So what do competitive commercial fishing, a cable TV series and automation technology have to do with each other?
A MarineLink article, Out-casting and Outlasting the Competition, answers this question. The National Geographic TV series, Wicked Tuna: Outer Banks shared the story of:
…Tyler McLaughlin, captain of the 45-foot boat, the PinWheel.
In this commercial fishing competition, Tyler:
…recently claimed victory on “Outer Banks.”
Now that we’ve established the link between a commercial fishing competition and a TV series, what about the automation technology? The article answers this.
This win wouldn’t have been possible without new electronic boat controls from Emerson, a specialist in automation technologies, enabling McLaughlin to successfully adapt to the fishing style of the south.
Given the unpredictable weather and rough seas in North Carolina’s Outer Banks:
…the most successful boats on “Outer Banks” incorporate special proportional hydraulic valves on their gearbox called trolling valves. These valves transfer the engine’s power to the propeller behind the boat, allowing the fishermen to slow the boat’s speed.
Initially his boat did not have these trolling capabilities. Emerson’s Steve Vincent, who works with AVENTICS marine technology and was a fan of this TV series, “…recognized the need for the Outer Banks fishermen to be able to maneuver their vessels quickly from different locations on their boat, especially when reeling in a large, half-ton tuna.”
The solution was the Marex OS III control system, an “…electronic control system for pitch propellers, jet propulsion and reversing gear systems, the Marex OS III is easy to integrate, accommodates up to six control stations and eliminates the extra force required to manually operate control heads between stations.”
Read the article for how this automation technology enabled greater maneuverability, better control from helm or stern, and trolling capabilities to help lead Tyler to victory in the competition.
If you’re now inspired to get into commercial competition fishing or have other needs for greater marine vessel performance, make sure to visit the Marine Technology section on Emerson’s AVENTICS website.
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