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NEW BOATS ANYONE CAN DRIVE ONE
LET THE ADVANCES BEGIN
FROM MERCURY MARINE/Industry
Mercury Marine continues to lead the marine industry with its Skyhook® virtual anchoring which is unmatched by any marine manufacturer. From South Florida to the Northeast and along the Pacific, boaters are becoming enamored with the technology that allows them to lock into a fishing hole with the simple push of a button.
"I’m not that good of a boater, said Ft. Lauderdale boater Tom Glenos. "When you dock the boat (with Skyhook) you don’t need to make three different passes trying to dock the boat."
"From the consumer standpoint, folks that don't have as much boating experience or are new to boating, it tends to make it easier," said Tom Shelton, of Lauderdale Marine in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
Using a boat’s GPS system, Skyhook pinpoints its position and moves the drives independently to maintain the correct heading. It’s perfect for holding over a hot fishing spot or waiting for the locks or drawbridge to open. Auto Heading and Waypoint Sequencing is an integrated autopilot system that makes navigating to any destination — and safely back again.
"It’s that added element of being able to do more with your boat even if you are by yourself," said Shelton. "It gives you the ability to control your boat in the locked position. Waiting for a fuel dock or hanging out in a spot waiting on traffic, fishing over a wreck, you name it, you can do it with Skyhook."
"For me, being a novice boater, having a boat without Skyhook or joystick docking system would not be an option," said Glenos. "I would want to have it on my next boat and I’m glad I have it on this one."
BOAT NUT
Understand what you are reading here please. The Joystick Piloting is a computer controlled system, it is touted as the greatest thing to ever happen to boats. I have known some failures in joy stick piloting systems and they are not at all an easy thing to overcome. All I want you to understand is that when boaters adjust to these types of systems they will become reliant on them. You need to have the skill to handle your boat with out this system. If you don't you could find yourself in big trouble. Sky Hook and Joysticks are great, the difficulty is when you must over come a control problem either operator error or system error. This even applies to conventional boat operations, boaters must be confident and prepared to deal with their boat when it stalls or steering fails.
You must use the only break you have. Few boaters never think of the only thing that can stop the boat at all. Do you know what this is? Boat Nut will tell you at the end.
Mercury News
“Mercury is making the transition from being a marine engine manufacturer to ... [being] a marine systems supplier,” Foulkes said. “With the advent of digital controls, joystick controls and other integrated components, the engine has become one part of a complex system.”
Mercury informs us of what we already new was headed are way. Between the introduction of the Bayliner ELEMENT and new plans from engine manufacturers like Mercury. I think we are going to see the platform boat next years. What is a platform boat, these will be boats were a line of 26 foot boats will have the exact same hull, systems, wiring harnesses, motor packages, the only difference will be the decks and the cosmetics. A cheaper more efficient way to build a boat. Model changes will be more efficient and the warranty costs more controlled (this is the big one that manufacturers will love). Systems will be smarter and you will know if your bilge pump is not working thru an alarm on your smart phone. This will however allow the manufacturer of these systems to create parts and components that will not be available after market. You will need to buy a factory replacement part and you know that wont be cheap.
I really look forward to see what Mercury comes up with here and how the warranty will work on a whole complex system ( COMPLEX SYSTEM That is a unclear term to use). I am not sure I am comfortable with a manufacturer using the term COMPLEX. Like every thing else that's new this will start as a collaborative effort however it will not stay that way, it will however be cool to see windows on your dash monitor or an apple logo on the electronics.
When we start to need a simulator to learn how to operate our boats, that's when we need to start asking the question is there too much technology, too fast in our boats. I worry that this technology will bring with it overconfidence at the wheel. Along with a lack of concern for how this new technology works. Boats are not cars you cant just stop and pull over when things go wrong and they always do. Sooner or later all technology breaks down. When these boats get a little older will the values crash? Are we expected to trade in every three years? Who will fight with these boats when they are ten years old to keep them running? All valid questions and questions that will be answered with time. I am not sure that I would want to be the owner of one of these new boats, yet. There is just no real way of knowing how these boats will fare over time.
If the thought is that BOAT stands for Break Out Another Thousand. What will it become Break Out Another Ten Thousand?
Where is the boat break? its at the bow and you should have an aft one to stop transom drift.
Your Anchor. Make sure you have one and that you know how to launch it with no power ( if you have a windlass). Every windlass has a mechanical launch. Get to know how to make it work. Carry a rear anchor to throw over and stop transom drift it will also help you stop faster. Boaters will stay at the helm way too long in an emergency and fail to use the anchor soon enough!
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