Dockmate, Yacht Controller, etc.....

Our Hatteras 80' has the Yacht Controller. It's unbelievable. For one, no need to open those crusty looking old fashioned controls on the back of the boat.

Let me put it this way:
have you ever opened their remotes and (most important) their receivers, and checked out how they are built, and with which sort of components?
Or just insulting myself as a curmudgeon?

PS: I already said that I'd rather not have anything wireless, so by definition that includes the Yacht Controller, obviously. BUT, they definitely are not in the same league. In fact, it ain't the YC that I labelled a thingy, and your final understanding is (imho, as always) only correct if you compare the functionality of the two products, not their quality.

I just asked if you had used the product you're demeaning. You now say that Dockmate and Yacht Controller are not in the same league and imply you've opened them and examined how they're built. If so, could you share and elaborate on your findings. I'm hoping to gain knowledge from you and calling something a "thingy" doesn't give me that. I have already admitted that I've never used Dockmate but they're being talked up here as an equivalent to Yacht Controller by others including the forum owner. If that comparison is unreasonable, I'd love to hear more. I respect your opinion and the curmudgeon comment was meant as humor if you didn't have more direct knowledge. No, I have not opened either of the remotes or receivers but I've used Yacht Controller extensively and the components and parts have been carefully evaluated by my chief engineer who has the knowledge to do so. I'm still assuming you have some information or knowledge we can all benefit from and just trying to get you to share it.

It's helpful to all of us to get insight into the basis of opinions rather than just labels of products.

I don’t think curmudgeon is an insult. I know a lot of very nice curmudgeons, and aspire to be one someday!

On reflection, I wonder if control of the rudder is as important with a remote as it is at a fixed helm? My assumption is that one would dock the boat with the main controls, and use the remote to hold it in place, as well as to make small final adjustments. In any case, very little water would be flowing around the rudder. If one is still going faster, one should probably be at the helm.
Best,
Maldwin

I only took the same expression used by OB in his reply to my post, nothing else.
I'm certainly not losing any sleep over that anyway, no worries!

Ref. your doubt on rudder, some single engine boats are more sensible than others to short prop bursts on a steered rudder, also at very low or even no speed. And of course, having a stern thruster does help a lot.
I never helmed a N43, so I can't give you any suggestion, either way.
That's why I said in my post #58 that it's up to you to decide how relevant (or not) rudder control can be for you.

I assume you mean that he "approved" the YC quality, and if so I agree with him.
I'll tell you what, ask him to check out also the DM, and let's see if he agrees with me.

Well, why don't you share your observations as to what you saw when you took them apart.

We have already been there with the Manhattan 56, remember?
To put it bluntly, I can't be bothered anymore.

That's fair...just be bother, but not be bothered.

You referred to the discussion of Dockmate vs. Yacht Controller on an electronics forum. Since Mapism also alludes to issues with the electronics of Dockmate, could you share some of that discussion with us here? Perhaps just give us the gist of the arguments. It would be great to read.

Interesting, is that the expression you would use in the US?
I never noticed that while I've been there, but I take your word for it.
I'm pretty sure that what I wrote is correct in English, anyway:
Collins English Dictionary

You referred to the discussion of Dockmate vs. Yacht Controller on an electronics forum. Since Mapism also alludes to issues with the electronics of Dockmate, could you share some of that discussion with us here? Perhaps just give us the gist of the arguments. It would be great to read.

What you wrote is correct for what you meant.

I have. A remote control yacht controller or dockmate are useless on that boat as you only get in gear or out of gear (no throttle) and thrusters. Putting a Nordhavn 43' in gear gives you literally almost no movement. You need thottle and a good amount of it for it to move from a dead stop and even more to respond to rudder. You're better off with a fixed remote throttle and a job stick w/ display for the rudder on that particular style boat.

The principals of that forum have used and liked Dockmate. As memory serves they are also familiar with Yacht Controller and like that system as well. Other people, some employed by one or the other company repeat some of the negative advertising about each other. My point was simply that they would be better off talking about their attributes rather than tearing each other down.

I agree with your handling description of an N43, but Dockmate does offer throttle control

Also YC does. I guess Capt J must have in mind older models.
I still wouldn't want anything wireless, mind. Just saying.

I understand that, but I live my life wireless and just really have no more hesitation using a wireless controller on the side deck than using a wired station.

The problem is there are SO MANY other different wireless RF devices and only so many frequencies on a yacht, that sometimes you do get interference. I've had a remote control docking device do strange things before. Friends of mine have. Another friend on start up when the boat was launched, boat went into full throttle forward in the haulout slip and hit the seawall doing a good bit of damage while still in the slings.

If they could be as reliable as they should be, don't you think with their billions in R+D, rexroth, zf, sturdy, glenndenning and the other big engine control players would have come out with them by now?

Just take this FWIW, but it's something I learnt from an engineer involved in the development of these devices for industrial applications - hence arguably even more critical than for pleasure boating.
There are very safe ways to avoid the receiver doing something different from what the person with the transmitter meant to do - at least with a well designed device built with quality components and embedded redundancies, as the YC is.
This is the good news, and the reason why there are wireless devices rated for critical industrial applications: accidents due to the fact that a heavy crane operator sent a "lift" command with the transmitter, and the crane actually lowered its load instead, are unheard of. But, there are no ways known to mankind to be always 100% sure that the received DOES understand the signal sent by the transmitter, and acts accordingly.

In other words, it can happen that a crane receiver does not get a clean signal due to some interferences, and the only logical behaviour that the engineers can program in these devices for handling this occurrence is that the crane does nothing at all and remains in the same status.
In fact, even if I don't think it's specified in the instructions of the boat devices which are being discussed, that's exactly how they also work.
Bottom line, if you are reversing into your berth, there is ALWAYS the possibility - unlikely as it can be - that in the very moment when you want to engage the fwd gear to stop the boat, due to some interferences, the receiver doesn't get a clean signal and therefore does nothing at all.
Which of course can be as critical as doing something else, depending on the situation.

Now, as the old saying goes, you pay your money and make your choice.
If a wireless remote would be essential, I would probably have one, rather than give up boating.
But since it isn't, I'm happy to live with my fully mechanical engines, whose governors and gearboxes are only controlled by mechanical cables.
And mind, since I'm boating in the Med, 99% of my moorings are stern to, so operating the boat from the cockpit would probably be more handy for myself than for most of you folks, generally speaking.