Dockmate vs. Yacht Controller

[Brc45]

Has anyone personal experience to share of installing and using one product versus the other?

 

[Neeves]

I think you are posting on the wrong Forum, or part of the Forum.....again

I don't know the 'average' boat size, for PBO, but Dockmate is not cheap, even for large vessels, and most members here are able to berth their yachts without issue with at the extreme only the need to use a bow thruster (manually controlled) with help from their wife, or partner.

But if you can afford a 50' (or larger) mobo, use it short handed and have a large wallet - they are marvellous. I know one of the executives in one of the companies you mention and completed a review on a mobo that had one of the systems. Large sailing multis might enjoy support from one of these systems - but large multis, in fact almost any multi, are like dragons teeth on this forum.

Try the motor boat segment of YBW and you may get a reaction. Alternatively try an American site - the owners of Cruisers Forum have a MoBo focussed forum where vessels are large enough to merit Dockmate etc, try 'Trawler Forum'

Jonathan

Edit - if you need Dockmate etc either you need some lessons or you have a large enough vessel that you would not install the system yourself. Costs are of the order of US$10,000 (you can get cheaper), 2 thrusters, engines, etc - but peer support will be lacking, too new.

I don't take too much notice but a member here with 2 thrusters would be .... uncommon.

The systems are common place - basically all large commercial vessels, like the Island Princess (subject of a current thread) use the same sort of technology.

 

[footsoldier]

Has anyone ever seen Brc45 and Wansworth in the same room?

 

[B27]

I don't have any thrusters on my little boat, but I do sometimes go on a friend's power cruiser, which has a bow thruster and a transom thruster.
It's a high sided flybridge boat, and parallel parking in a crosswind is a doddle, once you've learned the controls.
These things demand good batteries though!

 

[Brc45]

I don't have any thrusters on my little boat, but I do sometimes go on a friend's power cruiser, which has a bow thruster and a transom thruster.
It's a high sided flybridge boat, and parallel parking in a crosswind is a doddle, once you've learned the controls.
These things demand good batteries though!

Thanks! Yes, I learned from Pacific Yachts excellent tutorials that they need their own battery banks of starter cells:

What Type of Battery Should I Use for My Thrusters? | Pacific Yacht Systems