The system will be revealed at the 2013 London Boat Show
At January’s London Boat Show Yamaha will launch its first ever joystick system for outboard engines.
Joystick control will be available on double or triple installations on engines ranging from the V6 225hp to the monster 350hp V8.
Much of the technology has been borrowed from the joystick pioneers Volvo Penta, as is evident from the design of the Yamaha throttles and joystick. This is a sensible move, though, as there aren’t many companies that know more about joystick control than Volvo.
The technology works just like the Volvo sterndrive joystick system. The outboards will be mounted on the transom individually, as opposed to on the same steering rack, so that they can move independently and vector to manoeuvre the boat as necessary.
An adapted version of Volvo’s trim assist will also be available, which trims the outboards up and down depending on boat speed. Volvo’s secure keyless fob technology has also been adapted to work on Yamaha engines.
As yet, the cost of adding joystick control to your outboards has not been announced.
Yamaha will also be using the London Boat Show as a launch-pad for its new four-stroke, 200hp F200 engine. At 227kg it will be the lightest and most compact 200hp motor in production.
Mercury Marine also recently announced plans to introduce joystick control for outboards, with the unit due to be unveiled at the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show.
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