When Yamaha introduced its Helm Master joystick control system several years ago, it was a true game changer. Operators could now maneuver a boat sideways to a dock using a joystick and hold the boat in place with the push of a button. Close-quarter docking became less stressful, as did waiting for a drawbridge or operating the autopilot. But Yamaha didn’t stop there. The outboard manufacturer introduced updates to the system with more features, and now, the ability to maneuver your boat from anywhere.
At the 2025 Miami boat show, Yamaha announced an all-new wireless control feature for its Helm Master EX. The wireless control unit resembles a trolling motor remote that boaters can wear around their neck on a lanyard. It features a small joystick similar to an Xbox controller, several buttons and a toggle underneath for spinning the vessel. The wireless controller is intuitive and allows the operator to maneuver the boat from the palm of their hand, no matter where they’re standing on the boat. You can take it up to the bow while unlocking the safety chains on the windlass or use it in the stern when tying up at the dock. And it floats!
“This is the evolution, the next step in the Helm Master EX system,” said Yamaha Captain Sean Gills, as he gave me a demo of the controller hanging around his neck. “Everything that you’re used to with our traditional Helm Master system on the dash is transferred into our handy wireless remote control.”
Yamaha added a fingertip toggle for spinning the boat, allowing the captain to control the entire range of features with a single hand. This frees up the other hand for tossing lines, adjusting fenders or grabbing a fishing rod. There’s also a small screen on the controller that displays depth, heading and speed, which is especially handy when underway and monitoring your course while using the autopilot functions.
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The handheld controller comes equipped with an integrated man overboard (MOB) system. If the wireless controller goes overboard, the boat will decelerate to a stop or immediately turn off the engines, depending on the situation, acting much like a kill switch. You can also add passenger fobs that can be worn around a wrist (or on a dog’s collar) or on a lanyard. These fobs won’t shut down the boat, but if they go overboard, the system will blast out an alarm. The wireless Helm Master package includes one captain and one passenger fob, but it can support up to eight MOB fobs.
The wireless control unit pairs seamlessly with Helm Master EX. There is no lag or delay when you make a course change, and it will operate up to about 40 feet away from the helm. StayPoint, FishPoint and DriftPoint are also at the captain’s fingertips, whether they are at the bow, operating from the flybridge, or in the middle of the action at the stern.
Many boaters use their Helm Master EX as an autopilot. The joystick at the dash makes setting a heading and course adjustments on the fly super easy. This same functionality now resides on the Wireless Control System. It’s a good idea to keep a person at the wheel at all times while underway, but if you need to move from one spot to another, you can take the helm controls with you.
The wireless unit also has a feature called joystick hold, which is similar to cruise control. On the dash-mounted version, when you let go of the joystick, the engines drop RPMs and fall back to neutral. With joystick hold, you can maintain the boat’s momentum and drive the boat with just the joystick, but keep in mind this is only for low-speed situations. As an angler, this could be handy when trolling and setting out or adjusting the spread of lures behind the boat. It’s also useful when you’re in the channel and need to get the dock lines or fenders situated.
Yamaha included other buttons on the wireless controller that can be used for marking waypoints. There are also up and down buttons that can be used for tilt and trim of the engines.
Available in single through quint (five) outboard configurations, the Yamaha Wireless Control System includes all Helm Master EX joystick functionality, autopilot control and man overboard functions for captains and passengers.
The wireless controller is designed for eight hours of use, and boaters can mount a charging cradle anywhere on the boat. The Wireless Control System will be available for dealer installation this fall and can be added to existing systems in most cases.
This article originally appeared in the June/July 2025 issue of Power & Motoryacht magazine.
