Range efficiency of watercraft
There is described a watercraft comprising a housing having a hull and a deck, the hull shaped to cause the watercraft to operate in a displacement state and a planing state, a powerplant in the housing, and a propulsion device drivingly engaged to the powerplant to generate a propulsive force to propel the watercraft. A controller is configured for monitoring an operational parameter of the watercraft, the watercraft having a range-efficient operating regime following a transition of the watercraft from the displacement state to the planing state, the operational parameter having an optimal state for the range-efficient operating regime. A user interface is coupled to the controller and configured for providing a visual indication of a status of the watercraft in relation to the range-efficient operating regime.
1 . A watercraft comprising:
a housing having a hull and a deck, the hull shaped to cause the watercraft to operate in a displacement state and a planing state;
a powerplant in the housing;
a propulsion device drivingly engaged to the powerplant to generate a propulsive force to propel the watercraft;
a controller configured for monitoring an operational parameter of the watercraft, the operational parameter relating to a range-efficient operating regime of the watercraft following a transition of the watercraft from the displacement state to the planing state; and
a user interface coupled to the controller and configured for providing a visual indication of a status of the watercraft in relation to the range-efficient operating regime based on the operational parameter, wherein:
the operational parameter has a range of values corresponding to the range-efficient operating regime, the range of values extending from a lower bound to an upper bound; and
the visual indication indicates the status of the watercraft in relation to the lower bound and the upper bound.
2 . The watercraft of claim 1 , wherein at least some of the range of values of the operational parameter correspond an optimal state for the range-efficient operating regime.
3 . The watercraft of claim 2 , wherein the user interface is configured for displaying the monitored operational parameter in relation to the optimal state.
4 . The watercraft of claim 1 , wherein the operational parameter comprises a speed of the watercraft.
5 . The watercraft of claim 1 , wherein the powerplant comprises an electric motor and the operational parameter comprises a rotational speed of the electric motor.
6 . The watercraft of claim 1 , wherein the operational parameter comprises a power to speed ratio (PSR) for the watercraft.
7 . The watercraft of claim 1 , wherein the operational parameter comprises a first operational parameter and a second operational parameter, and wherein the first operational parameter is a speed of the watercraft and the second operational parameter is a trim angle of a nozzle of the propulsion device.
8 . The watercraft of claim 1 , wherein the visual indication comprises at least one of a scale, a numerical value, and a dial.
9 . The watercraft of claim 1 , wherein the visual indication comprises an indicator that is active when the watercraft is operating in the range-efficient operating regime and inactive when the watercraft is operating outside of the range-efficient operating regime.
10 . A method of operating a watercraft having a powerplant and a propulsion device drivingly engaged to the powerplant to generate a propulsive force to propel the watercraft, the watercraft having a hull shaped to cause the watercraft to operate in a displacement state and a planing state, the method comprising:
monitoring an operational parameter of the watercraft, the operational parameter relating to a range-efficient operating regime following a transition of the watercraft from the displacement state to the planing state;
providing, based on the operational parameter, a visual indication on a user interface of the watercraft of a status of the watercraft in relation to the range-efficient operating regime, wherein:
the operational parameter includes a trim angle of a nozzle of the propulsion device; and
the method includes adjusting the trim angle of the nozzle of the propulsion device when the watercraft is operating in the range-efficient operating regime to remain within the range-efficient operating regime.
11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein providing the visual indication of the status of the watercraft in relation to the range-efficient operating regime comprises displaying the monitored operational parameter in relation to a range of values of the operational parameter corresponding to the range-efficient operating regime.
12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising determining the range of values for the operational parameter in relation to the range-efficient operating regime as a function of one or more factor internal or external to the watercraft.
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the factor external to the watercraft comprises at least one of a loading of the watercraft, a wind factor, a water current, and a water salinity.
14 . The method of claim 10 , wherein providing the visual indicator on the user interface comprises activating an indicator when the watercraft is operating in the range-efficient operating regime and deactivating the indicator when the watercraft is operating outside of the range-efficient operating regime.
15 . The method of claim 10 , wherein providing the visual indicator on the user interface comprises dynamically changing an aspect of the visual indicator proportionally with a change in efficiency of the watercraft.
16 . The method of claim 10 , comprising applying a speed limit or activating a cruise control function for the watercraft when the watercraft is operating in the range-efficient operating regime to remain within the range-efficient operating regime.
17 . A watercraft comprising:
a housing having a hull and a deck, the hull shaped to cause the watercraft to operate in a displacement state and a planing state;
a powerplant in the housing;
a propulsion device drivingly engaged to the powerplant to generate a propulsive force to propel the watercraft; and
a controller configured for monitoring an operational parameter of the watercraft to determine when the watercraft is operating within a range-efficient operating regime, and for effecting control of the watercraft to operate the watercraft within the range-efficient operating regime, effecting control of the watercraft including adjusting a trim angle of a nozzle of the propulsion device.
18 . The watercraft as defined in claim 1 , wherein the operational parameter includes a trim angle of a nozzle of the propulsion device.