Marine propulsion control system with synchronized troll and method of operation

A marine propulsion control system, comprising:

• an operator interface configured to receive a mode input and a lever position input;
• a left propulsion system having a left troll valve configured to adjust clutch slippage, and a left shaft speed sensor configured to detect the speed of rotation of a left shaft;
• a right propulsion system having a right troll valve configured to adjust clutch slippage, and a right shaft speed sensor configured to detect the speed of rotation of a right shaft;
• and
• a control module configured to:
• receive the mode input and the lever position input from the operator interface,
• receive a left shaft speed signal from the left shaft speed sensor and a right shaft speed signal from the left shaft speed sensor,
• determine if sync mode is active, based on the mode input,
• determine if a trolling state exists in a traditional troll mode or an advanced troll mode, based on the mode input and the lever position input,
• if the advanced troll mode is active, controlling the left troll valve and the right troll valve from a lever position of 0% to an advanced troll transition point, and controlling engine speed of the left engine and the right engine from a lever position at the advanced troll transition point to 100%, and
• if sync mode is active and a trolling state exists, adjust the left troll valve and the right troll valve to synchronize the speed of the left shaft and the right shaft based on the left shaft speed signal and the right shaft speed signal.

A method of operating a marine propulsion system, comprising:

• receiving a plurality of signals from an operator interface, the plurality of signals including a mode input and a lever position;
• receiving a ‘left shaft speed’ signal indicating a left shaft speed and a ‘right shaft speed’ signal indicating a right shaft speed;
• determining if a sync mode is active based on the mode input signal;
• determining if a trolling state in a traditional troll mode or an advanced troll mode exists based on the mode input and the lever position;
• if the advanced troll mode is active, controlling the left troll valve and the right troll valve when the lever position is between 0% and an advanced troll transition point, and controlling an engine speed when the lever position is between the advanced troll transition point and 100%;
• and
• if a sync mode is active and a trolling state exists, synchronizing the left shaft speed and the right shaft speed to the lever position.