Laura Shaughnessy is the former managing editor at Dockwalk.
In December 2020, FLIR Systems launched Raymarine YachtSense. The advanced digital electric control system can be customized to provide direct control of auxiliary devices, like generators, motors, lights, davits, boat lifts, windlasses, bathing platforms, gangways, HVAC systems, tank levels, pumps, security sensors, and many others. It connects with almost any other device on board, including the lighting system, climate control, and entertainment components. Basically, if it’s an electric or electromechanical device or system, YachtSense can control and/or monitor it. YachtSense was launched at METSCONNECT 2020 in November and at the time of press, they expected to start shipping YachtSense components to boatbuilder partners in January.
“Today’s vessels of all sizes are more sophisticated than ever,” says Americas Marketing Manager Jim McGowan, FLIR Systems, Raymarine Electronics. “Even tenders and support craft can be fitted with an amazing array of accessories, creature comforts, automation, and much more. Understanding the big picture about the status of the vessel’s systems can be challenging.”
“Crew can shift the fuse from its normal position into its emergency override position in the event of catastrophic failure. This bypasses all digital control and restores power to the devices on that circuit," says Jim McGowan.
What makes YachtSense unique is its modular nature, says McGowan. Other systems offer an array of pre-configured modules with manufacturer-determined combinations of inputs, outputs, and monitoring circuits. “It is often necessary to over-buy hardware to get to the right number of connections needed. This adds unnecessary expense. Or, the alternative is to sacrifice monitoring and control of select systems, which creates orphaned or special-case systems that don’t play nicely with everything else,” he explains.
Raymarine solved this issue with a modular solution. Rather than selling a preset module, YachtSense lets the yacht builder choose from interlocking bricks, each with different capabilities. The bricks snap together along with a monitoring panel and power input section to form a complete, custom module in precisely the configuration needed for that location.
Due to its modular nature, McGowan points out that it’s now possible to connect more systems than ever before for monitoring and control. A well-engineered system will also come with a vessel-specific layout of controls and indicators that make evaluating system status much more intuitive. “Crew will be able to see, at a glance, vessel status and control parts of the system from anywhere on or off the vessel,” McGowan says.
Understanding that emergencies can happen anytime, anywhere, YachtSense has a full manual override built in. “Imagine a scenario where a digitally controlled anchor windlass won’t work, or a moveable bathing platform was commanded down and won’t retract, preventing the vessel from moving. With YachtSense, there is always a means to get power back to the circuit,” McGowan explains. Every circuit in the system has a good old-fashioned replaceable bus fuse attached to it. “Crew can shift the fuse from its normal position into its emergency override position in the event of catastrophic failure. This bypasses all digital control and restores power to the devices on that circuit. The fuse providing protection to the connected devices."
You can control YachtSense through a fully customizable touch-screen interface that’s accessible through any Raymarine Axiom multifunction display on board. The system is fully scalable to the owner’s needs or requirements, thanks to the extensive configuration options and safety features.
This column originally ran in the February 2021 issue of Dockwalk.