Watercraft propulsion system, and watercraft

Abstract

A watercraft propulsion system includes an electric propulsion device attachable to a hull, an indicator located above a draft line of the hull and operable to indicate to surroundings of the electric propulsion device information about the state of the electric propulsion device, and a controller. The controller has a plurality of control modes including an electric propulsion device enabled mode in which the electric propulsion device is enabled to be driven, and is configured or programmed to perform an indicator control operation in the electric propulsion device enabled mode to actuate the indicator to indicate that the electric propulsion device is in a drivable state.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A watercraft propulsion system comprising:
 an electric propulsion device attachable to a hull;   an indicator located above a draft line of the hull and operable to indicate to surroundings of the electric propulsion device information about a state of the electric propulsion device; and   a controller including a plurality of control modes including an electric propulsion device enabled mode in which the electric propulsion device is enabled to be driven, and configured or programmed to perform an indicator control operation in the electric propulsion device enabled mode to actuate the indicator to indicate that the electric propulsion device is in a drivable state.   
     
     
         2 . The watercraft propulsion system according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an engine propulsion device attachable to the hull; wherein   the plurality of control modes further include an electric propulsion device disabled mode in which the engine propulsion device is enabled to generate a propulsive force and the electric propulsion device is disabled from being driven; and   the controller is configured or programmed to perform an indicator stopping control operation in the electric propulsion device disabled mode to stop the actuation of the indicator.   
     
     
         3 . The watercraft propulsion system according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a lift to move up and down a propeller of the electric propulsion device between an underwater position and an above-water position; wherein   the controller is configured or programmed to enable the indicator control operation when the propeller is in the underwater position, and to disable the indicator control operation when the propeller is in the above-water position.   
     
     
         4 . The watercraft propulsion system according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an operator operable by a user to maneuver the hull; wherein   the electric propulsion device enabled mode includes an operation response mode in which the controller drives the electric propulsion device in response to the operation of the operator.   
     
     
         5 . The watercraft propulsion system according to  claim 4 , wherein the electric propulsion device enabled mode further includes an operation hold mode in which an operation state value indicating an operation state of the operator is stored and the controller is configured or programmed to drive the electric propulsion device according to the stored operation state value. 
     
     
         6 . The watercraft propulsion system according to  claim 4 , wherein the electric propulsion device enabled mode further includes an automatic mode in which a hull behavior is controlled without operating the operator. 
     
     
         7 . The watercraft propulsion system according to  claim 1 , wherein the indicator is provided on the hull. 
     
     
         8 . A watercraft propulsion system comprising:
 an electric propulsion device attachable to a hull; and   an indicator located above a draft line of the hull and operable to indicate to surroundings of the electric propulsion device that the electric propulsion device is in a drivable state.   
     
     
         9 . The watercraft propulsion system according to  claim 8 , further comprising an engine propulsion device attachable to the hull. 
     
     
         10 . The watercraft propulsion system according to  claim 9 , wherein
 the electric propulsion device and the engine propulsion device are provided side by side on a stern of the hull; and   the indicator is operable to generate an indicator signal that is recognizable from a rear side of the hull.   
     
     
         11 . A watercraft comprising:
 a hull; and   the watercraft propulsion system according to  claim 1  provided on the hull.   
     
     
         12 . A watercraft comprising:
 a hull; and   the watercraft propulsion system according to  claim 8  provided on the hull.