A self-propelling watercraft system is provided. The watercraft has a base with a plurality of sidewalls extending from the base to form a cockpit. The base also has a recess, where a pump can detachably connect to the hull within the recess. The pump has an intake valve on a first end and a nozzle on a second end that is opposite the first end. The intake valve can intake water. The nozzle can jettison water received in the pump from the intake valve and agitate water surrounding the nozzle.

A method for controlling a marine vessel having first and second steering nozzles and first and second trim deflectors comprises generating at least a first set of actuator control signals and a second set of actuator control signals. The first set of actuator control signals is coupled to and controls the first and second steering nozzles, and the second set of actuator control signals is coupled to and controls the first and second trim deflectors. The acts of generating and coupling the first set of actuator control signals and the second set of actuator control signals result in inducing any of a net yawing force, a net rolling force, and a net trimming force to the marine vessel without inducing any other substantial forces to the marine vessel by controlling the first and second steering nozzles and the first and second trim deflectors. Also disclosed is a system for controlling a marine vessel.

A retrofit propulsion apparatus attaches to an avian decoy to provide both propulsion and steering to the decoy under remote control by the user. The retrofit propulsion apparatus attaches to decoys with different keel geometries without the need to modify the retrofit propulsion apparatus for each decoy keel geometry. The apparatus includes a housing that contains electrical circuitry with control circuitry that couples to inboard water propulsion devices to provide thrust and steering to the decoy. A housing cover sealably attaches to the housing to seal the housing. The housing cover includes a slot that receives a vertical member of a decoy keel. The housing includes an angled channel that receives both a decoy with a decoy bottom member with vertical spaced apart sides and a decoy with a decoy bottom member with angled sides.

A system for controlling a marine vessel having first and second steering nozzles and corresponding first and second reversing buckets, comprises a processor configured to receive a first vessel control signal including at least a component corresponding to a translational thrust command in a port direction, and that is configured to provide a set of actuator control signals coupled to and control the first and second reversing buckets. The processor is configured to provide the set of actuator control signals so as to maintain the first reversing bucket substantially in a first discrete position and the second reversing bucket substantially in a second discrete position as long as the first vessel control signal includes a component corresponding to a translational thrust command in the port direction.

A propulsion system for a marine vessel in a body of water includes an water intake formed in the hull, a impeller disc rotatable about a vertical axis for raising water and increasing the momentum of water in a plenum chamber, and a plurality of control gates located around the periphery of the hull. The impeller disc has a large outer diameter and is formed to enable efficient rotation by an electric motor. One or more of the water intake, the plenum chamber, the impeller disc and the control gates is designed to reduce acoustic noise generated by the marine vessel, direct the acoustic noise to avoid broadband acoustic noise, increase efficiency of the propulsion system and provide additional safety to passengers on the marine vessel and marine life in the body of water.

A marine vessel maneuvering support system includes a steering apparatus including a wheel portion supported rotatably with respect to a hull, mode switches provided on the wheel portion and operable to execute lateral thrust generation modes to generate a thrust that moves the hull in a lateral direction, paddles provided on the steering apparatus and operable to cause a thrust to be applied to the hull in a front-rear direction, and a controller configured or programmed to control at least two propulsion devices and execute the lateral thrust generation modes in accordance with instructions from the mode switches. The controller is configured or programmed to control at least one propulsion device of the at least two propulsion devices to generate or change the thrust in the front-rear direction acting on the hull in response to operations of the paddles when the lateral thrust generation mode is being executed.

A hull assembly for a pontoon boat includes a hull extending in a longitudinal direction between a front end and a rear end. A first thruster assembly is attached to a first lateral side of the hull. A second thruster assembly is attached to a second lateral side of the hull. The first and second thruster assemblies include respective thrust units that are each movable between a deployed position and a stowed position.

A controller receives a signal indicating an operating amount and an operating direction of a steering member. When the operating amount of the steering member is greater than or equal to a steering threshold, the controller causes right and left propulsion devices to generate thrusts oriented in opposite directions in a back-and-forth direction such that a vessel body is turned in a corresponding direction to the operating direction of the steering member.

This new art offers an improvement to conventional surfboards as well as any previous motorized jet surfboards. This application includes an electric powered surfboard equipped with high volume jet drive units that power it forward and significantly improve a surfer's wave fielding and catching ability. Once a wave is caught the drive unit can be shut off by the surfer. Then instantly, two flush fitting glide doors close the jet tube intake openings allowing the surfboard's bottom to return to a planning surface with no protrusions, except for fins, and no water filled jet tubes left open to detract from the surfboard's critical gliding ability when surfing waves. Also, there's a crowned deck shape that allows thin rail sensitivity for turning performance and a motor battery arrangement that provides mass centralization of weight. All this, combined with several wireless control means define this new fine handling motorized surfboard.

A watercraft propulsion system is disclosed for an amphibious vessels. The watercraft propulsion system includes a waterjet on each side of the vessel which consist mainly of an impeller, inlet assembly, and stator assembly. The waterjets resists vibrational fatigue and failure through specialized welding between the struts and the inside of the conduit of the inlet assembly. The waterjets can be retrofitted to existing drive shafts to meet the performance requirements of differing amphibious and other marine vessels and to accommodate space limitations. The waterjets are easily installed and removed.