Patent ID: 7473076

Claim:
A system for controlling the pitch of a controllable pitch marine propeller of a watercraft having an engine, comprising: a drive actuator for manual movement by a watercraft operator of the watercraft; a controller for controlling engine power and pitch of the marine propeller; a mode selector for selecting a cruise mode or a maneuvering mode for the watercraft; and wherein the controller is also for receiving control signals from the mode selector and from the drive actuator, and when the mode selector is actuated to place the watercraft in the maneuvering mode, the controller limits engine rpm speed to within a predetermined value less than maximum engine speed and controls the pitch of the propeller blades in accordance with the manual movement of the drive actuator by the watercraft operator to change watercraft speed, and when the mode selector is in the cruise mode, the controller sets engine power up to the maximum engine speed and propeller pitch in accordance with movement of the drive actuator by the watercraft operator to change watercraft speed.