Boats with multiple marine drives used to generate a desired wake and associated methods

Abstract

A boat including a propulsion system and methods of operating the boat to produce a surfable wake. The propulsion system has a port propulsion unit and a starboard propulsion unit, each including a propulsor and a motor. The port propulsion unit and the starboard propulsion unit can be operated or oriented differently from each other. The propulsor on the surf side of the boat can be positioned in a first trim position and the propulsor on the non-surf side of the boat can be positioned in a second trim position, with the first trim position being higher than the second trim position. The motor on the surf-side of the boat can be operated at a first speed and the motor on the non-surf-side the boat operated at a second speed. An angle of toe can be set between the port propulsor and the starboard propulsor.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A boat comprising:
 a propulsion system including:
 a port propulsion unit positioned on a port side of a centerline of the boat, the port propulsion unit including a port propulsor that is trimmable and capable of being positioned in a plurality of trim positions; and 
 a starboard propulsion unit positioned on a starboard side of the centerline of the boat, the starboard propulsion unit including a starboard propulsor that is trimmable and capable of being positioned in a plurality of trim positions; 
   a user input device including at least one of a first user-selectable option for wake surfing behind the boat on the port side of the centerline of the boat or a second user-selectable option for wake surfing behind the boat on the starboard side of the centerline of the boat,
 wherein if the first user-selectable option is selected, the port side of the boat is the surf side of the boat and the starboard side of the boat is a non-surf side of the boat, and 
 wherein if the second user-selectable option is selected, the starboard side of the boat is the surf side of the boat and the port side of the boat is the non-surf side of the boat; and 
   a controller communicatively coupled to the user input device and configured such that when either the first or second user-selectable option is selected, the controller causes the propulsor on the surf side of the boat to be positioned in a first trim position and causes the propulsor on the non-surf side of the boat to be positioned in a second trim position, the first trim position being higher than the second trim position.   
     
     
         2 . The boat of  claim 1 , wherein the user input device includes both the first user-selectable option and the second user-selectable option. 
     
     
         3 . The boat of  claim 1 , wherein each of the port propulsor and the starboard propulsor is trimmable between a fully tucked position and a fully raised position, and the second trim position is a fully tucked position. 
     
     
         4 . The boat of  claim 1 , wherein each of the port propulsor and the starboard propulsor is trimmable from a neutral position to a plurality of tucked positions and a plurality of raised positions, and the second trim position is a tucked position. 
     
     
         5 . The boat of  claim 4 , wherein the first trim position is a raised position. 
     
     
         6 . The boat of  claim 4 , further comprising a trim input control for adjusting the trim of the propulsion system, the trim input control being communicatively coupled to the controller to transmit a trim adjustment input, wherein the controller is configured to operate the boat in a surf mode and, when operating in the surf mode, the controller adjusts the trim of the propulsor of the surf side of the boat in response to the trim adjustment input and leaves the propulsor on the non-surf side of the boat in the tucked position. 
     
     
         7 . The boat of  claim 1 , wherein the user input device includes a third user-selectable option for wake surfing behind the boat on the port side of the centerline of the boat when the user input device includes the first user-selectable option, and the user input device includes a fourth user-selectable option for wake surfing behind the boat on the port side of the centerline of the boat when the user input device includes the second user-selectable option,
 wherein the controller includes a memory having stored therein at least one of a first trim offset for the first user-selectable option and a second trim offset for the second user-selectable option and stored therein at least one of a third trim offset for the third user-selectable option and a fourth trim offset for the fourth user-selectable option, the first trim offset being greater than the third trim offset, the second trim offset being greater than the forth trim offset, each of the first trim offset the second trim offset, the third trim offset, and the fourth trim offset is a difference in the trim position of the propulsor on the surf side of the boat and the propulsor on the non-surf side of the boat, and   wherein the controller causes each of the propulsor on the surf side of the boat and the propulsor on the non-surf side of the boat to be positioned based on the first trim offset when the first wake surf setting is selected, based on the second trim offset when the second wake surf setting is selected, based on the third trim offset when the third wake surf setting is selected, and based on the fourth trim offset when the fourth wake surf setting is selected.   
     
     
         8 . The boat of  claim 1 , wherein the controller includes a memory having stored therein a trim offset that is a difference in the trim position of the propulsor on the surf side of the boat and the propulsor on the non-surf side of the boat, the controller causing the propulsor on the surf side and the propulsor on the non-surf side to be positioned based on the trim offset. 
     
     
         9 . The boat of  claim 8 , further comprising a trim input control for adjusting the trim of the propulsion system, the trim input control being communicatively coupled to the controller to transmit a trim adjustment input, wherein the controller is configured to operate the boat in a surf mode and, when operating in the surf mode, the controller adjusts the trim of both the surf-side propulsor and the non-surf-side propulsor to maintain the trim offset between the surf-side propulsor and the non-surf-side propulsor in response to the trim adjustment input. 
     
     
         10 . The boat of  claim 1 , wherein the port propulsion unit includes a port motor operatively coupled to the port propulsor and the starboard propulsion unit includes a starboard motor operatively coupled to the starboard propulsor, and
 wherein the controller is configured such that, when either the first or second user selectable option is selected, the controller causes the motor on the surf side of the boat to operate at a first speed and causes the motor on the non-surf side of the boat to operate at a second speed, the first speed and the second speed being different from each other.   
     
     
         11 . The boat of  claim 10 , wherein the first speed is greater than the second speed. 
     
     
         12 . The boat of  claim 10 , wherein the user input device includes a third user-selectable option for wake surfing behind the boat on the port side of the centerline of the boat when the user input device includes the first user-selectable option, and the user input device includes a fourth user-selectable option for wake surfing behind the boat on the port side of the centerline of the boat when the user input device includes the second user-selectable option,
 wherein the controller includes a memory having stored therein at least one of a first offset motor speed for the first user-selectable option and a second offset motor speed for the second user-selectable option and stored therein at least one of a third offset motor speed for the third user-selectable option and a fourth offset motor speed for the fourth user-selectable option, the first offset motor speed being greater than the third offset motor speed, the second offset motor speed being greater than the fourth offset motor speed, and each of the first offset motor speed, the second offset motor speed, the third offset motor speed, and the fourth offset motor speed is a difference between the speed of the surf-side motor and the speed of the non-surf-side motor, and   wherein the controller causes the motor on the surf side of the boat and the motor on the non-surf side of the boat to operate based on the first offset motor speed when the first user-selectable option is selected, based on the second offset motor speed when the second user-selectable option is selected, based on the third offset motor speed when the third user-selectable option is selected, and based on the fourth offset motor speed when the fourth user-selectable option is selected.   
     
     
         13 . The boat of  claim 10 , wherein the controller includes a memory having stored therein an offset motor speed that is a difference between the speed of the motor on the surf side of the boat and the speed of the motor on the non-surf side of the boat, the controller causing motor on the surf side of the boat and the motor on the non-surf side of the boat to operate based on the offset motor speed. 
     
     
         14 . The boat of  claim 13 , further comprising a speed input control to set the speed of the boat, the speed input control being communicatively coupled to the controller to transmit a speed input, and
 wherein the controller is configured to operate the boat in a surf mode and, when operating in the surf mode, the controller adjusts the speed of both the surf-side motor and the non-surf-side motor to maintain the offset motor speed between the surf-side motor and the non-surf-side motor in response to the speed input.   
     
     
         15 . The boat of  claim 1 , wherein each of the port propulsor and the starboard propulsor is pivotable in the port and starboard direction, and
 wherein the controller causes at least one of the port propulsor or the starboard propulsor to pivot in the port and starboard direction to set an angle of toe between the port propulsor and the starboard propulsor when either the first or second user-selectable option is selected.   
     
     
         16 . The boat of  claim 15 , wherein the controller is configured such that when either the first or second user-selectable option is selected, the controller causes both the port propulsor and the starboard propulsor to pivot in the port and starboard direction relative to their corresponding neutral position to set the angle of toe. 
     
     
         17 . The boat of  claim 15 , wherein the controller is configured such that when either the first or second user-selectable option is selected, the controller causes the propulsor on the surf side to be positioned with a toed-out angle of toe relative to its neutral position. 
     
     
         18 . The boat of  claim 17 , wherein the controller is configured such that when either the first or second user-selectable option is selected, the controller causes the propulsor on the non-surf side to remain in its neutral position. 
     
     
         19 . The boat of  claim 15 , wherein the controller is configured such that when either the first or second user-selectable option is selected, the controller causes the propulsor on the non-surf side to be positioned with a toed-in angle of toe relative to its neutral position. 
     
     
         20 . The boat of  claim 19 , wherein the controller is configured such that when either the first or second user-selectable option is selected, the controller causes the propulsor on the surf side to remain in its neutral position. 
     
     
         21 . The boat of  claim 15 , wherein the user input device includes a third user-selectable option for wake surfing behind the boat on the port side of the centerline of the boat when the user input device includes the first user-selectable option, and the user input device includes a fourth user-selectable option for wake surfing behind the boat on the port side of the centerline of the boat when the user input device includes the second user-selectable option,
 wherein the controller includes a memory having stored therein at least one of a first angle of toe for the first user-selectable option or a second angle of toe for the second user-selectable option and stored therein at least one of a third angle of toe for the third user-selectable option or a fourth angle of toe for the fourth user-selectable option, the first angle of toe being greater than the third angle of toe, and the second angle of toe being greater than the fourth angle of toe, and   wherein the controller causes the port propulsor and the starboard propulsor to be positioned based on the first angle of toe when the first user-selectable option is selected, based on the second angle of toe when the second user-selectable option is selected, based on the third angle of toe when the third user-selectable option is selected, and based on the fourth angle of toe when the fourth user-selectable option is selected.   
     
     
         22 . The boat of  claim 15 , further comprising a steering control, wherein the controller is configured to operate the boat in a surf mode and, when operating in the surf mode, the steering control adjusts a steering angle of both the port propulsor and the starboard propulsor to maintain the angle of toe between the surf-side propulsor and the non-surf-side propulsor. 
     
     
         23 . The boat of  claim 15 , further comprising a steering control to receive a steering input to turn the boat in a direction of turn, one of the port propulsor and the starboard propulsor being an inboard propulsor relative to the direction of turn and the other one of the port propulsor and the starboard propulsor being an outboard propulsor relative to the direction of turn, wherein the controller is configured to operate the boat in a surf mode and, when operating in the surf mode, the steering control adjusts a steering angle of the inboard propulsor at a turning rate different from the outboard propulsor. 
     
     
         24 . The boat of  claim 23 , wherein the turning rate for the outboard propulsor is greater than the turning rate for the inboard propulsor. 
     
     
         25 . The boat of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a port-side surf device positioned on a port side of the centerline of the boat, the port-side surf device being movable between a deployed position and a non-deployed position; and   a starboard-side surf device positioned on a starboard side of the centerline of the boat, the starboard-side surf device being movable between a deployed position and a non-deployed position, and   wherein the controller is configured such that when either the first or second user-selectable option is selected, the controller causes the surf device on the non-surf side to be positioned in the deployed position.   
     
     
         26 . A boat comprising:
 a propulsion system including:
 a port propulsion unit positioned on a port side of a centerline of the boat, the port propulsion unit including a port propulsor and a port motor operatively coupled to the port propulsor; and 
 a starboard propulsion unit positioned on a starboard side of the centerline of the boat, the starboard propulsion unit including a starboard propulsor and a starboard motor operatively coupled to the starboard propulsor; 
   a user input device including at least one of a first user-selectable option for wake surfing behind the boat on the port side of the centerline of the boat or a second user-selectable option for wake surfing behind the boat on the starboard side of the centerline of the boat,
 wherein if the first user-selectable option is selected, the port side of the boat is the surf side of the boat and the starboard side of the boat is a non-surf side of the boat, and 
 wherein if the second user-selectable option is a user-selectable option is selected, the starboard side of the boat is the surf side of the boat and the port side of the boat is the non-surf side of the boat; and 
   a controller communicatively coupled to the user input device and configured such that when either the first or second user-selectable option is selected, the controller causes the motor on the surf-side of the boat to operate at a first speed and causes the motor on the non-surf-side of the boat to operate at a second speed, the first speed and the second speed being different from each other.   
     
     
         27 . A boat comprising:
 a propulsion system including:
 a port propulsion unit positioned on a port side of a centerline of the boat, the port propulsion unit including a port propulsor that is pivotable in the port and starboard direction; and 
 a starboard propulsion unit positioned on a starboard side of the centerline of the boat, the starboard propulsion unit including a starboard propulsor pivotable in the port and starboard direction; 
   a user input device including a user-selectable option for wake surfing behind the boat; and   a controller communicatively coupled to the user input device and configured such that when the user-selectable option for wake surfing behind the boat, the controller causes at least one of the port propulsor and the starboard propulsor to pivot in the port and starboard direction to set an angle of toe between the port propulsor and the starboard propulsor.