Waterjet manufacturer HamiltonJet is setting the highest standards in vessel manoeuvring control with the introduction of the revolutionary MouseBoat™ controller for its new blue ARROW^® electronic control system. The MouseBoat is an intuitive low speed control device for single or twin waterjet-powered boats, which together with blue ARROW makes manoeuvring in even the tightest situations incredibly simple and safe.

 

The MouseBoat is exactly what its name suggests – a miniature boat hand piece that moves and acts much like a computer mouse. Whereas a standard mouse moves a cursor up, down and sideways across a computer monitor, movement of the MouseBoat results in the same movement of the vessel, be it ahead, astern, or sideways. The MouseBoat also adds a third axis, allowing rotation of the device to control vessel heading whether traveling ahead or astern, or in the “zero speed” mode.

 

This means that operators with little or no experience of waterjet propulsion can very easily harness the full manoeuvring capabilities twin waterjet units provide. For this reason the MouseBoat is ideal in situations where there is a high operator turnover, when time given to instruction and training is limited, or where operators are required to be multi-functional on a range of vessels, such as in military and quasi-military applications. 

 

Also, for recreational boaters with propeller experience, the transition to waterjet propulsion does not require them to learn new control techniques – the MouseBoat does it all for them.

 

The device makes low speed and docking control intuitive, so the operator is able to react instinctively to changing situations without having to think about what combination of wheel, reverse lever and throttle is required to perform a particular manoeuvre. It even removes the confusion often created when reversing a waterjet-powered boat – which would normally steer the opposite sense to a standard propeller boat, or a car. And single handed operation of the MouseBoat gives the operator more freedom to change driving position as a situation demands.

 

Unlike other 3-axis waterjet control devices, which utilize a bow thruster for sideways movement, the blue ARROW system translates commands from the MouseBoat into steering control and differential movement of the waterjet’s Astern Deflectors to provide sideways tracking. 

 

Along with steering and ahead/astern control, the MouseBoat also manages low speed engine throttle. This is either done by moving or rotating the device further in the desired direction to increase boat speed or rate of turn, or by using buttons on the top of the MouseBoat to increase or decrease engine RPM independently both in the devices centralized position and the degree of span. Spring-centre action returns the MouseBoat to the central “zero speed” / straight-ahead mode when released.

 

MouseBoat is only available with HamiltonJet’s blue ARROW control system for single and twin applications of HJ292, HJ322, HJ364 and HJ403 waterjets. Each system and MouseBoat is specifically calibrated to best suit a vessel’s individual characteristics and requirements, thus ensuring maximum manoeuvring control is available in all conditions.

 

blue ARROW is a complete waterjet and control package designed for 8-16 metre vessels utilizing single or twin waterjets and up to three helm stations. The system is extremely reliable, with multiple levels of redundancy and a fully independent smart backup. It also features an autopilot interface, as well as additional interfaces for future technology as it becomes available. 

 

MouseBoat is just the first of many advanced control devices being developed by HamiltonJet, all aimed at making vessel manoeuvring control more intuitive, and making best use of all the advantages when using waterjet propulsion.