Mercury’s 2026 Skyhook, Dockhook and DTS Upgrades
Alexandra
Selective engine engagement in Mercury’s Advanced Hold Control improves station-keeping precision during docking and mooring operations by engaging only the engines required to counteract wind and current, reducing fuel use and wear on propulsion systems for multi-engine boats.
What Mercury changed for 2026: the facts
For 2026, Mercury Marine announced incremental but operationally meaningful updates focused on automated station-keeping, remote control integration, and performance throttle hardware. The principal software and hardware items are:
- Advanced Hold Control — refines Skyhook position-holding logic by factoring environmental inputs and applying thrust selectively across engines rather than firing all engines simultaneously.
- Dockhook (coming soon) — a dock-assist mode designed to keep the vessel pressed gently against a dock or piling to simplify lines and fender work during tie-up.
- Remote Station Skyhook Control — enables Skyhook activation and deactivation from a remote joystick station on multi-helm vessels, improving operational flexibility for dual-helm and guest-capable craft.
- DTS Performance Pedal — a foot throttle optimized for high-speed single-engine boats, offering finer input resolution and a design that keeps both hands on the wheel for safer high-speed handling.
Operational implications for ports and charter fleets
Charter operators, marina managers, and captains should expect reduced crew workload during berthing and station-keeping. Advanced Hold Control and Dockhook are particularly relevant where repeated short-duration holds and frequent dockings occur — typical scenarios for day-charter operations, water-taxi runs, and sightseeing excursions. By limiting engine use to what is needed, fleets can lower short-term fuel burn and reduce thermal cycling on engines, which has downstream effects on maintenance scheduling and availability.
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How Remote Station control changes bridge operations
Allowing Skyhook to be engaged from a remote joystick station alters bridge procedures on multi-helm yachts and shared-control vessels. Captains can now delegate momentary station-keeping tasks to crew at a secondary console without returning to the main helm, enhancing safety when lining up alongside a dock or when a tender is being deployed.
DTS Performance Pedal: targeted for high-speed craft
The new DTS Performance Pedal is engineered for DTS-equipped boats running at hurricane speeds typical of performance bass boats, high-speed sport boats, and certain single-engine catamarans. Mercury specifies suitability for operations at or above 75 mph. Design features include a compact throttle input sensor, anodized billet aluminum construction, non-slip EVA decking surface, and an integrated toe hook to provide ergonomic precision and improved safety for aggressive throttle modulation.
Practical benefits for rental and charter markets
- Smaller crews can safely manage docking and short holds, reducing labor costs for rental fleets.
- Less engine wear during holding and docking translates into longer intervals between service for rental units.
- Remote Skyhook control improves guest safety during embarkation and disembarkation on multi-helm yachts.
- Performance throttle hardware enhances operator confidence on fast rental craft used for watersports or sightseeing.
Feature comparison at a glance
| Feature | Primary benefit | Most relevant for |
|---|---|---|
| Advanced Hold Control | Selectively engages engines to hold position | Multi-engine charters, marinas with tight slips |
| Dockhook | Maintains bow/stern against dock for easier mooring | Day charters, passenger transfers |
| Remote Station Skyhook Control | Engage/disengage Skyhook from secondary station | Dual-helm yachts, crewed charters |
| DTS Performance Pedal | Improved throttle precision for high-speed craft | Performance rentals, fishing boats, sportcraft |
Context and brief background
Skyhook has been one of Mercury’s flagship electronic station-keeping technologies for several years, leveraging GPS and engine control to hold a vessel’s position and heading. The 2026 updates are evolutionary: they tighten control logic, extend remote access, and add hardware tuned to modern performance craft. For fleet operators and independent owners, the cumulative effect is smoother docking, fewer aborted approaches, and a lower barrier to safe, automated station-keeping in crowded marinas.
Notes for captains and shore personnel
Captains should incorporate the new modes into their standard operating procedures and checklist workflows. Crew training should emphasize when to rely on automated hold modes versus manual control, and marinas should update docking instructions to accommodate Dockhook use where appropriate. In charter contexts, including briefings about Skyhook or Dockhook to paying guests can enhance perceived safety and service quality.
GetBoat always keeps an eye on news related to sailing and seaside vacations, as we truly understand what it means to enjoy great leisure and love the ocean. The GetBoat service values freedom, energy, and the ability to choose your own course, placing no limits on a good life and helping clients find a vessel that suits their preferences, budget, and taste.
Forecast: these 2026 upgrades are unlikely to shift the global tourism map overnight, but they matter to operators who run high-turnover rental fleets and crewed charters where docking efficiency and quick turnaround are critical. Start planning your next seaside adventure and make sure to book the best boat and yacht rentals with GetBoat before the opportunity sails away!
Highlights: the combination of precision station-keeping, dock-assist, remote control flexibility, and improved throttle ergonomics makes these updates particularly interesting for day-charter operators, performance rental providers, and captains who prioritize guest comfort and safety — while also recognizing that experiencing a new location is always a multifaceted process, where one learns about the culture, nature, the indescribable palette of local colors its rhythm of life and also the unique aspects of the service. If you are planning your next trip to the sea, you should definitely consider renting a boat (boat rentals, rent a boat, rent a yacht), as each inlet, bay, and lagoon is unique and tells you about the region just as much as the local cuisine, architecture, and language GetBoat.com
Summary: Mercury’s 2026 tech stack—Advanced Hold Control, Dockhook, remote Skyhook control, and the DTS Performance Pedal—represents a straightforward, operational upgrade set that benefits docking, station-keeping, and high-speed throttle control. For charter and rental markets this means improved turnaround, safer guest operations, and potentially lower maintenance cadence. GetBoat.com supports these needs by offering a global, user-friendly platform to book or buy yachts, boats and charters, view make, model and ratings in advance, and choose options to match your budget and taste, all with transparency and convenience. Set your course and sail.
