The next revolutionary change in Sterndrive Controls

[Dave S]

I just received my weekly email report from BoatTest.com wherein they reported that Mercruiser unveiled the Apollo outdrive control to the press last week. This brings joystick control to the outdrive world. http://www.boattest.com/Resources/view_news.aspx?NewsID=242

Here are four videos from Boattest.com on the new controls. It looks to me they are using a Sea Ray 290 Sundancer for the test:

http://mfile.akamai.com/12689/wmv/b...ai.com/12689/_dld/mercury/apollo_concepts.asx

http://mfile.akamai.com/12689/wmv/b...ai.com/12689/_dld/mercury/apollo_spinning.asx

http://mfile.akamai.com/12689/wmv/b...ai.com/12689/_dld/mercury/apollo_joystick.asx

http://mfile.akamai.com/12689/wmv/b...ai.com/12689/_dld/mercury/apollo_docking1.asx

 

[Morpheus]

I'll take one I assume it's only on their twin engine bigger boats not something you'd see on like a 240 SD

 

[BrentJones]

I think this is like something I saw on The Science Channel or Discover. They were used on NYC tug boats in tight quarters.

 

[Duke's Addiction]

Dear Santa,

All I want for Xmas is the Apollo drive.....

 

[Dave S]

When I saw (towards the end of the last video) where they are actually docking the boat, my first thoughts were why is so much throttle necessary? The turbulence was excessive in my opinion. I think they may still have some "fine tuning" to do to get the prop speeds lowered a bit. :wink:

 

[Duke's Addiction]

I noticed that too. But, there was a female at the helm... :wink:

 

[jg300da]

Pretty impressive. Considering the most feared component of boating that the average boater experiences when moving up to a larger twin boat is docking, and this virtually takes the guess work out of that.

Another point, if this is successful, I feel that the standard straight inboards or v-drives would become somewhat obsolete as one of their more important advantages, namely superior close quarter handling, is eliminated with a system like this. Now the only two points to measure are maintenance expense associated with sterndrives versus performance, and more importantly, engine room space and access, re: 320/340DA's. I would strongly consider a 310/320/340 with sterndrives over a v-drive setup.

 

[BrentJones]

I noticed that too. But, there was a female at the helm... :wink:

Just like a Geico commercial, "So easy, a caveman can do it." Except it is so easy, a woman can do it! Just kidding, just kidding!!! Several times we've been out for the day, my wife has asked to dock the boat in the slip when we get back. She wants to be able to drive the boat if I'm not able to, so that makes sense. Every single time she has tried, she has gotten the boat in the most difficult situation and then panics and jumps out of the way for me to take over. Geesh!

 

[Duke's Addiction]

Hell, all my wife knows what to do is push the MOB button. :smt100

 

[Dave M.]

If you look at Savannah's hand on the joystick in the first part of the last video, I think you will see some rather abrupt, large movements of the joystick. In the stopping, turning, and backing in, I think the speeds are too high, the motion too abrupt. I would not describe this as being in control of the boat. But it looks a lot like an operator issue to me.