Yacht Controller introduces the optimum in wireless control units.
Dynamic positioning, a new feature for Yacht Controller’s Optimo, Maximo, and Supremo handheld wireless control units, is making its official launch at the 2024 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show—a new generation in remote yacht control.
“The foundation of wireless control is the ability to provide customers, in the palm of their hand, the ability to control the engines, shift and allotted speed controls, thrusters, whether they be on/off, electric, hydraulic, or variable speed, and the anchor windlass,” says Anthony Valiente, COO of The Yacht Group. “Then once you’re done with the docking or mooring or anchoring phase, the yacht controller can also serve as a universal remote on board your vessel by allowing multifunctional capabilities to control things like your swim platform, your shore power cable master, your crane, your davit, and your passerelle.”
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Yacht Controller has been around for 21 years, and with more than 29,000 systems delivered worldwide, the company is keeping up with advancements in technology to provide yacht owners and captains unmatched safe and precision control of their yacht when away from the helm.
Maximo
The new generation Maximo is no longer just a transmitter but also a receiver, meaning it functions as a transceiver that will not only feed data to the receiver from a communications standpoint, but will also receive data. This is a big advantage when it comes to firmware and software updates from anywhere in the world as well as notifications of low battery or loss transmission or power failure between the remote and receiver.
The receiver is now a 64 bit quad core processing system, which allows for future advancements and software updates and is also equipped with two Wi-Fi access cards, one for local and one for remote access. Local access provides the ability to embed the receiver’s LCD screen, which is usually tucked underneath the helm, onto a chartplotter, whether Garmin, Furuno, or Raymarine, tablets, or other navigational screens. The user can then make modifications or diagnose the system’s parameters from the touchscreen.
The system utilizes an access “gateway” that gives CAN bus protocol to communicate with controls, engines, and transmission manufacturers. Yacht Controller holds certifications and/or licensing agreements with many major manufacturers and if not, their engineering department is able to develop gateways or interfaces for those companies with which Yacht Controller doesn’t have a current direct working relationship. It’s these relationships and the interfaces developed that ensure the controller follows the OEM’s (original equipment manufacturer) protocols when connecting to become an active control station to control the helm so there is a smooth, safe, and secure operation.
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That’s the point. Boaters put a lot of trust and confidence in their electronics, and the last thing anyone wants is a failure when maneuvering in close quarters.
“The basics for us is the ability to wirelessly handle your vessel in close quarter maneuvering or a docking scenario,” says Valiente. “So the main focus is controlling engines, thrusters, and anchor windlesses because these are the functions that we want to be able to have customers simplify their boating experience—eliminating blind spots, allowing them to grab lines, adjust fenders, tie the boat up, and more, then anchor by themselves right after that.”
The Maximo scrolls through more than 100 channels on its dual-band system to eliminate interference and provide redundancy with a range of more than 250 feet. That means a lot considering all the Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and radio frequencies in the air. The Maximo is available with a toggle control or a joystick control and the ability to set up to five custom user profiles, which really shines when an owner spends time up north in the summer and down in southern waters in the winter. yachtcontroller.com
-by Jeremy Peters
