Watercraft steering mechanism and trimmer

Abstract

A method for controlling a watercraft with a steering wheel, a steering device and twin motors, the method includes: maneuvering the watercraft at a first speed using side thrusters, controllable pitch propellers, or side thrusters with a deflection device as the steering device, wherein, when the watercraft travels in reverse and the watercraft makes a turn at the first speed, the steering wheel and the watercraft turn in a same direction, and maneuvering the watercraft at a second speed higher than the first speed using the controllable pitch propellers as the steering device, wherein, when the watercraft makes a turn at the second speed, a constant speed is maintained for both of the twin motors.

1 . A method for controlling a watercraft with a steering wheel, a steering device and twin motors, the method comprising:
 maneuvering the watercraft at a first speed using side thrusters, controllable pitch propellers, or side thrusters with a deflection device as the steering device, wherein, when the watercraft travels in reverse and the watercraft makes a turn at the first speed, the steering wheel and the watercraft turn in a same direction, and   maneuvering the watercraft at a second speed higher than the first speed using the controllable pitch propellers as the steering device, wherein, when the watercraft makes a turn at the second speed, a constant speed is maintained for both of the twin motors.   
     
     
         2 . The method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein:
 the watercraft maneuvers at the first speed using the side thrusters as the steering device, and   a steering angle of the steering wheel determines a transverse thrust of the side thrusters.   
     
     
         3 . The method in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein:
 the side thrusters include a bow side thruster,   when the steering wheel is turned to a port side of the watercraft, the watercraft moves in a forward direction and the bow side thruster is activated, the bow side thruster exerts a thrust to starboard, and   when the steering wheel is turned to a starboard side of the watercraft, the watercraft moves in the forward direction and the bow side thruster is activated, the bow side thruster exerts a thrust to port.   
     
     
         4 . The method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein:
 the watercraft maneuvers at the first speed using the side thrusters as the steering device, and   the side thrusters are not activated above a predetermined speed.   
     
     
         5 . The method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the watercraft maneuvers at the first speed using the controllable pitch propellers as the steering device. 
     
     
         6 . The method in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein:
 when the steering wheel is turned to a port side of the watercraft and the watercraft moves in a forward direction, a port side controllable pitch propeller reduces pitch and a starboard side controllable pitch propeller increases pitch in the forward direction, and   when the steering wheel is turned to a starboard side of the watercraft and the watercraft moves in the forward direction, the starboard side controllable pitch propeller reduces pitch and the port side controllable pitch propeller increases pitch in the forward direction.   
     
     
         7 . The method in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein revolutions of the twin motors are electronically controlled so that the revolutions of the twin motors remain constant at the second speed when the steering wheel is turned and one of the controllable pitch propellers is displaced. 
     
     
         8 . The method in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein a position of propellers of the controllable pitch propellers is dependent upon a speed of the watercraft, a position of a reverse lever that indicates a direction that the watercraft travels and a steering angle position of the steering wheel. 
     
     
         9 . The method in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein the controllable pitch propellers are attached to a path measuring unit that sends a measured value to a controller for a nominal value versus an actual value comparison in order to appropriately position the controllable pitch propellers. 
     
     
         10 . The method in accordance with  claim 8 , wherein a speed of the watercraft is measured using at least one of revolutions of twin motors, revolutions of the controllable pitch propellers multiplied by propeller pitch, or a global positioning system, that is relayed to a controller. 
     
     
         11 . The method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein measuring units are fitted to a shifting lever that indicates a direction that the watercraft travels, and an activator and a steering activator the controls a movement of the watercraft. 
     
     
         12 . The method in accordance with  claim 7 , wherein the controllable pitch propellers do not produce a backward thrust when the steering wheel is turned at the second speed. 
     
     
         13 . The method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein a direction of thrust of the steering device is reversed when the watercraft switches a travel direction from a forward direction to a reverse direction and the steering wheel remains turned in a same direction. 
     
     
         14 . The method in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein:
 the side thrusters include a bow side thruster,   when the steering wheel is turned to a port side of the watercraft, the watercraft moves in a reverse direction and the bow side thruster is activated, the bow side thruster exerts a thrust to port, and   when the steering wheel is turned to a starboard side of the watercraft, the watercraft moves in the reverse direction and the bow side thruster is activated, the bow side thruster exerts a thrust to starboard.   
     
     
         15 . The method in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein:
 when the steering wheel is turned to a port side of the watercraft and the watercraft moves in a reverse direction, a port side controllable pitch propeller reduces pitch and a starboard side controllable pitch propeller increases pitch in the reverse direction, and   when the steering wheel is turned to a starboard side of the watercraft and the watercraft moves in the reverse direction, the starboard side controllable pitch propeller reduces pitch and the port side controllable pitch propeller increases pitch in the reverse direction.