78 AUGUST–SEPTEMBER 2019 | International Boat Industry ibinews.com
TECHNICAL
SECTOR SPOTLIGHT | STEERING & TRANSMISSION
have also become more flexible, articulated
and able to operate independently when
installed as a pair.
This has encouraged several marine
companies who specialise in more
traditional cable and hydraulic systems to
explore the possibilities of switching to
electric actuation, safe in the knowledge
that they can retrofit onto existing
hydraulic installations.
Ultraflex, a European leader in this
field, is a good example. “We have been
working on a number of new products,
most notably our new steer-by-wire
system,” said Ultraflex’s CEO Piero Gai.
“The system will be electronic and work via
CAN bus communication. Our solution,
named Integra, certainly suits the outboard
market, especially above 175hp. Outboards
continue to grow in size, and now 450hp
are becoming more and more frequent
installations.”
Gai sees the main challenge for OEMs
is to create high-end solutions that offer
something ‘new and feature-packed’ whilst
also remaining affordable.
“We are currently working with engine
manufacturers to develop our systems to
fully interface with all types of installations
on the market,” he said. “The marine
industry needs to emulate the car industry
where products can connect seamlessly
with other protocols. This is what we have
done in our steering systems, including theability to remote connect via an app. This is
our main message to the market – we can
offer a personalised system that will be fully
compatible with an OEMs own protocols
to provide a seamless package for full
electronic control.
“Our new system will be able to
compete with the best of them, and will be
exhibited this autumn at IBEX, Genoa and
METSTRADE.”
Also addressing the burgeoning market
for outboard-powered boats is US-based
Seastar, part of the giant Dometic Group,
which introduced its new Optimus Steering
Actuator in February of this year. The new
unit is an electro-hydraulic ram assembly
that is designed to directly replace the
existing Seastar hydraulic cylinder to give asteer-by-wire response that is ‘immediate,
smooth and precise – and customisable’.
The Electronic Control Module (ECM)
has been transplanted onto the housing
itself so the new unit is essentially ‘plug
and play’ with Seastar’s Seaways autopilot
and Seastation GPS anchoring facility built
in. Seastar says the new model ‘eliminates
the need for separately-mounted hydraulic
actuators used in the Optimus Joystick and
EPS systems. This means no more Pump
Control Module, no more hydraulic pump,
no more hoses, hydraulic cylinders and
fluid, and no more purging the system.”ELECTRIC STEERING FOR SUPERYACHTS
CMC, a major Italian manufacturer of
stabilisers and thrusters for the superyacht
market has developed its own fully electric
steering system called Directa, which is
also designed to work with all the main
protocols in the marine market.
CEO Alessandro Capiello told IBI that he
could see the world becoming increasingly
electric, with the main indicator being the
automotive sector.
“About 10 years ago we decided to move
from using hydraulic systems to electric,”
he said. “We began with our stabiliser
units and then moved to electric thrusters.
We have long had the idea for integrated
system control, where all the underwater
foiling surfaces work together to give a
comfortable ride. Around 5 years ago we
had an idea for electric steering, with very
specific applications. During the R&D
phase, we moved from DC power to AC.
On board larger yachts and ships, AC is Ultraflex has developed a new steer-by-
wire system to complement its successful range
of outboard steering rams Seastar’s new Optimus steering system is
designed to replace existing hydraulic rams with a
completely integral plug and play unit. Power comes
from a brushless DC motor whilst an electronic brain
allows the steering to be fully customised Even the smallest engines can be catered
for. Garmin’s Reactor 40 Kicker autopilot allows
the owners of gasoline outboards up to 20hp
to have full autopilot functions, including
access via a floating handheld wireless remote.
The system can also be inked to Garmin
or other compatible chartplotters via an
NMEA2000 interface