third helm station

NGM

NGM

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Does anyone have one or seen them being operated ?

I can see the obvious advantage for stern to visibility but I'm curious how they are practically used.
When exactly do you make the switch from fly to aft stations ? Do you wait last minute when you are aligned to your berth in the fairway and quickly dash down ?
If so it does feel you are vulnerable for a small period of time particularly in tricky conditions.
 
I’ve used them on all my boats since 2004. I love them and would never not have one. Currently on wandering lead which I like best. Yes there is a 5 second period as you walk from one station to the other, and you claim control at the station you are moving to by pressing a button there, rather than disclaim control at the station you’re leaving (so never leave small children at the station you are leaving), but the boat hardly moves in that time. No you don’t feel vulnerable- obvs you don’t dither in moving between stations and in windy conditions you will sprint.
In stern-to berths I line up the boat by spinning 90 deg then walk down and reverse in on the 3rd station. When coming alongside I get the boat parallel and then take it sideways the last 5- 10 m on the 3rd station. For touch and go you can come alongside concrete quays without fenders because you can hold the boat 20 cm from dock for people to get on/ off.
In stern to you can see and talk to whoever is doing the lines. No shouting, no trying to communicate distance off quay.

Very highly recommended.
 
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I have one on my S58.

Very useful.

I back it all the way in from flybridge ( stern too berthing) and then head downstairs and enable the helm. Allows thrusting and moving away from dock etc without running about.

It is just what you are used to. There is no reason not to do as John does - I just know the boat from the flybridge and feel I have better all round viz. It works for me!

Very useful
 
thanks, makes sense that you only use for the final reverse in and all the alignment is done from the fly. I can see benefit from being close to the dock both visually and audibly.
It does seem a pricey option for such minor use time, but then you could put all new boat options into that category.
 
I said this before (and got shot down :() but if you had a 360 degree helicopter camera view (like you get when you park a car) you wouldn’t need to change helms (except to help moor)
 
Bouba said:
I said this before (and got shot down :() but if you had a 360 degree helicopter camera view (like you get when you park a car) you wouldn’t need to change helms (except to help moor)
Click to expand...

But I think your last words are the whole point.

I moor with my 360 degree view ( called the flybridge) with no issue, but when down on deck it is incredibly useful to be able to engage engines / thruster without lunging for a helm
 
I have the wandering lead version too, and it's really useful to control bow & stern thrusters as well as the engines. I can also shut the engines down from the remote which I assume is a common feature on similar remotes.
 
Yup I've had a 3rd helm station in the cockpit of my last 3 boats and I find it invaluable particularly when I'm shorthanded ie only me and the SWMBO on the boat. In a Med mooring situation and if we've got boats either side, normally I'll reverse from the flybridge into the berth and as soon as I'm happy that were sufficiently in such that we cant drift to one side or other, I'll go down to the cockpit and back it in the rest of the way from there. Being in the cockpit allows me to help the SWMBO with stern and bow lines but at the same time maintaining position using the throttles/thrusters at the 3rd station. If there is only a boat on one side or no boats at all on either side, then I'll stay longer on the flybridge in order to maintain the boat's position more accurately but it does mean that the SWMBO does more of the rope work (and moans about it afterwards)

The last thing I do with the 3rd station and I know some people wont approve of this but I dont like using the mooring winches, but as soon as we've got the bowlines tight and in position, I'll use the 3rd station throttles intermittently to back the boat on to the quay to make tightening the sternlines easier
 
NGM said:
It does seem a pricey option for such minor use time, but then you could put all new boat options into that category.
Click to expand...
Yeah, if you are concerned about pricey toys, you'd better run than walk away from boats without even start considering options, I reckon. :D

But just to throw in a different view/experience, I never had cockpit or remote controls in any of my boats.
My second to last boat didn't even have a b/thruster, and I managed to cruise with her for 17 years, always mooring stern to, without a single scratch.
So, while I obviously agree that it's a nice to have tool, it's very far from being essential, imho.

Besides, since you mention that it would be a retrofitting: does your boat already have electronic throttles?
If not, beware: on top of forking out a not trivial amount of money, by fitting something like the Yacht Controller remote to perfectly working mechanical controls, you are adding a layer of complication, with several electronic components (receiver, control unit, actuators) which can go wrong.
And if they can, they will... :rolleyes:
 
MapisM said:
Besides, since you mention that it would be a retrofitting: does your boat already have electronic throttles?
If not, beware: on top of forking out a not trivial amount of money, by fitting something like the Yacht Controller remote to perfectly working mechanical controls, you are adding a layer of complication, with several electronic components (receiver, control unit, actuators) which can go wrong.
And if they can, they will... :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

I'm definitely not thinking of having anything fitted I was merely curious as to when owners chose to make the switch while berthing.
 
jfm said:
I’ve used them on all my boats since 2004. I love them and would never not have one. Currently on wandering lead which I like best. Yes there is a 5 second period as you walk from one station to the other, and you claim control at the station you are moving to by pressing a button there, rather than disclaim control at the station you’re leaving (so never leave small children at the station you are leaving), but the boat hardly moves in that time. No you don’t feel vulnerable- obvs you don’t dither in moving between stations and in windy conditions you will sprint.
In stern-to berths I line up the boat by spinning 90 deg then walk down and reverse in on the 3rd station. When coming alongside I get the boat parallel and then take it sideways the last 5- 10 m on the 3rd station. For touch and go you can come alongside concrete quays without fenders because you can hold the boat 20 cm from dock for people to get on/ off.
In stern to you can see and talk to whoever is doing the lines. No shouting, no trying to communicate distance off quay.

Very highly recommended.
Click to expand...

Agreed. The Fleming's 3rd station (on our 55) is in the aft cockpit. The only drawback is no rudder control. Only throttles, gears and thrusters. Often thought of adding an autopilot controller for the rudder...
 
Why, do you possibly use your boat for game fishing?
That's the only situation I can think of, where rudder control in the cockpit can be useful...
 
I always use mine when docking for fuel. Flybridge helm on opposite side to filling the fuel. Sometimes if on my own use it when sorting ropes out. Would def have one again.
 
The third control in the cockpit is helpful, but I opted to pay less for a remote docking system that is wireless. I can tie her up whilst controlling the boat from anywhere on-board (even the pontoon).
Standard process: I activate the controller and put all the fenders and lines on, stand on stern and reverse in through the boats and then get her alongside. I step off with the line and tie the stern in, use the controller to blow the bow and grab the bow line and tie her up. It is so much easier than before. There are competitors out there for this, but I opted for Dockmate as the system is plug and play (didn't like the idea of rewiring engine bits), and I can take it off if I sell. The remote feels better than the YC one. The guys at Dockmateeastcoast.co.uk helped a lot with all the information I needed.
I got the whole system (which is the best you can get) for about £8k all in and it has changed my boating for the better. I think you can get the other remotes and extras around £5k. I would recommend at least speaking with someone about the different options so you can make sure it is right for you.
 
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