Wireless outboard throttle control

[tp12]

Good evening


Has anyone seen/used/got recommendations for wireless outboard engine throttle control? I can see the possibilities with the electronic controls but haven't been able to find a product that does this. I'm sure there's a few homebrew setups getting around..


Thoughts welcome.


Cheers,

TP

[S/V Illusion]

Lots of options available similar to what is installed in vehicles, airplanes, etc... The problem is the boat market won’t bear the additional cost so manufacturers haven’t bothered marketing

[tp12]

Originally Posted by S/V Illusion

Lots of options available similar to what is installed in vehicles, airplanes, etc... The problem is the boat market won’t bear the additional cost so manufacturers haven’t bothered marketing

Thanks mate. Are there some websites/search terms you'd recommend to help me find these options?

[Dsanduril]

https://trollmasters.com/pages/pro31

Seen but never used.

[tp12]

Originally Posted by Dsanduril

https://trollmasters.com/pages/pro31

Seen but never used.

Thank you. I've seen the trolling setups but I should have been more specific, my apologies. I'm looking to wirelessly control a pair of 25hp high thrust yamaha outboards (T25). I should also add I'm interested in controlling the throttle (fwd, rvs, revs) and not the steering.

[Russ]

Yes Airplanes go wireless like Airbus BUT there are 7, count them, SEVEN redundant computers.
Point is if you loose battery power or connectivity for whatever reason you have NO control over the throttle or worse shifting if you think that far ahead and intend to implement both. I assiduously avoid power boats without hard cables between the wheel side control and the engine.

[mvmojo]

Ooof... Call me a luddite but don't know that I'd ever trust a wireless connection to control a high speed boat! A glitch in the connection just when you need to chop the power could have serious consequences. A small trolling motor maybe, but not anything that would go faster than the speed at which you'd want to hit something. Hard to imagine manufacturers willing to accept that sort of liability....

[a64pilot]

I have never seen a wireless controlled airplane, you guys sure?
I have seen wired and heard of fiber optics, newest Apache is fiber optic I believe, but never wireless, too many bad possibilities there, and what’s the advantage?

However many throttles are no longer manual. All or almost all automobiles are now electronic throttles, and even years ago the Mercury Verado outboard went to DTS, which means digital throttle and shift, so only wires to the engine, no cables anymore, but steering is still hydraulic.

[a64pilot]

Originally Posted by mvmojo

Ooof... Call me a luddite but don't know that I'd ever trust a wireless connection to control a high speed boat! A glitch in the connection just when you need to chop the power could have serious consequences. A small trolling motor maybe, but not anything that would go faster than the speed at which you'd want to hit something. Hard to imagine manufacturers willing to accept that sort of liability....

My 01 Duramax Diesel truck had three RVDT’s on the gas pedal, two increasing in voltage and one decreasing in voltage, in the event of a mismatch the computer cut throttle I believe and of course threw a DTC.

Last Experimental airplane I built had a GE H-80 engine in it with an experimental fuel control that would not allow any engine limits to be exceeded and did so with no software (software is unbelievably hard to certify) and its throttle was via a single LVDT, with a separate mechanical back up.
I don’t know if GE ever certified it or not, but electronic throttles are very common and actually more reliable than mechanical ones.

On edit, apparently it’s Certified now
https://www.geaviation.com/bga/engines/h-series

[Valmika]

I used wired electronic controls on a 75 foot yacht and had a solenoid gear box strip out on me. It happened twice. It isn't something I would like to do again. Of course the timing was perfect. I was coming in to a crosswind slip and instead of reverse the starboard engine started speeding up in forward.


I guess the point is that was a hard wired system and it still failed. This system did not have any redundancy built in. Maybe they do now but unless there is a least a 2nd tier redundancy I wouldn't do it.

[GWilly]

FWIW, I used to have a TR-1 for my Yamaha 9.9 trolling motor. It had a wireless handheld control fob that I could wear on a lanyard. I never used it but the previous owner loved the set up.

[tp12]

The wireless controls would be in addition to wired ones. Looks like it might have to be a homebrew job.