Helm Transfer; Transfer Light And Single-Helm Boats; Requesting Helm Transfer; Helm Transfer And Autopilot - Mercury 71712 Operation Manual

Helm Transfer

Some boats are designed to allow control of the vessel from more than one location. These locations are commonly referred to
as helms or stations. Helm transfer is a term used to describe the method of transferring control from one helm (or station) to
another helm.
Avoid serious injury or death from loss of boat control. The boat operator should never leave the active station while engine is
in gear. Helm transfer should only be attempted while both stations are manned. One‑person helm transfer should only be
performed while engine is in neutral.
The helm transfer function allows the boat operator to select which helm is in control of the vessel. Before a transfer can be
initiated, the ERC levers at the active helm and at the helm intended for the transfer must be in the neutral position.
NOTE: If you attempt to transfer helm control when the ERC levers are not in neutral, a beep will sound and the helm transfer
will not succeed until the levers at the helms are moved to neutral and the transfer is requested again.
Some fault codes may appear on the Mercury‑approved multifunction display if other control or navigation functions are
attempted after the helm transfer procedure is started. To remove the fault codes it may be necessary to cycle the key switch
OFF and ON, and then restart the helm transfer procedure. Ensure that other control and navigation inputs are performed after
the helm transfer is complete to avoid setting fault codes.
The ERC levers must be in neutral to perform a helm transfer. While in neutral your vessel could drift and collide with objects
nearby resulting in damage. Keep an adequate look out while performing the helm transfer.
To avoid damage, use extra care when attempting a helm transfer while the vessel is close to docks, piers, or other fixed items
or when near other vessels.
Transfer Light and Single‑Helm Boats
IMPORTANT: On boats with a single‑helm, the TRANSFER light is constantly ON, whenever the ignition key switch is ON. This
is normal.

Requesting Helm Transfer

NOTE: Any movement of the joystick (if equipped) or ERC levers after pressing the transfer button terminates the
helm transfer request. A single beep sounds and the transfer button light turns off signaling the end of the transfer
request.
To request the transfer of vessel control from one helm to another:
1. All of the ignition keys must be in the ON position.
2. All of the vessel's ERC levers must be in the neutral position.
3. At the helm you are requesting to be made active, press the TRANSFER button once. The transfer light turns on and one
beep will sound confirming the impending transfer.
NOTE: If all ERC levers are not in neutral, the neutral lights will flash. Move all ERC levers to neutral and the neutral light
will stop flashing.
4. With the transfer light and neutral light on, press the TRANSFER button a second time to complete the helm transfer.
5. When the helm transfer is complete, another beep sounds. The transfer light stays on at the active helm location.
NOTE: If the helm transfer is not completed in 10 seconds, the request is automatically cancelled and a double beep
sounds. Control will remain at the existing active helm. Press the transfer button again to restart helm transfer.
6. The helm where the transfer request was initiated is now active and controls the vessel.

Helm Transfer and Autopilot

Transferring control from an active helm to an inactive helm (from one station to another station) affects the functionality of
autopilot modes. Some of the effects are listed.
90-8M0180922 MAY 2021
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Section 1 - DTS Controls and Features
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