Patent ID: 6857918

Claim:
A watercraft comprising: a hull having port and starboard sides and a stern; a propulsion system supported by the hull including a drive shaft, wherein the propulsion system propels the watercraft when the drive shaft is driven; a power plant supported by the hull, wherein the power plant comprises; an electrical turning machine (ETM) having an output shaft operatively connected to the drive shaft, wherein the ETM is capable of operating in a generator mode and a motor mode; and an internal combustion engine having a crankshaft operatively connected to the drive shaft and the ETM; a battery operatively connected to the ETM; a controller connected to the power plant that controls driving of the drive shaft by the power plant; and an operator-controlled throttle lever, wherein the controller is operatively connected to the throttle lever to sense a position of the throttle lever wherein, when (a) the throttle lever position is in a predetermined throttle lever range and (b) the charge level of the batter is above a predetermined minimum charge level, the controller turns off the engine, and operates the ETM in motor mode at a power level corresponding to the throttle lever position.