Dual Station Control Systems on a Boat

What is a Dual Station control set up?

The term ‘Dual Station’ refers to the control position (helm) of the craft. Most vessels are Single Station: one helm and one control station.

However, larger vessels and work boats are often Dual Station: i.e. two helm and control stations. The first is generally inside the cabin, and the second often located on the fly bridge of pleasure boats, or 
near the working location of commercial vessels. 

Dual Station Kits are the components needed to link up and to control an engine from two positions. The two most popular Dual Station control set ups we offer are the Lost Motion System and the Loop System.

Lost Motion System

A lost motion system is a mechanical design feature that allows one control station to move without affecting the other station unless it is actively engaged. Without lost motion, moving one control lever would physically move the lever at the other station, which could cause unexpected throttle changes, gear damage, control conflicts and safety hazard. 

How it works: When you move the lever at Station A, the cable moves first through the slack (the “lost motion”). 

Once that slack is taken up, the linkage engages and begins moving the throttle or shift mechanism. The lever at Station B does not move because its own linkage still has slack built into it. If Station B is moved instead, it takes up its own slack first and then becomes the active control.

This is a very popular set up as it can be used with almost any control, including single lever dual function controls, and is simple to install. You need two kits, one fitted to the engine and one to the gearbox. 

Control cables are then run from both controls to the kits. You must remember to put the control lever in neutral position before changing steering positions.

Loop Systems

Instead of one station simply overriding the other, the system is connected in a continuous loop. Moving the throttle at one station updates the position at the other and shifting gears at one station is reflected at the other. Steering inputs are mechanically or electronically linked. The system “loops” through both stations so they stay synchronized.

It requires either one Kobelt master and one Kobelt slave control or can also be made from using most twin lever, single function controls (one lever for throttle and the other for the gearbox). 

The cables are run from one control to the other and then down to the engine. This means when you move one control, the other will mirror the movement, which enables you to switch easily between steering positions. 

The Kobelt system uses a special link cable between the two positions whilst a loop system using two twin lever single function controls would use 330 or 430 series cables. 

We recommend to use 330XL cables to help reduce the friction on the long cable runs. You cannot use controls with neutral lock buttons.

Comparison

Both lost motion systems and loop systems offer unique advantages and challenges depending on the specific application. Dual stations with lost motion systems are valued for their simplicity, compact design, and ability to reduce mechanical stress by allowing slight movement before actuation. However, they can be less precise and may introduce slight timing variations, making them less suitable for applications requiring high synchronization. 

On the other hand, dual stations with loop systems provide more accurate and consistent operation, as the loop ensures controlled motion and better synchronisation between stations. This precision makes them ideal for automated processes where timing and coordination are critical, though they tend to be more complex, occupy more space, and can have higher maintenance requirements. 

Ultimately, the choice between these systems depends on the priorities of the application, whether simplicity and cost-effectiveness or precision and control are more important.