Patent ID: 6997763

Claim:
A running control device for a watercraft having a propulsion device that produces a controllable propulsion force and having a tilt angle adjusting device that controls a tilt angle of the propulsion device, the running control device comprising: a propulsion force control section that controls the propulsion force in response to at least a target velocity of the watercraft and a measured velocity of the watercraft, the propulsion force control section providing control signals to the propulsion device to control the propulsion force produced by the propulsion device to maintain the measured velocity of the watercraft at the target velocity; and a tilt angle control section that controls the tilt angle adjusting device to vary the tilt angle of the propulsion device, the tilt angle control section responsive to input information responsive to propulsion force produced by the propulsion device, the tilt angle control section varying the tilt angle of the propulsion device while monitoring the input information as the propulsion force control section controls the propulsion force of the propulsion device to maintain the measured velocity at the target velocity, the tilt angle control section selecting a value for the tilt angle that minimizes the propulsion force of the propulsion device while the propulsion device maintains the measured velocity at the target velocity.