A small watercraft system includes: a watercraft body; a watercraft body manipulation member through which a watercraft body manipulation command is input by an operator; a drive source that allows the watercraft body to plane; a steering device that allows the watercraft body to be steered; and a control device that controls the drive source and the steering device to operate the watercraft body. The control device determines whether a mode switching condition is satisfied, the mode switching condition including an operator's absence condition that the operator is absent from the watercraft body. Upon determining that the mode switching condition is satisfied, the control device executes an operator-absent manipulation mode in which the control device moves the watercraft body by controlling the drive source and the steering device based on an operator-absent manipulation command independent of the watercraft body manipulation command.

There are described herein methods and systems for operating an electric motor of a watercraft. In one method, the electric motor of the watercraft is controlled based on commands received from an accelerator of the watercraft, a sensor signal is received from at least one sensor of the watercraft while the electric motor is in operation, the sensor signal indicative of an undesirable condition of a water intake of the watercraft, and a change is effected to the controlling of the electric motor in response to receiving the sensor signal.

There are described herein methods and systems for operating an electric motor of a watercraft. In one method, the electric motor of the watercraft is controlled based on commands received from an accelerator of the watercraft, a sensor signal is received from at least one sensor of the watercraft while the electric motor is in operation, the sensor signal indicative of an undesirable condition of a water intake of the watercraft, and a change is effected to the controlling of the electric motor in response to receiving the sensor signal.

A hybrid ship propulsion machine includes an internal-combustion-drive propulsion part and an electric propulsion part. The electric propulsion part is attached to a first housing part of the internal-combustion-drive propulsion part, and is disposed at a position higher than an anti-cavitation plate of the internal-combustion-drive propulsion part such that a suction port of the electric propulsion part sinks below a water surface during low-speed movement, which is not a planing state of a ship, and the suction port comes out of the water surface during planing of the ship.

A hybrid ship propulsion machine includes an internal-combustion-drive propulsion part and an electric propulsion part. The electric propulsion part is attached to a first housing part of the internal-combustion-drive propulsion part, and is disposed at a position higher than an anti-cavitation plate of the internal-combustion-drive propulsion part such that a suction port of the electric propulsion part sinks below a water surface during low-speed movement, which is not a planing state of a ship, and the suction port comes out of the water surface during planing of the ship.

A thruster system for a marine vessel includes an electric motor having an output shaft. The thruster system also includes a housing having a first housing opening and a second housing opening, the first housing opening defining a water intake, the second housing opening defining a water discharge. The thruster system further includes a rotatable member operatively coupled to, and driven by, the output shaft of the electric motor, wherein rotation of the rotatable member results in water brought into the housing through the first housing opening and expelled through the second housing opening to generate a thrust force in a direction that is greater than 45 degrees relative to a propeller direction of the marine vessel.

A thruster system for a marine vessel includes an electric motor having an output shaft. The thruster system also includes a housing having a first housing opening and a second housing opening, the first housing opening defining a water intake, the second housing opening defining a water discharge. The thruster system further includes a rotatable member operatively coupled to, and driven by, the output shaft of the electric motor, wherein rotation of the rotatable member results in water brought into the housing through the first housing opening and expelled through the second housing opening to generate a thrust force in a direction that is greater than 45 degrees relative to a propeller direction of the marine vessel.

A ship propulsion machine includes a ship propulsion machine main body and a propulsion module. The ship propulsion machine main body includes a power source, a tank storing cooling liquid, a heat sink cooling the cooling liquid, a cooling liquid passage connecting the power source and the heat sink, a pump causing the cooling liquid to flow in the cooling liquid passage, a first housing part housing the heat sink. The propulsion module includes a drive shaft rotated by the power source and a propulsion device converting rotation of the drive shaft into the propulsion force. A connection mechanism separably connecting an output shaft of the power source and the drive shaft is provided on the power source and on the drive shaft. The first housing part and the propulsion device are provided with an attachment mechanism detachably attaching the propulsion module.

A ship propulsion machine includes a ship propulsion machine main body and a propulsion module. The ship propulsion machine main body includes a power source, a tank storing cooling liquid, a heat sink cooling the cooling liquid, a cooling liquid passage connecting the power source and the heat sink, a pump causing the cooling liquid to flow in the cooling liquid passage, a first housing part housing the heat sink. The propulsion module includes a drive shaft rotated by the power source and a propulsion device converting rotation of the drive shaft into the propulsion force. A connection mechanism separably connecting an output shaft of the power source and the drive shaft is provided on the power source and on the drive shaft. The first housing part and the propulsion device are provided with an attachment mechanism detachably attaching the propulsion module.

A battery enclosure for a personal watercraft is provided. Different configurations of the battery enclosure are disclosed, as well as different arrangements of the battery enclosure within the personal watercraft and with respect to other features of the personal watercraft. According to one embodiment, a personal watercraft includes a deck and a hull defining an interior volume. An electric motor is housed within the interior volume, the electric motor being operable to rotate a drive shaft. A battery pack having a battery enclosure housing one or more batteries is also positioned within the interior volume. A portion of at least one battery of the one or more batteries is positioned vertically above the drive shaft.