Take Control With Dockmate
Published: Monday, November 29, 2021
Have you ever found yourself pulling into a crowded marina shorthanded or with a boatload of some non-boating friends? It can be stressful guiding your boat into a slip while running to toss lines, especially if there is wind or a current pushing you off the dock. Imagine having a device that will let you control your boat from the bow with a line in your hand, or even from the dock while you tie up. A truly intuitive system, Dockmate is just that.
Dockmate allows a boater to easily operate electronically-controlled engines, bow and stern thrusters, anchor winches, and horns from anywhere on board using a small, handheld device. Delivering “plug-and-play” connectivity with engine and thruster systems, Dockmate’s wireless remote control lets you remain in command of your boat’s movement while away from the helm.
Dockmate is a pocket-sized extension of a boat’s control that can mimic its response time and feel for a seamless user experience, or be customized to meet the specific preferences of individual boaters. Using the included software, installers can make adjustments to the throttle to ensure improved response time and boat handling to meet challenging docking conditions. Or, if a boat has only a single bow thruster—which is very common—the DockControl software can be programmed to safely “walk the boat” sideways directly towards the dock by programming the engine transmissions and throttle to combine with the bow thruster just as if the boat had a bow and stern thruster. If the boat has two non-proportional bow and stern thrusters—another common configuration—one thruster is oftentimes more dominant than the other, resulting in greater difficulty with moving the boat sideways and parallel to the dock. DockControl provides a solution for this scenario by customizing the settings so that a slight press on the joystick only engages one thruster and a harder push engages both thrusters.
Each Dockmate system includes a wireless, handheld transmitter that is rugged, waterproof, and floats. The system has an easy-grip rubber finish and includes a lanyard and wireless charger, as well as a plug-and-play receiver compatible with most brands of engines and thrusters. The powerful transmitter’s two-way communication ensures faultless operation with a six-channel Frequency Hopping Spectrum System (FHSS)—a wireless technology that spreads a signal over rapidly changing frequencies for uninterruptible transmissions. FHSS means that every Dockmate uses a unique set of channels in the entire band of 72 channels, and changes from one frequency to another. The FHSS rolling code changes six times per second over six different channels, virtually eliminating any possible chance of interference. The Dockmate signal reaches up to 165-feet, which is by far the longest range available and does not require an expensive range repeater on boats over 80-feet, like competitive products.
With the Dockmate Cradle fixed-mount wireless charging pad, users no longer have to choose between a fixed joystick or a remote control. The combination of the Dockmate Twist joystick remote and the new Dockmate Cradle enables a cutting-edge feature: Fixed Joystick Mode. Once the Twist joystick remote is placed in the Cradle, it can be used just like any other third-party joystick docking system. This gives users incredible cost savings and a tidy bridge station as the Cradle only requires about 3-inches by 8-inches of space to mount.
Developed specially by Scanstrut to accommodate the Dockmate remote, the Cradle is also water resistant (IPX6), UV resistant, and has an anodized aluminum chassis. It can be mounted anywhere inside or out—such as on the flybridge—and it can be used to charge cell phones as well. With a charging time from 0% to 100% in less than an hour, the Cradle is perfect for frequent users. It keeps the remote in an easy-to-reach location and ensures the unit has a full battery and is ready-to-use.
Take control and make docking your boat a snap. For more information on Dockmate, visit www.dockmate.us.
A version of this article appeared in the Buyer's Guide (November/December) 2022 of Great Lakes Scuttlebutt magazine.
tags: Electronics, Retrofitting, Smart Technology
