Docking alone, without crew: the aids that change everything
Docking single-handed means managing everything at once: holding the helm, anticipating wind and current, then leaving the helm station to handle the lines. Good preparation makes the maneuver easier, but docking aids can make all the difference. Joystick, bow thruster, position holding or automated docking: each solution offers a different answer. Here is an overview of the technologies that make single-handed mooring easier.
Why docking alone is so tricky
With a crew member, the maneuver is shared: one steers, the other handles the line. Alone, you have to do both. And the moment you let go of the controls to grab a line is precisely when the boat, left to the wind and current, starts drifting away from the dock.
The whole point, then, is to shorten the time when nobody is holding the boat. That is the yardstick for judging every aid.
Mooring your boat alone: the basic method
Prepare everything before entering port
Fenders out on the side you will dock on and at the right height, lines coiled and ready to run.
Check where the wind and current are coming from
They determine your angle of approach and which way the boat will drift.
Start with the midship line
A line made fast at the beam, in the middle of the boat, holds it against the pontoon while you set the others. Setting the bow line first would swing the stern out.
Approach while staying in control
Better a controlled approach, even if it means going around again, than an arrival you can no longer correct.
The aids below are no substitute for this preparation. They give you more time to carry it out.
The aids, from the simplest to the most complete
The bow thruster
It pushes the bow sideways and helps bring it closer to the dock. It works only as long as you operate it: as soon as you leave the controls to handle a line, it no longer holds anything. With BlueNav propulsion, the question looks different: our hybridization solution eliminates the need for additional bow and stern thrusters.
The joystick
It combines steering and propulsion in a single lever. With the BlueNav 3D Joystick, you simply push to go forward, pull to go astern, twist to pivot and slide to move sideways. Maneuvering becomes simpler, but you still have to be at the helm to use it.
Maneuvering remote controls and the BlueNav App
Wireless remote controls let you operate the motors, thrusters and anchor from another spot on the boat. They are genuinely useful when you are alone: you can close in on the pontoon while staying in control. Some also offer GPS position holding as an option.
With BlueNav propulsion, your smartphone plays this role. The BlueNav App lets you control our motors from your smartphone and manage Smart Navigation features: you monitor and adjust your boat from anywhere on deck, right where you handle the lines.
360° Docking and Lateral Docking
These two Smart Navigation BlueNav functions take care of positioning the boat. 360° Docking, activated with the DOCKING button on the control panel, pivots the boat in place to line it up in a tight space. It is available in both single and twin configurations.
Lateral Docking then moves the boat sideways while holding its heading: you slide it to the dock with the joystick, without touching the wheel. It requires two motors.
Smart Mooring: the boat holds its berth while you handle the lines
This is the aid that most directly solves the single-hander's problem. Smart Mooring combines DPS, the evolution of our Virtual Anchor BlueNav, with GPS Precision+. The system brings the boat back to a previously saved GPS position and holds it within ±20 cm. While you prepare the lines, or to counter wind and current along a dock, it makes the necessary corrections continuously.
The position can also be adjusted from the BlueNav App, from anywhere on the boat. You handle mooring on your own, with no second person needed to hold the boat in position. This technology received the 2026 Innovation Route Award at the Cannes Yachting Festival. Like DPS, it requires two motors.
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What each aid changes when you are alone
| Aid | What it changes single-handed | Its limit |
|---|---|---|
| Bow thruster | Brings the bow closer to the dock | Only works as long as you operate it |
| Joystick | The whole maneuver with one hand | Requires being at the helm |
| Maneuvering remote control | Control from another spot on the boat | Position holding, where available, is an option |
| BlueNav App | Control our motors from your smartphone, from anywhere on deck | Smart Mooring, controlled from the App, requires two motors |
| 360° Docking | Pivot in place in a tight space | Positions the boat but does not hold it |
| Lateral Docking | Set the boat flat alongside the dock | Two motors required |
| Smart Mooring | The boat stays in position while you handle the lines | Two motors and GPS Precision+ required |
Arriving at the dock step by step with Smart Navigation
- Approach: bring the boat parallel to the dock, a short distance away, with fenders and lines ready. 360° Docking helps you line it up if space is tight.
- Lateral Docking: using the joystick, slide the boat sideways up to the dock, heading held.
- Smart Mooring: activate position holding. The boat stays where it is, with the system continuously correcting for the effect of wind and current.
- Lines: leave the helm and handle the lines, keeping control of the position from the BlueNav App if needed.
What these aids do not do
Limits to keep in mind
- No aid is a substitute for preparation or the skipper's judgment. If conditions are beyond what you can handle, it is better to wait or ask the harbor office for help.
- Lateral Docking and Smart Mooring require two motors. With a single motor, 360° Docking remains available.
- How each boat behaves in strong wind depends on its size, windage and power: ask us during the assessment of your boat.
Frequently asked questions
Can you really dock a powerboat alone?
Yes, provided you prepare the maneuver before entering port: lines ready, fenders in place, wind and current checked. Maneuvering aids shorten the critical moment when nobody is holding the boat, the moment you leave the controls to handle the lines.
Does Smart Mooring work with a single motor?
No. It relies on DPS, which synchronizes two BlueNav electric motors, and on GPS Precision+. With a single motor, 360° Docking remains available to line up the boat.
Do you still need a bow thruster with BlueNav propulsion?
Our hybridization solution eliminates the need for additional bow and stern thrusters. 360° Docking pivots the boat in place, and with twin motors, Lateral Docking moves it sideways up to the dock.
How precisely is the boat held alongside the dock?
With Smart Mooring, the position is held within ±20 cm, by combining DPS and GPS Precision+.
Can you control the boat without staying at the helm?
Yes. The BlueNav App lets you control our motors from your smartphone, and monitor and adjust the boat's position from anywhere on board. That is what allows the skipper to handle the lines while the boat stays in position.
To go further, explore all the Smart Navigation BlueNav functions, the Docking Features page, or our guide Maneuvering in a tight marina.
