Everyone wishes they could dock like a pro, but we all need a little help sometimes. With that has come the advent of docking assistance technology. But of all the ones we’ve tried, none seem to work quite as seemingly as Volvo Penta’s. The engine company’s integrated Assisted Docking system is designed to give captains better control during the docking process by automating part of the process and compensating for variables such as wind and current.
At its core, the system combines a proprietary software layer with Volvo Penta’s GPS-based Dynamic Positioning System and their Inboard Performance Systems (IPS). The system utilizes a joystick that allows captains to control steering input while the GPS-based Dynamic Positioning System antenna tracks exact position and heading. When the joystick is moved forward, the system establishes a straight path and guides the boat accordingly at the indicated speed, all while compensating for external forces such as wind and current.
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We had the opportunity to test Volvo’s system on an MJM 4 in Fort Lauderdale, and came away impressed with how easy it was to operate from the helm. We could track straight, hold position, rotate around a fixed point, and move sideways into the dock with the joystick, or let the system do it for you. One of the most impressive things was response time. With some joystick systems, when you release the stick, there’s a lag that lets the boat still move in that direction. With Volvo’s system, when you stop the joystick motion, the boat holds in place without sliding or wandering.
For these reasons, or for continuing to make boating easier to enjoy, we’ve given Volvo Penta’s Assisted Docking System an MPI Award.
