Abstract: An improved apparatus for accurately maintaining the speed of a motorboat at a value set by an operator. Speed of the boat, and force on the boat due to a water skier are measured. Actual speed is compared to a desired speed set by the operator, and speed of the boat engine adjusted to minimize the difference between the desired speed and the actual speed. Engine speed is further adjusted to prevent or minimize changes in the speed of the boat caused by the forces on the boat due to a water skier. The device further incorporates features to reduce the likelihood of speed measurement errors due to a malfunctioning speed measuring device.

Abstract: An apparatus for accurately maintaining the speed of a motorboat at a value stet by an operator. The speed of the boat is measured, and compared to a desired speed set by the operator, and the speed of the boat engine adjusted to minimize the difference between the desired speed and the actual speed. The device further incorporates features allowing incremental adjustment of the desired speed, storage of several of these speeds for future use, and a safety feature causing the system to behave as though it were of a conventional manual type if the operator makes a gross change to the setting of a manual throttle lever.