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 boat maneuvering control method for a boat includes acquiring target route information and information about an actual position of the boat, setting a target position based on the target route information and the information about the actual position, acquiring, as a deviation amount, a distance between the target position and the boat in a predetermined direction that intersects with a target route, and controlling a magnitude of a propulsion force of a propulsion device so as to reduce the deviation amount.

A method for maneuvering a marine vessel includes receiving an input signal from an analog user input device and comparing a magnitude of the input signal to a predetermined threshold. In response to the magnitude of the input signal being less than the predetermined threshold, the method includes actuating a first marine propulsion device to produce thrust. In response to the magnitude of the input signal being greater than or equal to the predetermined threshold, the method includes actuating the first marine propulsion device and a second marine propulsion device to produce thrust. The second marine propulsion device does not produce thrust when the magnitude of the input signal is less than the predetermined threshold.

A joystick device is operable to provide speed, direction and steering commands for controlling a marine vessel. A marine propulsion control system controls a set of propulsion units carried by a hull of a marine vessel, wherein the marine propulsion control system is adapted to receive an input command from such a joystick device.

A watercraft maneuvering system includes watercraft maneuvering stations to steer and adjust a propulsive force of a watercraft and including a main station including a steering wheel to steer the watercraft and an acceleration lever to adjust the propulsive force, and a substation spaced apart from the main station and including a joystick to both steer the watercraft and adjust the propulsive force. By operating a joystick button provided in the substation, an operative station may be switched from the main station to the substation. At the same time, a control mode may be switched to a joystick mode.

A watercraft having a body with an opening for a user, a seat, at least one drive mechanism placed at least partially within the opening; an intake configured to allow a flow of water from a body of water surrounding the watercraft; a pump configured receive the flow of water and accelerate the flow of water, and a user controlled discharge configured to receive the flow of accelerated water from the pump and discharge the accelerated water to the water surrounding the watercraft such that the watercraft moves in a direction chosen by the user.

A steering system for a hydrofoil watercraft, wherein a user may ride in a seated, prone, kneeling, or standing position while steering the watercraft without the use of his or her bodyweight. Vertical elevation, left and right roll, and longitudinal direction control of the watercraft is accomplished via steering, resulting in movement of the control surfaces (fins) on the hydrofoil, thus eliminating the need for weight shifting on the flotation device. An electronic remote and/or mounted joystick steering system can be operated either electronically or through direct mechanical linkage to control the direction of the watercraft. The steering system can include an unmanned remote controlled drone hydrofoil watercraft that can be operated remotely.

A marine vessel maneuvering system includes a controller configured or programmed to, when an operator is operated to move a marine vessel forward, perform a forward acceleration assist control to perform a control to generate a forward propulsive force in a propulsion generator of a marine propulsion unit that is not used when the operator is operated to move the marine vessel diagonally forward among three or more marine propulsion units.

A marine vessel propulsion control system that smoothly performs propulsion control of a marine vessel includes a controller configured or programmed to control a propulsion device that applies a thrust to a marine vessel. The controller is configured or programmed to adjust the thrust based on position information of the marine vessel and map information that includes an avoidance target.

A controller generates a first forward thrust with a first propulsion device and generates a first backward thrust with a second propulsion device with a same number as the first propulsion device in case that the backward thrust is less than a predetermined threshold. The controller generates a second forward thrust larger than the first forward thrust with the first propulsion device and generates a second backward thrust with each of the second propulsion devices greater than the first propulsion device in case that the backward thrust is greater than or equal to the predetermined threshold.