SYDNEY BOAT SHOW: Mercury joystick piloting

Mercury says that it can now offer drivers of outboard-powered boats 360-degree movement at their fingertips. Joystick piloting takes the stress out of docking, manoeuvring in tight spaces, and operating in choppy and windy conditions.

The joystick’s design lets anyone, from experienced captains to novice boaters, handle large boats with ease and confidence, we're told.

Requiring only one hand, the joystick is not only easier to use than traditional bow thrusters, it’s significantly quieter.

Designed for boats with dual, triple or quad outboard rigs, Mercury’s new joystick systems can move the vessel in any direction -- including sideways, diagonally or spinning on its own axis -- with a simple touch of the joystick.

Such manoeuvrability is possible because the system steers the engines independently of each other.

Mercury's technology provides a range of additional advanced features including the Skyhook virtual anchor, VesselView engine information display, and an integrated autopilot system.

Skyhook pinpoints the boat’s position via GPS then controls the engines to maintain the boat’s position and heading. It’s ideal for staying over a favourite fishing spot, or when you have to wait to dock or refuel.

Two other features, Auto Heading and Waypoint Sequencing simplify navigation.

With a built-in digital compass, Auto Heading allows the captain to maintain course and make precise corrections with the touch of a finger. If the journey requires multiple stops, then Waypoint Sequencing allows the operator to plot the boat’s course fast and efficiently.

Mercury’s joystick piloting system also comes with a redesigned VesselView information display, which provides information for more than 30 engine parameters, including fuel level and range, oil temperature and pressure, water depth and more.

The latest joystick control system can be installed on boats powered by two to four Mercury four-stroke Verado 250 or 300hp engines and is ideally suited to boats at least 7.6 metres in length.

For more information, go to: www.mercurymarine.com.au