At the Miami Boat Show (16 February 2018) Mercury Marine announced a partnership with Fell Marine in which together, they will co-develop Mercury-exclusive wireless and Internet of Things (IoT) products that integrate with Mercury’s SmartCraft system “to make boating easier, safer, and more enjoyable than ever before.”
Working prototypes are being shown on the water at the 2018 Miami Boat Show, and in Mercury’s booth.
Mercury says Fell Marine’s WiMEA proprietary wireless protocol offers encryption security and reliability in the marine environment. WiMEA incorporates support for SmartCraft, NMEA2000, and other CANBus standards while allowing Bluetooth enabled apps and devices (boaters to communicate with their products using their smartphones).
Mercury and Brunswick each issued a press release on the new partnership.
Fell Marine logo
We have been following Fell Marine since they introduced MOB+ wireless lanyard at the 2017 Miami Boat Show.
MOB+ image from Fell Marine web site
When we first saw the announcement from Mercury we incorrectly thought Mercury was going to start using the existing MOB+ unit from Fell Marine, but as we read the press releases, they focused on wireless technologies in general and the co-development of Mercury-exclusive products.
That left us wondering if there was even going to be a wireless lanyard in the mix for Mercury. Thanks to a Mercury Facebook video by Wally Ross, Controls and Rigging Product Manager for Mercury and Christian Frost of Fell Marine we learned the answer.
Mercury’s video clearly discusses Man Overboard wireless lanyards and the potential for the development of Mercury-exclusive wireless lanyards as part of this joint venture. The video demonstrates the Smart Ignition System, it’s ability to start the twin engined vessel using a wireless fob, and to monitor the vessel from a smart phone.
We do note that when Christian starts the engines at about 1 minute into the video we do not see anybody yelling “clear” or checking to make sure no one is in the water around the vessel. They are on a large twin engined boat and it was started in neutral. We recognize it is really easy to forget about your surroundings on a boat this big, but if they shoot something like this again we encourage them to make some visible effort on the video to make sure no one is in the water near the vessel when they start the engines.
We are excited to hear Mercury is partnering with Fell Marine and wish both of them the best in this venture.
Brunswick Corporation filed U.S. Patent Application “Person Detection in a Marine Environment” on 5 May 2016. The patent application (US 2017/0323154 A1) was published by the U.S. Patent Office on 9 November 2017. As of late January 2018, the patent has yet to be granted.
The basics of Brunswick’s patent application teaches the use of computer vision (an image sensor on the vessel to capture an image) as the basis for a detecting the presence of people in a marine environment. An image sensor captures the scene, the system scans the image using an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) that has been trained to detect patterns in the image associated with one or more predefined objects such a swimmer near the propeller. The ANN outputs information regarding the presence or absence of such predefined objects within the image. Then powertrain computers respond by alerting the operator, slowing the vessel, shifting the drives to neutral, or other appropriate actions. In effect, the system acts as a sensor based propeller guard. We long ago coined a phrase for these types of systems, Virtual Propeller Guards.
We first coined the phrase, Virtual Propeller Guard, back in 2002 for use with sensor based systems designed to detect people in the water near a boat at risk for being struck by the propeller. These sensors were used to intelligently prevent propeller strikes by alerting the operator people were in the water near the vessels, sounding an alarm, shifting drives to neutral, shutting down marine drives, prevent the engine from starting, or other appropriate actions based on conditions. Over time it became obvious “Virtual Propeller Guards” also applied to sensor based detection systems monitoring possible presence of people in the water near a vessel, such as virtual lanyards, ladder switches, swim gate switches, and even traditional lanyard kill switches. Over time, Virtual Propeller Guards expanded to include Operator Presence Detection (OPS), and Voluntary Egression Detection such as swim gate switches and swim ladder switches.
Brunswick’s ‘154 patent application teaches:
Using the technology to detect people near the stern of the vessel by attaching cameras (image, infrared, sonar, or other types) to the upper rear side of the drive or to the stern
Using a similar system to detect the presence or absence of an operator at the helm
Using a similar system to look forward off the bow to detect people, debris, or small vessels
Using a similar system to look around the sides of the vessel for people in the water
We will further discuss the patent, then present evidence of our previous posting of materials teaching of a similar device several years ago (prior art).
A brief review of the major propeller safety events in 2017 including safety meetings, accidents, legal cases, deaths of those involved in the movement, statistics, patents, articles published, public service announcements, anniversaries, regulations, and other related events. Read More →
We just noticed The Leash, a tether to prevent outboard motors from flipping into boats when striking submerged objects, received U.S Patent 9,771,136 back on 26 September 2017. Some of our work in this field was cited in the patent references as well.
The Leash: left and right views side by side
Roy John Grohler is listed as the inventor and the patent is assigned to The Leash, LLC. Read More →
The National Marine Manufacturer’s Association (NMMA) reports Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission has approved allowing wakesurfing behind boat propelled by propellers OR water jets, but ONLY if the propulsion system was specifically designed by the manufacturer for use in wakesurfing. Previously the State of Pennsylvania only allowed wake surfing behind direct drives (inboards). NMMA notes the changes/revisions were written broad enough to allow future innovations and will take effect in early 2018.
Volvo Penta FWD photo
The real force behind the change is Volvo Penta’s FWD drive. When the drive first came out our coverage noted its possible use in wakesurfing applications and suggested its safety in those applications be evaluated. Read More →
New York University at Winthrop has expanded their “Stop the Bleed” education program for first responders in Nassau County New York to include law enforcement, school educators, and others in response to a boat propeller accident.
The program now trains citizens to assist in bleeding emergencies before professionals arrive on the scene. The goal being to reduce the number of bleeding deaths. While the program is now part of an effort to prepare areas responding to mass casualties and acts of terrorism, it began in response to a boat propeller accident. Read More →
Thanks to the many marine firms contributing to Hurricane Harvey relief efforts.
Evinrude Announces Assistance for Victims of Hurricane Harvey
STURTEVANT, Wis., August 30, 2017 – BRP, a world leader in powersports, announced today the company will be assisting those affected by Hurricane Harvey. Evinrude has deployed equipment and resource support to the affected areas. In addition, Evinrude will match donations made by company employees to the American Red Cross, dollar for dollar.
“Boaters understand the awesome power of Mother Nature and are always some of the first to respond to those in need,” said Olivier Pierini, Evinrude director of global marketing and strategic planning. “This is why we are sending equipment and resources to the area affected by Hurricane Harvey. Our Evinrude E-TEC engine with Jet Series lower unit is ideal for maneuvering through debris-filled waters to help rescue personnel get where they need to go quickly and safely.”
Bass Pro Shops assisting in Texas rescue and relief efforts in wake of Hurricane Harvey
More than 80 boats deployed for rescue efforts, donations for immediate relief
HOUSTON – Bass Pro Shops is coordinating with local, state and federal agencies – including police, fire and rescue teams on the ground – to support ongoing rescue and relief efforts related to Hurricane Harvey. The outdoor company is providing more than 80 Tracker boats to government agencies and rescue organizations in Houston and other impacted communities in Texas.
In the immediate wake of the storm, Bass Pro Shops is also supporting disaster response organizations by donating truckloads of relief supplies totaling $40,000. The contributions support Convoy of Hope, a Springfield, Missouri-based humanitarian organization, and the American Red Cross. Donated supplies include protein-rich foods like Uncle Buck’s Premium Jerky and peanuts for those in the field.
Bass Pro Shops has seven retail locations and seven boating center locations in Texas, including three in the greater Houston area. The company is supporting impacted associates through its Bass Pro Cares Fund, which provides support for critical living expenses in times of devastating need.
The company remains in close contact with the governor’s office, first responders and associates on the ground to monitor response efforts and assess ongoing needs. Bass Pro Shops encourages all customers and community members who want to support relief efforts to donate directly to the American Red Cross.
Lowe Boats
Lowe’s website notes they were delivering three trailers of Roughneck boats to Captain Kirk’s Marine, a Houston area dealer, for use in Hurricane Harvey relief efforts. They will not be requesting their boats be returned.
Lowe Boats on trailer for Houston
First trailer of Lowe Boats arrive near Houston
A crew from the Texas Department of Public Safety stands by, ready to take ownership as a shipment of new Lowe Roughneck boats arrives in Texas per Lowe Boats Facebook page.
Land’N’Sea
Land’N’Sea, a Brunswick Company, donated life jackets to the relief effort.
“When a local delivery service balked at delivering needed life jackets to the area, Land ‘N’ Sea employees Travis Carter and Steven Head didn’t hesitate to jump in a company truck and complete the 10-hour round trip to Houston.”
Those donations included Thirty 6 horsepower outboard motors and ten inflatable boats from Mercury, plus three 4.5 meter RIBS from Brunswick Commercial & Government Products (BCGP) division.
Soundings Trade Only (STO) Today report on industry donations
A Soundings Trade Only post summarizes some of the boating industry’s hurricane relief donations and efforts including:
Mercury Marine reported, “Virtually all boats available in inventory from local dealers and retailers already have been deployed to the rescue and recovery effort in and around Houston”. “Most every one of our boat brands has made boats available — Whaler, Sea Ray, Bayliner, our aluminum brands.”
Yamaha Marine Pro Fishing Staff are rescuing people using their own boats. The staff manager told STO, “Caleb Harp, Chad Kinny and Dwayne Eschete were working anywhere from 12 to 14 hours with few breaks in between.”
Yamaha reports they sent four BassNation volunteers with boats from Ross Motorsports in Texas to help but they were unable to reach National Guard locations due to high waters. They also sent a Skeeter boat.
Smaller Marine Manufacturers
While the large firms stepped up and helped support Hurricane Harvey relief efforts, some smaller manufacturers have stepped up as well.
For example, per an article in the 31 August 2017 SC Times, Backwater Inc, a manufacturer of mud and shallow water motors in Freeport South Carolina, supplied repair parts including 2 propellers and a rock guard for a motor free along with overnight shipping to support a customer, Travis Wijt, a young man using his SWOMP 23 motor in Hurricane Harvey rescue operations.
Backwater motor used in Hurricane Harvey rescue efforts.
Photo caption from SC Times: From left to right, Collin Berton, 22, Mark Allen, 23, and Travis Wijt, 22, are pictured Tuesday posing next to their Backwater 23 SWOMP motor in their hometown of Cypress, Texas, following three straight days of rescue efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey.
Thank You
A big thank you to all the marine firms donations products, equipment, parts, supplies, people, and time to Hurricane Harvey relief efforts!
And thanks to all the media outlets calling attention to those donations.
Plus thanks to all the folks on the ground, both paid and volunteers, using the equipment in rescue and relief efforts.
In a 31 August 2017 press release, Mercury Marine announced they were donating ten inflatable boats and thirty 6 horsepower outboards to Hurricane Harvey relief efforts. They noted they also donated a 40 horsepower outboard motor to Boots on the Ground, a non-profit veterans organization assisting veterans and qualified civilians in providing assistance on the ground in disasters.
A big thanks to Mercury for their efforts to help our brothers and sisters in their time of need.
An 18 July 2017 Centerport Yacht Club propeller accident claimed the life of 12 year-old Ryan Weiss. Three boys learning how to sail were with a sailboat that had been capsized on purpose as a training exercise. One of the boys, Ryan Weiss, was picked up by a RIB piloted by an 18 year old sailing instructor. As the RIB accelerated to bring Ryan to shore, Ryan fell overboard and was fatally struck by the propeller.
Following the accident, many U.S. sailing/yachting facilities providing sailing instruction to youth quickly began reviewing their previous decisions not to use propeller guard. Propeller guards are already widely used in Australian youth sailing programs.
For any wondering why propeller guards are needed with a sailboat, the guards are used with coaching boats, safety boats, chase boats, referee boats, media boats, and other boats associated with youth sailing instruction and youth sailing competitions.
In response to the Centerport Yacht Club accident, New York Assemblyman Andrew Raia, Republican from East Northport and an avid boater from the 12th District, is proposing a state law in New York requiring propeller guards on all vessels used to instruct children, per a 28 August 2017 CBSNY article. The article also includes a great video.
New York Assemblyman Raia holding Propeller Guard Press Conference image clipped from CBSNY image
At the Miami Boat Show (16 February 2018) Mercury Marine announced a partnership with Fell Marine in which together, they will co-develop Mercury-exclusive wireless and Internet of Things (IoT) products that integrate with Mercury’s SmartCraft system “to make boating easier, safer, and more enjoyable than ever before.” 
