Fathom Technology on the Life Proof Boats 45 Full Cabin
Today’s outboards are a far cry from their smoky, noisy predecessors. Technological breakthroughs in recent years ranging from four-strokes, fuel injection, to dual contra rotating propellers allow manufacturers to create quieter, more reliable, and more powerful outboard engines. Those factors and the speed and performance that modern outboards deliver has led to a resurgence in their popularity. Robust drive systems and larger horsepower outboards set up in multiple engine packages mean even boats in the 60’ range or larger can be outboard powered. Dockside handling issues that previously made outboards more difficult have been resolved using computer-controlled joysticks and integrated thrusters.
However, a persistent issue is that these larger, more complicated boats with outboards have multiple systems aboard that use a lot of power. Some use diesel generators to recharge batteries and provide power even if they have gasoline outboards, but mixed fuels on board can be problematic. New battery technology using lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries can now power marine electronics and onboard equipment without needing a generator. Even electric BBQs, air conditioning, and other high-power equipment can now be run using banks of these new batteries. To keep systems running, outboard manufacturers are putting high output alternators in their engines which keep electrical systems topped up when underway. Brunswick, the parent company of both Mercury Marine and Navico, has taken outboard charging to the next level with their new Fathom® e-power system. This integrated system allows outboard engines to recharge onboard battery systems more easily and effectively even when the boat is at anchor away from shore power.
The Boat
I recently tested the new Life Proof Boats 45 that is powered by triple Mercury Verado V12 600HP outboards which has the Fathom® system. This boat has a lot of electronics aboard including Triple MFDs, A fishfinder w CHIRP transducer, 24-mile radar, autopilot, AIS, VHF, a multi-zone stereo with a subwoofer and 600-Watt amplifier, and Starlink. There is also a multi zone AC climate control system, multiple drawer refrigerator/freezers, a microwave/convection oven, an icemaker, electric BBQ, and more. All of this electrical equipment is powered by banks of lithium batteries integrated into inverters and chargers. At dockside there is 50-amp shore power service and when underway each of the big Mercury outboards has a high output 150-amp alternator.
Charging off the outboards via Fathom
The boat does not have a generator, so how do you recharge the batteries when you are away from the dock enjoying your chilled refreshments, listening to the Fusion Stereo while someone is napping below in the air conditioning? Fathom provides the solution. While it will likely be automated at some point, on the Life Proof 45 Full Cabin the system indicates when you need recharging and then you press a button to activate the charge system. At that point one of the Mercury Verado engines is turned on in a special charging mode. For safety if you accidentally hit the throttles while the engine is charging the boat will not go into gear. The Fathom system then measures the current coming off the 150 amp alternator and throttles up the engine in neutral to produce the current needed to run onboard equipment and to charge up the battery banks. In extreme circumstances a second or even a third engine can be started and revved up in charging mode potentially providing several hundred amps of power/charging. Revving up V12 gasoline engines to meet onboard power needs when not underway probably isn’t maximizing fuel-efficiency but it is convenient and innovative. I have asked the folks at Fathom and Mercury just how much gasoline these big bad boys consume when high idled and will let you know when I get an answer.
Micah Bowers, President of Inventech Marine Systems that builds the Life Proof 45 explains about this system,
“Navico and Mercury, are both owned by Brunswick so they developed the Fathom system as a collaboration between the brands. The Mercury 600s use 48-volt alternators. We have an electrical schematic on board with a bunch of DC-to-DC converters and some soft start switches which basically convert the 48-volt to 12-volt for the house battery at the same time that it dumps it into a giant 48-volt battery bank. We have 12,000 watts of 48-volt power on the boat from four big lithium batteries. It allows us to use our DC system to run some higher voltage equipment. We’re running a 48-volt Kenyon all-electric BBQ on the rear deck, for example. We’re running a 48-volt bow thruster, a 48-volt windlass, and then we’re using a big 10,000-watt peak inverter. It’s taking 48 volts and converting it into 120 volts AC that allows us to run two air conditioning units without a generator on board.”
This is not a custom system just for Life Proof, I just happened upon it while testing their new 45 Full Cabin model that had the equipment. The Fathom e-power system can work on a variety of boats and is designed to offer advanced digital control as well as monitoring of power consumption. In addition to integrating the charging capabilities of Mercury engines, Fathom utilizes power, switching, and charging technology from Navico Group brands like Mastervolt, BEP, CZone®, Ancor, and Blue Sea® Systems. Integrated onboard electrical solutions allow boaters to spend more time away from the dock by providing more battery capacity and efficiently managing the electrical system. According to Navico the user interface allows end users to monitor and control their power on and off the vessel.
Fathom systems are compatible with 12-volt, 24-volt, and 48-volt configurations. They provide monitoring of power consumption from onboard appliances to help with power management and energy conservation. The user interface includes an easy-to-understand battery status with calculated “time to empty” indicator. The system, including alerts and charging preferences, is also highly customizable.
“When you’re on anchor, the system is monitoring batteries and onboard usage, and it’ll tell you, hey, your battery’s getting low, it’s time to use fathom mode,” explains Bowers. “And then you can push fathom mode on, and what it does is it turns the outboard engines into generators. So now they automatically kick on, and they regulate their RPMs based on how many amps you need to supplement your batteries so that it tops your batteries back up while giving you all the juice you need to run your boat. The outboards (Mercury Verado 600s) are a lot quieter than a generator. It may only use one engine, it may use two, it may use three, depending on how much power you need, and what your consumption is. It is an interesting system that provides buyers of our boats more options and better control of their electrical system.”
Modern outboards are more popular than ever and integrating their charging capabilities with the advanced monitoring and control of electrical systems that Fathom provides offers unique opportunities for boaters. Running high consuming electrical equipment like stoves, grills, heating, and air conditioning systems off high voltage batteries and recharging everything with outboards without the need for generators is a new and interesting way to get the onboard power you need. Like outboards, electrical technology has come a long way, and Fathom offers a way to keep track of and integrate multiple onboard power systems to keep your boat running, your food warm, and your beers cold.
https://fathom.navico.com/marine-solutions
