Remote docking assistance is a confidence booster and a safety tool.
Docking can be incredibly stressful, but adding a remote docking system gives the captain control from anywhere to dock the vessel with ease. Add-on systems from Docking Master, Dockmate, and Yacht Controller allow the operator to handle the throttle, shift, and steering from any place on the boat.
The ability to move about is particularly beneficial when docking, as it lets you position yourself optimally to see all angles and avoid potential obstacles.
“A remote docking system enhances not only the ease of docking but also the safety of your crew,” explained Bill Karmis, national sales and marketing director for Dockmate. “Whether it’s your wife, kids, or others on board, Dockmate ensures that you’re not isolated at the helm. It allows captains to actively participate in the docking process, positioning themselves where they are needed most, rather than being confined to the helm.”
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Single-handed pilots can’t tie a boat to the dock without leaving the helm. With a remote docking system, you’re always where you need to be, whether it’s on the dock or at the helm, controlling the vessel, and keeping passengers and the vessel safe.
The cost of a remote docking system ranges from $8,995 on the low end to more than $25,000. However, every setup is customized for optimal performance, and costs depend on the boat’s configuration, the features the customer wants to add, and the size of the vessel.
The remote controls have intuitive buttons and functions that mimic the traditional controls of your boat, and every installation comes with a thorough hands-on training session. Safeguards are built in to ensure the remote is in control of the throttle and shifter no matter where you are—even if you are off the boat.
“We have proprietary dual band frequency among one hundred-plus channel combination redundancy between the remote and the transceiver to allow you to always stay in control,” said Tony Valiente, COO and managing partner of The Yacht Group featuring Yacht Controller. “We are currently the only wireless control that communicates via dual frequency. We delivered our first Yacht Controller in 2003, and we are now in our tenth-generation controller with over thirty thousand delivered systems.”
Yacht Controller uses a built-in spectrum analyzer, which is constantly checking the RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator) settings to look for a two-channel combination that is not being interfered with by other radio frequencies.
“During an installation, we will test fifty feet off the vessel to make sure you have connectivity,” Valiente said. Yacht Controller components are built in Switzerland and assembled in the U.S. “The remote in your hand serves as a transceiver. As you get farther away from the receiver on the boat, the LED lights change from green to blue to red. The remote slowly pulsates in blue as you near the end of its range and then pulsates at a much more intense pace while flashing red to let you know you are out of range.”
The Docking Master’s remote is waterproof and buoyant, and functions are controlled by push-button micro-switches. The remote engages the vessel’s machinery only as long as it is held down, immediately returning the machinery function to neutral when released.
“The Docking Master is built and manufactured entirely in the United States,” said owner and CEO Jose Luis Rodriguez. “The ergonomic, waterproof, handheld transmitter gives you the freedom to check every corner of your boat without ever losing touch with your thrusters, anchor winch, and main engine shifters.”
To make a remote docking system work, a single-engine boat must have a bow and/or stern thruster. Practice makes perfect with the remote transceiver, and again, operators are guided through all aspects of the system’s operation during installation.
“We adapt the Dockmate system to an owner’s vessel and preferences,” said Karmis. Dockmate components are built in Belgium and assembled in the U.S. “Every installation is tailored for responsiveness and intuitive operation. The expectation of the user is paramount, and we adjust all points of thrust to make them feel like they have been using Dockmate for years.”
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Yacht Controller offers a customized experience at the time of delivery, setting customer user profiles including adjusted engine and thruster speed control. Yacht Controller is a OneHelm partner for integration into Garmin multifunction displays (MFDs) and chartplotters, and integrates into Raymarine MFDs via ethernet cabling. Docking Master and Dockmate also offer standalone displays and MFD integration options.
“Remote docking systems are not just about eliminating blind spots,” Valiente said. “When you are on the dock, as an owner/operator, and adjusting the lines according to the current and winds, you don’t have to run back to the helm or a wing station. With the wireless controller in your hand, all that worry is eliminated.”
-by Doug Thompson
