Stick control system for waterjet boats

A boat of the type driven by a waterjet, the boat comprising at least one waterjet drive assembly, the assembly comprising

• a nozzle at the stern of the boat, the nozzle directing a flow of water generally along the longitudinal axis of the boat, the nozzle being capable of rotation about a generally vertical axis to provide left and right sideward forces on the stern, and
• a reversing bucket for reversing the direction of a variable amount of the flow of water emerging from the nozzle, the reversing bucket being adjustable from any of a plurality of forward thrust positions in which enough water remains unaffected by the reversing bucket that a net forward thrust is maintained, to a neutral thrust position in which a substantial fraction of the flow of water is reversed so that the net thrust of the water reversed and the water not reversed is approximately zero, to any of a plurality of reverse thrust positions in which enough water is reversed that a net reverse thrust is maintained;
• a bow thruster for directing a sideward flow of water at the bow of the boat to provide left and right sideward forces on the bow;
• an electrical control circuit for controlling the nozzle, reversing bucket, and bow thruster;
• and
• a stick control member connected electrically to the electrical control circuit, the stick control member having at least first, second, and third directions of movement, and wherein movement of the control member in the first direction controls the reversing bucket, movement of the control member in the second direction controls the nozzle, and movement of the control member in the third direction controls the bow thruster.