Patent ID: 8376793
Filing Date: 2013-02-19
Classification: B63B,B63H,G05D

Abstract:
1. A method of controlling a surface drive of a watercraft ( 100 ) comprising at least two drive units ( 140 , 140 ′) each being driven by a respective drive engine ( 102 , 102 ′), each of the at least two drive units ( 140 , 140 ′) comprising a thrust tube ( 105 ) guiding a propeller shaft ( 106 ) and a trim actuation system ( 110 , 112 ) controlled by an electronic control unit ( 130 ), the thrust tube ( 105 ) being pivotable vertically about an articulation point ( 111 ) mounted to a transom ( 104 ) about a trim angle (τ) within a trim range (τ_G), and the propeller shaft ( 106 ) being flexibly connected, via the articulation point ( 111 ), to a drive shaft ( 125 ), and the surface drive being operated in at least first and second different driving modes, the method comprising the steps of: when operating the surface drive in the second driving mode in which a maximum speed (v_ automatically adjusting the trim angles (τ_