Evinrude’s New iDock

An intuitive and attainable joystick

July 2017 Feature, News Brady L. Kay

Today, Evinrude announced a revolutionary new joystick system that will bring the technology to an incredible new price point. Joystick piloting has helped lure new people into boating over the years and has helped those seasoned skippers who get a little anxious when it comes to docking. Evinrude is the latest engine manufacturer to develop a system, but even though its intuitive integrated technology is unique, it also includes a value-driven price. Similar joystick docking systems for twin outboard boats range between $15K and $20K, while Evinrude is offering its new system for just $6K.

The revolutionary Evinrude iDock joystick piloting system instills 360 degrees of confidence when docking and is available on boats with twin Evinrude E-TEC G2 150 to 300hp engines. The new system is designed to make easy-to-use joystick technology available to more boaters.

Back in June I was given the opportunity to test out the new system myself and was very impressed by how I was able to sidestep the Scout 255 LXF as well as pivot it in place with ease. Probably the most impressive factor—other than the MSRP—is the advanced aircraft gyroscope sensor technology that makes iDock more intuitive to pilot by automatically compensating for wind and current. As luck would have it, the weather conditions during our test were anything but ideal, which only helped showcase its capabilities. If extra power is needed to overcome wind or current, you can simply push the stick further into boost position to double the thrust. The simplicity of the system requires much less time to become accustomed to, thus creating a more positive first-time boating experience.

As a fully integrated system, Evinrude iDock connects with the existing internal hydraulic steering feature of Evinrude E-TEC G2 engines, reducing cost of parts, removing clutter on the transom and freeing up precious storage space. And because it leverages existing E-TEC G2 architecture, installation time is minimized. I was told the iDock models follow the same installation process as Evinrude E-TEC G2 engines and typically require less than one hour of on-the-water setup. This allows Evinrude to offer the all-new iDock system for an unheard of MSRP of $5,999 USD for all iDock components which includes the joystick, module and hydraulic hoses.

“Our goal with the Evinrude E-TEC G2 engines was to design a platform with unlimited potential for continued technological enhancement and innovation,” said Olivier Pierini, Evinrude director of global marketing and strategic planning. “The intuitive nature of the technology will give even a novice boater immediate confidence in their ability to dock any boat equipped with Evinrude E-TEC engines easily. And by using technology that is already built into the engine, it is significantly more affordable than any other joystick system on the market. This all adds up to a level of on-the-water confidence you can’t live without.”