A foot controller system includes a foot controller having a base that engages a portion of a marine vessel when the foot controller is in an operable position. The foot controller also includes a foot pedal pivotable, with respect to the base, about a first axis, and rotatable, with respect to at least a portion of the base, about a second axis different from the first axis. The foot controller controls a first aspect of a marine motor system when the foot pedal is pivoted about the first axis and controls a second aspect of the marine motor system different from the first aspect when the foot pedal is rotated about the second axis.

A steering mechanism for a container carrier ship hull including a bow, a stern, and a container bay therebetween. The bow is provided with a set of depending lateral thruster pods, the set including a first pod disposed along a longitudinal centerline of the hull, a second pod disposed rearward of the first pod and outward from the centerline, and a third pod disposed rearward of the first pod and outward from the centerline opposite from the second pod. The first and second pods define a first longitudinal flow channel to one side of the centerline and the first and third thruster pods define a second longitudinal flow channel to the opposite side of the centerline. A fourth pod, which may omit thruster mechanisms, may be disposed along the centerline reward of the first, second, and third pods, to define with them first and second cross-centerline flow channels.

A drive device for a vessel includes an electric motor, driving a rotatable drive shaft; an elongate drive device housing, encapsulating the electric motor and the drive shaft; and a propeller, detachably mounted to the rotatable drive shaft. The drive device housing has an upper connection device. The upper connection device is symmetrical about a transverse axis, enabling the drive device housing to be mounted to a structure onboard the vessel in either of two longitudinal directions. The drive device and the hull of the vessel are separated from each other by using an isolation plate with a central isolation sleeve. The electric motor drives the drive shaft via an interconnected gear device encapsulated in the drive device housing or integrated as a part of the drive device housing and are arranged pivotably with respect to the tilt device housing.

A controller for a watercraft controls first and second marine propulsion devices to start moving the watercraft by setting a first default angle, a second default angle, and a default thrust ratio as a first target rudder angle, a second target rudder angle, and a target thrust ratio respectively when a desired motion of the watercraft is straight sideways movement. The controller determines at least one of a first correcting angle, a second correcting angle, and a correcting thrust ratio to reduce an error between the straight sideways movement of the watercraft and an actual motion of the watercraft. The controller corrects the first target rudder angle, the second target rudder angle, and the target thrust ratio with the first correcting angle, the second correcting angle, and the correcting thrust ratio, respectively. The controller repeatedly detects the error and repeatedly updates the correcting angles and the correcting thrust ratio.

A marine vessel maneuvering system includes a controller configured or programmed to perform a shift-out start control to control a shift actuator to immediately start an intermittent operation mode from a shift-out state when an intermittent operation switching control is performed to switch a normal operation mode in which a shift-in state continues to the intermittent operation mode in which the shift-in state and the shift-out state are repeated in a predetermined period of time based on a user's operation.

An outboard motor includes: an outboard motor body including a propeller driven by an internal combustion engine; a mounting portion configured to mount the outboard motor body to a hull so as to be movable relative to the hull; and an operation mechanism provided between the outboard motor body and the mounting portion and configured to adjust a relative position of the outboard motor body with respect to the hull. The operation mechanism is a link-type operation mechanism including a hydraulic cylinder as an actuator.

A method for maintaining a marine vessel at a target position in a body of water, the method being carried out by a processing system and including: estimating at least one roughness condition of the body of water based on measurements related to an attitude of the marine vessel; calculating a desired linear velocity based on a difference between an actual position of the marine vessel and the target position; filtering an actual linear velocity of the marine vessel based on the roughness conditions; and operating a propulsion system of the marine vessel to move the marine vessel to minimize a difference between the desired linear velocity and the filtered actual linear velocity. A method for maintaining a marine vessel at a target heading in a body of water is also disclosed.

A thruster system for improved steering and maneuverability of a marine vessel when operating at relatively low, or wakeless speeds, such as in the vicinity of docks, swimmers or other obstacles, or when trailering, beaching or mooring. The thruster system has a modularized design adapted to independently control separate motor/propeller units located at various positions on the vessel's hull. Each propeller of the modular thruster motor system has its own relatively small, electric motor and mounting bracket, permitting each motor to be separately mounted to a location on the hull of the marine vessel apart from other thruster motors. The thruster system is further enhanced by an electrical control system for controlling each modular thruster motor system of the thruster system. In some embodiments, a charging system is provided that permits each electrical control system to be separately charged from the marine vessel's main battery.

A method of operating a thruster apparatus involves causing a first propeller to rotate in response to pressure of a first flow of pressurized hydraulic fluid, and causing a second propeller to rotate in response to pressure of a second flow of pressurized hydraulic fluid separate from the first flow of pressurized hydraulic fluid. Thruster apparatuses are also disclosed.

A stowable propulsion system for a marine vessel. A base is configured to be coupled to the marine vessel. A propulsion device is configured to propel the marine vessel in water. A shaft extends along a length axis and pivotably couples the propulsion device to the base. The propulsion device is pivotable into and between a stowed position and a deployed position, wherein pivoting the propulsion device causes the shaft to rotate about the length axis.