engaging propulsion structure and the fluid pump.

An aquatic vessel, illustratively a pontoon boat including a thruster system is disclosed. The aquatic vessel executes a process to automatically position the aquatic vessel relative to a target location such as a mooring implement. Exemplary mooring implements include a dock, a slip, or a lift.

An auxiliary outboard motor for a marine craft is provided. The motor includes a stationary portion for housing an engine and a first portion of a driveshaft operatively coupled to the engine. The motor also includes a lower unit rotatably coupled to the stationary portion, the lower unit housing a propeller shaft and a second portion of the driveshaft, the lower unit being less than half of an overall height of the auxiliary outboard motor.

A self-propelling watercraft system is provided. The watercraft has a base with a plurality of sidewalls extending from the base to form a cockpit. The base also has a recess, where a pump can detachably connect to the hull within the recess. The pump has an intake valve on a first end and a nozzle on a second end that is opposite the first end. The intake valve can intake water. The nozzle can jettison water received in the pump from the intake valve and agitate water surrounding the nozzle.

A visual direction guide for a fishing boat trolling motor to enable a fisherman or other operator positioned remotely in the boat from the trolling motor to visually determine the direction of propulsion of the trolling motor so the operator can steer the motor even when the view from the operator of the trolling motor is visually obstructed by another fisherman, chair, or other object. The visual direction guide has a support shaft, a visual indicator located at the top of the support shaft, and mounting apparatus to secure the support shaft to the trolling motor, so that the visual indicator can be seen by the operator above any visual obstruction to determine the direction of propulsion of the trolling motor to remotely steer the trolling motor. The visual indicator can include a vane, and can include lights. The support shaft can telescope, fold down, or be removed for storage.

A handheld device for navigating a marine vessel includes a magnetometer, and inertial sensor, and a controller. The controller is communicatively coupled to the magnetometer and the inertial sensor. The controller is configured to receive a directional measurement from the magnetometer. The controller is also configured to receive an orientation measurement from the inertial sensor. The controller is configured to generate at least one control signal for a motor of the marine vessel at least partially based on the directional measurement and the orientation measurement.

A decoy system with a ballast that holds batteries to power the various elements of the decoy system including a Global Positioning System or location based receiver and circuitry that automatically controls the navigation of the decoy based on real-time location and desired/selected pattern information. The system can include a decoy with a propulsion system and steering system and an interface to a smart phone running a remote control app. The remote control app can be used to control the navigation of the decoy in view of the location information received from the GPS.