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 method of controlling an adjustable exhaust system for a marine engine includes receiving a vessel location of a marine vessel having an adjustable exhaust system and identifying a noise constraint based on the vessel location. A current exhaust mode of the adjustable exhaust system is identified. A determination is then made regarding whether the exhaust system is exceeding the noise constraint based on the current exhaust mode. If the noise constraint is exceeded, an instruction is generated to adjust the adjustable exhaust system to comply with the noise constraint.

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.

An electric hydrofoil board having a submersion-cooled powertrain is provided. A powertrain assembly, which includes a motor housed in a motor assembly and an electronic speed controller housed in a nose cone assembly that is fastened to the motor assembly, is attached to a lower end of a mast of the hydrofoil board so that the powertrain assembly remains submerged at all times during normal use of the hydrofoil board in a body of water. The flow of water around the powertrain assembly during normal use cools heat-generating components of the electronic speed controller and motor.

An electric hydrofoil board having a submersion-cooled powertrain is provided. A powertrain assembly, which includes a motor housed in a motor assembly and an electronic speed controller housed in a nose cone assembly that is fastened to the motor assembly, is attached to a lower end of a mast of the hydrofoil board so that the powertrain assembly remains submerged at all times during normal use of the hydrofoil board in a body of water. The flow of water around the powertrain assembly during normal use cools heat-generating components of the electronic speed controller and motor.

A control method for a watercraft is used for the watercraft including a device that requires authentication of identification information for activation, and has reading processing, authentication processing, and activation permission processing. In the reading processing, the identification information is read by each of plural reading sections, each of which is mounted on a hull of the watercraft and can read the identification information. In the authentication processing, the identification information, which is read in the reading processing, is authenticated by referring to authentication information. In the activation permission processing, in the case where the identification information that is read by any one of the plural reading sections is successfully authenticated, the device is brought into an activatable state.

A control method for a watercraft is used for the watercraft including a device that requires authentication of identification information for activation, and has reading processing, authentication processing, and activation permission processing. In the reading processing, the identification information is read by each of plural reading sections, each of which is mounted on a hull of the watercraft and can read the identification information. In the authentication processing, the identification information, which is read in the reading processing, is authenticated by referring to authentication information. In the activation permission processing, in the case where the identification information that is read by any one of the plural reading sections is successfully authenticated, the device is brought into an activatable state.

A navigational buoy that includes a finned, hollow, transparent, spherical shell that floats on water. A multi-wheeled motor-unit sits inside the shell, and ballast weights attached to the motor unit cause it to rest on the bottom of the shell. A biasing structure attached to the motor unit, lights, and other aspects are included in some embodiments.