29-foot Axopars to ‘walk sideways’ after Jeff Brown partners with Dockmate

Dockmate, manufacturer of wireless remote-control systems for yachts, says that Jeff Brown Yachts has begun incorporating its joystick systems as a standard option on all 29-foot Axopar Boats.

If a boat only has a single bow thruster, such as in the Axopar 29, the DockControl software can be programmed to safely ‘walk the boat’ sideways, directly towards the dock, by programming the engine transmissions and throttle combined with the bow thruster – just as if the boat had a bow and stern thruster.

“Axopar vessels stand as amazing examples of what forward-thinking in yacht design and integration with technological advances can offer boat owners,” says Marc Curreri, CEO, Dockmate US.

“Jeff Brown Yachts is elevating this experience for customers by offering Dockmate systems as a standard option for all Axopar 29s. Knowing that the Axopar 29 comes equipped with Mercury outboard engines and a bow thruster, the Dockmate system is the only aftermarket joystick system able to achieve this level of manoeuvrability with this configuration, it is the perfect combination. This foresight is exactly why Jeff Brown Yachts is one of the fastest growing luxury dealerships in the country.”

In early 2024, Dockmate announced its full support for all Sleipner thruster systems and configurations, from on/off to proportional and from Sleipner’s DC electric thrusters to its AC electric and hydraulic thrusters.

Jeff Brown Yacht is a bespoke yacht brokerage serving the United States west coast.

“Collaborative efforts are at the core of our business and we’re grateful to partner with such innovative companies like Dockmate,” Jeff Brown Yachts’ owner Jeff Brown says. “Integrating Dockmate’s joystick system into our 29 Axopars marks a significant step in delivering a more intuitive and satisfying boating experience for our customers. Once customers get a feel for a Dockmate remote, they cannot understand how anyone could survive without one.”

Dockmate systems are said to offer customers a reliable remote-control solution that can be tailored to the real-world capabilities of their vessel and their own boating style.

The DockControl software gives the ability to program the remote control by choosing any combination of engine(s) and thruster(s) activation(s). It allows for adjusting the sensitivity and behaviour of the Dockmate joystick, choosing which functions are activated by each joystick direction and even adjust the size of the joystick’s dead-zone to avoid accidental activation.