It wasn’t too long ago that cruise control was considered a luxury feature in an automobile. Today, not only do most basic cars have it, but they also likely have the more advanced adaptive cruise control. This is the path technology frequently takes: Items that were once cutting edge become commonplace. In that process, what you may have once considered helpful but not really a necessity grows to be considered indispensable.
Recreational boating is part of this march of progress. Outboard engines gained power-tilt and trim. Manually weighing an anchor gave way to electric or hydraulic windlasses. The challenge of close-quarters maneuvering eased with bow and stern thrusters. I’m fairly certain that not a single boater I know would give up any of these features today.
Still, I’m surprised when I hear an old salt dismissing these features, saying that people should learn how to handle a boat without all this newfangled technology, or that boaters need to know the old ways in case the modern conveniences fail. I’m sure there was a day when drivers needed to know how to use the hand-crank on the front of the car, because the new electric starters hadn’t completely proved themselves. There is a point in the adaptation of new technology that we no longer need to practice or remember how we performed a task before that technology existed.
Boat handling in close quarters is one of the most stressful tasks for many skippers, so it’s no surprise that boatbuilders and aftermarket producers focus on it. Bow and stern thrusters were among the first tools to assist with docking, but even they stayed exclusive to larger yachts for many years. Today, it’s not uncommon to see a bow thruster on a 30-foot center console. Thruster technology has improved as well. Gone are the days of only being able to use your thruster for a few seconds for fear of it overheating and shutting down.
The advancement in joystick controls has been equally transformative. The technology—which allows thrusters and engine controls to work seamlessly together, including the independent operation of multiple outboards—has been a welcome addition to boat helms, especially for a generation of boaters who are more accustomed to using joystick technology in other forms of recreation.
Another docking-assist device where rapid advances have been made is wireless remote controls. I’ve been aware of them for many years, but never saw a need for one. There are corners of the boat I can’t see from either helm, but my wife, Dori, and I communicate effectively with headsets, so I know from her feedback exactly where the boat is and the direction we need to move while docking.
However, in a moment of weakness spurred by a great boat-show deal, we had one installed on Liberdade. Today, you couldn’t pry that remote control out of my hand for fivefold what we paid for it. As with so many devices that began as conveniences, the wireless remote comes with a safety factor. Being out on deck helping Dori handle lines and making sure she is getting on and off the boat safely is worth everything. Additionally, while remote controls are billed as docking-assist devices, we find ours equally or even more useful when anchoring or picking up a mooring ball. Now that manufacturers have added dynamic positioning to the remotes—enabling them to hold the boat in a fixed position—they really become a valuable addition.
Cameras are another example. They have been an accepted method of improving the sightlines from the helm for many years.
Not unlike the backup camera we’ve accepted as standard in our automobiles, boat cameras now provide multiple images that can be synthesized to a multifunction display, giving the skipper a bird’s-eye view of where the boat is. Another crossover from automotive conveniences, these overhead views give an accurate view of whether you’re centered in the slip when backing in.
Not all new technologies are groundbreaking, but many completely change how we interact with and control our boats. Each time they do, some method from the past will fall away. It is OK to let that happen. I don’t know of anyone keeping lead weights with wax bottoms suspended from hemp lines to count the fathoms under the boat, in case their depthsounder fails.
This article was originally published in the September 2024 issue.
