Raymarine YachtSense puts the boat in the skipper’s hand

Once onboard, skippers will be able to control everything from lights to hydraulic lift platforms directly from the helm and even monitor the boat’s progress remotely via a smartphone or tablet device.

YachtSense, which officially will be launched at the 2022 Miami Boat Show in the US later this month, is Raymarine's new digital platform that connects the boat’s electronics directly with its users.

It’s designed to take advantage of a new generation of automated systems that allow skippers to control virtually all the boat’s functions via the helm station.

In its simplest form, skippers will be able to use their smartphones to connect with Raymarine’s Axiom family of multifunction touchscreens via the newly launched RayConnect app that seamlessly connects them with the devices.

The RayConnect app replaces the now redundant RayControl, RayRemote, and RayView apps.

The other big benefit of the RayConnect app is it allows users to back up their waypoints and other data to another device, even if there is no YachtSense system installed.

Interestingly, Raymarine has said the RayConnect app will help users manage LightHouse Charts, Raymarine’s in-house mapping software, in its Element series of chartplotters and fishfinders – the first time Element’s LightHouse Sport operating system will connect with the Raymarine app in any meaningful way.

LightHouse Charts is yet to launch in Australia.

Those requiring offshore connectivity – say needing the ability to monitor the boat’s battery status from home – can install a YachtSense Link access point that uses 4G mobile phone-based network connectivity to allow users to log in remotely.

The device also has a GPS system built into it, meaning owners can “geofence” their boats to stay within a certain area when in the hands of other people.

The YachtSense Link system includes dockside and onboard wireless connectivity – yes, kids, there will be Wi-Fi – and has two SIM card slots for mobile data cards. It also can easily hook into the Raynet ethernet system and includes SeaTalkng ports for NMEA2000 connectivity.

In another move, Raymarine’s YachtSense has launched a CZone-like digital interface that will allow skippers to control any number of electronic functions on the boat, all from the one Axiom interface.

Installation is easy. The YachtSense system allows the owner to add or remove control functions to the master and power modules as they’re added to a boat. 

Other modules, each with four separate channels, include low (lights, wiper motors and electronics) and high (pumps, airconditioning and fridges) power, reverse (for two-way functions such as raising or lowering swim decks), signal (fuel tanks, battery health or temperatures) and remote services.

The system, with three layers of redundancy including an LCD screen and keyboard on the master module, connects with Raymarine’s Axiom multifunction screens to offer control over everything from the lights to pumps, air-conditioning, and even the hydraulic swim platform.

If any of the modules fail or the network breaks, the system will switch to a minimal operating mode to keep itself, and the boat, alive. The modules also have a manual fuse override built into them to provide a temporary power supply to help with troubleshooting.

Raymarine is offering a three-year warranty on versions of Raymarine YachtSense sold overseas. The system is compatible with all Axiom, Axiom+, Axiom Pro and Axiom XL multifunction touchscreens running the LightHouse 3 operating system.

Australian pricing and availability for Raymarine YachtSense is expected to be announced closer to the system’s Miami boat show launch.

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