Mercury Marine Earns Innovation Awards at IBEX

Mercury Marine’s VesselView Mobile app and its Electronic Steering Helm each earned Innovation Awards today at the 2016 International Boatbuilders Exhibition and Conference (IBEX) in Tampa, Fla. The new was announced in a press release from the Fond Du Lac, Wis., marine engine and accessories company.

According to the release, VesselView Mobile, which is available for IOS and Android mobile devices, including smartphones and tablets, instantly provides users access to their boat’s SmartCraft digital data in the palm of their hand. The Electronic Steering Helm (ESH) reportedly improves the boating experience by providing the operator more intuitive feedback on boat speed, steering angle, wheel turning rate and acceleration and produces a more natural feel when steering the boat.

“Electronic Steering Helm helps boaters feel more connected to the water,” said Rob Hackbarth, category director of controls and rigging at Mercury,” in the release. “The entire steering system is electronically operated, so there is no mechanical link between the user and the steering. ESH technology provides a steering feel that boaters are used to. The judges said they were very impressed with the steering feel and our use of advanced technology.”

Likewise, the VesselView Mobile creates an easier boating experience, according to the release.

“The Mobile app provides an alternative to analog gauges that you see on most boats and provides much more data than analog gauges typically provide,” Hackbarth said. “It also establishes a digital relationship between the consumer and Mercury, providing consumers access to their boats’ information via their phone or computer. And dealers can log in via a portal to view their customer’s boat data, such as maintenance and service.”

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