Patent ID: 7497746

Claim:
A method of steering a watercraft propulsion device mounted to a transom plate of a watercraft, the propulsion device having a steering input device configured for operation by an operator of the watercraft and a steering drive unit configured to allow the watercraft propulsion device to swivel about a swivel shaft, the propulsion device having a forward drive mode, the method comprising the steps of: detecting a displacement of the steering input device; detecting which of a plurality of predetermined steering system forward drive mode response performance options has been selected by an operator of the watercraft, each of the plurality of predetermined steering system forward drive mode response performance options corresponding to different steering factors indicative of the amount of actuation of the steering drive unit, the different steering factors defining different direct relationships between the displacement of the steering input device and a rotational position of the propulsion device about the swivel shaft during operation of the propulsion device at least in the forward drive mode; calculating a steering control amount for the steering drive unit in accordance with the degree displacement of the steering input device and the selected predetermined steering system response performance option; and operating the steering drive unit based on the calculated steering control amount.