The Swedish marine engine builder, Volvo Penta, has been working on their Dynamic Positioning technology and the all-new Assisted Docking function for years. Finally, at the Ft. Lauderdale International Boat Show the company was ready to give real-life demonstratiosn.
The first Assisted Docking system in North America is installed on a new MJM M4. The boat was at the 17th Street Boat Basin, where I met up with the Volvo team.
I had used Volvo’s Dynamic Positioning technology before, so this was not new. Basically, the technology relies on a highly sensitive GPS receiver with eight antennas that then feeds position data into the computers which in turn uses engine and bow thruster power to keep the boat stationary in a fixed location.
The new Assisted Docking function adds the ability to use the Volvo joystick controller to move a boat in three-foot increments sideways, forward and backward with quick taps of the stick. Or you can use the stick with varying degrees of hand pressure to move the boat and turn it through 360 degrees.
The key features of the Assisted Docking function are the ability to stop the boat and have it remain in place and then to turn on the side-docking toggle to easily slide the boat up against a dock and hold it there.
These two functions slow down the whole docking maneuver and take the panic out of the approach while you get fenders and lines set up. When you are ready, you can then carefully approach the dock and when positioned correctly, slide it sideways right into place.
The Volvo team showed me how Assisted Docking works and I had the MJM M4 in and out of the slip without a problem within three minutes of practice.
Assisted Docking will be a boon for all who fret about bringing their boats in and out of marina slips and who may be operating their boats without crew. Read more here.
