With the growing number of movable systems on board, the risk of activating one function while another piece of equipment is not in the correct position is increasing. Mercury Marine, the American marine propulsion specialist based in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, has just unveiled its Vessel Interface Module (VIM) at IBEX, a system designed to enable the propulsion system to communicate with the various equipment on a multipower.
Published 07/10/2026
Combined with sensors and the boat’s digital switching systems, the VIM can automatically prevent certain engine commands when a piece of equipment is not in the required position. One particularly clear example: if a swim platform is still deployed, the system can prevent the engines from being trimmed until the platform has been retracted. Once the situation has been corrected, normal operation is automatically restored.
Builders can configure the functions concerned according to their installations: starting, shifting, steering or trim can therefore be temporarily disabled. In addition to swim platforms, Mercury notably mentions swim ladders, fold-down side bulwarks, trolling motors and windlasses among the equipment that can be monitored. Audible alerts are provided, while SmartCraft Connect, the interface between the Mercury system and the user, allows corresponding notifications to be displayed on the boat’s screens.
Presented in Tampa at IBEX 2026, the Vessel Interface Module is due to begin shipping to builders by the end of the year.
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