Is your boat equipped with a manoeuvring joystick — Volvo Penta IPS, Zeus Pods, Mercury Joystick Piloting or Yamaha Helm Master? You know how comfortable it is: moving the boat in every direction with your fingertips. But you also know its limitation: this joystick is fixed at the helm. To manoeuvre, you are forced to stay behind the wheel, where visibility of the dock, the bow or the stern is often poor.
That is exactly the problem the Dockmate VECTOR solves: a true wireless joystick for pod-drive boats. Rather than replacing your joystick, it becomes its wireless extension: the same movement, the same feel, but this time from anywhere on the boat. Let’s look at what this changes in practice, and who the Dockmate VECTOR is for.
In this article
The fixed joystick: comfort, but a constraint
Pod-drive systems such as IPS or Zeus have made the manoeuvring joystick widely accessible. With a single movement, the boat moves forward, reverses, slides sideways, and pivots on the spot. It is intuitive and remarkably effective in tight spaces.
The catch is the location. The joystick is integrated into the dashboard. Yet when docking, the best viewpoint is almost never behind the helm: it is at the bow to judge the distance to the pontoon, at the stern to keep an eye on a neighbour, or on the side to pass a line. On a larger boat, this gap between where you control and where you can see is even more of a drawback.
So you have an excellent manoeuvring tool… pinned to the one place where you can see the least.
The Dockmate VECTOR: a wireless joystick for pod-drive boats
The Dockmate VECTOR removes this constraint. It is a wireless remote control that faithfully replicates your boat’s joystick — with the same feel and response time — and that you wear around your neck. In short: your pod-drive joystick, freed from the dashboard.
Its proportional 3-axis joystick controls your engines or pods in every direction, and twisting the joystick pivots the boat for tight manoeuvres. Dedicated buttons control the bow thruster and one or two windlasses. And when your boat is equipped with the Dockmate Positioning System, the VECTOR also activates assisted positioning modes.
All in an IP67 waterproof housing that floats, with a 3-year manufacturer’s warranty. You keep the precision of your original joystick and add the freedom to manoeuvre from the best viewpoint.
Manoeuvre from the best viewpoint
This is the key benefit. With the VECTOR, you can leave the helm without losing control of the boat. You dock while looking directly at the quay, you handle your lines yourself, and you keep a close eye on the neighbouring boat. Manoeuvring becomes safer simply because you can finally see what you are doing — which is exactly the point of a wireless joystick for stress-free manoeuvring.
The same movement as your original joystick
No relearning required. The VECTOR extends your existing joystick while keeping exactly the same behaviour. If you already know how to manoeuvre your boat with the joystick, you already know how to use the VECTOR.
Dockmate VECTOR or TWIST: which one for your boat?
This is the most common question, and the answer comes down to one criterion: does your boat already have a manoeuvring joystick?
The VECTOR is designed for boats already equipped with a joystick linked to a pod-drive or integrated propulsion system: Volvo Penta IPS, Zeus Pods, Mercury Joystick Piloting, Yamaha Helm Master. It extends that joystick wirelessly. It can also be used with the Volvo Penta joystick for Aquamatic sterndrives and shaft lines.
The TWIST, on the other hand, is for boats that do not have a factory joystick — typically shaft-line configurations with conventional controls and thrusters. The TWIST then adds a proportional 3-axis joystick where there was none, coordinating engines and thrusters.
In short: if you already have a pod-drive joystick, it is the VECTOR. If you do not have one and want the flexibility of a joystick, it is the TWIST. In both cases, you get the same wireless freedom of movement. To compare features in detail, the full Dockmate VECTOR spec sheet is available here, and you can browse the full Dockmate remote control range.
Fixed and wireless at the same time: the Cradle option
Do you have to choose between the fixed joystick and the wireless remote? No. With the Cradle, the optional wireless charger, the VECTOR sits on its mount at the helm and stays fully charged, ready to use. You keep your joystick permanently in place when you want, and you detach it to manoeuvre on the move when the situation requires it. The best of both worlds.
Who is the Dockmate VECTOR for?
The Dockmate VECTOR is primarily aimed at owners of pod-drive boats and yachts who want to get the most out of their manoeuvring system. If you already appreciate your IPS or Zeus joystick but regret being stuck at the helm while docking, a wireless joystick for pod-drive boats is the direct answer to that limitation. It is also a major advantage on larger boats, where manoeuvring from the right angle without relying on the crew radically improves comfort and safety.
Is your boat compatible?
The VECTOR is installed on boats equipped with a compatible pod-drive joystick. Before choosing a wireless joystick for a pod-drive boat, the best way to know is to check your exact configuration.
Take the boat compatibility test: in just a few clicks, you will know whether the VECTOR is suitable for your setup. To discover the brand, you can also view the Dockmate France page.
FAQ: a wireless joystick for pod-drive boats
Does the Dockmate VECTOR replace my original joystick?
No. The VECTOR is the wireless extension of your existing joystick. It reproduces the movement and response time, but you can take it anywhere on board. Your original joystick stays in place.
Which systems is the Dockmate VECTOR compatible with?
The VECTOR is designed for boats equipped with Volvo Penta IPS, Zeus Pods, Mercury Joystick Piloting or Yamaha Helm Master. It can also be used with the Volvo Penta joystick for Aquamatic sterndrives and shaft lines.
What is the difference between the Dockmate VECTOR and the TWIST?
The VECTOR extends a joystick already on board (pod-drive systems). The TWIST adds a joystick to a boat that does not have one, generally in a shaft-line configuration. The choice therefore depends on your boat’s original equipment.
Does the Dockmate VECTOR work with the Dockmate Positioning System?
Yes. When the Dockmate Positioning System is installed, the VECTOR allows you to activate assisted positioning modes in addition to standard control.
Can you keep a fixed joystick and the Dockmate VECTOR at the same time?
What is a wireless joystick for pod-drive boats?
It is a remote control that replicates your pod-drive boat’s joystick with the same movement and response time, but that you wear on you. The Dockmate VECTOR is an example: it wirelessly extends your IPS, Zeus, Mercury or Yamaha joystick, so you can manoeuvre from anywhere on the boat.