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What is Engage Autosteer?
It’s the first autosteer system that is designed specifically for slalom waterskiing. Using precision guidance technology, Engage Autosteer maintains boat path automatically, providing consistent, repeatable hands-free steering. It responds to forces generated by changing wind and weather, and by skiers, no matter their skill level.
What is precision guidance?
Your cellphone GPS may put you within +/-1 meter of your true location -- not good enough for slalom! Steering with that accuracy could place the boat on top of the gate buoys.
Precision guidance uses a RTK GPS receiver with 2.5 cm (1") accuracy, ensuring the boat is always in the centre of the boat path. No guessing, no subjectivity = no video replay required.
Who benefits?
- Skiers
- consistency = fewer factors to manage and more driver availability
- Drivers
- hands-free = less fatigue, more attention to safety & boat's function
- Coaches
- maintain attention to skiers; more easily compare passes & progress
- Officials
- certainty that every pass is within tolerance
- Everyone
- safety! easy disengage feature
Who installs it?
You do. Engage Autosteer is a DIY product designed for easy installation and setup. Installation times are typically under two hours. Not comfortable? Our install coaches are ready to guide you through the installation with real time, one-on-one telephone support.
Will it fit my boat?
Yes! Initially, platform kits will be released for the boat models currently certified for competition by the IWWF. After that, we will expand to other models prioritized by customer demand.
Will I need more training?
No. Operation of the Engage Autosteer is every bit as simple as the speed control systems that most drivers are familiar with. Select your course ... press the Engage button!
How do I engage the autosteer?
The autosteer only engages when a slalom course has been activated on the display. The boat must be aligned with the centre of the course, at speed, and within 100m of the start gates. Press the ENGAGE button on the display, or the remote ENGAGE button on the console, then release your hands from the steering wheel.
How do I take manual control of the steering?
The system is designed with safety first and foremost! There are three intuitive ways to disengage:
- Firmly grasp the steering wheel.
- If speed control is on, grab and pull back on the throttle -- both systems will disengage.
- Press either the display or the remote Engage button, if you can find one quickly.
Any one of these actions will put you back in control.
Does the autosteer system replace the boat driver?
No. This is not a fully autonomous system. Just as speed control systems only control boat speed, the autosteer only controls the steering system of the boat.
In both cases, the operator of the boat is responsible for the safe operation of the vehicle. The driver must always be ready to take control of the throttle and the steering.