When are outboards going to be wireless?

Discussion in 'Boat Design' started by Loveofsea, Aug 18, 2007.

  1. Loveofsea
    Joined: Jan 2007
    Posts: 147
    Likes: 6, Points: 0, Legacy Rep: -68
    Location: Southern California

    Loveofsea New Member

    The technology is there....
     
  2. Poida
    Joined: Apr 2006
    Posts: 1,188
    Likes: 51, Points: 48, Legacy Rep: 497
    Location: Australia

    Poida Senior Member

    Technology and the marine environment aren't always compatable.

    Poida
     
  3. eponodyne
    Joined: Aug 2007
    Posts: 327
    Likes: 13, Points: 0, Legacy Rep: 171
    Location: Upper Midwest

    eponodyne Senior Member

    Even an oar is "Technology." And it's wireless.
     
  4. USCGRET/E8
    Joined: Jul 2007
    Posts: 164
    Likes: 4, Points: 0, Legacy Rep: 41
    Location: Nowhere

    USCGRET/E8 Senior Chief

    Look how long it took fuel injection to move from automotive to marine...
     
  5. Poida
    Joined: Apr 2006
    Posts: 1,188
    Likes: 51, Points: 48, Legacy Rep: 497
    Location: Australia

    Poida Senior Member

    Look how long it took fuel injection to move from automotive to marine...

    That is because new technology needs to be tested for a long time before marine use. If it breeaks down on the road you can walk.

    I just can't understand why oars were used in boats before they were tested in cars.

    poida
     
  6. Frosty

    Frosty Previous Member

    Wireless? wireless what exactly? Wireless control box? What?

    Wireless has already been tested in cars. I think the Cord 8-10 was the first car to have a wireless.

    Your right about the oars never been tested in cars Poida. Neither was the anchor.
     
  7. Loveofsea
    Joined: Jan 2007
    Posts: 147
    Likes: 6, Points: 0, Legacy Rep: -68
    Location: Southern California

    Loveofsea New Member

    Oars are required equipment per the CG regs. :)

    I have one of those cheap toy helicopters that you fly around your living room (FUN~!) and it has a variable 'throttle' that is extremely articulate. Servo's under the cowl and senders at the helm will someday be the norm. Now days you have a chioce of refrigerators that have internet connections....(i kid you not!) I even have a digital toaster forcryingoutloud.

    Technology deliberately paces itself out over time and that is understandable. But once the certain thresholds have been passed, such as DFI over carbs, it is time to continue the advancements. I am looking forward to the day when throttle position and F-N-R transmision will no longer require mechanical connectioin.

    Why not?
     
  8. eponodyne
    Joined: Aug 2007
    Posts: 327
    Likes: 13, Points: 0, Legacy Rep: 171
    Location: Upper Midwest

    eponodyne Senior Member

    The nice thing about mechanical connections between throttle and transmission is that they rarely break, and if you do, you can fix them with the spare parts you had the foresight to bring (Or those rolls of baling wire and duct tape).

    You can't put a wrench on an electron.
     
  9. Pericles
    Joined: Sep 2006
    Posts: 2,015
    Likes: 141, Points: 63, Legacy Rep: 1307
    Location: Heights of High Wycombe, not far from River Thames

    Pericles Senior Member

    It's not an outboard, but http://www.yellowfin.com/VSDTechnology.asp offer fly-by-wire control of their VSD system. Whether it's copper or fibre optics I do not know, but the system does away with rudder and bowthruster and that means less to install and have go wrong.

    Pericles
     
  10. mydauphin
    Joined: Apr 2007
    Posts: 2,161
    Likes: 53, Points: 48, Legacy Rep: 575
    Location: Florida

    mydauphin Senior Member

    Simple? is not this....

    This is suppose to be simpler than a simple rudder, simple shaft, and a simple prop. I have a bow thruster on my boat, if it doesnt work - it means it takes me longer to dock. Not life and death. If this thing breaks or wireless goes crazy - I will get stuck in middle of a large body of water with a paddle.

    I have a wireless video hookup to my satellite antenna, do I need to tell you what happens when either myself or neighbors use microwave oven...
     
  11. StianM
    Joined: May 2006
    Posts: 593
    Likes: 23, Points: 18, Legacy Rep: 114
    Location: Norway

    StianM Senior Member

    What advantage would a wireless outboard have?

    Electronic control over wire would provide smother operations off the handles, but total wireless can't see it.
     
  12. Pericles
    Joined: Sep 2006
    Posts: 2,015
    Likes: 141, Points: 63, Legacy Rep: 1307
    Location: Heights of High Wycombe, not far from River Thames

    Pericles Senior Member

    From mydauphin,

    "I have a wireless video hookup to my satellite antenna, do I need to tell you what happens when either myself or neighbors use microwave oven..."

    Which is why they use fly-by-wire to imput the commands to the servos in the hubs that orientate the titanium blades. There are also servos on the throttles of the engines electrically operated from the helm. Rudders, shafts and propellers are vulnerable to impact damage. Bow thrusters often overheat and cease.

    Yellowfin VSDs are surface drives. I also like water jets, but Yellowfin VSDs are more fuel efficient, because they require fewer hp to deliver the same performance. Whilst water jets are a retro fit item on most boats, the Yellowfin product is OEM, so the unreliability factor should be designed out. I say "should", we shall have to see. BTW, what are the thoughts on these drives? http://www.schottel.de/eng/r_produkte/STP/uebersicht.htm

    Pericles
     
  13. mydauphin
    Joined: Apr 2007
    Posts: 2,161
    Likes: 53, Points: 48, Legacy Rep: 575
    Location: Florida

    mydauphin Senior Member

    I forgot - I have two wireless outboards now. A nissan 5 hp 4 stroke and a 15 hp 2 stroke Evinrude. They even have a fail safe starting device that requires no battery....
     
    1 person likes this.
  14. Loveofsea
    Joined: Jan 2007
    Posts: 147
    Likes: 6, Points: 0, Legacy Rep: -68
    Location: Southern California

    Loveofsea New Member

    we move major aircraft asemblies and install jet engines using an overhead crane with a wireless control.....

    Most of us use a wireless control to open our car door....There are enough frequencies so my remote will not open the door of another car....

    besides, my opti already has two fuel pumps, an air pump, a water pump and an oil pump, not to mention, an electronic brain to control the menagerie :)

    It's doable

    think module*
     

  15. pfridays
    Joined: Aug 2007
    Posts: 19
    Likes: 1, Points: 0, Legacy Rep: 10
    Location: virginia, usa

    pfridays Suzywiz

    Pure wireless ...who knows??? Mercury Verado, yamaha 350 and SUZUKI 300 all have drive by wire in the last two years which will probably trickle down to lower horsepower motors before we see true wireless control on any outboard.
     
Loading...
Forum posts represent the experience, opinion, and view of individual users. Boat Design Net does not necessarily endorse nor share the view of each individual post.
When making potentially dangerous or financial decisions, always employ and consult appropriate professionals. Your circumstances or experience may be different.