A watercraft control system (12, 212, 312) comprising: a detector (14, 214, 314) configured to detect a stationary or anchored object (O1, 02) spaced from a host watercraft, the detector (14, 214, 314) including an image recognition device; a digital controller configured to communicate with the detector (14, 214, 314) to receive a detection signal from the detector (14, 214, 314), the digital controller being configured to determine a current distance of the host watercraft with respect to the stationary or anchored object, and configured to output at least one control command to a propulsion unit (22, 222, 322) of the host watercraft to maintain a prescribed distance (Z des) between the host watercraft and the stationary or anchored object (O1, 02), characterized by a user interface configured to display a current image from the detector (14, 214, 314), wherein the digital controller is configured to select the stationary or anchored object based on an input from a user, and once the stationary or anchored object has been selected, the digital controller is configured to determine the current distance and a current orientation of the host watercraft with respect to the stationary or anchored object from the image obtained by the detector, and is configured to output at least one control command to a propulsion unit (22, 222, 322) of the host watercraft to maintain the prescribed distance (Z des) between the host watercraft and the stationary or anchored object (O1, 02) and to maintain a prescribed orientation of the host watercraft, such that a location of the stationary or anchored object (O1, 02) in the displayed image is maintained at a location that is set in the displayed image according to the prescribed distance (Z des) and the prescribed orientation of the watercraft. a detector (14, 214, 314) configured to detect a stationary or anchored object (O1, 02) spaced from a host watercraft, the detector (14, 214, 314) including an image recognition device; a digital controller configured to communicate with the detector (14, 214, 314) to receive a detection signal from the detector (14, 214, 314), the digital controller being configured to determine a current distance of the host watercraft with respect to the stationary or anchored object, and configured to output at least one control command to a propulsion unit (22, 222, 322) of the host watercraft to maintain a prescribed distance (Z des) between the host watercraft and the stationary or anchored object (O1, 02), characterized by a user interface configured to display a current image from the detector (14, 214, 314), wherein the digital controller is configured to select the stationary or anchored object based on an input from a user, and once the stationary or anchored object has been selected, the digital controller is configured to determine the current distance and a current orientation of the host watercraft with respect to the stationary or anchored object from the image obtained by the detector, and is configured to output at least one control command to a propulsion unit (22, 222, 322) of the host watercraft to maintain the prescribed distance (Z des) between the host watercraft and the stationary or anchored object (O1, 02) and to maintain a prescribed orientation of the host watercraft, such that a location of the stationary or anchored object (O1, 02) in the displayed image is maintained at a location that is set in the displayed image according to the prescribed distance (Z des) and the prescribed orientation of the watercraft.