Patent ID: 6865997
Filing Date: 2005-03-15
Classification: B63H

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for aiding in steering and maneuvering a boat having a hull and equipped with an engine for propelling said boat through water comprising: a thruster carried by the hull of said boat for selectively supplying a driving force in substantially a first direction or a second direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said boat; said thruster including an electric motor; an output shaft carried by said motor; said electric motor being fixed to said hull, and said output shaft extending substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said boat; a propeller carried by said output shaft for being selectively rotated in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction by said motor; a source of power for energizing said motor; an electric circuit connecting said source of power to said motor for selectively energizing said motor for rotating said motor in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction; a remote radio frequency transmitter; a radio frequency receiver carried on said boat and electrically connected to said electric control circuit; and switching members carried by said radio frequency transmitter for selectively transmitting radio frequency signals to said radio frequency receiver causing said electric circuit to energize said motor of said thruster to produce a driving force in a first or second direction substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said boat for imparting a moving force to said boat.