Thruster system for marine vessels

A boat comprising:

• a hull;
• a primary steering mechanism carried by the hull;
• a control station located on the hull;
• a helm located at the control station, the primary steering mechanism being operable via the helm and a helm input being derived from operation of the primary steering mechanism by the helm;
• and
• a thruster system carried by the hull, the thruster system including:
• at least one thruster mounted to the hull, the at least one thruster being distinct from the primary steering mechanism;
• and
• a controller receiving the helm input and configured with program instructions to operate the at least one thruster responsive to the helm input to supplement a corresponding movement of the hull;
• wherein the controller is further configured to distinguish between forward and aft operation based on a direction input when operating the at least one thruster responsive to the helm input;
• and
• wherein operation of the at least one thruster by the controller during aft operation of the boat is reversed relative to operation of the at least one thruster by the controller during forward operation of the boat.

A boat comprising:

• a hull;
• a primary steering mechanism carried by the hull;
• a control station located on the hull;
• a helm located at the control station, the primary steering mechanism being operable via the helm and a helm input being derived from operation of the primary steering mechanism by the helm;
• and
• a thruster system carried by the hull, the thruster system including:
• at least one thruster mounted to the hull, the at least one thruster being distinct from the primary steering mechanism;
• and
• a controller receiving the helm input and configured with program instructions to operate the at least one thruster responsive to the helm input to supplement a corresponding movement of the hull;
• wherein the controller is further configured to operate the at least one thruster responsive to a vehicle speed input indicative of boat speed;
• wherein the controller is configured not to automatically operate the at least one thruster above an upper boat speed threshold.

A boat comprising:

• a hull;
• a primary steering mechanism carried by the hull;
• a control station located on the hull;
• a helm located at the control station, the primary steering mechanism being operable via the helm and a helm input being derived from operation of the primary steering mechanism by the helm;
• a thruster system carried by the hull, the thruster system including:
• at least one thruster mounted to the hull, the at least one thruster being distinct from the primary steering mechanism;
• and
• a controller receiving the helm input and configured with program instructions to operate the at least one thruster responsive to the helm input to supplement a corresponding movement of the hull;
• and
• a ballasting system carried by the hull;
• wherein the controller is further configured to operate the at least one thruster responsive to a ballast input indicative of a ballast level in the ballasting system.

A boat comprising:

• a hull;
• a primary steering mechanism carried by the hull;
• a control station located on the hull;
• a helm located at the control station, the primary steering mechanism being operable via the helm and a helm input being derived from operation of the primary steering mechanism by the helm;
• and
• a thruster system carried by the hull, the thruster system including:
• at least one thruster mounted to the hull, the at least one thruster being distinct from the primary steering mechanism;
• and
• a controller receiving the helm input and configured with program instructions to operate the at least one thruster responsive to the helm input to supplement a corresponding movement of the hull;
• wherein the thruster system further includes a user interface device, the user interface device operable to allow a user to disable automatic control of the at least one thruster by the controller.

A boat comprising:

• a hull;
• a primary steering mechanism carried by the hull;
• a control station located on the hull;
• a helm located at the control station, the primary steering mechanism being operable via the helm and a helm input being derived from operation of the primary steering mechanism by the helm;
• a thruster system carried by the hull, the thruster system including:
• at least one thruster mounted to the hull, the at least one thruster being distinct from the primary steering mechanism;
• and
• a controller receiving the helm input and configured with program instructions to operate the at least one thruster responsive to the helm input to supplement a corresponding movement of the hull;
• a first exhaust port positioned to vent engine exhaust below a hull waterline at the stern;
• a second exhaust port positioned to vent engine exhaust above a hull waterline;
• and
• a crossover device configured to automatically switch an exhaust vent path between the first and second exhaust ports;
• wherein the at least one thruster includes a stern thruster mounted athwartship at a stern of the hull, such that operation of the stern thruster in opposite directions will urge the stern to port and starboard, respectively;
• and
• wherein the crossover device is configured to automatically switch between the first and second exhaust ports to prevent thruster cavitation during operation of the at least one thruster.

A boat comprising:

• a hull;
• a rudder carried by the hull;
• a control station located on the hull;
• a helm located at the control station, the rudder being operable via the helm and a helm input being derived from operation of the rudder by the helm;
• and
• a thruster system carried by the hull, the thruster system including:
• at least one thruster mounted to the hull;
• a controller configured with program instructions to operate the at least one thruster to supplement a corresponding movement of the hull responsive to:
• the helm input;
• a direction input indicative of forward and aft operation of the boat;
• and
• a speed input indicative of boat speed;
• and
• a ballasting system carried by the hull;
• wherein the controller is further configured to operate the at least one thruster responsive to a ballast input indicative of a ballast level in the ballasting system.