Yacht Controller

That looks pretty cool!

Seems like a bit overkill for your boat :lol:
 
One word. Liability!!!!

One opinion. Take the money you would spend on this thing and have someone teach you how to drive your boat the right way!!! If a boat has blind spots, get a new one!!! Ive had cars with blind spots, I didnt remote the thing so I could stand out on the hood while I parked it....

Whats next, auto slipping????
 
I've never had a need for something like that and I take my boat out all the time alone (and yes I have a bridge). I think if I had a bigger boat, though, it would be nice... especially going out without any help.

I will say that the docking skills of the dude in that first video won't be fixed with a remote... gee whiz...
 
Just because it can be done doesn't make it the best or most desirable way......and what happens to Capt. Gee-Whizz when his little black box doesn't work? Will he have to call Sea Tow to get tied up to the dock?

I guess I'm stuck a time since I much prefer my old "analog" boat.
 
I respect what several of you have said about not needing a system like that at all. But, it's only a matter of time before more electronic functions become dominate features on big boats whether we like it or not. Once that stuff becomes perfected and prices come down, I am pretty sure that electronic nannies like this will be everywhere in boating and that includes 185 Bowriders as well Wesley.:grin:

What's happening in boats (with electronics) reminds me of what has happened with cars over the years. There was a time when I didn't want anything to do with electronics on cars. Give me carburetors and points.......something I can understand.:smt038

That attitude was reinforced many times over by some of the electronic glitches that showed up on my cars as the science was maturing. I can't tell you how many times I cursed GM's VATS system when it first came out and my car wouldn't start. Or how impossible the "limp home" mode was if your ECM failed (I had three fail on my Corvettes and after that I always carried a spare). Or if a fuel injector failed, your car just died. An OHM meter to determine the failed injector was needed and once you found it you simply unplugged the injector and the car would start. Eventually this stuff stabilized pretty well to the point that it's all pretty reliable now and taken for granted because of it's overall dependability.

So it's inevitable that electronics will become a bigger and bigger part of our lives on new boats as time goes on. The Yacht controller "feature" is probably something that Volvo and Mercury need to provide for IPS, Zeus, and Axius. When you think about it, even though thou the new systems from Merc and Volvo are nice, the operator may still be hampered by not being able to see everything from the Captains chair on a really large boat. So in that respect I see it as very desirable on a big boat.

Just my 2 cents.
 
I think it's cool. Would be really cool if they wrote a program for the iPhone so you could look up places to eat, call them, and dock all at the same time and take a pic of yourself docking and email it to your friends.
 
I think it's cool. Would be really cool if they wrote a program for the iPhone so you could look up places to eat, call them, and dock all at the same time and take a pic of yourself docking and email it to your friends.

Mike

You need a bigger boat badly...............either that or you need spring to come around quickly. :smt043

Dave
 
Dave,

I'm not blind to what is coming, nor do I feel strongly enough about it to swim against the tide.

But I continue to hear the justification of adopting new technology like this in terms of automotive comparisons. The two are not comparable. In the case of autos, electronic engine control came about because the industry couldn't meet enviornmental or mileage requirements witthout electronic ignition and fuel control. In boating, we seem to be headed toward drive by wire mostly because Mercruiser is trying to fix other designs at don't work as well as they should, like cable shifting heavy outdrives or to increase selling price points and profit on boats. In this case, we are replacing an exquisitly simple and functional system...i.e. cable controlled inboard transsmissions.

The other justification is the market's seeming demand for gee-whizz.....new technology. So now everyone thinks they need a bow thruster (even on 320DA's!) stern thrusters, electronic engine and transsmission controls so the boat can dock itself, etc. The manufacturers love and encourage it since the more they can retail a boat for the more profit there is per unit produced. And guess what.......we are seeing 34 ft Sea Rays with MSRP's approaching $400K, and 44 DDA's at $3/4 mil.

Tools like Yacht Controller de-skills boat ownership to the point that any 12 year old with a Play Station can drive one. We already have too many weekend-warriors who just aim their fiberglass instead of operating properly. It also prevents the boat's owner from understading the systems on his boat. Sea Ray has used electronic shifting on several models for a few years. Last summer we saw 2 big Sea Rays towed to the dock because the owners couldn't get them in gear. Both were loose connections or loose plugs and neither were system or transmission failures. Neither owner was able to figure out how to get the boats in gear when his electronics failed.

For whatever the reason new control technology is added to pleasure boats, it just isn't necessary on the size boat most of us own. My boat is a good example.....its 45' with no bow thruster...and I never hit anything and can make the boat go where it needs to be. Maybe it is nice to have, but is it worth the nose bleed money required to buy the boats with new control technology?

Not for me...........
 
Frank

I look at it a little differently. The inept boat "captains" need all the help they can get. If systems like Yacht Controller can do that, then why not eventually make them standard on some boats? People like yourself don't need them. But if it helps the person who will never learn how to handle his boat properly without all of the add ons like a bow thruster or Yacht Controller, or computer controlled pod-drives, then I am all for it. After all those same people may be our dock mates and we may not have to worry as much about them running into our boats if they have a little extra help launching and docking theirs.:smt043

Frank, for me personally I don't ever care if electronics advances any further on any boat I own. I have a decent "comfort" level right now and that's the way I like it. But no matter how each one of us feels personally about this stuff it will keep on coming. DTS is a good example. Even though you have sited instances of failure, in all likelihood DTS will be cheaper to manufacture and install in a boat and more reliable in the future compared to today's mechanical cable systems. If that happens, it will just be made standard fare whether we like it or not.

And finally, there are three things I don't like about some of the electronic technology springing up on boats today and they may be the same things you don't like Frank. First is the ability to service the stuff on your own. That's not always a doable unless you have the knowledge and the necessary diagnostic equipment. The second thing is being able to deal with failures on the water which is sometimes just not possible whereas with older technology (mechanical) it would be. And finally the third thing is reliability. That's the most important thing of all in my book but reliability, unfortunately, seems to come only after failures.

In my past life in the Information Technology field I learned a long time ago that trying to be first with the latest and greatest software and hardware could result in quite a few mis-steps so I tried to avoid being put in that position if the risk was too great. That's the way it is with boating. I'll buy the stuff after the "other guys" who want to be first help de-bug it. :grin:
 
I've never been on a big boat (except to look) or driven one, but from looking at the 60DA from the outside I can see where this would be really nice. Yes I'd like to know how to dock the boat with out it but, say I just got my 60 DA and wanted to go for a cruise well it probably takes several hours to learn to dock something that big, and to be perfect at it every time probably takes months if not years, so having something to help me out would be well worth it.
 
This thing brings a new dimension to the RC boat hobby...
 
Oh boy. Where do I start? First of all, I have a Yacht Controller installed on my 58 DB. I use it every time I am on the boat and I cannot imagine living without it. Can I handle the boat without it? Sure. I have been boating for more than 40 years and hold a USCG Masters license. I have taught sailing and boat handling since I was 18. I know how to handle a boat. As with most other pieces of equipment on the boat, the Yacht Controller is not necessary, but surely is a welcome tool. As such, it falls in a category with the windlass, chart plotter with electronic charts, AIS, and automatic fog horn, all items I could easily live without, but choose not to.


At 58 feet, my boat is still easy to handle with two people, and even OK for single handed operation in the right sea conditions. The single station helm is centerline on the fly bridge which gives wonderful un-obstructed views fore and aft while underway. But engine controls are mounted to starboard of the helm which does not give the helmsman the ability to see the port side of the boat. Visibility to starboard is better, I can see the side of the boat, but I have to walk away from the shifters to see crew on the starboard side deck. This may seem like a design flaw to some, but is actually the norm as vessel size increases. Larger vessels, fishing boats and even some sailboats are equipped with second or third helm stations (or partial control stations) to compensate for, or enhance, visibility. Larger still and you begin to see wing stations both port and starboard and/or control stations as the aft end of the upper deck.

When we bought Sea Gull, we looked at a lot of options for a second helm station. The Yacht Controller seemed to be the most elegant, versatile system on the market. We don’t have to go into the electronic versus mechanical argument since Sea Gull already had electronic primary controls. The only leap of faith was the wireless function (more on that later). We also looked at wired controls, both fixed position and with a long cord, but the wireless seemed more appropriate for us.

It’s usually just two of us operating the boat. We often have guests, but it is rare that we have people who can help handle the boat. The first place the Yacht Controller is helpful is when anchoring. I bring the boat to the position where I want to anchor and stop. I then walk to the bow and begin to lower the anchor. With the Yacht Controller in hand, I can bump the engines into reverse as the anchor chain pays out. Once the anchor is down and the right amount of scope is out, I can give the boat a good burst of reverse thrust to set the anchor. When it’s time to weigh anchor, the process is reversed. I can be at the bow with a foot on the windlass control, a hand on the Yacht Controller and the wash-down hose in the other hand. I bump the boat forward and bring up the anchor washing with fresh water as I go. Once the anchor is aboard, I can use the Yacht Controller to hold the boat in position while I get back to the bridge.

Docking is the place where the Yacht Controller really shines. At the very least it allows me to see the port side of the boat as we approach a dock. I am also free to move to the front of the fly bridge, to get a clear view below the bow or even to descend to the cockpit. Having this freedom of movement allows me to both control the boat and handle dock lines, essential for single-handed or even short-handed operation.

Remember, that with a boat of this size, close is not good enough. With even a little wind or current it is almost impossible to move the boat by manual brute force. You cannot haul the boat fore or aft along the dock or pull the bow or stern line to move the boat closer to the dock. All movement is done with engines (and bow thruster) in a slow, purposeful way. The Yacht Controller allows me to be in total control.

OK, so the one negative we found was last summer while cruising in the Chesapeake Bay. On two occasions the radio link between the Yacht Controller and its base station crapped out. This happened in Rock Hall, MD and in Annapolis at the worst possible moments – while backing into the dock. In both cases it took only seconds to take command back at the main controls and avoid any mishap. In talking with a technician at the company, these are areas known to have radio interference on the frequencies that the Yacht Controller uses. I wish I had known that before, but now I know. By the way, the tech service guy gave me his cell phone number in case I ever had another problem!

One final note: This is not a toy. People kid me all the time that I could just sit on the dock and send the boat out for a cruise. It sounds great, but there are inherent dangers too. When I am at the starboard quarter snubbing a spring line, I cannot see the port bow. When I am on the bow handling the anchor I cannot always see what is directly behind me. To compensate, we have a lookout on deck or on the bridge who keeps track of these blind spots. Like all of the other tools aboard, we use the Yacht Controller judiciously every day.
 
What if the sytem failed and stuck in a drive mode? That person would more than likely not be near a helm. A simple ignition kill could be missed... I have heard many stories of boats not dropping out of gear. ect...

I wonder if they make one for my jet ski?? Then I could pull myself on skis with it. Oh, I think I need a spotter. Maybe a remote camera system with watwerproof tv goggles would count???
 
The system fails to neutral. In other words, if there is a loss of signal between the remote and base, the system drops out of gear. The same is true of the primary wired electronic control at the helm.

Please also note that this is control over shifter and thruster only. There is no remote trottle control - you'll have to improvise on your jet ski.
 
I'm wondering if a better analog isn't airplanes instead of automobiles. It took a really long time to replace manual linkage cables for flight control surfaces with fly by wire technology. The first generation was a flying disaster. We used to call the original Airbus 300 a "lawn dart" for that reason. Yup it was supposed to go into "safe" mode when it failed but it didn't. If the recent 777 crash reports at Heathrow hold up its version of DTS failed completely.

Where I'm going is there is a training path to flying an airplane. No one learns how to fly in a simulator.....they typically learn and earn their stripes to fly larger aircraft. Every pilot I know learned with manual controls in a small plane. The last thing any of us want is to get on an airplane with someone hasn't come up through that process.

The guy that landed that 777 was one of the most experienced pilots BA has and he GLIDED a 777 in from two miles out. I'll bet on real experience anytime. If the point is that all Sea Rays will be fully electronic in a few years so that an 4 year old can drive them.....that's a great achievement except I don't want to be on the water with the experience a 4 year old has.

Is it unreasonable to expect that if someone operates a boat that they have to have some clue as to what they are doing without the aid of technology?

-John
 
I think it's unfair to characterize someone who has and uses this new technology as inept. As Seagull has shown that even though he is more than competent, there is a place and a use for this technology on boats of his size. I do agree it has no place on a smaller boat as has been pointed out, but the technology is here to stay.
 
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I think you may want to re-read my post. Seagull probably can drive anything on the water professionally. He's got 40 years of experience. He can use whatever technology he wants because if it doesn't work, I'll bet he knows and anticipates what to do.

The problem with technology is that it sometimes enables people to do things that they simply are not qualified to do. It's the qualification/experience part that bothers me the most.

To use Seagulls example, if the RF failed and he had no clue what to do next except call SeaTow or Boat US......would you want that boat slipped next to you? Salt water is really unforgiving on electronics and it is only a question of when they fail; not if.

In the 777 example, the co-pilot had the 777 on Auto-Land...no humans on the controls. According to the pilot, the Auto-Land computer called for more power and the engines didn't respond. The pilots switched off Auto-Land and manually moved the throttles and the engines didn't respond. They could not call "AirTow" or "PlanesUK" for help. Fortunately they probably had trained for something just like this or had previous experience with electronics failures.

That is why qualificatons and experience matter. If the game is about making it easier for a broader group of inept people to enter boating to prop up sagging boat sales...that in my opinion is a strategic error. Don't we have enough of that already?

-John
 
I have a bow and a stern thruster on our 360DA.
I bought the boat with these already installed.

I boat for more than 20 years on several Sea Ray's, and I know I can park her without the use of these thrusters.

But I think boating is relaxing, and I must say with some heavier wind on the bow it's more relaxing (the most for my wife) that we have and use them.

I have thrusters from the brand Side Power.
I don't know if this brand is known in the USA.

You can buy a remote controller, that can control a single
bow thruster or a bow and stern thruster combined.
The receiver can receive the signals of up to
four transmitters.

It's very easy to install.

Cost around 150$

The only difference between the yacht controller is that you cannot control back and forward movement of the boat.

groter_draadremote.jpg

22112007131.jpg

22112007135.jpg

Peter
 
I wasn't refering to your post John, but an earlier one and a general perception. I wasn't questioning Seagulls skill level nor the one of the poster I was refering to.
 

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