System for distributing battery weight on a boat

Abstract

A system for a boat includes a first guideway installed under a main deck of the boat, a first battery pack coupled to the first guideway under the main deck, and a first actuator configured to move the first battery pack along the first guideway. A controller is electrically and/or signally coupled with the first actuator. A user input device is electrically and/or signally coupled with the controller. The controller is configured to control the first actuator to move the first battery pack along the first guideway in response to an input to the user input device so as to relocate the weight of the first battery pack under the main deck.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A boat comprising: 
 a main deck;   a first guideway installed under the main deck;   a first battery pack coupled to the first guideway under the main deck;    a first actuator configured to move the first battery pack along the first guideway so as to relocate the weight of the first battery pack under the main deck; and   an electrically powered marine propulsion device configured to produce thrust to propel the boat through water;   
       wherein the marine propulsion device is powered by the first battery pack. 
     
     
         2 . The boat of  claim 1 , further comprising a power distribution box electrically connected to the first battery pack, wherein the marine propulsion device is electrically connected to the first battery pack via the power distribution box. 
     
     
         3 . The boat of  claim 1 , further comprising a step-down converter electrically coupled between the first battery pack and the first actuator, wherein the first actuator is powered by the first battery pack. 
     
     
         4 . The boat of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a controller electrically and/or signally coupled with the first actuator; and   a speed sensor electrically and/or signally coupled with the controller, the speed sensor being configured to determine a speed of the boat;   
       wherein the first guideway and the first actuator are configured for movement of the first battery pack in a fore-aft direction of the boat; and 
       wherein the controller is configured to control the first actuator to move the first battery pack in the fore-aft direction in response to the speed of the boat. 
     
     
         5 . The boat of  claim 4 , further comprising an attitude sensor electrically and/or signally coupled with the controller, the attitude sensor providing information related to an angle of the main deck with respect to a stationary plane; 
       wherein the controller is configured to control the first actuator to move the first battery pack along the first guideway in response to the information from the attitude sensor. 
     
     
         6 . The boat of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a second guideway installed under the main deck;   a second battery pack coupled to the second guideway; and   a second actuator configured to move the second battery pack along the second guideway.   
     
     
         7 . The boat of  claim 6 , wherein the first and second guideways and the first and second actuators are configured for movement of the respective first and second battery packs in a fore-aft direction of the boat. 
     
     
         8 . The boat of  claim 6 , wherein the first guideway and the first actuator are configured for movement of the first battery pack in a fore-aft direction of the boat; and  
       wherein the second guideway and the second actuator are configured for movement of the second battery pack in a port-starboard direction of the boat. 
     
     
         9 . The boat of  claim 1 , further comprising a user input device electrically and/or signally coupled with the first actuator, wherein the first actuator is configured to move the first battery pack along the first guideway in response to an input to the user input device. 
     
     
         10 . The boat of  claim 1 , wherein the primary purpose of the first battery pack is to power the marine propulsion device. 
     
     
         11 . A system for a boat, the system comprising: 
 a first guideway installed under a main deck of the boat;   a first battery pack coupled to the first guideway under the main deck;    a first actuator configured to move the first battery pack along the first guideway;   a controller electrically and/or signally coupled with the first actuator;    at least one of a user input device, a speed sensor, and an attitude sensor electrically and/or signally coupled with the controller; and   an electrically powered marine propulsion device configured to produce thrust to propel the boat through water, wherein the marine propulsion device is powered by the first battery pack;   
       wherein the controller is configured to control the first actuator to move the first battery pack along the first guideway in response to input from the at least one of the user input device, the speed sensor, and the attitude sensor so as to relocate the weight of the first battery pack under the main deck. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising a power distribution box electrically connected to the first battery pack, wherein the marine propulsion device is electrically connected to the first battery pack via the power distribution box. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising a step-down converter electrically coupled between the first battery pack and the first actuator, wherein the first actuator is powered by the first battery pack. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the system comprises the speed sensor; 
       wherein the speed sensor is configured to determine a speed of the boat;  
       wherein the first guideway and the first actuator are configured for movement of the first battery pack in a fore-aft direction of the boat; and 
       wherein the controller is configured to control the first actuator to move the first battery pack in the fore-aft direction in response to the speed of the boat. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the system comprises the attitude sensor; 
       wherein the attitude sensor provides information related to an angle of the main deck with respect to a stationary plane; 
       wherein the first guideway and the first actuator are configured for movement of the first battery pack in a fore-aft direction of the boat or in a port-starboard direction of the boat; and 
       wherein the controller is configured to control the first actuator to move the first battery pack along the first guideway in response to the information from the attitude sensor. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 a second guideway installed under the main deck;   a second battery pack coupled to the second guideway; and   a second actuator configured to move the second battery pack along the second guideway.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the first and second guideways and the first and second actuators are configured for movement of the respective first and second battery packs in a fore-aft direction of the boat. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the first guideway and the first actuator are configured for movement of the first battery pack in a fore-aft direction of the boat; and  
       wherein the second guideway and the second actuator are configured for movement of the second battery pack in a port-starboard direction of the boat. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the system comprises the user input device and the attitude sensor; 
       wherein the attitude sensor provides information related to an angle of the main deck with respect to a stationary plane; and 
       wherein the controller is configured to control the first actuator to move the first battery pack along the first guideway in response to an input to the user input device and in response to the information from the attitude sensor. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the primary purpose of the first battery pack is to power the marine propulsion device.