Patent ID: 7082932

Claim:
A method for controlling the operation of an engine of a marine propulsion system, comprising the steps of: providing an internal combustion engine with an air intake conduit; providing a charge air compressor having an outlet conduit connected in fluid communication with said air intake conduit; providing a motive force to cause said charge air compressor to operate to provide compressed air from said outlet conduit to said air intake conduit; detecting a demand for a change in torque; measuring an operating speed of said internal combustion engine; and changing the operating speed of said charge air compressor, relative to said operating speed of said internal combustion engine and as a function of detected demand for a change in torque, wherein said changing step changes said operating speed of said charge air compressor relative to said operating speed of said internal combustion engine and as a dual function of both said detected demand for a change in torque and said operating speed of said internal combustion engine, such that in response to engine torque demand to achieve a planing condition, operating speed of said engine and operating speed of said charge air compressor both increase, said operating speed of said engine increasing to a first speed and then decreasing to a second lower speed upon achieving said planing condition and then increasing again to a third speed, said operating speed of said charge air compressor decreasing during the increasing operating speed of said engine from second speed to said third speed.