O Boy, that's gonna be some fuel bill.....

[ralexa6808]

https://www.wimp.com/125-foot-yacht-plows-into-packed-marina/

 

[madhatter1]

Does anyone know what really happened? I am thinking electronic malfunction. Back in 95 I was on a 43 Robertson Renovators Yacht fixed up after a fire. The upgraded to electronic controls. Keyed the mike on (I think) a SSB radio and it pegged the throttles momentarily at 100% in gear. Gonna stick with my dinosaur burning dinosaurs!

 

[Passages]

Agree, suspect electronic control malfunction. Had a similar incident last year at my marina. A 65' MY just backed in his slip. Engines still idling while husband goes below to secure lines. Wife is on bridge cleaning up. She accidentally brushes against the lever and throws the boat into gear. Took out 2 pilings before the boat came back under control.

Electronic controls are just too sensitive for my tastes.

 

[dottieshusband]

+1 on electronic controls... hate em! Especially if your accustomed to manual and separate transmission and throttle controls. With electronic controls, the detent between forward and reverse is too subtle, and the delay factor complicates more. I've operated several large boats with electronic controls, but I'll keep my 1.0 hynautics.

 

[racclarkson@gmail.com]

+1 on electronic controls... hate em! Especially if your accustomed to manual and separate transmission and throttle controls. With electronic controls, the detent between forward and reverse is too subtle, and the delay factor complicates more. I've operated several large boats with electronic controls, but I'll keep my 1.0 hynautics.

Very subtle. I've painted a red stripe across the neutral zone of my Glendinning throttle/shift head. Glendenning says the detent cannot be adjusted. But there's always the shutdown buttons.

 

[Pascal]

It was either an electronic malfunction or someone accidentally leaned or pushed the controls. Both have happened. Problem with some electronic controls is that you can’t turn them off when leaving a station. You have to get to the new station and then activate it. Like Cat controls. When I live the flybridge to go dock from the aft deck I always make sure no kids are left up there and instructs whoever is there to stay clear ofnthe helm.

Another precaution against real control malfunction, or accidental operation, is to shut down the engines as soon as the boat is docked.

 

[krush]

I have microcommanders on my boat. I really like them.

 

[Freeebird]

That’s the first time I’ve seen that angle of the crash, but that was some pretty impressive acceleration! I like single lever controls, but I’m not too wild about electronic controls either. You get into a hairy situation, and there are two aggravating issues. First is the irritating delay, then comes WAY more throttle than you really wanted. Seems the account I read said nobody was at the helm, and the boat was tied to the fuel dock, but who knows?

I have first hand experience with good old fashioned, twin lever cable going into gear on its own, and the scar to prove it. Long story short, I was on deck trying to lasso a floating mooring bit in the middle of the Mississippi River below a lock/dam. I missed the first attempt, and after pulling the line back in for the second try, the starboard jumped into gear. I made a mad dash for the lower helm, and everything made it through the wing door except my port pinky which I shattered in the jamb. That gave me a one handed yacht delivery on the old resume, but I don’t think I’d care to repeat that trick. Two surgeries and several years later, and it’s still not and never will be 100% right. At least I kept the boat from smacking that bit.

 

[Angela]

I have microcommanders on my boat. I really like them.

I’ve seen that boat spinning in circles out on the lake due to microcommander failure, and she also scared the crap out of everyone at the club once when she was coming in and could not be stopped when it was time to stop to back into the slip. It was close, but Ed knew exactly what to do and rather quickly. I’m sure he had to clean his drawers after that - it was a rock shore. I’m a fan of the old fashioned cables as a result. Had I never seen that happen, I’d probably love them too, but that ruined it for me. They are so sensitive that when Ed was replacing some bad component on them, he had to wear a wire around his wrist, grounded to something to ensure there was non static electricity.

 

[Pascal]

Microcomandwrs have a history of getting in gear on their own. Supposedly fixed after a while

The electronic Morse controls were very nice, I think the version is sold by Hynautic. No delays whatsoever ever. Same with the Caterpillar controls. Absolutely no delays. But like all single levers they very sensitive with a short travels. Fingertip use. Slight learning curve when used to traditional cable controls

 

[krush]

Microcommanders have been around for a long time and are installed on thousands of boats. The also were used on many commercial vessels. It was a pretty common install back before engines and transmissions became electronic.

ZF bought up Microcommander years ago and did a complete redesign on the box. One important thing is they must have good power. I think many people installed them with crap power sources. ZF makes a "Automatic Power Selector" that allows the control system to be powered by two battery sources (it's basically a reverse diode isolator). Mercury makes one with 3banks for the Verado steering.

I spoke with a guy that specializes in them and he used to work for the original Mr. Mathers. He said the new ZF design really was an improvement. Most of the issues were/are with bad power. But he also mentioned that there MUST be an emergency engine shutoff at each control station (this is in the manual, too).

On my boat I still need to modify the wiring and install the auto power selector. I'm also working on getting engine start/stops at all 3+ stations.

 

[Pascal]

Pretty much every boat with remote stations (wing or aft deck) ahould have stop, start switches as well as horn. This should apply to every type of control. Start switches are critical when docking in case of an engine glitch. Horn too for obvious reason

 

[Passages]

I would love remote trans/throttle for backing into a slip. The MY has such a blind spot immediately aft that I always request a bow In tie up.

Was at FLIBS yesterday and spoke with a guy selling such a device. All was going well until I mentioned I have hynautic controls. Nope, gotta have electronic controls for his system.

 

[krush]

Was at FLIBS yesterday and spoke with a guy selling such a device. All was going well until I mentioned I have hynautic controls. Nope, gotta have electronic controls for his system.

The best/easiest/most practical way to obtain multiple station controls is go electronic by repowering to electronic engines/transmissions!

Though, with hynatic controls it's probably very simple to add cockpit controls because running hoses is easier than running control cables. Talk with the experts and pick up some used parts....it may be as simple as Tee-ing into the existing hoses.

 

[Passages]

The best/easiest/most practical way to obtain multiple station controls is go electronic by repowering to electronic engines/transmissions!

'best/easiest/most practical' I didn't see 'cheapest' . Anyone know the price of a pair of installed CATS?

 

[Pascal]

E controls aren’t cheap. I had looked into Morse electronics which have now been replaced by a newer version and it was about $8k

Check with Sea Star Hynautic. Adding an aft deck Station should be a much cheaper option

I only ran a Viking MY once, a 60 something between Tampa and Treasure Cay. Sight lines from the lower helm weren’t that bad when backing in. A good stern cam with a large monitor at the lower helm would do the trick too

 

[scallywag]

E controls aren’t cheap. I had looked into Morse electronics which have now been replaced by a newer version and it was about $8k

Replaced my old pneumatic controls with ZF electric. Did the 4 station install myself for close to $10k if my memory serves me. I can confirm good power source is absolutely necessary, but apparently the glitches were worked out when ZF bought microcommander.

I love my ZF electric controls, but strangely enough I miss my old school pneumatics. You *knew* when you went in and out of gear... "ppssshhhhhhhhhh"

 

[Pascal]

Replaced my old pneumatic controls with ZF electric. Did the 4 station install myself for close to $10k if my memory serves me. I can confirm good power source is absolutely necessary, but apparently the glitches were worked out when ZF bought microcommander.

I love my ZF electric controls, but strangely enough I miss my old school pneumatics. You *knew* when you went in and out of gear... "ppssshhhhhhhhhh"

The sound was nice but not the failures

 

[lumina]

I’ll stick with the traditional configuration, i prefer to have the engines and transmissions attached by cable to my hand LOL