Wireless Yacht Controller

I am happy with my Dockmate

One big advantage of wireless is anchoring. Can deploy or retrieve anchor much easier single handedly.

When I first purchased boat (75' MY), I viewed the remote as a distraction with a large fiasco potential and refused to utilize the option. A few years into ownership, occasions arose when the controller was very helpful. Today, I utilize the controller way more often than not both anchoring and dockside.

I find two advantages to deploying anchor remotely via controller (standing on deck or pulpit) rather than from the bridge or pilothouse controls. 1) It allows me to be more precise when dropping anchor with respect to setting an anchor watch, 2) allows me to be very precise while positioning boat for retrieval: typically the windlass won't stress until actually retrieving the anchor more or less vertically.

With respect to docking, aside from the obvious advantages of being able to operate boat from any position on deck, I find that when operating in low idle setting (Cats) I can walk the boat sideways using differential thrust in combination with the bow thruster. At the bridge or pilothouse, this is a rubbing your belly and patting your head maneuver; on the controller I can easily accomplish with one hand.

When we bought this boat (6 years ago or so), a friend who had owned the same model previously told me if the specific boat I was buying did not have a cockpit docking station then add yacht controller. Issue he brought up was visibility from the upstairs helm.

I added a YC at the time. It has worked without failure, solid performer. My model pre-dated the ability to have throttle control. I have transmissions and bow thruster.

It's handy when backing into a slip, although after some learning time on the boat, getting into the slip is not the primary advantage.

My wife and I cruise alone. Neither of us are "professionals" though over the years have picked up some experience. I don't move up and down the stairs to the helm as quickly as I used to - in fact prefer to be very deliberate on timing when I move from the helm to the cockpit level.

Primary impact for us from Yacht Controller:

1) After getting into a slip to the extent of having a couple of pilings to the side, I then can go downstairs and assist my wife with the lines. Lines get heavy for her. I can slide the boat out so we are on the wide part of the boat to hang bow lines, but slide backwards when they are in place. I can move side to side in the slip to place lines where we want them. Final positioning of the boat and securing, both of us are able to work lines instead of me just providing direction to her.

2) We anchor quite a bit. Yes I have anchor controls at the helm. Prefer to be on the bow and use the foot controls, I can deal with laying out chain, watch for the markers on the chain, then rig the snubber. She does not want to get involved with placing the snubber. Picking up anchor, reverse, I am on the bow. If there is wind, so much easier to deal with boat movement on the bow.

3) Mooring ball. Don't really want to think about a mooring ball if there is any wind without having the ability to have some level of control for the boat. Due to the height of the bow, I always pick up the line from the mooring ball from the stern, secured to a line on a middle cleat, walk it up transferring to the bow lines. Once again factors moving the boat around I am able to respond.

Just our experience.

I have never wished that I had throttle control. My props will move the stern wherever I want it without throttle. Rare occasions when I needed throttle to move the stern.

Thoughts for what its worth.

Nothing that I have noticed regarding delay.