Thruster arrangement for a boat

Abstract

A pontoon boat including a thruster system is disclosed.

1 . A pontoon boat comprising:
 a plurality of pontoons defining a port side envelope of the plurality of pontoons and a starboard side envelope of the plurality of pontoons, wherein the plurality of pontoons includes a port side pontoon, a starboard side pontoon, and a third pontoon positioned between the port side pontoon and the starboard side pontoon;   a fluid conduit connected to at least one pontoon of the plurality of pontoons, the fluid conduit angled downward relative to a waterline, and the fluid conduit including a water inlet and a water outlet; and   a thruster system associated with the at least one pontoon of the plurality of pontoons, the thruster system including a fluid pump positioned in the fluid conduit, the fluid pump configured to move water from proximate the water inlet to the water outlet to deliver a thrust output from the at least one pontoon.   
     
     
         2 . The pontoon boat of  claim 1 , including at least one valve positioned along the fluid conduit and configured to regulate at least one of water flow through the fluid conduit and water flow out of the water outlet. 
     
     
         3 . The pontoon boat of  claim 1 , including one or more of a bow-port water outlet, a bow-starboard water outlet, a stern-port water outlet and a stern-starboard water outlet. 
     
     
         4 . The pontoon boat of  claim 1 , including one or more deflectors configured to modify the thrust output. 
     
     
         5 . The pontoon boat of  claim 1 , including a controller operatively coupled with the thruster system, the controller configured to control fluid flow through the fluid conduit. 
     
     
         6 . The pontoon boat of  claim 5 , wherein the controller is configured to control one or more valves positioned along the fluid conduit;
 wherein the controller is configured to control the one or more valves to control water exiting from one or more of a bow-port water outlet, a bow-starboard water outlet, a stern-port water outlet and a stern-starboard water outlet to control a direction of travel of the pontoon boat.   
     
     
         7 . The pontoon boat of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid conduit extends within the third pontoon. 
     
     
         8 . A pontoon boat comprising:
 a plurality of pontoons including a port side pontoon, a starboard side pontoon, and a middle pontoon located between the port side pontoon and the starboard side pontoon;   wherein at least one pontoon of the plurality of pontoons includes a fluid conduit connected to the at least one pontoon, the fluid conduit angled downward relative to a waterline;
 a deck supported by the plurality of pontoons; 
 a thruster system including: 
   at least one water inlet in at least one pontoon of the plurality of pontoons;   at least one movable water outlet in the at least one pontoon of the plurality of pontoons;   one or more valves positioned within the fluid conduit, the one or more valves configured to regulate a fluid flow through the fluid conduit; and   a fluid pump positioned along the fluid conduit; and   a controller in communication with the thruster system, the controller configured to control fluid flow to at least one water outlet.   
     
     
         9 . The pontoon boat of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one water inlet and at least one water outlet are provided in the middle pontoon. 
     
     
         10 . The pontoon boat of  claim 8 , the controller in communication with the one or more valves;
 wherein the controller controls opening and closing the one or more valves.   
     
     
         11 . The pontoon boat of  claim 8 , wherein the fluid pump is fluidly coupled with one or more movable water outlets. 
     
     
         12 . The pontoon boat of  claim 8 , wherein the fluid pump includes a first fluid pump coupled with a first movable water outlet and a second fluid pump coupled with a second movable water outlet to deliver a thrust output from the at least one pontoon. 
     
     
         13 . The pontoon boat of  claim 8 , includes a plurality of fluid conduits;
 wherein the fluid pump is fluidly coupled with each of the plurality of fluid conduits to move water from proximate a water inlet toward the at least one movable water outlet.   
     
     
         14 . The pontoon boat of  claim 8 , wherein the controller is configured to provide instructions to the at least one movable water outlet;
 wherein the instructions correspond to a desired direction of movement of the pontoon boat.   
     
     
         15 . A method of operating a thruster system of a pontoon boat in water, the pontoon boat including a plurality of pontoons including exteriors in contact with the water, the plurality of pontoons including a first pontoon including a thruster unit positionable in an interior thereof, the method comprising:
 providing an input to a controller corresponding to a desired thrusting force direction, the controller operatively coupled with a fluid pump of the thruster unit;   wherein the fluid pump is positioned within a fluid conduit in the first pontoon;   wherein the fluid conduit is angled to increase stability of the pontoon boat;   providing instructions, with the controller, to the fluid pump corresponding to fluid flow through the fluid conduit; and   controlling, with the controller, a volume of water flowing through the fluid conduit.   
     
     
         16 . The method of operating the thruster system of the pontoon boat of  claim 15 , wherein the fluid conduit includes one or more valves, the method including:
 adjusting the one or more valves according to a desired fluid flow through the fluid conduit.   
     
     
         17 . The method of operating the thruster system of the pontoon boat of  claim 15 , wherein the fluid conduit includes a plurality of fluid conduits, and the fluid pump is coupled with each of the plurality of fluid conduits, the method including:
 selectively directing a fluid flow with the fluid pump to each of the plurality of fluid conduits.   
     
     
         18 . The method of operating the thruster system of the pontoon boat of  claim 15 , wherein the fluid conduit is moveable, the method including:
 altering a direction of water from a water outlet of the fluid conduit by moving the fluid conduit.   
     
     
         19 . The method of operating the thruster system of the pontoon boat of  claim 15 , wherein the first pontoon is positioned between a second pontoon and a third pontoon. 
     
     
         20 . The method of operating the thruster system of the pontoon boat of  claim 15 , including a first thruster unit including a first movable portion and a second thruster unit including a second movable portion, the method including:
 altering a position of the first movable portion and the second movable portion; and
 directing a flow of water with the first movable portion and the second movable portion to cause a desired movement of the pontoon boat.