It’s the great paradox of docking. The moment you need to precisely see the gap between your bow and the pontoon… is exactly when you are stuck at the helm.
So we go back and forth. We crane our necks. We guess. And when things go wrong, it’s never for lack of knowing how to maneuver — it’s for lack of sight.
The question is simple: what if the thruster came with you?
That’s the whole idea behind a bow thruster remote control. Not to replace your controls: but to relocate them to where you are. We explain how it works, what it truly controls, and most importantly, how to know if your boat is compatible.
In this article
What a Bow Thruster Remote Control Actually Controls
A small clarification, because there’s often a misunderstanding.
A Dockmate bow thruster remote control doesn’t just control the thruster. It centralizes up to 7 functions in a single unit worn around your neck:
- Port engine
- Starboard engine
- Bow thruster
- Stern thruster
- One or two windlasses
- Horn
In concrete terms: you no longer have one hand on the throttles and one eye on the pontoon. You have everything, in one hand, from where you have the best view. This is the very principle of a wireless remote control compatible with your boat: nothing replaces your controls, everything is relocated.
And the stern thruster in all this?
It’s included in almost the entire range. SINGLE, TWIN, TWIST, RED: bow and stern, with dedicated buttons.
One exception: the VECTOR, designed for boats with vectorial propulsion (IPS, pods, Zeus), only manages the bow thruster. Logically — on these boats, the stern is already steerable by the drives.
With both thrusters at hand, you no longer pivot the boat: you translate it. The boat moves sideways, parallel to the dock. That’s where it becomes comfortable.
The real question: Is your thruster compatible? 🔍
This is the point that stops most people, and we’ll be direct.
It all depends on the type of control for your thruster.
On/off thruster
The thruster pushes at full power, or not at all. This is the case for many installations. A bow thruster remote control handles it very well, by impulses. This is exactly what you already do with the dashboard joystick.
CAN bus proportional thruster
The thruster modulates its power according to the pressure applied. Here, we open up another dimension: the TWIST and VECTOR provide fully proportional joystick control, with the same feel and response time as the boat’s fixed control.
ThrusterHold™: The New Feature That Changes Docking 🆕
This is the feature everyone is talking about in 2026.
Until now, holding your boat against the pontoon while you tied up meant keeping the thruster engaged. One hand occupied. When you really could have used both.
ThrusterHold™ keeps the thrusters engaged — stern and bow — at a given level. The boat stays pinned against the dock. Both your hands are free for mooring.
A first for a wireless remote control. Available on TWIN, SINGLE, TWIST, and PRO, with CAN bus proportional thrusters.
How is the connection made?
Spoiler: not by you. And that’s intentional.
The Dockmate receiver is modular. It is not mass-produced and then sold as is. It is assembled and programmed for your boat: your thruster brand, your control type, your engine configuration.
The IP67 aluminum casing is installed on board, in parallel with your existing controls. Your fixed controls remain 100% operational. Takeover is immediate, at any time.
The receiver communicates with your thrusters, your engines, your windlass. A logic of centralizing onboard controls that goes far beyond a simple accessory.
That’s why we check the configuration before, not after.
What it really changes
We could talk technical for hours. But what matters is Friday night, a crowded port, crosswind, and no one on board to help you.
You step down from the helm. You position yourself where you can see. You correct the bow with your finger. You hold it with ThrusterHold™. You tie the line. Calmly.
And when you have to wait for a spot to open up, the virtual anchor keeps the boat in position while you prepare your lines.
More than 10,000 boaters in 32 countries navigate like this today. 😊
And compared to other systems?
It’s a legitimate question — there are other remote controls on the market. The real sorting criterion isn’t the brand: it’s compatibility with your thruster controls. We’ve detailed the method for comparing market solutions without making a mistake.
FAQ: YOUR Thruster in Your Hand
Does a bow thruster remote control work on all thrusters?
On all electronically controlled thrusters, yes — whether they are on/off or CAN bus proportional. On mechanical cable controls, no.
Can both bow and stern be controlled at the same time?
Yes. SINGLE, TWIN, TWIST, and RED have dedicated buttons for each. Only the VECTOR is limited to the bow.
Do my fixed controls remain usable?
Absolutely. The remote control works in parallel, never as a replacement. Taking over at the helm is immediate.
What is the range?
50 meters announced. More than enough to cover any point on deck, and even the pontoon.
So, is your boat compatible?
Thruster brand, control type, engine configuration: each boat is a special case. We prefer to give you a precise answer rather than a vague one.
👉 Test your boat’s compatibility in 2 minutes
You can also discover Dockmate France on Google.