Dual motor propulsion and steering control system

A propulsion and steering control system for a fishing boat comprising:

• a motor support bracket adapted to be mounted to a fishing boat;
• first and second reversible electric motors mounted to said motor support bracket in a fixed angular relationship to each other and in a fixed relationship with said motor support bracket, each of said electric motors including a propeller which can be selectively driven about an axis in a clockwise direction to produce a thrust in a first direction or in a counterclockwise direction to produce a thrust in a second direction opposite to said first direction, said fixed angular relationship between said electric motors being defined by and between the axes of rotation of the propellers of said first and second electric motors as an angle of from approximately 30.degree. to 120.degree.;
• and, control means operatively connected to each of said first and second motors to selectively and independently produce thrust in said first or second direction with one or both of said motors so as to achieve a desired propulsion and steering effect upon a fishing boat equipped with said system while maintaining said motors in said fixed angular relationship to each other and without rotation of said motor support bracket, said control means including a switch assembly which includes at least four foot-actuated switches, two of which are operatively connected to said first motor and which respectively, when activated, produce a thrust in said first or second direction with said first motor and the remaining two of which are likewise operatively connected to said second motor and which, when activated, respectively produce a thrust in said first or second direction with said second motor.

A propulsion and steering control system for fishing boats comprising:

• a motor support bracket mounted to said boat;
• first and second reversible electric motors mounted to said motor support clamp in a fixed angular relationship to each other and in a fixed relationship with said motor support clamp, each of said electric motors including a propeller which can be selectively driven about an axis in a clockwise direction to produce a thrust in a first direction and in a counterclockwise direction to produce a thrust in a second direction opposite to said first direction, said fixed angular relationship between said electric motors being defined by and between the axes of rotation of the propellers of said first and second electric motors as an angle of from approximately 30.degree. to 120.degree.;
• control means for independently driving each of said motors to selectively produce thrust in said first or second direction, said control means including at least four separate four-actuated switches which are operatively connected to said first and second electric motors to selectively and independently enable an operator to produce first or second direction thrust with each of said motors, said motor support bracket including a clamp, a pair of shafts each having one end fixed to said clamp and an opposite end to one of said motors, said clamp and shafts cooperating to maintain said first and second motors in said fixed angular relationship to each other, and means for selectively positioning said shaft in a non-service position in which said motors are positioned out of the water and in a service position in which said motors are below the water surface.