[AlfredZ]

Best of luck to you and the wife. As an Azimut user I can tell you it works very fine, my friend's 11 year old, on his 2nd ever boarding on a boat, got the hang of controlling a 95er. No doubt the bow thruster has TOO much power in the maneuver but you (or she!) will get to feel the compensation. For me, I like using gears only, not really into gadgets cause am at sea for hard earned fun!

Cheers.

[Capt'n Crunch]

Thanks for the information 480AR. I agree on the joystick giving confidence in tricky situations. I think she will like it.

[480AR]

Boat is in the water and we had our first test last Friday. It was a very windy day with with 25+ mph blowing out of the NE. We spent about a hour just working it around the harbor. My wife was able to move it up and down the "runway" (east to west) with no problems. Even with the wind blowing us around, she was able to keep it moving straight and level. I tried docking it a few times, without difficulty. I must admit that the winds made it hard on the electric thrusters, but that's not a Xenta issue. Finally we tried the "electronic anchor". The system held station very well, even with the wind. I was really impressed.

So bottom line, mission accomplished! My wife felt so much more confident and it really showed. In a bit less wind, she will be docking the boat while I handle the lines!

I know a reader of this forum got to test our boat even before we did, and I do hope he enjoyed it as much as we did!

If anyone's interested in doing a demo, it can be arranged through SkipperBuds in Winthrop Harbor, IL (847-372-3200). Thus far, I would definitely recommend the Xenta system for anyone with the same needs as we had.

[Maxwell]

Glad to hear that everything worked out for you. Does the system use both your bow and stern thruster or just the bow? I had meetings in Chicago last week so went down by boat and stayed at Dusable. While I was there I helped a Skipper Bud's guy who was single handing a boat (older 48-50' sea ray I think) land. I got talking to him and he said he had just installed the system and that it was just using computers to control the thrust/direction of the motors and the bow thruster no stern. Later when the owner arrived I watched them test the system around the harbor and judging by the smile on the owner's face and the control they had over the boat it seemed to work quite well.

max

[480AR]

It uses both the bow and stern thrusters, but with intelligence. For example, if you want to go sideways, it is smart enough to know that the bow and stern do not do that with the same efficiency, so it adjusts for that, and keeps you on the same heading. When we were fighting the NE wind, it was also engaging the engines as well. First it brings them on slowly, using the trolling valve, so you don't even feel it engage. Very impressive stuff.

[Capt'n Crunch]

Originally Posted by 480AR

Finally we tried the "electronic anchor". The system held station very well, even with the wind. I was really impressed.

480AR - I just noticed that you have the electronic anchor feature. Was that an optional extra feature? If so, can you share how much $ the upcharge was to add that? What level of position accuracy do they indicate that it will maintain?

cheers,
Steve

[missnmountains]

Originally Posted by 480AR

Among the updates we are doing this year is installing a Xentas Joystick system with the help of SkipperBuds up here in the Chicago area. Our 58 Sedan Bridge already has front and rear thrusters, but if something ever happened to me, I'm not sure it would be very easy for my wife to bring the boat to the dock.

I will provide an update as the project progresses.

Are you the 58 that they wrote the article on in PMY? The PMY article is about a Sea Ray 58DB install of the Xentas Joystick controls. The article indicated $20,000.00 installed.

I have contacted SkipperBuds. I am really interested in the project.

Ken

[480AR]

Yes, it is our boat in PMY. We really love the system. We had to back into a slip in Saugatuck, MI recently that was 17' wide (and we are 16') with a strong current and wind against our port side. We backed in so easily and so smoothly. It was nothing!

And yes, we also have the electronic anchor feature as well. It is an option (but I don't recall the cost). It works best with the stern into the wind. I don't know what their claimed accuracy is but in practice it is +/- a few feet from what we can tell (although this will vary depending on current and wind strength).

There is a video out there of one of SkipperBud's captains moving the boat over into our slip single-handed and discovering that he has the lines and fenders on the wrong side. No worries, with the press of a button the boat held position while he moved the lines and fenders! I don't think this example is something the attorneys want mentioned though!

[missnmountains]

What year is your 58? It sounds like exactly the same setup as our 2008 58DB. We have electronic controls and bow and stern thrusters.

Ken

[480AR]

It is a very late 2007 but has all the updates that were done to create the 2008. We too have electronic controls with bow and stern thrusters.

Just love the boat.

Last year we did Lake Superior end to end -- just the 2 of us on board. And it was easy!

[Capt'n Crunch]

Originally Posted by 480AR

Yes, it is our boat in PMY.

Which month PMY, I would like to see the article.

thanks.

[missnmountains]

Originally Posted by Capt'n Crunch

Which month PMY, I would like to see the article.

thanks.

Just got it on Wednesday so it must be August. I spent about an hour on the phone with Bill Karmis over at Skipperbuds. They have retro'd about 6 boats. Really interesting conversation.

I would love to hear from someone that has it installed who has used it in currents.

Ken

[480AR]

Its the August issue beginning on page 50. They do a nice job of describing the installation with pictures and diagrams.