Patent ID: 8060265

Claim:
A method of steering an aquatic vessel having at least one hull, at least one engine coupleable to rotationally drive first and second mutually spaced separate corresponding propeller assemblies for providing thrusts to propel the vessel through water, wherein directions of said thrusts developed by said propeller assemblies are angularly adjustable relative to the at least one hull, and wherein the vessel further includes a control unit for receiving user commands and for sending corresponding signals for controlling power coupled from said at least one engine to said propeller assemblies, said method comprising the steps of: receiving a first thrust command for said first propeller assembly and a second thrust command for said second propeller assembly at the control unit; determining a difference in power to be coupled from said at least one engine to said first and second propeller assemblies as a function of said first and second thrust commands; coupling power to said first and second propeller assemblies so that said propeller assemblies develop a difference in thrust which is a function of said difference in power; and controlling angles of directions of thrusts for said first and second propeller assemblies solely as a function of said difference in power coupled to said first and second propeller assemblies to steer said vessel.