Patent ID: 7614924
Filing Date: 2009-11-10
Classification: B63H

Abstract:
1. A watercraft propulsion system comprising an internal combustion engine and an electric motor that are both configured to selectively drive a propeller, the system comprising a user instruction device and a controller, the user instruction device configured so that a user can select a forward or reverse operating mode and an output power within the selected operating mode, the controller adapted to receive a signal from the instruction device indicative of the desired operating mode and output power and to control the internal combustion engine and electric motor accordingly, wherein the controller is configured to evaluate at least a sensed condition of the system when the reverse operating mode is selected by the user instruction device and to select whether to drive the propeller with the internal combustion engine or the electric motor, and wherein the controller is further configured to operate in at least a first mode in which the controller selects to drive the propeller with the electric motor and reduces the output power of the internal combustion engine, regardless of the signal of the desired output power from the user instruction device, when the controller receives a signal from the user instruction device to change to the reverse operating mode.