Dockmate, Yacht Controller, etc.....

That's got to be a cool job, but I don't see you getting on the dock with a new gizmo while docking the boat.

NEWS FLASH - "Runaway yacht crashes numerous boats in marina"...owner found celebrating new boat at Tiki Bar unaware of situation! Claims when he left boat was docked on "sky hook" and has controller to prove it!

Which is why there are helm station stickers that indicate one should not be in the water when Skyhook is engaged. Current, wind, drift, GPS connectivity there are just too many issues with having someone on the dock or in the water. I guess the stickers should say Stay on the boat too. Crazy.

The average IQ is 100. Half the people around you are stupid and too dumb to know it. Then, as one of the side effects of the internet, there's a growing pandemic of the Dunning-Kruger effect. (Google that) Those are the stupid AND annoying/dangerous ones........

I know some nice little gunk holes.... drop the hook and see no one. Two more years.

I would NEVER get off of the boat and on the dock without the boat being secured first. I also will not run anything larger than a 40' center console locally without a mate or 2nd person on board. On a trip (in the ocean), I always have a second person on board (mate). IMO, one of the most important traits/skills of a Captain is risk mitigation of passengers/crew/vessel.

Makes me think a “backup” alarm or audio message would be appropriate if not in manual control mode. Safety first.

So boogie boarding behind the boat doing 16 knots with the remote around your neck would be bad? I mean as long as you keep making turns and swinging wide on the board you can see what's ahead....

(Tell me you didn't get a visual there...... )

Reminds me, I once saw an idiot going down the ICW in Fort Lauderdale at 8 knots on a 45' FB boat, sitting on the bow seating with his buddies and relying on the autopilot remote to steer the boat!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That makes me feel sick to my stomach just thinking about it...

I've done that. 200 miles off shore........ Idiots.

I am meeting with the service manager at Yacht Tech tomorrow to try and decide which one of these products to buy for my Nordhavn 43. I am also considering tethered models from Glendinning and Kobelt. Of the untethered, I am leaning to the Dockmate with twist, of the tethered I am leaning toward the Kobelt because I prefer the look and feel of their controls.
BTW there is a lengthy tit for tat discussion between Dockmate and Yacht Controller on an electronics forum which might lead one to not want to buy either one. I think they both have good products, but fighting with the sort of negativity which might make a politician blush doesn’t do either one of them any good

I have the yacht mate on my 76...it works very well.....but couldn' fathom stepping off my boat ever without being tied up. In tight spots its nice to be able to come off bridge and go to both port and starboard and still be able to slowly moving the yacht.

On a 43’ I’d prefer tethered and I’d prefer ZF.

My boat already has electronic controls, which replaced manual controls and a failing potentiometer. The Glendinning remote doesn’t control thrusters, so I have ruled that out. One possibility is Glendinning controls, and a Dockmate twist. The main purpose is when I am single handing.
Best,
Maldwin

The ZF would be good as I already have ZF controls, so would save money. Unfortunately, I think you are correct in saying it does not control rudder.
I have had Kobelt controls on other boats, and vastly prefer them to the plastic ZF ones I have so I will give the Kobelt controller another look. You have a very good point that on a single engine boat one needs to have control of the rudder.
Many thanks for the advice.

I have just gone back on the Glendinning website, and they say the remote can control engine stop/start, rudder control, and thrusters.