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 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 propulsion rudder for use with a water vessel, preferably an unmanned surface water vessel. The propulsion rudder includes a rotating base, a rudder assembly, and a thrust assembly. In one embodiment, the rudder assembly may comprise two vertical mast rudders connected by an upper horizontal wing, with the thrust assembly mounted on the horizontal wing. In a second embodiment, the rudder assembly may comprise an annular airfoil with the thrust assembly mounted on a mast and positioned in the center of the annular airfoil. The thrust assembly may be a propeller, a turbine, a ramjet, or a rocket.

A propulsion rudder for use with a water vessel, preferably an unmanned surface water vessel. The propulsion rudder includes a rotating base, a rudder assembly, and a thrust assembly. In one embodiment, the rudder assembly may comprise two vertical mast rudders connected by an upper horizontal wing, with the thrust assembly mounted on the horizontal wing. In a second embodiment, the rudder assembly may comprise an annular airfoil with the thrust assembly mounted on a mast and positioned in the center of the annular airfoil. The thrust assembly may be a propeller, a turbine, a ramjet, or a rocket.

A marine propulsion system includes at least one propulsion device and a user input device configured to facilitate input for engaging automatic propulsion control functionality with respect to a docking surface, wherein the user input device includes a direction indicator display configured to visually indicate a direction with respect to the marine vessel. A controller is configured to identify a potential docking surface, determine a direction of the potential docking surface with respect to the marine vessel, and control the direction indicator display to indicate the direction of the potential docking surface with respect to the marine vessel. When a user selection is received via the user input device to select the potential docking surface as a selected docking surface, and propulsion of the marine vessel is automatically controlled by controlling the at least one propulsion device to move the marine vessel with respect to the selected docking surface.

[Problem] To provide a collision damage reduction system for watercrafts, which system is usable even when a user watercraft stops or is moving at slow speed.

[Solution] A collision damage reduction system for watercrafts comprises: an information acquiring device for acquiring information on a user watercraft 2 and a target watercraft 11; a turning device for turning the user watercraft 2 to change a front-rear direction thereof; and a control device configured to acquire the information from the information acquiring device, and control the turning device based on the acquired information. When detecting a risk of collision between the user watercraft 2 and the target watercraft 11, the control device controls the turning device such that the turning device turns the user watercraft 2 to a state in which the front-rear direction thereof is parallel to a moving direction of the target watercraft 11.

[Problem] To provide a collision damage reduction system for watercrafts, which system is usable even when a user watercraft stops or is moving at slow speed.

[Solution] A collision damage reduction system for watercrafts comprises: an information acquiring device for acquiring information on a user watercraft 2 and a target watercraft 11; a turning device for turning the user watercraft 2 to change a front-rear direction thereof; and a control device configured to acquire the information from the information acquiring device, and control the turning device based on the acquired information. When detecting a risk of collision between the user watercraft 2 and the target watercraft 11, the control device controls the turning device such that the turning device turns the user watercraft 2 to a state in which the front-rear direction thereof is parallel to a moving direction of the target watercraft 11.

A planing boat including: a hull having a boarding area; a screw unit having a screw, and configured to be rotatable with respect to the hull so that the expulsion direction of a water current by the screw can vary by 360 degrees; and a direction change mechanism having a turning drive force source, and configured to change the expulsion direction by rotating the screw unit with respect to the hull with a drive force of the turning drive force source.

A planing boat including: a hull having a boarding area; a screw unit having a screw, and configured to be rotatable with respect to the hull so that the expulsion direction of a water current by the screw can vary by 360 degrees; and a direction change mechanism having a turning drive force source, and configured to change the expulsion direction by rotating the screw unit with respect to the hull with a drive force of the turning drive force source.

A method of automatically moving, by an automatic location placement system, a marine vessel includes receiving, by a central processing unit, from a vision ranging photography system, at least one optical feed including data providing a mapping of an environment surrounding a marine vessel. The method includes displaying, by the central processing unit, on a touch screen monitor, the mapping of the environment. The method includes receiving, by the central processing unit, from the touch screen monitor, target location data. The method includes directing, by the central processing unit, at least one element of a propulsion system of the marine vessel, to move the marine vessel to the targeted location, using the mapping.