Patent ID: 8468964

Claim:
An apparatus to redirect a thrust generated by a propeller for a watercraft, comprising: a control surface to redirect the thrust from the propeller based upon a position of the control surface with respect to the propeller, wherein the redirected thrust comprises a component of non-forward thrust; a first member to couple with the watercraft and the control surface to maintain a distance between the control surface and the propeller to position the control surface at least partially within an area in which prop wash is to be expelled by the propeller; and an adjustable member to couple with the first member to rotate the first member to move the control surface between different positions within the area in which prop wash is to be expelled by the propeller to generate a net thrust to steer the watercraft, wherein the first member comprises a rigid member and the apparatus further comprises a non-rigid joint to couple the rigid member with the control surface to restrict movement of the control surface in at least one direction, further comprising a spring coupled between the rigid member and the control surface, wherein the spring is adapted to apply the force to the control surface to maintain the control surface at least partially within the prop wash at least until a magnitude of the thrust reaches a threshold magnitude based upon a loading curve of the spring, which allows the control surface to disengage.