Mercury – 1st Mate Safety & Security System | SmartCraft 4/5/6-Engine Kit | 98-8M6007938

Overview

Multi-engine offshore boats carry a lot of power and a lot of people—and the 1st Mate system gives you an added layer of protection to match. The Mercury 98-8M6007938 1st Mate Kit is built specifically for four-, five-, and six-engine SmartCraft installations, bringing man-overboard alerts and engine-lock theft deterrence into one integrated package. With the vessel hub, harness, captain’s wearable, and accessories included, the system blends naturally into a large SmartCraft rig and quickly becomes part of your normal routine on board.

Key Features

• 4/5/6-Engine Integration – Designed exclusively for large multi-engine Mercury SmartCraft setups.
• Complete Core System – Includes vessel hub, harness, captain’s fob, wristband, and carabiner clip.
• Man-Overboard Monitoring – Alerts the captain and crew instantly if a tagged person goes overboard.
• Engine Lockout Security – Helps prevent unauthorized engine use when the system is armed.
• Wearable Safety Fob – Captain’s fob pairs automatically and stays active anywhere on the boat.
• Expandable System – Additional passenger RFID tags and wearables sold separately.

Compatibility

• Mercury SmartCraft 4-engine layouts
• Mercury SmartCraft 5-engine layouts
• Mercury SmartCraft 6-engine layouts
• Optional passenger RFID tags/wearables
• No separate display required

Performance & Practical Benefits

Larger multi-engine boats often have more space, more crew movement, and more going on at the helm. This kit keeps watch in the background by tracking the captain’s fob and monitoring any paired passenger tags. If someone wearing a tag goes overboard, the system responds immediately with alerts. When the boat is tied up, the engine-lock function provides a real theft deterrent—especially valuable for high-horsepower offshore rigs kept in marinas. Once installed, the system works quietly but reliably every time the engines power up.

Why Buy OEM

1st Mate is engineered by Mercury specifically for SmartCraft engines, ensuring dependable wireless communication, proper lockout behavior, and stable system performance across all engines. Generic systems can’t match the integration or reliability of factory hardware designed for large multi-engine boats.

FAQ

Q1: What comes in this 4/5/6-engine kit?
The vessel hub, harness, captain’s fob, wristband, and carabiner clip. Passenger tags are sold separately.

Q2: Can I add more wearables for passengers?
Yes. Additional RFID tags can be paired with the system.

Q3: Do I need a VesselView for this to work?
No. The hub and wearables operate independently of a display.

Q4: Will this affect the engines’ start sequence?
No. It works alongside your usual SmartCraft ignition process.

Q5: Is this kit for non-Mercury engines?
No. This SKU is designed only for Mercury SmartCraft 4–6 engine configurations.