System and method for automatically navigating a depth contour

1. A system for controlling a marine vessel, the system comprising:

a sonar depth finder configured to display a chart for a body of water, the chart including depth information for the body of water, wherein the sonar depth finder is programmed to allow a user to select from a plurality of depths indicated on the sonar depth finder display, the sonar depth finder further configured to generate a route for the marine vessel wherein the route includes a path through the body of water such that at each point along the path, the water is at the desired depth; and

a vessel control device in communication with the sonar depth finder, the vessel control device configured to receive transmissions from the sonar depth finder, the transmissions including the route generated by the sonar depth finder, the vessel control device being further configured to automatically direct the marine vessel along the route.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the depth information includes one or more depth contour lines superimposed on the display of the chart for the body of water, wherein each depth contour line represents a particular depth in the body of water.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the sonar depth finder includes a GPS receiver with GPS display, and is configured to permit a user to select from the one or more of the depth contour lines from which selection the sonar depth finder generates the route for transmission to the vessel control device.

4. The system of claim 2 , wherein the sonar depth finder is configured to permit a user to select portions from the one or more depth contour lines from which selection the sonar depth finder generates the route for transmission to the vessel control device.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the sonar depth finder is configured to permit the user to add track points between selected portions from the one or more depth contour lines from which the sonar depth finder generates the route for transmission to the vessel control device, the route including both the selected portions and added track points.

6. The system of claim 2 , wherein the sonar depth finder is configured to permit a user to select a depth contour line and a direction of travel from which selection the sonar depth finder generates the route for transmission to the vessel control device.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the sonar depth finder is configured to permit the user to select an offset to the depth contour line and a direction of travel, and to generate a route, based on the chosen offset, for transmission to the vessel control device.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the vessel control device comprises a controller for a trolling motor, the controller comprising a GPS receiver, a compass, a wireless communications module, and means for rotating the trolling motor.

9. The system of claim 8 , further comprising a remote control device for the controller, wherein remote control device is configured to allow a user to remotely operate the trolling motor, and wherein the remote control device includes a display configured to display a chart for a body of water.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the controller is configured to store date for the entire route generated by the sonar depth finder and to control the trolling motor such that the marine vessel automatically follows the route.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein the controller is configured to store date for only a portion of the route, and wherein the controller is configured to periodically receive data from the sonar depth finder regarding the portion of the route the marine vessel is about to navigate.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the depth information includes one or more colors superimposed on the display of the chart for the body of water, wherein each color represents a particular depth in the body of water.

13. A system for controlling a marine vessel, the system comprising:

a sonar depth finder configured to display a chart for a body of water, the chart including depth information for the body of water, wherein the sonar depth finder is programmed to allow a user to input a desired depth, the sonar depth finder further configured to generate one or more routes for the marine vessel wherein the route includes a path through the body of water such that at each point along the path, the water is at the desired depth; and

a vessel control device in communication with the sonar depth finder, the vessel control device configured to receive transmissions from the sonar depth finder, the transmissions including the route generated by the sonar depth finder, the vessel control device being further configured to automatically direct the marine vessel along the route.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the vessel control device comprises a controller for a trolling motor, the controller comprising a GPS receiver, a compass, and means for rotating the trolling motor.

15. The system of claim 14 , further comprising a remote control device for the controller, wherein remote control device is configured to allow a user to remotely operate the trolling motor, and wherein the remote control device includes a display configured to display a chart for a body of water.

16. The system of claim 14 , wherein the controller is configured to store date for the entire route generated by the sonar depth finder and to control the trolling motor such that the marine vessel automatically follows the route.

17. The system of claim 14 , wherein the controller is configured to store date for only a portion of the route, and wherein the controller is configured to periodically receive data from the sonar depth finder regarding the portion of the route the marine vessel is about to navigate.

18. The system of claim 13 , wherein the vessel control device is in wireless communication with the sonar depth finder.

19. The system of claim 13 , wherein the sonar depth finder includes a GPS receiver and GPS display.