Patent ID: 8454402

Claim:
A propulsion system for a marine vessel, the propulsion system comprising: a propulsor that is rotationally connected to a driveshaft by a transmission, the propulsor configured to propel the marine vessel upon rotation of the driveshaft; wherein the transmission comprises a rotating gear and effects a shift change by connecting or disconnecting the driveshaft and the propulsor via the rotating gear; an internal combustion engine that is rotationally connected in torque transmitting relation to the driveshaft by a clutch such that the internal combustion engine rotates the driveshaft; an electric motor that is rotationally connected in torque transmitting relation to the driveshaft such that the electric motor rotates the driveshaft; a control circuit that controls the speed of the electric motor to apply torque to and thereby control speed of rotation of the driveshaft; and an input device that inputs an operator request for the shift change to the control circuit; wherein the control circuit controls the speed of the electric Motor to thereby decrease the speed of rotation of the driveshaft when the operator request for the shift change is input to the control circuit by the input device.