The marine engine market in recent years has expressed new trends which have characterized the scenario and, as an immediate consequence, have indicated the lines of development for boat and dinghy manufacturers.

Certainly one of the most marked aspects is the rush towards ever faster day cruisers and ever bigger cabin cruisers equipped with ever more powerful outboard engines.

Another aspect is the arrival of a large group of users who approach boating without one progressive growth initiated by smaller and less powerful boats, but debuting directly with large and performing hulls.

It follows that the skills at the beginning are often limited in order to handle boats and powers of a certain importance with total awareness, especially when maneuvering. Hence the need to give these owners, but actually also the more “experienced” ones, all the information possibility to simplify the driving of the boat and therefore also make navigation safer and more comfortable.

Whether it is for greater safety for beginners or for simple convenience for the more experienced, Yamaha has already put on the market a simplified control system for motorized boats with its outboards, both in single and in multiple installations, which this year comes in a more evolved version: it’s the new Yamaha Helm Master EX 2023, which I tested in Port Camargue, France.

New Yamaha Helm Master EX 2023, now also for single engines

Complemented by the now irreplaceable joystickthe new easy driving system of the Yamaha boat is characterized by a more ergonomic designbut most of all intuitive controls. For example, using the single handle, the hand can rest better on the instrument, guaranteeing a safer throttle controlespecially in rough seas.

This example also highlights another novelty, namely that the previous version provided for use exclusively with multiple engines, while the new Yamaha Helm Master EX 2023 is now also applicable to single installations of all engines outboard Yamaha DEC.

Difficult maneuvers on single-engine boats in confined spaces are therefore a distant memory, thanks to the easy-to-use joystick without special skills.

The new throttle and joystick features of the easy boat control system

On the left lever of the new Yamaha Helm Master EX 2023 we find the classic sling bar for the trim adjustmentalthough many will prefer the TotalTiltthe automatic trim, certainly simpler.

Further down is another switch to activate the Cruise Assistanta sort of cruise control to set and maintain a constant speed.

On the body are the other controls including the start/stopwhich starts the engines in place of the “old” key replaced here, as now customary on many cars, by a transponder (float) which of course you must have on board.

A substantial part of the selection of the many opportunities offered is delegated to eight-key control panelalso quite intuitive, but which does not disregard reading the instructions carefully…

The new design of the Yamaha Helm Master EX 2023 also features multicolored lights with nine customizable options, which also appear simultaneously on the joystick, which certainly have a scenographic function, but also very practical, because it is an immediate method for seeing at a glance whether you are in neutral, in forward or reverse gear.

The new Yamaha Helm Master EX 2023 now also works with bow thrusters

Particularly interesting for the new version of Yamaha’s boat assisted driving system is the integration with thebow thrusterfor now only with templates oldwhich makes the action of the joystick even more effective.

L’combined effect of the engines with the bow thruster promises smoothness and quick responseespecially on larger boats, it is no coincidence that the option is offered for double and triple engines.

A solution that further expands the advantages guaranteed by the new SetPointwhich allows the driver to set the direction of the boat, in order to keep it in place with any orientation and direction of current and wind, obviously without neglecting the new autopilot by Yamaha, which allows you to relax while the boat sails independently once the course is set.

Everything is controlled from the eight-key panel already mentioned above, in combination with the complete Helm Master EX 2023 system, a direction sensor under the console, a GPS antenna and the appropriate control unit.

Our test of the new Yamaha Helm Master EX 2023

The test session organized in Port Camargue by the Japanese manufacturer was also for testing the new outboards XTO 450-400 and equally new ones Yamaha 200-150a unique opportunity to test the new Yamaha Helm Master EX 2023 control system in various conformations on nine different boats and dinghies with single, twin and three-engine trims.

Read also: Great news in high power, the 450 and 400 hp Yamaha XTO V8 outboards arrive, but also the 150 and 200 hp high-power

I immediately anticipate a synthetic judgment: definitely one of the most complete and efficient systems, at least with outboards, I’ve ever tried.

The boats on which we tested Yamaha’s boat assisted steering system

I tested the new Yamaha Helm Master EX 2023 on boats and RIBs equipped with three, two and one engine.

I did the test with the triple engine on board the dinghy Tempest 44 Hats with three XTO 450s, while the double engine was built on the Jeanneau Cap Camarat 10.5 and on the rib Lomac GranTurismo 12.5which mounted a pair of XTO 450, and on Capoforte FX270 and the Finnmaster P8which were equipped with two Yamaha 200.

Finally, for the test with the single engine, I got on a rubber dinghy Tempest 900 hair It is on White Shark 28which mounted an XTO 400, and then on the Jeanneau Merry Fisher 795 and on Yamarine 67DCwith a Yamaha 200.

Everyone had various setups of the Yamaha Helm Master EX 2023 system, from the most complete (obviously on larger boats) to the most essential.

By the way, standard on the new XTOs, and as an option on the Yamaha 200, a flashing red LEDwhen the system is running, to remind anyone in the water that the propellers are moving.

An important safety measure that in the previous range of XTOs was provided on the transom of the boat, and the shipyards are thankful because this is one less problem for them.

The test of the Yamaha Helm Master 2023 on large and multi-engine boats

The feeling of having everything under control and having it really precise is truly remarkable. The lateral displacements which are usually taboo, here are really such and the joystick control if it is not millimeter we are close.

The same positive judgment should be extended tostill electronic with the double option staypointfor stable parking, e fishpoint to keep the axis of the boat in a precise position and therefore not forcing the fisherman to move on board, but leaving him focused on fishing as if he were on land.

I enjoy it and there port navigation I control it with just the joystick, a real pleasure and no stress, despite the traffic is not scarce.

Finally, an appreciation also for the Cruise Assistant which, especially in sections at controlled speed (such as the 10 knots to be respected for a hundred meters from the port exit) proves to be very useful, just like cruise control in a car.

As expressed by the facilitated control system of the boat with the single engine

The curiosity about how the joystick is efficient on individual engines it’s a lot and all in all satisfied, considering how complex it is to maneuver with a single engine.

Already mentioned at the beginning of the better ergonomics of the throttle to control the gas dosage more precisely, especially in rough sea conditions, the other aspect that is most appreciated of the new Yamaha Helm Master EX 2023 is obviously the joystick.

The control is effective and allows for reach the mooring and move in port in relatively narrow spaces with a good margin of safety.

Click and enter the page dedicated to the new Helm Master EX on the official Yamaha Motor Italia website