Brunswick Corporation

Ryan A Fergus

Travis C Malouf

Justin R Poirier

Wayne M Jaszewski

Steven J Andrasko

Andrew J Przybyl

Matthew W Snyder

Jeffrey D Reifsnyder

Justin K Martin

Andrew Sheely

A system for steering a marine vessel includes first and second marine drives connected by a mechanical link such that they are steered in parallel, a first steering actuator configured to rotate the first marine drive and a first steering position sensor configured to measure a steering position thereof. A second steering actuator configured to rotate the second marine drive. The control system is configured to receive a steering command and a current steering position from the first steering position sensor. A first steering instruction is then determined for the first steering actuator based on the steering command and the current steering position such that the first steering actuator bears a first portion of a total steering load to effectuate the steering command. A coordinated steering instruction is determined for the second steering actuator such that the second steering actuator bears a remaining portion of the total steering load.

Parallel steering actuation system and method for a marine vessel

An outboard motor includes a transom clamp bracket configured to be supported on a transom of a marine vessel and a swivel bracket configured to be supported by the transom clamp bracket. A propulsion unit is supported by the swivel bracket, the propulsion unit comprising a head unit, a midsection below the head unit, and a lower unit below the midsection. The head unit, midsection, and lower unit are generally vertically aligned with one another when the outboard motor is in a neutral tilt/trim position. The propulsion unit is detachable from the transom clamp bracket.

Outboard motor that is removable from transom clamp bracket

A method for preserving electrical power in a marine vessel. The method includes operating a variable operating device according to an original setting, measuring an actual system voltage for the marine vessel, and comparing the actual system voltage measured to a target system voltage. The method further includes adjusting the operation of the variable operating device from the original setting based on the comparison of the actual system voltage to the target system voltage, where adjusting the operation changes the electrical power usage in the marine vessel.

Systems and methods for preserving electrical power in a marine vessel having a marine propulsion device

A method for preserving electrical power in a marine vessel having a marine propulsion device. The method includes operating a variable operating device according to an original setting, measuring an actual system voltage for the marine propulsion device, and comparing the actual system voltage measured to a target system voltage. The method further includes adjusting the operation of the variable operating device from the original setting based on the comparison of the actual system voltage to the target system voltage, where adjusting the operation changes the electrical power usage in the marine propulsion device.

A steering system for a trimmable outboard motor. The steering system includes a hydraulic steering device that upon actuation changes a steering angle of the outboard motor. A pump communicates a hydraulic fluid with the hydraulic actuator to cause actuation thereof, where the pump operates at a pump speed, and where the pump speed impacts a change rate for the hydraulic steering device changing the steering angle. A reservoir is fluidly coupled to the pump and configured to retain the hydraulic fluid. A tilt sensor detects a trim angle of the outboard motor. A control system is operatively coupled with the pump and receives requests for changing the steering angle. The control system controls the pump speed of the pump based at least in part on the trim angle of the outboard motor.

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Neenah, WI, United States of America

Ryan A Fergus