Techniques for thruster system control for a pontoon boat or other watercraft. A thruster system may comprise a plurality of thrusters used to control movement of the pontoon boat in addition to an outboard prime mover. The thrusters may be fixed and/or steerable thrusters. In examples, the thrusters may be retracted based on identifying a condition in which the thrusters may be damaged. The thrusters may be deployed based on identifying a condition in which the thrusters may be used to recharge an associated energy source. User input to control the thrusters may be adapted to account for external forces acting on the pontoon boat. A user interface is provided with which to control the thruster system, via which an operator manipulates a movement intent line to control the thruster system. The user interface may further comprise obstacle indicators, thereby enabling the operator to maneuver the pontoon boat accordingly.

Techniques for thruster system control for a pontoon boat or other watercraft. A thruster system may comprise a plurality of thrusters used to control movement of the pontoon boat in addition to an outboard prime mover. The thrusters may be fixed and/or steerable thrusters. In examples, the thrusters may be retracted based on identifying a condition in which the thrusters may be damaged. The thrusters may be deployed based on identifying a condition in which the thrusters may be used to recharge an associated energy source. User input to control the thrusters may be adapted to account for external forces acting on the pontoon boat. A user interface is provided with which to control the thruster system, via which an operator manipulates a movement intent line to control the thruster system. The user interface may further comprise obstacle indicators, thereby enabling the operator to maneuver the pontoon boat accordingly.

A system and method that reduces spatial positioning control requirements for maintaining reduced wave-making resistance of at least one following vessel in a fleet operating in a seaway, by determining a position of the at least one following vessel within a coordinated zone, which is a zone within a reduced wave-making resistance region of the Kelvin wake of at least one lead vessel, at which a surge motion of the vessels is synchronized with each other. By positioning the at least one following vessel in the coordinated zone, the spatial positioning control requirements of the at least one following vessel can be reduced.

A system and method that reduces spatial positioning control requirements for maintaining reduced wave-making resistance of at least one following vessel in a fleet operating in a seaway, by determining a position of the at least one following vessel within a coordinated zone, which is a zone within a reduced wave-making resistance region of the Kelvin wake of at least one lead vessel, at which a surge motion of the vessels is synchronized with each other. By positioning the at least one following vessel in the coordinated zone, the spatial positioning control requirements of the at least one following vessel can be reduced.

A marine vessel having a propeller that provides propulsive force to the marine vessel, and a course control system. The course control system includes a course changing mechanism that changes a course of the marine vessel, and a controller configured or programmed to detect a sudden movement of the marine vessel originating from broaching caused by a following wave of the marine vessel, and upon detecting the sudden movement of the marine vessel originating from the broaching, control a rotation rate of the propeller and/or cause the course changing mechanism to change the course of the marine vessel.

A wingsail for a powered watercraft comprising a first aerofoil element, a second aerofoil element, and a third aerofoil element, wherein each of the aerofoil elements is rotatable about an axis and has an aerofoil section with a centre of area which is closer to its leading edge than its trailing edge, and the aerofoil elements are movable to a configuration in which flow from the trailing edge of one of the first or third element is directed toward the leading edge of the second element, and flow from the trailing edge of the second element is directed toward the leading edge of the other of the first or third element.

A wingsail for a powered watercraft comprising a first aerofoil element, a second aerofoil element, and a third aerofoil element, wherein each of the aerofoil elements is rotatable about an axis and has an aerofoil section with a centre of area which is closer to its leading edge than its trailing edge, and the aerofoil elements are movable to a configuration in which flow from the trailing edge of one of the first or third element is directed toward the leading edge of the second element, and flow from the trailing edge of the second element is directed toward the leading edge of the other of the first or third element.

A towed array ballasting unit includes a canister, an internal bladder, an external bladder, a motor valve, fluid, a shroud, and printed circuit boards. The canister includes a head endcap and an aft endcap with the internal bladder located within and attached to an internal end of a fluid channel. An external bladder is located outside the canister and attached to an external end of the fluid channel. The motor valve is attached to the aft endcap of the canister and the internal end of fluid channel. The fluid moves between the internal bladder and external bladder via the fluid channel. The shroud forms a shell around the canister, external bladder, and a connector that connects the towed array ballasting system to an array tail. The printed circuit boards execute instructions provided by a computer.

A towed array ballasting unit includes a canister, an internal bladder, an external bladder, a motor valve, fluid, a shroud, and printed circuit boards. The canister includes a head endcap and an aft endcap with the internal bladder located within and attached to an internal end of a fluid channel. An external bladder is located outside the canister and attached to an external end of the fluid channel. The motor valve is attached to the aft endcap of the canister and the internal end of fluid channel. The fluid moves between the internal bladder and external bladder via the fluid channel. The shroud forms a shell around the canister, external bladder, and a connector that connects the towed array ballasting system to an array tail. The printed circuit boards execute instructions provided by a computer.

A water activity board is described, comprising: a. a plurality of sensors, b. a data unit interconnected to the sensors. c. a communication unit interconnected to the data unit. wherein the communication unit is configured to communicate to a cloud-based database. In some embodiments the sensors are selected from a group consisting of Environmental sensors, sea platform sensors and User sensors.