Control system for controlling operations of a marine vessel having a first engine and a second engine is provided. Parity switches are operable to start/stop first and second engine. Each parity switch is actuated for first time to activate remote start/stop control of respective engine. Each switch is actuated for second time to switch respective engine to ON or OFF state. Operator console is communicatively coupled to parity switches to receive first and/or second user inputs. Propulsion control unit is communicably coupled to operator console via network communication channel, first engine control unit of first engine and second engine control unit of second engine. Propulsion control unit receives operational parameters for engines from engine control units and receives first and second user inputs from operator console. Propulsion control unit transmits engine operating signals for operating respective engines in response to first and/or second user input and based on operational parameters.

A marine vessel includes a hull, an operator station having an operator interface configured to receive a mode input and a lever position input, a left propulsion system, a right propulsion system, and a control module. Each of the propulsion systems includes an engine, a transmission, a troll valve configured to adjust clutch slip, a shaft, a shaft speed sensor configured to detect the speed of rotation of the shaft, and a propeller. The control module is configured to receive the mode input and the lever position input from the operator interface, receive signals from the left shaft sensor indicating a left shaft speed, receive signals from the right shaft sensor indicating a right shaft speed, determine if the vessel is operating in a trolling state, and determine if a sync mode is active, based on the mode input. If the sync mode is active and the vessel is in a trolling state, the speed of the left shaft and the right shaft are synchronized.

An outboard motor includes a shift actuator, a wire connector to allow a wire of a mechanical remote control to be connected thereto and operable to be moved by the wire, a shift detector to detect that the wire connector has moved to a neutral position corresponding to a shift state of a neutral state or a drive position corresponding to the shift state of a drive state, and a controller configured or programmed to perform a control to drive the shift actuator to switch the shift state to the neutral state or the drive state based on a detection result of the shift detector.

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 marine propulsion control system for use with a marine vessel includes an engine in electronic communication an engine controller, and a transmission having a gearbox and an oil pressure sensor in electronic communication with the engine controller and configured to measure a transmission oil pressure. The gearbox includes a feedback sensor configured to transmit a gear state. A propulsion device is rotatably connected to the gearbox, and a shaft fixedly attached to the propulsion device and rotatably coupled to the gearbox. The shaft includes a shaft rotation sensor configured to measure a rotational direction of the shaft. A propulsion control processor is in electronic communication with the engine controller, the shaft rotation sensor and the gearbox, and is configured to determine a current gear of the marine vessel based on the rotational direction of the shaft and one or more of the gear state and the transmission oil pressure.

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.

Example steering control systems for multiple devices are provided herein. A system includes a trolling motor assembly having a propulsion motor and a steering actuator and a sonar assembly comprising a transducer assembly and a directional actuator. The system further includes a user input assembly that is configured to detect user activity related to controlling operation of the trolling motor assembly and operation of the sonar assembly. The system further includes a processor that is configured to determine a direction of turn based on user activity, generate an electrical turning input signal indicating the direction of turn, and direct one of the steering actuator and the directional actuator, via the turning input signal, to rotate one of the propulsion motor and the transducer assembly, respectively, in a direction of turn based on the turning input signal.

A marine propulsion system, comprising a drive shaft secured to a propeller to rotationally drive the propeller; a motor selectively coupled to the drive shaft to rotate the drive shaft; an electrical energy storage unit coupled to the motor to supply an on-board electrical power supply to the motor, the electrical energy storage unit configured to be recharged by an on-shore electrical power supply; an engine selectively coupled to the drive shaft to rotate the drive shall, the engine not coupled to the electrical energy storage unit for use as a generator to recharge the electrical energy storage unit; and a control system coupled to the motor and to the engine for selecting one of the motor and the engine to rotate the drive shaft. A hybrid marine propulsion method, comprising rotationally driving a drive shaft and propeller using an engine; shifting the engine into neutral; turning on an electric motor by manually activating a motor toggle; disengaging the engine from rotational driving engagement with the drive shaft and engaging the electric motor in rotational driving engagement with the drive shaft; and turning on a fluid sub-system to supply fluid to the drive shaft by manually activating a fluid sub-system toggle.

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 propulsion control system for use with a marine vessel, includes a port side engine in electronic communication with a port side engine controller and a starboard side engine in electronic communication with a starboard side engine controller. A control station includes a port lever configured to control a throttle of the port side engine, a starboard lever configured to control a throttle of the starboard side engine, and a user interface. A propulsion control processor is in electronic communication with the port side engine controller, the starboard side engine controller, and control station. In a synchronized operating mode, the propulsion control processor transmits a throttle instruction to the port side engine controller and the starboard side engine controller pursuant to a throttle position of a master lever corresponding to the first of the port lever and starboard lever to be actuated upon activation of the synchronized operating mode.