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 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 trolling plate which, together with a supporting and deployment mechanism, is fixed to and strutted from an outboard motor without the need for engineering modifications or the use special tools; said trolling plate being pivotably deployable into the water in the zone immediately downstream of the propeller of the outboard motor to substantially block the efflux from said propeller and thereby reduce its propulsive effort; said deployment being effected in a universally variable way by means of a suitable actuator; control means of said actuator and/or said deployment mechanism incorporating means to permit the immediate retraction of said trolling plate should it impact an obstruction or should the power of said outboard motor suddenly be increased.

A trolling plate which, together with a supporting and deployment mechanism, is fixed to and strutted from an outboard motor without the need for engineering modifications or the use special tools; said trolling plate being pivotably deployable into the water in the zone immediately downstream of the propeller of the outboard motor to substantially block the efflux from said propeller and thereby reduce its propulsive effort; said deployment being effected in a universally variable way by means of a suitable actuator; control means of said actuator and/or said deployment mechanism incorporating means to permit the immediate retraction of said trolling plate should it impact an obstruction or should the power of said outboard motor suddenly be increased.

A boat propeller apparatus can be coupled to virtually any motor boat to cause the boat to safely and efficiently produce a surfable wake. The boat propeller apparatus can be configured to mount to the boat in a way that causes the apparatus to be positioned and secured behind but spaced from the propeller while the boat is moving forward. The apparatus will therefore be in the path of the propelled water and will function to divert the propelled water in such a way as to create a larger/taller wake than would otherwise be produced by the boat. The boat propeller apparatus can also function as a propeller shield and be used in conjunction with a propeller guard.

A hands-free kayak steering system is a system that enables users to maneuver small watercrafts without requiring physical steering by the user. The system may include a bridging base, a first maneuvering mechanism, a second maneuvering mechanism, a user controller, and a portable power source. The bridging base supports the user controller for the user to steer the watercraft using the feet. The first maneuvering mechanism and the second maneuvering mechanism enable the system to adjust to fit on the watercraft. In addition, the first maneuvering mechanism and the second maneuvering mechanism generate thrust to propel the watercraft in the desired direction. The user controller enables the user to selectively engage the first maneuvering mechanism and the second maneuvering mechanism to steer the watercraft in the desired direction. Finally, the portable power source provides the voltage necessary to power both the first maneuvering mechanism and the second maneuvering mechanism.

A hands-free kayak steering system is a system that enables users to maneuver small watercrafts without requiring physical steering by the user. The system may include a bridging base, a first maneuvering mechanism, a second maneuvering mechanism, a user controller, and a portable power source. The bridging base supports the user controller for the user to steer the watercraft using the feet. The first maneuvering mechanism and the second maneuvering mechanism enable the system to adjust to fit on the watercraft. In addition, the first maneuvering mechanism and the second maneuvering mechanism generate thrust to propel the watercraft in the desired direction. The user controller enables the user to selectively engage the first maneuvering mechanism and the second maneuvering mechanism to steer the watercraft in the desired direction. Finally, the portable power source provides the voltage necessary to power both the first maneuvering mechanism and the second maneuvering mechanism.

A hands-free kayak steering system is a system that enables users to maneuver small watercrafts without requiring physical steering by the user. The system may include a bridging base, a first maneuvering mechanism, a second maneuvering mechanism, a user controller, and a portable power source. The bridging base supports the user controller for the user to steer the watercraft using the feet. The first maneuvering mechanism and the second maneuvering mechanism enable the system to adjust to fit on the watercraft. In addition, the first maneuvering mechanism and the second maneuvering mechanism generate thrust to propel the watercraft in the desired direction. The user controller enables the user to selectively engage the first maneuvering mechanism and the second maneuvering mechanism to steer the watercraft in the desired direction. Finally, the portable power source provides the voltage necessary to power both the first maneuvering mechanism and the second maneuvering mechanism.

A hands-free kayak steering system is a system that enables users to maneuver small watercrafts without requiring physical steering by the user. The system may include a bridging base, a first maneuvering mechanism, a second maneuvering mechanism, a user controller, and a portable power source. The bridging base supports the user controller for the user to steer the watercraft using the feet. The first maneuvering mechanism and the second maneuvering mechanism enable the system to adjust to fit on the watercraft. In addition, the first maneuvering mechanism and the second maneuvering mechanism generate thrust to propel the watercraft in the desired direction. The user controller enables the user to selectively engage the first maneuvering mechanism and the second maneuvering mechanism to steer the watercraft in the desired direction. Finally, the portable power source provides the voltage necessary to power both the first maneuvering mechanism and the second maneuvering mechanism.

A ship control system that includes a ship and an input device, in which the ship includes an actuator having a function of generating thrust for the ship and a function of generating a moment in the ship, a first operation unit configured to receive an input operation from a ship operator, and a ship control device configured to activate the actuator, the input device includes a second operation unit configured to receive an input operation from the ship operator, the ship control device includes a first operation mode and a second operation mode, a moment is generated in the ship on the basis of the input operation received by the first operation unit in the first operation mode, the actuator is activated on the basis of the input operation received by the second operation unit in the second operation mode, and the ship control device executes bow direction feedback control of the ship on the basis of a deviation between a target bow direction and an actual bow direction of the ship in the second operation mode.