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•
Auto heading mode will disengage when the ERC levers are moved to the neutral position. You must engage auto heading
at the selected active helm.
•
Requesting a helm transfer places the autopilot into standby mode. Any required inputs will need to be entered at the
selected active helm.
•
Skyhook will disengage when the transfer button is pressed the second time. Skyhook must be engaged at the selected
active helm.
•
If auto heading is activated, the helm transfer functionality is disabled. Turn this feature off and resume the transfer. At the
selected active helm, engage auto heading.
•
If track waypoint is activated, the helm transfer functionality is disabled. Turn this feature off and resume the transfer. At the
selected active helm, engage track waypoint.
•
Track waypoint control of the route and display of route data on your chartplotter does not automatically transfer to the
chartplotter at the active helm. You must turn on the chartplotter at the selected active helm, input the waypoint or waypoint
route to be tracked, and engage track waypoint mode.
IMPORTANT: If faults are encountered while attempting to complete a helm transfer, all controlling modules for the engine
and the joystick piloting system must be turned off. To turn these controlling modules off, turn both engines off and place
both engine ERC handles in reverse full throttle for three seconds.
Battery Information
Long Term Battery Storage & Maintenance Recommendations
When a boat is not going to be used for a long period of time (longer than 3 weeks), steps should be taken to ensure that the
batteries are properly maintained to mitigate low voltage issues in the future.
•
A battery "maintainer" (smart charger) should be in use anytime the boat is not operational. This is usually done through
shore power, but a dedicated battery maintainer can be used directly on a battery if warranted (i.e. boat not equipped with
shore power, shore power unavailable, etc). Be sure the battery maintainer is matched to the battery technology in use
(sealed lead acid, absorbed glass mat, etc) and is only used on the appropriate number of batteries.
•
Adequate ventilation is always required when batteries are being charged due to the production of O2 and H2 (oxygen and
hydrogen), even with sealed batteries. Ensure there is sufficient ventilation where a battery is being charged, regardless of
where the batteries are located.
•
If the boat is on a trailer, or is being hauled out and placed in dry storage, i.e. on a boat rack or blocks, one should consider
physically disconnecting the batteries from the boat and placing them on a maintainer. The batteries could be left in the
boat but electrically disconnected from the boat if the batteries are easily accessible for maintanence, the ventilation is
sufficient, and temperatures do not drop below freezing (0°C/ 32°F).
•
If the boat is being placed onto a boat rack where accessibility is not possible or the battery compartment temperatures are
expected to drop well below freezing, i.e., less than ‑10°F, the batteries should be removed from the boat and placed in
suitable dry storage area, with maintainers connected and adequate ventilation provided. Even though fully charged
batteries can withstand hard freezing temperatures, battery life can be increased by minimizing unnecessary stresses like
this.
•
In all cases, the battery voltage, specific gravity, and battery level should be monitored periodically during storage.
Recommissioning
•
Sometimes a battery may get left off a maintainer. It is paramount to give it a full charge before attempting to embark on a
voyage. Most batteries that have sat for a time will take 48‑96 hours to fully charge depending on chemistry, technology,
depth of discharge, capacity of maintainer, and general health of the battery.
•
When preparing to restore batteries back to operation within the boat, it is paramount to test the batteries to ensure they
are fully functional. There are two primary aspects to consider – State of Charge (SOC) and State of Health (SOH). A good
test device will determine if a "surface charge" is giving a false indication of a good charge state. State of Health is not as
common as SOC, but does indicate remaining useful life of the battery. A SOH test device measures the internal
resistance over a frequency range to give you a reading. While it would be prudent to replace a battery if SOH is <50%, do
not put a battery into service that has less than a 30% State of Health. A battery load tester is a general indicator of a
battery's ability to provide a cranking current but it is not as accurate as actual SOC and SOH readings.
•
Another item of consideration is the quality of the connections being made to the batteries. Inspect for corrosion and poor
terminal connections (crimp, corrosion, strand breakage, etc) prior to restoring batteries to full operation. As required,
ensure battery cells have adequate electrolyte fluid levels (use only distilled water and no metal funnels!) and use a
silicone grease on the battery post terminals.
Transporting a Joystick Piloting Boat
The drives on a joystick piloting‑equipped boat can be moved independently by gravity and the vibrations of traveling, making it
possible for the drives to contact each other.
Avoid the possibility of the drives making contact during road transport:
90-8M0099745
MAY 2015
eng
Section 2 - On the Water
Page 27
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Table of Contents
Troubleshooting
