SeaStar Solutions is now offering its Optimus 360 joystick docking and control system for Mercury Verado six-cylinder outboards with Digital Throttle & Shift.
“Last year, we introduced our Optimus EPS electronic power steering for Verado outboards,” said Tom Douglass, vice president of sales and marketing for SeaStar Solutions in a statement. “Now, for the first time, we are able to offer our complete suite of Optimus Solutions to Verado owners.”
In addition to Optimus 360 joystick control, SeaStar offers Optimus Electronic Power Steering, SeaStation GPS Anchoring and SeaWays Autopilot capabilities. The Optimus 360 system provides multidirectional joystick control of any boat equipped with twin or triple Verados. A quad-engine system will follow this summer. Low-speed diagonal, sideways, forward and reverse movements are controlled by the joystick and there is a “boost” mode to provide added thrust when it’s needed.
Optimus EPS has a speed adaptive feature that allows lock-to-lock turn ratios to be programmed to match engine rpm. When a boat is running at cruising speeds, the steering can be set to eight turns lock-to-lock. The number of turns can be reduced for running the boat at lower speeds so less effort is required to turn the wheel, which facilitates docking and maneuvering in tight quarters.
The SeaStation has three modes, Heading Only, Position Only and Heading and Position. Heading and Position mode is designed to hold the boat in a specific location. Position only mode keeps the boat over a sport while it finds its natural heading with the wind or current. Heading Only maintains a set heading while allowing the boat to drift.
SeaWays can be integrated into Optimus 360, using the system’s onboard pump control module, hydraulic pumps and CANtrak display. Optimus 360 for Verado is available on new boats or it can be retrofitted on existing vessels by select boat builders.
