(57) The present invention relates to a steering system for a watercraft, comprising:
a watercraft propulsion unit (12), a steering device (16) actuated by an actuator
(20) for changing a direction in which the watercraft travels, and a steering amount
input means such as a steering wheel (17), operable by an operator, and electrically
connected to the actuator (20) to provide an actuation signal corresponding to an
operation amount of the actuator (20), and a control unit (33) comprising at least
one of steerage status detection means (38) for detecting a steerage status following
an operation of the steering amount input means (17), running status detection means
(39) for detecting a running status of the watercraft, watercraft propulsion unit
status recognition means (40) for recognizing a status of the watercraft propulsion
unit such as an installation number thereof, and actuator status detection means (41)
for detecting a status of the actuator (20); and comprising rudder turning force characteristic
computation means (37) for computing a rudder turning force characteristic based on
a detection value from at least one of the detection and recognition means; and control
means (42,43,44,56) for controlling at least one of a reaction force to the steering
amount input means (17), a limit rudder turning angle, and a propulsive force based
on a computed rudder turning force characteristic and/or selecting the actuator to
operate.
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