Patent ID: 7844374

Claim:
A boat having a propulsion unit and a steering system comprising a steering wheel and a steering device, the steering device comprising an electric actuator, the steering wheel being operable by an operator and generating an actuation signal corresponding to steering wheel operation, the steering wheel being electrically connected to the electric actuator, the boat additionally comprising a controller adapted to control a propulsive force of the propulsion unit, the controller having at least one of an operation status portion adapted to obtain data concerning steering wheel operation, a running status portion adapted to obtain data concerning a running status of the boat, a propulsion unit status portion adapted to obtain data concerning a status of the propulsion unit, and an electric actuator status portion adapted to obtain data concerning a status of the electric actuator, the controller further comprising a propulsive force calculator adapted to calculate a propulsive force target based on data from at least one of the controller portions, wherein the controller is configured to reduce or restrain the propulsive force of the propulsion unit to a level at or below the propulsive force target value.