The Yamaha Marine U.S. Business Unit introduced a wireless remote control for its Helm Master EX boat control system at the Miami International Boat Show in February. While outboard motors may not be the power of choice for long-range cruising, the wireless control is a signal of things to come for boat operation.
The Yamaha Wireless Control System includes all Helm Master EX joystick functionality plus autopilot control and man-overboard functions. With its fingertip button, it makes possible single-handed operation and gives captains full joystick control while freeing up a hand for setting lines or adjusting fenders. A captain can monitor depth, heading and speed in the palm of his/her hand with the autopilot functions.
The remote control includes a man overboard system that triggers the boat to decelerate to a stop in idle or immediately turn off the engines depending on the situation. The system comes with a fob for the captain and one for passenger. It will support up to eight MOB fobs all equipped with a wristband or lanyard.
Because it has access to the Helm Master EX autopilot, the remote lets a captain set heading and course and adjust on the fly. During anchoring, a driver can operate the engines from the remote. The wireless control also floats so it can be retrieved easily if it falls overboard.
The controller is designed for eight hours of use and it can be charged with a cradle that can be placed anywhere on a boat. It will be available in Fall 2025.
Also introduced at the Miami show was FLIR’s Ocean Scout Pro marine thermal monocular. It’s designed to provide enhanced situational awareness for mariners and is made with a 640 x 480 thermal detector that provides a range of nearly 550 yards with a 32-degree field of view. The user interface ensures live-image visibility and continuous focus on observed targets, people of scenes without obstruction or confusion of menus.
The Ocean Scout Pro has two eyecups and a one-touch button control for zoom, mode brightness and standby. It comes with a wireless app for gallery, image and video management. It can withstand a 6-foot, 6-inch drop and has an IP67 rating plus a five-year warranty. The battery lasts for six hours on a charge and includes a USB Type-C connector and power bank charging options. It’s shaped to fit in a pocket and comes in a protective pouch.
The monocular offers four video color palettes for use in different conditions. The white-hot palette displays warmer objects in white and cooler targets in black. The opposite Black hot palette offers a more lifelike image with hotter objects like buoys and human body heat shown in black. The Sepia palette applies a warm, golden hue for reduced eye and mental fatigue during long viewing periods. The Heat palette is used for quickly detecting body heat. It highlights the warmest 10 percent of a scene in a mix of oranges and yellows that make it easier to spot people or pets in the water. The FLIR Ocean Scout Pro has a retail price of $2,395.
