Abstract: An actuator for imparting steering movement to a tiller of a propulsion unit of a marine vessel comprises an absolute position sensor operable to sense a steering position and a relative position sensor operable to sense a position of the motor. A steering control unit calibrates the relative position sensor based on a signal of the absolute position sensor. Calibration of the relative position sensor based on a signal of the absolute position sensor initializes an accumulative position which accumulates a relative position as the actuator moves over time.

Abstract: A steering for a marine propulsion unit adjusts at least one of a required steering speed and a required steering torque such that the required steering speed and the required steering torque fall within an output region when the required steering speed and the required steering torque are outside the output region, sets a target steering angle according to the adjusted required steering speed and required steering torque, and sets the target steering angle according to a rotation angle of a steering wheel when the required steering speed and the required steering torque are within the output region.

Abstract: An electric actuator for a marine steering system comprises a housing and an output shaft reciprocatingly received by the housing. There is a rotor disposed within the housing. The rotor is coupled to the output shaft of the electric actuator. Rotation of the rotor causing the output shaft of the electric actuator to reciprocate relative to the housing. There is a motor disposed within the housing. The motor has an output shaft coupled to the rotor. A longitudinal axis of the output shaft of the motor is parallel with a longitudinal axis of the output shaft of the electric actuator. There is also a drive mechanism disposed within the housing. The drive mechanism couples the output shaft of electric actuator to the rotor. The drive mechanism is on a plane radial to a longitudinal axis of the output shaft of the motor. There is an actuator position sensor disposed on the rotor for sensing a position of the rotor. The actuator position sensor senses an actual steering position based on a position of the rotor.

Abstract: A heater comprises a combustion chamber and a jacket extending about the combustion chamber. There is a fan having an output which communicates with the combustion chamber to provide combustion air. There is also a fuel delivery system having a variable delivery rate. A burner assembly is connected to the combustion chamber. The burner assembly has a burner mounted thereon adjacent the combustion chamber. The burner receives fuel from the fuel delivery system. There is an exhaust system extending from the combustion chamber. An oxygen sensor is positioned in the exhaust system to detect oxygen content of exhaust gases. There is a control system operatively coupled to the oxygen sensor and the fuel delivery system. The control system controls the delivery rate of the fuel delivery system according to the oxygen content of the exhaust gases.

Abstract: The propulsion unit comprises an electric actuator and a tiller coupled the electric actuator. The electric actuator includes a housing having a first end and second end. There is an output shaft fully received within the housing. The output shaft includes a coupling portion and a tiller is coupled the coupling portion of the output shaft such that such that a line of action of the actuator is in the same plane as the tiller.

Abstract: The propulsion unit comprises an electric actuator and a tiller coupled the electric actuator. The electric actuator includes a housing having a first end and second end. There is an output shaft fully received within the housing. The output shaft includes a coupling portion and a tiller is coupled the coupling portion of the output shaft such that such that a line of action of the actuator is in the same plane as the tiller.

Abstract: An actuator comprises a housing and a drive tube assembly disposed within the housing. The drive tube assembly includes a drive tube provided with internal threads, a piston nut provided with external threads which threadedly engage the inner threads of the drive tube, and an output shaft connected to the piston nut. A motor rotates the drive tube to cause the piston nut to reciprocate along a length of the drive tube and the output shaft to reciprocate relative to the housing. There are bearings which transmit axial loads from the drive tube to the housing and transmit radial loads from the drive tube to the housing.

Abstract: A marine vessel control system comprises a propulsion unit and a steering actuator for steering the propulsion unit. There is a shift actuator for shifting gears in the propulsion unit and a throttle actuator for increasing or decreasing throttle to the propulsion unit. There is an input device for providing user inputted steering commands to the steering actuator and for providing user inputted shift and throttle commands to the shift actuator and the throttle actuator. There is a sensor for detecting a global position and a heading direction of the marine vessel. A controller receives position and heading values of the marine vessel from the sensor. The controller compares the received position value to a pre-programmed position value to determine a position error difference. The controller also compares the received heading value to a pre-programmed heading value to determine a heading error difference.

Abstract: An electric actuator comprises a housing and an output shaft reciprocatingly received by the housing. There is a screw assembly disposed within the housing and coupled to the output shaft. The screw assembly includes a plurality of annular rollers and a central screw received by the annular rollers. The annular rollers are rotatable about the central screw. There is a motor which includes a stator and a rotor. The rotor has an inner bore which engages the annular rollers. Rotation of the rotor causes the central screw to translate axially relative to the rotor and the output shaft to reciprocate relative to the housing.

Abstract: An electric actuator for a marine steering system comprises a housing and an output shaft reciprocatingly received by the housing. There is a rotor disposed within the housing. The rotor is coupled to the output shaft of the electric actuator. Rotation of the rotor causing the output shaft of the electric actuator to reciprocate relative to the housing. There is a motor disposed within the housing. The motor has an output shaft coupled to the rotor. A longitudinal axis of the output shaft of the motor is parallel with a longitudinal axis of the output shaft of the electric actuator. There is also a drive mechanism disposed within the housing. The drive mechanism couples the output shaft of electric actuator to the rotor. The drive mechanism is on a plane radial to a longitudinal axis of the output shaft of the motor.

Abstract: A marine vessel control system comprises an outer port engine which has an actuator for imparting steering motion to the outer port engine and an outer starboard engine which has an actuator for imparting steering motion to the outer starboard engine. There is an inner port engine and a tie bar coupling the inner port engine to the outer port engine. There is an inner starboard engine and a tie bar coupling the inner starboard engine to the outer starboard engine. There is an input device for inputting user steering commands to the marine vessel control system in which movement of the input device actuates the said actuators to impart steering motion to the said engines.

Abstract: There is provided a mounting assembly for a marine vessel having a pair of stern-mounted propulsion units. The assembly includes a pair of angle-setting members which forwardly angle the propulsion units towards a bow of the marine vessel when each propulsion unit is at the center of its total steering range. Each propulsion unit has a line of action of its propulsion force. The lines of action of the propulsion units intersect each other between a center of rotation of the marine vessel and a stern of the marine vessel when the propulsion units are steered forwardly towards each other.

Abstract: A marine vessel control system comprises a propulsion unit and a steering actuator for steering the propulsion unit. There is a shift actuator for shifting gears in the propulsion unit and a throttle actuator for increasing or decreasing throttle to the propulsion unit. There is an input device for providing user inputted steering commands to the steering actuator and for providing user inputted shift and throttle commands to the shift actuator and the throttle actuator. There is a sensor for detecting a global position and a heading direction of the marine vessel. A controller receives position and heading values of the marine vessel from the sensor. The controller compares the received position value to a pre-programmed position value to determine a position error difference. The controller also compares the received heading value to a pre-programmed heading value to determine a heading error difference.

Abstract: A steering system for a marine vessel comprises a helm, a control head, and a joystick. The helm and control head may respectively provide user inputted steering commands and user inputted shift and throttle commands on a first CAN network. The joystick and the control head may respectively provide user inputted steering commands and user inputted shift and throttle commands on a second CAN network. The helm may provide user inputted steering commands on the first CAN network. The control head may provide user inputted shift and throttle commands on the second CAN network. The joystick may provide user inputted steering commands and user inputted shift and throttle commands on either the first CAN network or the second CAN network.

Abstract: An improved hose assembly for a marine vessel bulkhead comprises a hose having a first end with a first hose fitting and a second end with a second hose fitting. There is a base plate having an opening which receives the hose. The base plate is positioned on the hose between the first hose fitting and the second hose fitting. There is a bend restrictor releasably coupled to the base plate. The bend restrictor has coils which wrap around the hose. The base plate clamps onto the bend restrictor and the bend restrictor clamps onto the hose, thereby restricting relative axial and rotational movement of the hose.

Abstract: An outboard motor includes a steering arm that turns around a centerline of a steering shaft together with the steering shaft, a steering actuator including a movable body that moves in a right-left direction, and a motion converter that converts a movement of the movable body in the right-left direction into a turning motion of the steering arm around the centerline of the steering shaft. The motion converter includes a bushing holder into which the steering arm is inserted in a front-rear direction and a bushing interposed between the steering arm and the bushing holder and including an outer surface provided with a pair of first sliding portions each including a convex arc-shaped vertical section that is perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the right-left direction.

Abstract: An electric actuator for a marine steering system comprises a housing and an output shaft reciprocatingly received by the housing. There is a rotor disposed within the housing. The rotor is coupled to the output shaft of the electric actuator. Rotation of the rotor causing the output shaft of the electric actuator to reciprocate relative to the housing. There is a motor disposed within the housing. The motor has an output shaft coupled to the rotor. A longitudinal axis of the output shaft of the motor is parallel with a longitudinal axis of the output shaft of the electric actuator. There is also a drive mechanism disposed within the housing. The drive mechanism couples the output shaft of electric actuator to the rotor. The drive mechanism is on a plane radial to a longitudinal axis of the output shaft of the motor. There is an actuator position sensor disposed on the rotor for sensing a position of the rotor. The actuator position sensor senses an actual steering position based on a position of the rotor.

Abstract: The propulsion unit comprises an electric actuator and a tiller coupled the electric actuator. The electric actuator includes a housing having a first end and second end. There is an output shaft fully received within the housing. The output shaft includes a coupling portion and a tiller is coupled the coupling portion of the output shaft such that such that a line of action of the actuator is in the same plane as the tiller.

Abstract: An outboard motor includes a swivel bracket, an outboard motor body, a steering arm, an electric steering actuator, and a harness. The outboard motor body and the steering arm are turnable around a steering shaft supported by the swivel bracket. The electric steering actuator includes a movable body connected to the steering arm and that moves rightwardly and leftwardly. The harness includes a first drawn portion connected to the movable body and extending around and toward the outboard motor body and in a right-left direction that crosses a center of the swivel bracket in the right-left direction at least in a state in which the movable body is in a neutral position in the right-left direction.

Abstract: An inner circumferential surface of a clamp bracket is open at an inner side surface of the clamp bracket. At least a portion of a movable body is surrounded by the inner circumferential surface in a side view. The movable body is movable to a plurality of positions including a position above a swivel bracket and a position inside a space surrounded by the inner circumferential surface of the clamp bracket. A steering shaft rotates around a steering axis along with movement of the movable body.