Dockmate, Yacht Controller, etc.....

It's also a matter of confidence, to a large extent.
I can neither see the swim platform from the flybridge nor from the main helm in my boat, but as you say, I can (still... ) remind where it is.
That said, I've been on boats with a cockpit station and/or remote control, and the additional confidence it gives you is indeed nice.
Being able to live without these gadgets is well and good of course, but if I'd have a cockpit station, I'd definitely use it.
As opposed to the YC, which was already fitted to a boat I considered before buying mine, and I'd have rather sold it on eBay if I'd have bought her!

trust me. it is extremely hard to tell on these boats due to the glass shapes and curves of the boat and your head is even with the bottoms of the windows and such. on your hatteras you are looking down through the glass so you have depth perception

I always dock from the lower helm to be closed to the side doors and spring. This is the aft view from the helm

Sounds like a sound case for a rear camera, viewable on a dashboard screen.
Inexpensive, and doesn't require fiddling with engine controls, which are crucial.
What's there not to like?

<sarcasm> Yeah but it’s better for the dealer to sell you a fancy remote control gadget and it’s called a yacht controller so you can startsaying your little 50 footer is a yacht </sarcasm>

Not so on the newer Predators (and some other makes as well). The visibility is very poor and especially if it’s a tight fit into the slip then you taking a chance.

Ran as Azimut 68S years ago. It too had a YachtbController. Have had zero issues with over 10 years of using the devices.

I have a backup camera on my truck like most people today, but I still look behind before backing into a parking space !!

Nothing beats the Mark 1 Eyeball !!

I always find it hard to focus on the camera screen and then refocus on what's going on outside of the boat. Aside from the yacht controller allowing you to stand anywhere outside and even assist with moving fenders or getting a line, it allows you to be on the bow when dropping or pulling up the anchor. I happen to like them. Their major fault is you have only gears (no throttle) so in really adverse situations, some boats might simply not have enough power to dock.

One of my neighbors has a controller on 55 ish express. I saw him maneuvering the other day holding the little gizmo… while standing on the swim platform. Need I say more ?

Agreed, if and when Mk1 eyeball can actually be used.
Pretty hard with an 18 wheeler for instance - as well as with any no-frills boats.
Like all the commercial ones, of which I've yet to see any maneuvered with a remote (while I've seen plenty with onboard cameras).
Not even wired remotes, which on top of being more reliable allow also throttle and rudder control - let alone wireless gizmos!
Which in fact I don't think are even allowed by classification rules, though I'm not positive on this.

In fairness toward remotes, an helmsmen as clever as that would make me nervous regardless of where he's standing onboard...!

Its not all about the docking process.

Recently went through our annual process of hanging additional lines on our pilings so they are available for quick tie up in case of storms. Its not difficult if you can move the boat to exactly the right position, then you can rig lines directly on the piling and hang it while standing safely on the boat.

The boat is very responsive, easy to move the stern and the bow where you want them. However if moving the boat from the helm, then by the time I get to where I need to be to hang the line - the boat is no longer in position.

Having a yacht controller makes this job a whole lot easier and less stressful. The key is staying in a safe position on the boat. I would not consider the swim platform a safe place to be while the boat is maneuvering.

But for setting up lines once a year, it s cheaper to get a helper….

I did some serious research and went with Yacht Controller, it has way more features than any of the others, and its been around for years.
Very nice product.

I have a Yacht Controller and it's nice to have, however if I had to do it again, I would never go with anything from that company. I also have their Yacht Cam (same company). Their customer service is terrible. If you call them, you are made to feel like it is an imposition. You'll never get a hold of anyone in charge, just a low-paid receptionist with an attitude. She'll tell you she'll put a note in to get a call back. Good luck on that actually happening. Try emailing, and you'll be wasting your time waiting in the abyss. I do not have my product manuals, so I called, for example. After a hassle getting through, I had the pleasure to learn they will not send any documentation on their products via email. Of course they are not on their site either. Ask any questions, and they want to sell you a $300 service plan (and for that I was told they would consider sending me a manual). And when it comes down to it, they have no real product knowledge. That is probably because they do not design or manufacture anything. They just rebrand products from an Italian company. Their site is nothing more than a sales presentation. Try looking for details on specs or capabilities (beyond the big ones) and you'll come up short. They thought I was on another planet when I dared to ask for a pdf version of the manual. I still don't have any. So I went to two boat shows to catch them and ask questions about their products. Each time was an odd experience and I am turned off forever. I was going to buy one of their isolation transformers (turned out they are a rebranded Asea product). I went with another vendor, to say the least. My advice would be to go with any other make.

My yacht controller is currently mysteriously not functioning. I have no choice right now but to pay their absurd $350 bench-test fee.

As far as functionality, I would not say I miss it when it isn't working (like for the last few months). I just completed the loop and the only time I wish I really had it was once or twice in locks. It would be useful, for instance, in the Welland Canal, where the drops are huge and there are no floating bollards to take you down.

Here is the use of a remote device to dock this Riva named "Nero". Can't be sure which one it is but you can see it being used in the latter stages of the approach to the dock.

What did that guy do that couldn't be done with a cockpit helm station instead of a wireless remote is a total mistery to me.

Been thinking for a couple years about getting one so I can single hand picking up a mooring at Catalina Island. I think it would be perfect for that and would eliminate the need to rely on my wife who's nervous doing it. Just been balking at the cost.

Yeah I much prefer having control stations on the aft deck.

Picking up a mooring single handed is probably the time these gadgets are useful.

He couldn't look cool.