Patent ID: 7533624

Claim:
A boat having a propulsion unit and a steering system comprising a steering wheel and a steering member steering device driven by an electric actuator so as to change a steering direction of the boat, the steering wheel being operable by an operator and generating an actuation signal corresponding to steering wheel operation, the boat further comprising a control system for receiving the actuation signal and controlling the electric actuator based on the actuation signal of the steering wheel, the control system further configured to obtain or receive detection data concerning at least one of a steering condition of the boat according to operation of the steering wheel, a running condition of the boat, an electric actuator condition, and data concerning a quantity and position of propulsion units, wherein the control system is adapted to calculate a target steering force to be applied by the electric actuator based on the detection data, and to control operation of the electric actuator to apply the target steering force to the corresponding steering member steering device so as to maintain advantageous steering response even in changing conditions.