Cruise control system and method for a watercraft

A method for controlling a cruising speed of a watercraft, the watercraft having a hull, a deck disposed on the hull, a motor connected to at least one of the hull and the deck, a propulsion system operatively connected to the motor, a command console disposed on the deck and operatively connected to the motor, and an accelerator control lever operatively connected to the command console, the accelerator control lever being biased toward an idle position, the method comprising:

• receiving, in a control unit from the command console, a value representing a position of the accelerator control lever;
• controlling, by the control unit, an operating parameter of the motor, the operating parameter being determined based at least in part on the position of the accelerator control lever;
• receiving, in the control unit, a cruise control enabling signal from the command console;
• in response to receiving the cruise control enabling signal, selectively engaging a cruise control function of the watercraft by maintaining, by the control unit, the operating parameter of the motor to a value current when the cruise control enabling signal is received;
• initiating a timing function, by the control unit, in response to receiving the cruise control enabling signal;
• detecting an expiry of the timing function;
• in response to detecting the expiry of the timing function, determining a new position of the accelerator control lever;
• and
• in response to the new position of the accelerator control lever indicating that the accelerator control lever has not been released, selectively disengaging the cruise control function of the watercraft.

A watercraft, comprising:

• a hull;
• a deck disposed on the hull;
• a motor connected to at least one of the hull and the deck;
• a propulsion system operatively connected to the motor;
• a command console disposed on the deck and operatively connected to the motor;
• an accelerator control lever operatively connected to the command console, the accelerator control lever being biased toward an idle position;
• a control unit operatively connected to the command console and to the motor, the control unit being configured to:
• receive, from the command console, a value representing a position of the accelerator control lever;
• control an operating parameter of the motor, the operating parameter being determined based at least in part on the position of the accelerator control lever;
• receive, from the command console, a cruise control enabling signal;
• in response to receiving the cruise control enabling signal, selectively engage a cruise control function of the watercraft by maintaining the operating parameter of the motor to a value current when the cruise control enabling signal is received;
• receive a signal indicating a new activation of the accelerator control lever;
• and
• in response to receiving the signal indicating the new activation of the accelerator control lever while the cruise control function is engaged, selectively disengage the cruise control function of the watercraft.

A watercraft, comprising:

• a hull;
• a deck disposed on the hull;
• a motor connected to at least one of the hull and the deck;
• a propulsion system operatively connected to the motor;
• a command console disposed on the deck and operatively connected to the motor;
• an accelerator control lever operatively connected to the command console, the accelerator control lever being biased toward an idle position;
• a control unit operatively connected to the command console and to the motor, the control unit being configured to:
• receive, from the command console, a value representing a position of the accelerator control lever;
• control an operating parameter of the motor, the operating parameter being determined based at least in part on the position of the accelerator control lever;
• receive, from the command console, a cruise control enabling signal;
• in response to receiving the cruise control enabling signal, selectively engage a cruise control function of the watercraft by maintaining the operating parameter of the motor to a value current when the cruise control enabling signal is received;
• initiate a timing function in response to receiving the cruise control enabling signal;
• detect an expiry of the timing function;
• in response to detecting the expiry of the timing function, determining a new position of the accelerator control lever;
• and
• in response to the new position of the accelerator control lever indicating that the accelerator control lever has not been released, selectively disengage the cruise control function of the watercraft.