US 12,263,928 B2
Trolling motor stabilizer
Lonnie Shere, Jr., Claremore, OK (US); and Christopher D. Crawford, Bixby, OK (US)
Assigned to Navico, Inc., Tulsa, OK (US)
Filed by NAVICO, INC., Tulsa, OK (US)
Filed on Jan. 31, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/589,025.
Prior Publication US 2023/0242228 A1, Aug. 3, 2023
Int. Cl. B63H 20/02 (2006.01); B63B 79/10 (2020.01); B63B 79/40 (2020.01); B63H 20/00 (2006.01)
CPC B63H 20/02 (2013.01) [B63B 79/10 (2020.01); B63B 79/40 (2020.01); B63H 20/007 (2013.01)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for locking a trolling motor assembly in a stowed position on a watercraft, the system comprising:
the trolling motor assembly, wherein the trolling motor assembly is attached to the watercraft and movable between the stowed position and a deployed position, the trolling motor assembly comprising:
a shaft extending along a central axis from a first end to a second end; and
a trolling motor at least partially contained within a trolling motor lower unit, wherein the trolling motor lower unit is attached to the second end of the shaft, wherein, when the trolling motor assembly is attached to the watercraft and the trolling motor lower unit is submerged in a body of water, the trolling motor, when operating, is configured to propel the watercraft to travel along the body of water;
a locking mechanism mounted to the watercraft and configured to interact with the trolling motor assembly when the trolling motor assembly is in the stowed position, wherein the locking mechanism defines a locked state and an unlocked state, wherein, when the trolling motor is in the stowed position and the locking mechanism is in the locked state, the locking mechanism prevents movement of the trolling motor assembly from the stowed position, and wherein, when the trolling motor is in the stowed position and the locking mechanism is in the unlocked state, the trolling motor assembly is able to move from the stowed position; and
a controller comprising:
a processor;
a memory including program code configured to, when executed, cause the processor to:
determine an instance in which to transition the locking mechanism from the locked state to the unlocked state based on at least one of: sensor data, watercraft speed, user input, or any combination thereof; and, in response, cause the locking mechanism to transition from the locked state to the unlocked state.