Mercury Debuts Joystick Piloting for Outboards

Joystick Piloting provides boaters 360-degree movement at their fingertips. The intuitive design of the joystick lets mariners maneuver large boats with a greater degree of ease. The system allows an operator to move a multi-engine outboard-powered boat in any direction – including sideways, diagonally or spinning on its own axis – with a push or twist of a joystick. The operator controls the throttle, shifting and steering with one hand, and the joystick works in conjunction with the independently steered engines to move the boat in the desired direction.

It also includes Skyhook virtual anchor, VesselView engine information display, and an integrated autopilot system. Skyhook pinpoints the boat’s position using a GPS satellite antenna; then the engines and drives move independently to maintain the position and heading, best suited for holding a boat over a fishing spot, waiting for a drawbridge to open or maintaining position while waiting to refuel at a marina.

Auto Heading and Waypoint Sequencing with built-in digital compass allows the captain to maintain course and make precise corrections with the touch of a finger. One-degree heading adjustments can be made with a tap on the joystick; 10-degree adjustments can be accomplished using the control panel. Waypoint Sequencing allows the operator to plot the boat’s course for trips with multiple stops between the starting point and final destination.

The VesselView information display has been redesigned, providing information regarding all boat systems in a single location. VesselView provides up-to-date information for more than 30 engine parameters, including fuel level and range, oil temperature and pressure, water depth and more.

Joystick Piloting for Outboards was designed and developed for the Mercury Verado outboard. The joystick system can be installed on boats powered by two to four Verado (250hp or 300hp) engines.

www.mercurymarine.com