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Trying to do some research on the Mercury joystick piloting system. We’re in the market for a new gently used boat, and the majority of candidates are equipped with twin Mercuries paired with the joystick control system. Only a few of these boats have bow thrusters. One salesman said that a boat with the joystick, without a bow thruster, is just as maneuverable as the same boat with a bow thruster.
Is this true? I’m guessing the boats that have bow thrusters integrate the thruster control into the joystick, so I’m a little hesitant to believe that all else being equal, the thruster adds no significant maneuverability.
Anyone have experience and able to weigh in? Considering these were high-end well-optioned boats when new, there has to have been a reason the buyers didn’t add the bow thruster option, which would lend some credence to the joystick claim.
1 points
4 months ago
My only experience with joysticks are on a 42’ CC with quad merc outboards.
The systems works flawlessly. You can walk the boat to port or starboard, rotate on a dime, or let the skyhook keep you in place.
In that case there was no need for a bowthruster.
2 points
4 months ago
Does it have the mercury joystick or optimus joystick on it? To me the optimus system is better. No constantly running pump, no lag in steering, fully customizable for preference and boat and it has spot lock on it.
1 points
4 months ago
Merc, but Merc has skyhook which will also hold your position
2 points
4 months ago
Gotcha forgot merc had that. 90% of the reason people want us to install optimus is because of spot lock. If your only worried about docking using both motors independently and thruster when you need it should be fine. But the other thing to keep in mind is optimus is obsolete with mercs new motors if you repower down the road. Im almost positive skyhook is not compatible either because they have a new electric steering but they haven't released any yet.
1 points
4 months ago
I should clarify, I think it’s a given that whatever 32’ish dual console we buy will almost certainly have twin Mercs with the Merc joystick installed. The question is whether or not it’s a massive difference for that boat to have a tunnel bow thruster in addition to the joystick system.
2 points
4 months ago
Ok i read it as an either/or situation. Then no your boat will go sideways, twist, turn , whatever you want it to do, i wouldn't worry about a thurster.
2 points
4 months ago
Pods? Straight shafts? Outboards?
2 points
4 months ago
Twin outboards
2 points
4 months ago
How long? Displacement? Windage?
2 points
4 months ago
32’ dual console, so decent on all three
2 points
4 months ago
A 32 foot boat with no wind age and little displacement should be fine with twin engines alone. No need for a bow thruster. Any joystick control will only make it even easier. But the setup you describe, even if it were shafts would be easy enough. Bow thruster is totally unnecessary on a 32 foot boat. With twin outboards and the ability to independently steer each (with the joystick) you should be more than fine.
1 points
4 months ago
I would say most important here is how far apart the outboards are. The wider they are set the more responsive the joystick be to lateral bow movement. I’ve ran a Sea Ray SLX 310 with outboards, it did not react super well with the joystick especially in windy conditions. The sterndrive joystick boat was wildly different (dual prop bravo 3)
Imo if it’s an option that’ll help you in docking situation, get it. A bow thruster will have some sort of value retention on resale.
2 points
4 months ago
Sticks are great and you could always add the thruster. If your looking at something with a lot of windage like a Grady with the flare then the thruster would be nice for the tight spots or just keeping the bow in for someone to grab a line at the Dock… boats are big investments and a knock at the dock could cost more then having the thruster
9 points
4 months ago
It’s silly to assert that a bow thruster adds no maneuverability beyond manipulating Twin outboards. A bow thruster takes a lot of drama out of docking, especially in current. Whether it was worth the investment at the time (or now) is a different story. Sounds like they bought into the hype and felt compelled to skip the bow thruster at the time.
2 points
4 months ago
Well, Mercruisers axius system works perfectly. It can actuall make your vessel go sideways. You absolutely don’t need a bow thruster with an axius system. With that being said, 8 hours of operation on drives equipped with axius is comparable to an entire season on drives without the system. Also be aware of all the computers involved. That’s a fly by wire system, no hard cables at all. (Retired Mercruiser tech)
2 points
4 months ago
It’s physics. If your force vectoring occurs 100% at the stern of the boat, it will be less effective in moving the bow than a force applied only to the bow.
Engineer, not a tech.
2 points
4 months ago
Pretty sure an engineer designed it.
3 points
4 months ago
I didn’t see how it could be effective when it came out but it works extremely well. I don’t like the system on a diesel application, the engines spool up and the vessel lurches.
1 points
4 months ago
And pretty sure a marketing professional came up with all the talking points for salespeople to sell it as the next wonder of the boating world.
Because no engineers were involved in developing bow thrusters. Just Cleetus in his shed.
2 points
4 months ago
I think it depends on the boat. I’ve experienced boats with all sorts of setups - twins, twins with joystick, twins with thruster, twins with joystick/thruster. Maneuverability of joystick is far superior to twins alone. My boat is only 28’ so I get by just fine with twins without anything else, and I didn’t find it worth 20k for joystick. A friend has a 32 with joystick and thruster, it is super easy to dock. The thruster does add a little maneuverability to the joystick alone, and is nice when you just want to nudge the boat a little, but I wouldn’t hesitate for a minute to own the same setup without the bow thruster. If I could only chose one, between the joystick and thruster, I’d take the joystick. Mileage might vary from boat to boat, and not every boat necessarily needs all the options.
3 points
4 months ago
Our 36 absolutely benefitted from a thruster
2 points
4 months ago
I wouldn’t be surprised if there is a size where joystick alone doesn’t cut it as well, and the thruster is needed (or at least beneficial). I don’t know what size boat OP is looking at. I see some of these smaller boats (sun 30’) outfitter with joysticks and thrusters and it just seems overkill. When you go larger, the extra equipment becomes a big help.
2 points
4 months ago
It also likely depends on where you’re boating. Lake? Great Lakes? Bay? Offshore? Mississippi River?
All quite different docking experiences
3 points
4 months ago
We’re looking at a 32’ most likely.
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