System for and method of selecting control modes of watercraft

A system for controlling a watercraft, the system comprising:

• a marine propulsion device;
• an input to output an operating signal indicating a first mode selected in accordance with an operation thereof;
• and
• a controller configured or programmed to receive the operating signal, and control the marine propulsion device such that the watercraft is maintained in a target spot in the first mode;
• wherein
• when it is intended to move the watercraft to the target spot from a first spot remote from the target spot in the first mode, the controller is configured or programmed to select one of a bow mode or a stern mode in which the marine propulsion device is controlled depending on a position of the target spot with respect to the first spot so as to control the marine propulsion device such that the watercraft is moved from the first spot to the target spot in the selected one of the bow mode or the stern mode;
• the bow mode orients a bow of the watercraft so that the bow faces toward the target spot, and the stern mode orients a stern of the watercraft so that the stern faces toward the target spot;
• the controller is configured or programmed to determine whether or not a turning speed of the watercraft is a predetermined speed or less when controlling the marine propulsion device such that the bow of the watercraft is oriented toward the target spot by selecting the bow mode in the first mode;
• and
• when the turning speed of the watercraft is the predetermined speed or less in the bow mode, the controller is configured or programmed to switch the bow mode to the stern mode so as to control the marine propulsion device in the stern mode.

A system for controlling a watercraft, the system comprising:

• a marine propulsion device;
• an input to output an operating signal indicating a first mode selected in accordance with an operation thereof;
• and
• a controller configured or programmed to receive the operating signal, and control the marine propulsion device such that the watercraft is maintained in a target spot in the first mode;
• wherein
• when it is intended to move the watercraft to the target spot from a first spot remote from the target spot in the first mode, the controller is configured or programmed to select one of a bow mode or a stern mode in which the marine propulsion device is controlled depending on a position of the target spot with respect to the first spot so as to control the marine propulsion device such that the watercraft is moved from the first spot to the target spot in the selected one of the bow mode or the stern mode;
• the bow mode orients a bow of the watercraft so that the bow faces toward the target spot, and the stern mode orients a stern of the watercraft so that the stern faces toward the target spot;
• the controller is configured or programmed to determine whether or not a turning speed of the watercraft is a predetermined speed or less when controlling the marine propulsion device such that the stern of the watercraft is oriented toward the target spot by selecting the stern mode in the first mode;
• and
• when the turning speed of the watercraft is the predetermined speed or less in the stern mode, the controller is configured or programmed to switch the stern mode to the bow mode so as to control the marine propulsion device in the bow mode.

A method of controlling a watercraft including a marine propulsion device and an input, the method comprising:

• receiving an operating signal indicating a first mode selected in accordance with an operation of the input;
• controlling the marine propulsion device such that the watercraft is maintained in a target spot in the first mode;
• and
• when it is intended to move the watercraft to the target spot from a first spot remote from the target spot in the first mode, selecting one of a bow mode or a stern mode in which the marine propulsion device is controlled depending on a position of the target spot with respect to the first spot so as to control the marine propulsion device such that the watercraft is moved from the first spot to the target spot in the bow mode or the stern mode;
• wherein
• the bow mode orients a bow of the watercraft so that the bow faces toward the target spot, and the stern mode orients a stern of the watercraft so that the stern faces toward the target spot;
• and
• the method further comprises, when it is intended to move the watercraft to the target spot from the first spot remote from the target spot in the first mode, calculating a length of time required to achieve orientation toward the target spot with respect to both the bow mode and the stern mode so as to select one of the bow mode or the stern mode having a shorter length of time required to achieve orientation toward the target spot than the other of the bow mode or the stern mode.

A method of controlling a watercraft including a marine propulsion device and an input, the method comprising:

• receiving an operating signal indicating a first mode selected in accordance with an operation of the input;
• controlling the marine propulsion device such that the watercraft is maintained in a target spot in the first mode;
• and
• when it is intended to move the watercraft to the target spot from a first spot remote from the target spot in the first mode, selecting one of a bow mode or a stern mode in which the marine propulsion device is controlled depending on a position of the target spot with respect to the first spot so as to control the marine propulsion device such that the watercraft is moved from the first spot to the target spot in the bow mode or the stern mode;
• wherein
• the bow mode orients a bow of the watercraft so that the bow faces toward the target spot, and the stern mode orients a stern of the watercraft so that the stern faces toward the target spot;
• the method further comprises determining whether or not a turning speed of the watercraft is a predetermined speed or less when the marine propulsion device is controlled such that the bow of the watercraft is oriented toward the target spot by selecting the bow mode in the first mode;
• and
• when the turning speed of the watercraft is the predetermined speed or less in the bow mode, switching the bow mode to the stern mode so as to control the marine propulsion device in the stern mode.

A method of controlling a watercraft including a marine propulsion device and an input, the method comprising:

• receiving an operating signal indicating a first mode selected in accordance with an operation of the input;
• controlling the marine propulsion device such that the watercraft is maintained in a target spot in the first mode;
• and
• when it is intended to move the watercraft to the target spot from a first spot remote from the target spot in the first mode, selecting one of a bow mode or a stern mode in which the marine propulsion device is controlled depending on a position of the target spot with respect to the first spot so as to control the marine propulsion device such that the watercraft is moved from the first spot to the target spot in the bow mode or the stern mode;
• wherein
• the bow mode orients a bow of the watercraft so that the bow faces toward the target spot, and the stern mode orients a stern of the watercraft so that the stern faces toward the target spot;
• the method further comprises determining whether or not a turning speed of the watercraft is a predetermined speed or less when the marine propulsion device is controlled such that the stern of the watercraft is oriented toward the target spot by selecting the stern mode in the first mode;
• and
• when the turning speed of the watercraft is the predetermined speed or less in the stern mode, switching the stern mode to the bow mode so as to control the marine propulsion device in the bow mode.