Sportsman Boats announced that Dometic Marine’s Digital Switching technology will now be standard equipment on all boats 25 feet and longer offered by the South Carolina builder.
The Dometic Digital switching allows for control of marine lights, pumps, batteries, trim tabs, climate control and other features through a single digital display rather than multiple switches. The technology creates a cleaner, high-tech helm for consumers while reducing wiring bundles and rigging costs for the builder.
“Digital switching is definitely the wave of the future,” said Sportsman Boats President Tommy Hancock in a press release. “We have always worked to stay innovative and on the cutting edge when it comes to the way we build our boats. Collaborating with innovative partners such as Dometic Marine helps us stay on the forefront of marine technology — and both our company and our customers reap the benefits.”
Hancock said Sportsman Boats started including electronics as standard on all boats about four years ago. The Digital Switching Technology provides remote control to let boaters turn their boat’s systems on/off from up to 200 feet away.
Built-in diagnostics and the built-in redundancy of a “get-home” mode provide safety and reassurance for boaters. Dometic Digital Switching also interfaces with the Optimus EPS Steering, which is also standard on Sportsman boat models 25 feet and up.
“Eliminating moving parts from the boat means less time and labor costs, as well as less chance for wiring errors or switch malfunctions that could cause issues for the customer. At Sportsman, we’re focused on delivering the best boating experience possible,” Hancock said.
Sportsman Boats’ announcement comes as Dometic Marine completed the rebranding of SeaStar Solutions at the Miami International Boat Show in February. Dometic acquired SeaStar Solutions in late 2017. “With 76 years of history and dedication to command and control for boaters, SeaStar Solutions has accumulated industry leading technologies and knowledge in the market,” said Eric Fetchko, president of Dometic Marine Americas in a press release. “With the new name, Dometic Marine, we will continue this journey and intend to expand our business even further.”