I am restoring an older USCG boat (several related post made on various topics). It is a twin engine diesel. The existing controls are mechanical. There is a telegraph that provides pneumatic control of the engine and gearbox. I am adding electric thrusters. I know pneumatic controls are reliable but they require a lot of maintenance. I want a fly-by-wire system. I'd like to be able to synchronize the engines. Warm them up out of gear. And, I am looking from some interlock protection for the gearbox against rapid switching. And, on a related but separate note, I want engine guages that report to the wheelhouse (currently only available in the engine room). Ultimately, I would like to add advanced controls (joystick) that will translate the joystick position into signals to the engines, gearboxes and thrusters. ZF has a unit designed to retrofit mechanical systems but they say their joystick and advanced systems won't work with this. Glendinning has a system that claims to do all this. I saw the glendinning system at a boat show. I did not have a lot of confidence in the mechanical link. Any advice and opinion appreciated.
Again it would help if you d tell us the size of the boat and what engines Gauges can be duplicated to the helm, you ll need to run wires and/or hose if mechanical Pneumatic are pretty reliable once maintained and as long as you have a reliable source of air The glendining mechanical sync system is pretty bulletproof and very simple Joysticks and fly by wire are over rated.
I have Kobelt air shifters and throttles about 45 years old. I've done very little maintenance and had no problems. They can be rebuilt almost forever. I have a standalone compressor with tank and an engine mounted compressor. I also have a 2nd tank in the flying bridge mainly so my air horn has plenty of air. I believe we're talking about the Fir, retired about 1990. Lighthouse tender and buoy tender active in the PNW.