Patent ID: 6896563

Claim:
A joystick apparatus for steering a waterjet propelled watercraft, the joystick apparatus comprising: (a) a joystick comprising at least three movably interconnected swinging arms, with a first and third one of the swinging arms being generally vertically oriented, and a second one of the swinging arms being generally horizontally oriented; (b) a mechanical housing supporting the joystick, the mechanical housing comprising a generally horizontally oriented housing plate affixed to the watercraft, the joystick passing through an aperture in the housing plate and being swivelable on the housing plate; and (c) at least one mechanism movably connecting the joystick apparatus to an outdrive of the watercraft; wherein the joystick has at least one forward position for putting the watercraft on plane, at least one alternate, right steering position for steering the watercraft in a rightward direction, and at least one alternate, left steering position for steering the watercraft in a leftward direction.