Patent ID: 7556544

Claim:
In a dual propulsion steering and control system for watercraft which includes a pair of propulsion means wherein separate mounting means are provided in a spaced relationship to one another for suspending the propulsion means on opposite sides of a centerline of the watercraft and wherein a power source is provided for individually energizing a pair of provided power conversion means individually connected to each propulsion means and wherein a pair of power regulating means are provided to individually vary the power from the power source to the power conversion means the improvement comprising, a pair of foot control means, first foot control means for manipulating the first of said power regulating means connecting said power source to the first of said power conversion means which drives the first of said propulsion means and second foot control means for manipulating the second of said power regulating means connecting said power source to the second of said power conversion means which drives the second of said propulsion means, each of said foot control means including a pedal having toe and heel portions, means for pivotally supporting each of said pedals so that each pedal is pivotable about a single axis taken generally perpendicular to an elongated axis extending between toe and heel portions of each pedal and significantly offset to be closer to an operator's ankle joint, said pedals being movable from a neutral position wherein neither of said toe or heel portions are depressed to a forward position wherein said toe position is depressed and a reverse position wherein said heel portion is depressed, each of said foot control means manipulating a power regulating means for activating and regulating power to said power conversion means resulting in a forward motion of the watercraft when said toe portion of said pedal is depressed, each of said foot control means controlling a power regulating means for activating and regulating power to said power conversion means resulting in a reverse motion of the watercraft when said heel portion of said pedal is depressed, each of said foot control means including power regulating means operable in response to the further depression of said toe or heel portions of said pedals to increase the power being supplied through said power regulating means to thereby increase the power from the power conversion means and thus the speed of said propulsion means in a forward or reverse direction when activated by said power regulating means whereby each of said foot control means controls a separate one of said propulsion means so that the direction of thrust of each said propulsion means as well as the speed of each said propulsion means is separately controlled.