Patent ID: 6447349
Filing Date: 2002-09-10
Classification: B63H

Abstract:
A boat of the type driven by a waterjet, the boat comprisingat least one waterjet drive assembly, the assembly comprising a nozzle at the stern of the boat, the nozzle directing a flow of water generally along the longitudinal axis of the boat, the nozzle being capable of rotation about a generally vertical axis to provide left and right sideward forces on the stern, and a reversing bucket for reversing the direction of a variable amount of the flow of water emerging from the nozzle, the reversing bucket being adjustable from any of a plurality of forward thrust positions in which enough water remains unaffected by the reversing bucket that a net forward thrust is maintained, to a neutral thrust position in which a substantial fraction of the flow of water is reversed so that the net thrust of the water reversed and the water not reversed is approximately zero, to any of a plurality of reverse thrust positions in which enough water is reversed that a net reverse thrust is maintained; a bow thruster for directing a sideward flow of water at the bow of the boat to provide left and right sideward forces on the bow; an electrical control circuit for controlling the nozzle, reversing bucket, and bow thruster; and a joystick device connected electrically to the electrical control circuit, and comprising one or more elements configured to be operated by movements of one hand of an operator, the elements of the joystick device configured to move in response to direct force applied thereto by at least first, second, and third movements of the hand, and wherein the joystick device and electrical control circuit are configured so that the first movement of the hand controls the reversing bucket, the second movement of the hand controls the nozzle, and the third movement of the hand controls the bow thruster.