Patent ID: 6695654
Filing Date: 2004-02-24
Classification: B63H

Abstract:
A retractable rudder system for water-jet powered watereraft comprising:at least one rudder pivotally disposed to rotate about a generally horizontal axis between a retracted position and a deployed position, said at least one rudder being rotatable by a steering mechanism about a generally vertical axis when in said deployed position; control means responsive to a throttle condition of the watercraft's throttle mechanism, an immersion condition of the watercraft's hull, a watercraft speed condition, a jet pump pressure condition of the watercraft's jet pump, a steering fault condition of the watercraft's steering mechanism, and operative to generate an actuator control signal when the five conditions have predetermined states; and actuator means responsive to said control signal and operative to cause said at least one rudder to rotate from said retracted position to said deployed position.