Jeanneau 360 Docking System

firestarter · #1 (**permalink**) 10-26-2010

I searched around the forums and nobody's been talking about it so...

Gimmick? Innovation? Would you try it on your boat? It seems to me that if it's working properly it could really make docking a lot less stressful.

What do you guys think?

sailingdog · #2 (**permalink**) 10-26-2010

It's a lot more complicated and if it breaks it will leave a very big hole in your wallet. Learning how to handle a boat and use its natural tendencies, like propwalk, to help you put it where you want it makes a lot more sense, except on the largest of boats.

davmarwood · #3 (**permalink**) 10-26-2010

I saw this demonstrated at the Annapolis Boat Show and it was most impressive. However, there was no wind to oppose the boat movements, so you could'nt really get a sense of how it would work in the real world. I didn't ask about the added cost, but it must be considerable in view of the bow thruster and the rotating saildrive all contolled by a computerized joy stick.
Our boat (Bene 352) has a max-prop and a bow thruster, courtesy of the PO, and I don't see the need for any more than this level of control.

firestarter · #4 (**permalink**) 10-26-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by sailingdog

It's a lot more complicated and if it breaks it will leave a very big hole in your wallet. Learning how to handle a boat and use its natural tendencies, like propwalk, to help you put it where you want it makes a lot more sense, except on the largest of boats.

I agree, seems like you're gaining precision while adding significant complexity. A prop plus bow thruster would seem to me like a simpler solution that'll give you less precision until you get the hang of it.

That said, I wonder what kind of fail safe features they're including with it. If it gets stuck pointing directly to starboard there better be some way to free it and point it directly aft, right? They thought of that, didn't they?

JimMcGee · #5 (**permalink**) 10-26-2010

The wind was kicking a bit when I saw them demo it on trade day and I was pretty impressed. But what really impressed me was when they handed the joystick over to one of the new owners of the boat on Friday (Beneteau Sense 50). With no practice she was able to jockey the boat around in pretty tight quarters and only took out one flag pole with the bow anchor

I don't know if I'd want one of the first one's made, but I think it would be pretty useful in a tight marina with a cross wind/current.

Jim

Yorksailor · #6 (**permalink**) 10-27-2010

Trouble with gizmos is that you do not learn to do it the good old fashioned way and when it breaks you are totally unable to do the job!

blt2ski · #7 (**permalink**) 10-27-2010

A very small discussion at the jeanneau owners site on the 360 docking

jeanneau owners network - 360 docking

Marty

Minnewaska · #8 (**permalink**) 10-27-2010

I think this is going to sell boats over 40ft, where you are less able to "manhandle" the boat. Especially to owners that only expect to use it on random weekends and don't feel they will ever really get it down. On a boat that size, you may be inclined to buy the bow thruster anyway, so the incremental cost of the saildrive and system may not be that prohibitive.

All that said, I just wouldn't want the added complexity of a saildrive. Just me.

firestarter · #9 (**permalink**) 10-27-2010

Oh man, that Jeanneau owners forum is awful, the electric blue background is burning my retinas!

PCP · #10 (**permalink**) 10-27-2010

Guys, have a look:

YouTube - YachtingMonthly's Channel