Abstract: Methods of situationally controlling marine devices connected via a one boat network on a watercraft are presented. The marine devices are selected from fishfinders or other OBN devices, trolling motors, heading sensors, main propulsion engine, i-Pilot Link, shallow water anchors, AIS/MARPA, smart chargers or power monitors, downriggers, trim tabs, drift paddles, lighting, sonar and imaging transducers, chart plotters, foot pedals, handheld remote controls, and mobile marine apps. The method includes the steps of identifying at least one situational condition of at least one first marine device, identifying at least one second marine device, and triggering a situational control action for the at least one second marine device when the at least one situational condition for the at least one first marine device is met. The methods include situationally controlling a speed of a trolling motor and anchoring of the watercraft, as well as providing advanced power management thereon.

Abstract: A watercraft and associated pedal drive system are provided. The pedal drive system allows for unassisted manual pedaling to provide thrust to the watercraft. The pedal drive system also provides on demand pedal assistance of varying levels via an assist drive train having an electric motor to supplement the manual pedal force input provided by a user at the pedals of pedal drive system.

Abstract: A multi-bank marine battery charger having at least one 12 Vdc charging bank and at least one multi-voltage 24/36 Vdc charging bank, and a method of operating such multi-voltage charging bank, are provided. The method enables the multi-voltage charging bank to, one or more, turn on a fully depleted battery, determine the voltage class of the connected battery, fully charge, and detect completion of the charging of a single 24 or 36 Vdc battery.

Abstract: A watercraft and associated pedal drive system are provided. The pedal drive system allows for unassisted manual pedaling to provide thrust to the watercraft. The pedal drive system also provides on demand pedal assistance of varying levels via an assist drive train having an electric motor to supplement the manual pedal force input provided by a user at the pedals of pedal drive system.

Abstract: A small watertight electronic module is provided that wirelessly connects to a smart device, e.g., a wearable device such as a smartwatch, a Smartphone, etc., and that wirelessly connects to underwater diving equipment and/or accessories, e.g. a SCUBA tank pressure transmitter, skin temperature sensor, heart rate monitor, pressure sensor, navigation buoy, etc. The module is positioned in close proximity to the smart device and utilizes a terrestrial communications protocol, e.g., Bluetooth, WLAN, Ant+, etc. for connection thereto. In an embodiment, the module also utilizes an underwater communications protocol, e.g. VLF, ultrasonic, etc., for connection to the underwater diving equipment and/or accessories. A display is provided in certain embodiments to display information, e.g. SCUBA tank air pressure, to the user.

Abstract: A portable stove and a burner for a portable stove are provided. The portable stove may have a wind guard for protecting the flame of a burner of the portable stove. The wind guard may include a resilient arcuate member and a plurality of feet attached thereto for mounting the wind guard to a cook pot of the portable stove. The burner may have an ignitor that has an active configuration and an inactive configuration. A rotatable control knob can control a fuel flow control valve and activation of the ignitor. An ignition lever is interposed between the control knob and the ignitor such that rotation of the control knob from an on position to an ignition position transitions the ignition lever from a released position to an activation position and the ignitor from the inactive configuration to the active configuration.

Abstract: A sonar target locking system to position a sonar assembly to maintain the sonar array of the sonar assembly pointing at a position of a user set (desired) target even when the watercraft is rotating or moving in various motions. The sonar target locking system includes electro-mechanical assembly that can be steered electrically to maintain the sonar array pointing at the position of the desired target. The system may be activated using at least one of a foot pedal, handheld remote control, or a display of a fish finder head unit. The system may use GPS and IMU inputs to generate control signals to steer the electro-mechanical assembly to maintain the sonar array pointing at the position of the desired target.

Abstract: Multiplexed phased array sonar systems and methods for consumer fishfinders are described herein. A transducer unit for such a system includes a transmit (TX) element that generates a sonar ping, a receive (RX) array configured to receive sonar echoes resulting from the sonar ping contacting targets, a digital signal processor (DSP) that processes the sonar echoes into sonar display information, and multiplexers (MUXs) coupled between the RX array and the DSP. The MUXs are configured to couple a portion of the RX array to the DSP during a first time and a second portion of the RX array during a second time such that the of MUXs couple an entirety of the RX array to the DSP during each transmit-receive cycle. A method of preventing distortions in the sonar display information selects the elements of the RX array to be sampled in accordance with a predetermined multiplexing pattern.

Abstract: Braking arrangements for inhibiting pedals of a pedal drive system for a watercraft from rotating when an assist drive train of the pedal drive system is activated are provided. Method of preventing pedals of a pedal drive system for a watercraft from rotating when using an assist mode are provided.

Abstract: Multiplexed phased array sonar systems and methods for consumer fishfinders are described herein. In one embodiment a single curved transmit transducer and an array of receive transducers are provided, and in an embodiment the signals from the receive transducers are multiplexed, which greatly reduces the data load, allowing for the achievement of the near real time, high resolution imagery in a size and price point that enables this technology to be employed in a consumer fish finder.

Abstract: A tip valve and a cook system incorporating same that automatically stops the flow of gas to a burner when tipped over and that automatically resets when disconnected from the fuel canister to allow the flow of gas to resume when righted and reconnected are provided. The tip valve includes a ball bearing freely moveable between a fuel canister actuator pin and a tip seal within a bore having two different diameters at each end thereof. The transition between the two diameters forms a taper that may be continuous forming a smooth tapered bore, or discontinuous formed by at least one counter bore. The automatic resetting is provided without the use of a mechanical pin or member.

Abstract: A watercraft and associated pedal drive system are provided. Method of operating the pedal drive are also provided. The pedal drive system allows for unassisted manual pedaling to provide thrust to the watercraft. The pedal drive system also provides on demand pedal assistance of varying levels via an assist drive train having an electric motor to supplement the manual pedal force input provided by a user at the pedals of pedal drive system.

Abstract: An underwater mask including a condensing member is provided. The mask includes a lens exposed to ambient water as well as to an air compartment of the mask that is adjacent a diver's face. The mask includes a condensing member that has an inner surface that is exposed to the air compartment and that is configured to promote condensing of moisture within the air within the air compartment thereon prior to the moisture condensing on an inner surface of the lens. The condensing member may be passive and rely on thermal conductivity properties of the member or be actively electrically controlled.

Abstract: An underwater navigation system that includes a buoy configured to be anchored underwater or to be hung underwater from a boat. The buoy is configured to transmit a signal. A dive computer is configured to be carried by a diver, and also configured to receive the signal. The dive computer is further configured to display a distance and direction to the buoy based on the received signal.

Abstract: A sonar target locking system to position a sonar assembly to maintain the sonar array of the sonar assembly pointing at a position of a user set (desired) target even when the watercraft is rotating or moving in various motions. The sonar target locking system includes electro-mechanical assembly that can be steered electrically to maintain the sonar array pointing at the position of the desired target. The system may be activated using at least one of a foot pedal, handheld remote control, or a display of a fish finder head unit. The system may use GPS and IMU inputs to generate control signals to steer the electro-mechanical assembly to maintain the sonar array pointing at the position of the desired target.

Abstract: Methods of situationally controlling marine devices connected via a one boat network on a watercraft are presented. The marine devices are selected from fishfinders or other OBN devices, trolling motors, heading sensors, main propulsion engine, i-Pilot Link, shallow water anchors, AIS/MARPA, smart chargers or power monitors, downriggers, trim tabs, drift paddles, lighting, sonar and imaging transducers, chart plotters, foot pedals, handheld remote controls, and mobile marine apps. The method includes the steps of identifying at least one situational condition of at least one first marine device, identifying at least one second marine device, and triggering a situational control action for the at least one second marine device when the at least one situational condition for the at least one first marine device is met. The methods include situationally controlling a speed of a trolling motor and anchoring of the watercraft, as well as providing advanced power management thereon.

Abstract: A method of making and a computer readable media having data readable by a fish finder are provided. The data includes a topographical fishing map usable by the fish finder to display bathymetric information regarding a body of water, and a number of water current flow simulations. Any of the number of simulations is selectable via the user input and usable by the fish finder to display water current flow as a layer on the bathymetric information regarding a body of water. Freshwater currents or saltwater tides may be provided in certain embodiments. The method includes inputting the bathymetric information from the topographical fishing map and current flow conditions to the processor, processing a hydrodynamic or tidal modeling program and storing the water current flow simulation as a user selectable layer on the media on which the topographical fishing map is stored.

Abstract: A first stage pressure regulator is provided. A valve body has an inlet and an outlet that define a pressure chamber therebetween. The valve body defines a pressure compensation chamber having an opening fluidly communicating the pressure compensation chamber with the surrounding water. The first stage pressure regulator comprises an inlet tubular union removably received into the inlet. A removable high pressure orifice body defines an orifice therethrough. The orifice body is carried by the valve body proximate the inlet. A valve seat is within the valve body.

Abstract: A watercraft and associated pedal drive system are provided. Method of operating the pedal drive are also provided. The pedal drive system allows for unassisted manual pedaling to provide thrust to the watercraft. The pedal drive system also provides on demand pedal assistance of varying levels via an assist drive train having an electric motor to supplement the manual pedal force input provided by a user at the pedals of pedal drive system.

Abstract: A cable management device for managing cables of a trolling motor is provided. The cable management device can slide axially along a shaft of a trolling motor while being affixed to a portion of a cable of the trolling motor. A trolling motor including such a cable management device is provided.