Watercraft with steer-responsive throttle

Abstract

A watercraft with a steer-responsive throttle generates thrust when the steerable propulsion unit is turned beyond a predetermined angular threshold. The turning of the steering wheel beyond the threshold causes the throttle to be opened so that the steerable propulsion unit produces a thrust at least equal to the minimal propulsive force needed to effectively steer the watercraft. A watercraft equipped with a steerresponsive throttle ensures that there is always sufficient thrust for steering the watercraft even when the operator fails to open the throttle manually. This steerresponsive throttle is applicable to single-engine personal watercraft, twin-engine jet boats or motorboats equipped with swivel-mounted outboard motors. In a first embodiment of the steer-responsive throttle, rotation of the steering wheel beyond the angular threshold causes an actuating cable to open the throttle. In a second embodiment, an electronic control system regulates the throttle by calculating the optimal throttle setting based on measurements derived from a speed sensor, a steering angle sensor and, optionally, a throttle position sensor.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A watercraft, comprising: 
 a hull;    a steering assembly supported by the hull;    an engine mounted within the hull;    a manually actuated throttle control operatively connected to the engine for manually changing engine speed;    a jet propulsion assembly supported by the hull having an inlet that draws in water and an outlet which expels water, wherein the jet propulsion assembly is operatively connected to the engine so that the engine drives the jet propulsion assembly to generate thrust and expel a pressurized stream of water that propels the watercraft;    a steering nozzle disposed at the outlet of the jet propulsion assembly and operatively connected to the steering assembly, wherein the steering assembly transmits steering signals to the steering nozzle to direct the pressurized stream of water in a desired direction to steer the watercraft; and    an actuator operatively connected to the engine and the steering assembly that controls engine speed so that a minimum thrust is generated by the jet propulsion assembly when the steering assembly is turned beyond an angular threshold to effectively steer the watercraft.