Page 42: of Marine News Magazine (May 2020)

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Dave Marciano is captain of

Hard Merchandise, as well as the Falcon—the boat featured in “Wicked Tuna: Outer Banks.”

PFTV is part of the Emerson group and manufactures electronic sets it apart from other control packages on the market.” and pneumatic components speci?c to the marine industry. In addition to its ?exible design, ease of use and modu-

He suggested equipping Marciano’s vessel with the Marex lar system architecture, the Marex OS III includes advanced

OS III—an electronic control system for pitch propellers, jet features that have improved the vessel’s maneuverability. For propulsions and reversing gear systems. The system is easy example, Marciano now has the option to control a trolling to integrate, accommodates up to six control stations and valve—an adjustable device incorporated into the hydraulic eliminates the additional force required to manually operate system that regulates the pressure between 0 and full operating control heads between stations. pressure. This feature reduces the propeller speed at a given en- “With this system, it doesn’t matter how many stations are gine speed, enabling Marciano to achieve speeds that are lower on a vessel,” Vincent says. “You can change controls easily than what is possible for normal gear engagement. As a result, with one hand.” Marciano can now drag bait slowly through the water behind “Previously, on the Falcon, putting the boat in gear and his boat—a ?shing method known as “trolling”—and also ma- giving it throttle each required a lever,” Marciano adds. “It’s neuver the boat in and out of the harbor with greater ease.

nice to have the throttle and gear contained in one. We went from needing four control levers to maneuver the boat down

Hooked on the new controls to two. Now, even my daughter can operate the boat.” Integrating the Marex OS III has brought the Falcon up to speed with many of the other, newer vessels featured in

A ?exible control system “Wicked Tuna: Outer Banks.” It has also had a positive ef- fect on Marciano’s livelihood. “This new system lets me ma- that improves maneuverability

The Marex OS III system includes several components, in- neuver my boat quickly and ef?ciently,” the captain says. cluding various control heads, a freely con?gurable display, “I’m happy to say it’s helped me catch more ?sh—which propulsion controllers, operating modules and other accesso- brings in more money.” ries. Marciano selected two different control heads—a taller Now, Marciano is in talks with Emerson about updat- one for the Falcon’s helm and quarter deck, and then a lower- ing Hard Merchandise—the original “Wicked Tuna” vessel, pro?le one for the transom where, according to Marciano, he which will be helmed by the captain’s son. Marciano’s plans often experiences “the heat of the battle.” for the boat include many of the same modi?cations the Fal-

Because the Marex OS III control system isn’t speci?c to con underwent, including integrating the Marex OS III elec- any particular engine or gearbox manufacturer, Marciano also tronic control system.

took this opportunity to upgrade the Falcon’s engines. “It ul- “As a ?sherman, my biggest concern is always: can a prod- timately didn’t matter which engine he went with,” Vincent uct do what I want and is it dependable?” Marciano says. says. “The Marex system works with them all—a feature that “And the answer to both of those questions is yes.”

May 2020 42 MN