Next message: (no name): "Re: T&T: Engine and steering control delays"
Lets see. The mechanical controls are time-tested, instant
response, can be repaired anywhere in the world by even the most
amateur mechanic, and are easy to jury-rig or bypass in case of
failure. The electronic controls have a substantial time-lag
which occasionally causes near-collisions, need factory parts
and/or support for any repairs, may have some sort of get-home
override(exactly how would that work?), and doesen't even cost
extra. I guess if you're the early-adopter sort, you'll want the
electronic version, but not me.
Mark Richter, m/v Winnie the Pooh
still doing the tourist thing in Ottaws, Ontario
Your opinion is based on a pile of bad information. Electronic controls have
virtually no delay unless you program them for it. They can be set for an
instantaneous response or delayed to the point where you could pull the lever
from full ahead to full astern as fast as you could and the system would delay
the clutch and throttle so as not to do any damage to the transmissions. But
that is simply a matter of choice not available with mechanical systems. On
small simple boats cables work fine on larger more complex boats with multiple
stations mechanical systems can have substantial bind and lost motion do to
excessive length of cable and tight bend radius. On those installations
electronic can provide smooth effortless precise control not possible with
mechanical systems.
On all of the newer electronic engines the fuel injection is controlled
electronically if you go with mechanical control a throttle potentiometer must be
used to convert mechanical motion to an electronic signal. So if you go with
mechanical controls you actually have a mechanical and electronic system as
opposed to straight electronic. On twin screw boats most electronic systems
give you the ability to synchronize automatically along with lots of other
features like single lever operation for both engines. As far as being a early
adopter systems like the ZF Mathers have been around since the early 80s so
it's hardly new technology.
I guess with a mechanical system if you carry spare cables you have the
ability to repair or jury rig at sea much more so than electronic. But the same
can be said for many things like mechanical steering vrs hydraulic most of us
use hydraulic simply because it is reliable and it works better even though
it's more complicated. If you cut through all mis information you might have
the same opinion about electronic controls.
Brian Palmetto FL
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