Patent ID: 6223723
Filing Date: 2001-05-01
Classification: F02P,Y02T

Abstract:
A small watercraft including a hull defining an engine compartment and an internal combustion engine located within the engine compartment, the engine including at least one variable-volume chamber defined by at least first and second components with one of the components being moveably contained within the other components and connected to an output shaft so as to drive the output shaft in a rotational manner as a result of combustion within the chamber, an ignition system including an ignition element that initiates combustion of a fuel/air mixture in the chamber, a sensory system responsive to at least engine speed to provide an engine speed signal, and a controller communicating with the sensory system and with the ignition system, the controller being responsive to the engine speed signal to periodically determine whether engine acceleration is in one of at least three present ranges of acceleration, to determine a parameter corresponding to a planing state of the watercraft, and to adjust ignition timing in response to the determined acceleration range and the determined parameter to a value appropriate for the planing state of the watercraft.