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.

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.

A drive source switching system for a marine propulsion device includes a first drive source, a second drive source, a propeller shaft, a first driving member, a second driving member, a first driven member, and a second driven member that are movable in an axial direction of the propeller shaft, and a controller. The first driven member transmits a drive force generated by the first drive source to the propeller shaft when engaged with the first driving member. The second driven member transmits a drive force generated by the second drive source to the propeller shaft when engaged with the second driving member. When the controller moves the first driven member that is not engaged with the first driving member toward the first driving member, the controller moves the first driven member back when the first driven member fails to be engaged with the first driving member.

An outboard motor includes a steering mechanism including a pinion located in a central portion of an outboard motor body in a right-left direction and operable to rotate together with the outboard motor body, a rack operable to linearly move to rotate the pinion, and a rack position detector on a first side of the rack opposite to the pinion to detect a position of the rack.

An outboard motor includes a steering mechanism including a pinion located in a central portion of an outboard motor body in a right-left direction and operable to rotate together with the outboard motor body, a rack operable to linearly move to rotate the pinion, and a rack position detector on a first side of the rack opposite to the pinion to detect a position of the rack.

A method for controlling a marine propulsion device having an engine rotatably engaged with a transmission via a clutch, and rotatably engaged with a charging device for charging a battery. The method includes measuring a voltage of the battery and comparing the voltage to a minimum threshold. The method further includes increasing a speed of the engine when the voltage is below the minimum threshold, and also increasing a slip of the clutch when the speed of the engine is increased in response to the voltage being below the minimum threshold.

An electric hybrid outboard engine for a traditional fuel-based outboard motor of a boat that can be retrofitted. The electric hybrid outboard engine includes a hybrid motor and a control unit. The hybrid motor can be switched between an active mode and a passive mode, the hybrid motor in the active mode acts as a motor to drive the propeller using electrical energy stored in a battery, and in the passive mode act as a generator configured to be driven by rotations of the shaft for charging the battery. The control unit can control the engaging and disengaging of the hybrid motor to the shaft and switching of the hybrid motor between the active mode and the passive mode.

An electric hybrid outboard engine for a traditional fuel-based outboard motor of a boat that can be retrofitted. The electric hybrid outboard engine includes a hybrid motor and a control unit. The hybrid motor can be switched between an active mode and a passive mode, the hybrid motor in the active mode acts as a motor to drive the propeller using electrical energy stored in a battery, and in the passive mode act as a generator configured to be driven by rotations of the shaft for charging the battery. The control unit can control the engaging and disengaging of the hybrid motor to the shaft and switching of the hybrid motor between the active mode and the passive mode.

A controller performs hydrolock prevention control when an engine is started. The controller determines whether a crankshaft rotates a predetermined number of times upon starting the engine without ignition of the engine. The controller performs the ignition of the engine after the crankshaft rotates a predetermined number of times.

A controller performs hydrolock prevention control when an engine is started. The controller determines whether a crankshaft rotates a predetermined number of times upon starting the engine without ignition of the engine. The controller performs the ignition of the engine after the crankshaft rotates a predetermined number of times.