Yachtcontroller or Xenta Joystick control

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johang

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I am thinking about to install a Xenta Joystick or a Yachtcontoller i i shaft driven Azimut 43 Flybridge. I there anyone here that have any experiance of thease system?
 
There could always be compatibility issues when installing a 3rd party system onto an existing powertrain. I've heard of some cases where the Xenta and for instance the autopilot did not work well together. Why not go for an integrated system from the start - you mentioned IPS in your other thread... And support Swedish industry at the same time :D
 
Problem is that the boat is an Azimut 43 Fly from 2006 and has shaft drive. I would love to drive the IPS but I am a little afraid for the IPS reliability after 5-10 years...
 
johang said:
Here you have liks to the controllers I´m looking at
http://www.xentas.com/
http://yachtcontroller.com/

Do you know about any other joystick systems?
Click to expand...
Imho the benefit is to be able to drive the boat while being away from the helm. That means yachtcontroller, NOT xentas.

I have used a wired (as opposed to wireless) version of yacht controller on my last boat and it was fantastic. I loved it; wouldn't be without it. I could bring the boat alongside without fenders to drop/pick up guests from the quay, becuase I could stand on the aft deck looking along the gap twixt boat and concrete and hold the boat 6 inches off the concrete
 
Don't you think the challenge of handling a simple boat like the Azimut 43 on standard shafts would me more fun than something doing all the work for you.
I always get a buzz from doing complicated manouvers myself.

Moving a shaft boat sideways was always a mistry to me - until I was shown by an experienced charter skipper. The graphic on the link to xentas shows how - simple really - just split the throttles and tickle the bow thruster. A little more refined than that but thats the technique. With shafts, apart from moving sideways, everything else is a relative doddle.

I recently had the chance of playing for a short while with an Azimut 38 and she handled really predictably.

If I were you, I'd spend my money on something else - fuel perhaps and enjoy the boat.

Don't let me put you off though - I love electronics.
 
jfm said:
Imho the benefit is to be able to drive the boat while being away from the helm. That means yachtcontroller, NOT xentas.

I have used a wired (as opposed to wireless) version of yacht controller on my last boat and it was fantastic. I loved it; wouldn't be without it. I could bring the boat alongside without fenders to drop/pick up guests from the quay, becuase I could stand on the aft deck looking along the gap twixt boat and concrete and hold the boat 6 inches off the concrete
Click to expand...

Agreed - I've watched you doing it
Not really worth a retrofit on ours but there are times when controlling the boat from the cockpit would be useful. I guess I'll just stick to doing it from the FB and watching the docking cameras.
 
Hurricane said:
Agreed - I've watched you doing it
Not really worth a retrofit on ours but there are times when controlling the boat from the cockpit would be useful. I guess I'll just stick to doing it from the FB and watching the docking cameras.
Click to expand...

I totally agree your comments above Hurricane about the buzz of controlling the boat yourself. I'm 100% there with you. That's why I hate these joysticks* and anyway a human can do a much better job. But while Xentas is a joystick, Yachtcontroller and my ZF version are not. You still control each propeller individually. ALL they do is let you stand in a different place while you do that, which is what I love about them and is all I want from them

*I only hate in the sense I would hate to have one on my boat cos I have been boating for years. They serve a purpose however in helping some new boat owners park their boats without stress, and on that score they do a good job and are to be commended
 
jfm said:
Imho the benefit is to be able to drive the boat while being away from the helm. That means yachtcontroller, NOT xentas.

I have used a wired (as opposed to wireless) version of yacht controller on my last boat and it was fantastic. I loved it; wouldn't be without it. I could bring the boat alongside without fenders to drop/pick up guests from the quay, becuase I could stand on the aft deck looking along the gap twixt boat and concrete and hold the boat 6 inches off the concrete
Click to expand...
I love electronics..... Nice to hear that you think the Azimut 43 is a simple boat but it is much bigger than I´m used to and it is easy to get stressed i tight situations when you are reversing and docking in tight marinas, I would love to be able to stand on the bath platform and have full sight during docking.

Yachtcontoller seems to be the right choice for me? Now I just have to finalize my negotiations on the Azimut 43, hopefully it will be mine tomorrow.....
 
Apparently works best with a dolly bird on board !!!
Wonder how SWMBO would work ??:D Maybe too much to go wrong :rolleyes:
On a serious note, now my kids are both off at uni, the yachtcontroller is of interest. Does it work with sterndrives ?
 
I've just watched the video

I wonder how it would work in the wind?

Seriously though, that video doesnt show anything.
It really wouldn't take you long to learn how to do all those manouvers without any electronics if the wind was always that light.

If you are worried about your own lack of experience handling a boat without these electronics, a better investment would be a stern thruster. I rarely rely on the stern thruster but it can get you out of trouble and IMO way more useful than electronic positioning controls.

Also, I'd be very weiry about wireless control ove the main engines.
I have the little Sidepower bow/stern thruster wireles remote which is really helpful when docking and SWMBO needs some help and I have to leave the helm position. But it's really easy to accidentally press one of the buttons - either when it's in a pocket or when it's dangling on a landyard round my neck. Not a huge problem if it's just a thruster going off accidentally but I hate to think what would happen if the main engines accidentally went into gear!!! My wireless remotes also have "dead spots" around the boat where they don't work.
 
Hurricane said:
I've just watched the video

I wonder how it would work in the wind?

Seriously though, that video doesnt show anything.
It really wouldn't take you long to learn how to do all those manouvers without any electronics if the wind was always that light.
Click to expand...
Agreed. I'd hate some bit of kit like that telling big engines to go into gear based on some generic algorithm. Much better just to learn to drive the boat - more fun too

The vid was a laugh though wasn't it? Cheesy Ferrari shot, then it cuts to a boat with the mankiest set of fenders I've ever seen. And the scatter cushions were all wrong - maybe that's why she was so grumpy. Awful marketing - I just wouldn't want to buy having seen all that cheese
 
I can see yactcontroller making sense, but a system that will make my two Volvo engines work with my Italian factory fitted bow thruster & retro fit side power stern thruster, all working together using a computer to position the boat !!!
No thanks, I am more than capable of cocking it up on my own.:D
 
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