According to an example aspect of the present invention, there is provided a manoeuvring system comprising at least one unit comprising a channel having a longitudinal axis and comprising at least one water intake opening, at least one water nozzle arranged within the channel and configured to guide a water flow through the at least one water intake opening at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis and in a plane perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the Earth’s normal, at least one piping connected to the channel at a first end and connected to the at least one water nozzle at a second end, and at least one pump arranged between the first end and the second end and configured to control a water flow through the at least one water nozzle.

A propulsion system on a marine vessel includes at least one steerable propulsion device and at least one lateral thruster. A steering wheel is 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 prior to enabling a joystick thrust control mode.

A marine propulsion system includes an engine-powered propulsion device coupled in torque-transmitting relationship with an engine. A non-engine-powered propulsion device is coupled to a source of electric or hydraulic power. A control module is provided in signal communication with the engine-powered propulsion device and the non-engine-powered propulsion device. A user-operated input device is in signal communication with the control module. The marine propulsion system operates in a non-engine-powered propulsion mode in response to the control module determining the following: the engine was previously running; a speed of the engine is below an engine-stopped speed threshold; the marine propulsion system is on; and a request for movement of the vessel has been input via the user-operated input device. While the marine propulsion system operates in the non-engine-powered propulsion mode, the control module controls the non-engine-powered propulsion device to generate thrust to maneuver the vessel according to the request for movement.

A bracket for mounting a thruster to a boat includes a horizontal neck portion, an upper mounting support portion, a support plate portion that extends downward from the upper mounting support portion, and an enclosure portion. The support plate portion and the rear of the upper mounting support portion form a transom-facing surface in a plane that is generally at a right angle relative to a horizontal plane, within a small range of angles. The transom-facing surface can angled to match the angle of the transom of a boat to which the thruster bracket is mounted. A thruster can be mounted to the thruster bracket at a level where the thruster will be out of the water when the boat is moving fast and up on plane, and will be in the water when the boat is moving very slow.

A boat comprises a hull, a primary steering mechanism carried by the hull, a control station located on the hull, a helm located at the control station, and a thruster system carried by the hull. The primary steering mechanism, such as a rudder, is operable via the helm with a helm input being derived from operation of the primary steering mechanism thereby. The thruster system includes at least one thruster mounted to the hull, distinct from the primary steering mechanism, and a controller. The controller receives the helm input and is configured with program instructions to operate the at least one thruster responsive to the helm input to supplement a corresponding movement of the hull. The controller can also automatically operate the thruster responsive to direction, speed and ballast inputs.

A floating mirror includes a buoyant body extending between a first end and a second end, and a reflective material disposed on opposite surfaces of the buoyant body.

A bracket for mounting a thruster to a boat includes a horizontal neck portion, an upper mounting support portion, a support plate portion that extends downward from the upper mounting support portion, and an enclosure portion. The support plate portion and the rear of the upper mounting support portion form a transom-facing surface in a plane that is generally at a right angle relative to a horizontal plane, within a small range of angles. The transom-facing surface can angled to match the angle of the transom of a boat to which the thruster bracket is mounted. A thruster can be mounted to the thruster bracket at a level where the thruster will be out of the water when the boat is moving fast and up on plane, and will be in the water when the boat is moving very slow.

A bracket for mounting a thruster to a boat includes a horizontal neck portion, an upper mounting support portion, a support plate portion that extends downward from the upper mounting support portion, and an enclosure portion. The support plate portion and the rear of the upper mounting support portion form a transom-facing surface in a plane that is generally at a right angle relative to a horizontal plane, within a small range of angles. The transom-facing surface can angled to match the angle of the transom of a boat to which the thruster bracket is mounted. A thruster can be mounted to the thruster bracket at a level where the thruster will be out of the water when the boat is moving fast and up on plane, and will be in the water when the boat is moving very slow.

A bracket for mounting a thruster to a boat includes horizontal and vertical members disposed at right angles to each other. The horizontal member includes an enclosure which contains a lamp. A thruster is mounted to the horizontal member, and the vertical member is affixed to the transom of a boat. The thruster is therefore held in spaced-apart relation to the boat, optimizing the flow of water through the thruster, and minimizing the amount of space required, on the transom, for installation of components. The horizontal member, and one of the connectors holding the vertical member to the boat, are hollow, allowing wires to extend into the horizontal member, to provide power to the thruster and the lamp.

A control system for navigating a marine vessel employs at least a first motor and a second motor. The control system is configured to communicate with the first and second motors. The control system is configured to receive a position measurement and an orientation measurement for the marine vessel. The control system is further configured to generate at least one control signal for the first motor based on the position measurement and at least one control signal for the second motor based on the orientation measurement.