CB1 Sim Control Button Box
Builders who want a ready-made, no-DIY button box for bridge commands and don't mind mapping the buttons to their marine sim.
A ready-made, plug-and-play button box for builders who want a finished bridge-command panel without the DIY fabrication of a Bodnar board. The CB1 packs 19 physical controls across 9 types — 2 pushable rotary encoders, 6 momentary buttons, 2 latching buttons, a covered toggle, an engine-start button and more — mapped to up to 30 programmable functions, which is plenty for nav lights, horn, autopilot, anchor and engine-room toggles in a ship sim. It's driver-free over USB-C, mounts on a desk or VESA arm, and adds adjustable RGB backlighting. The honest framing: it's marketed for racing/truck/farming sims, so for marine use you map its buttons to your title's commands, and being all-digital it complements an analog throttle or wheel rather than replacing one.
Worth buying for the right builder, but read the warnings before it lands in your cart.
Known caution: Marketed for racing/truck/farming sims — you map buttons to marine commands yourselfIgnitionSim is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you — it never changes our verdict or your price. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Specs
| controls | 19 controls / 9 types (2 pushable encoders, 6 momentary, 2 latching, covered toggle, engine-start, more) |
|---|---|
| programmable | Up to 30 programmable functions |
| connection | USB-C (driver-free; USB-C and USB-A cables included) |
| mounting | Desk-top or VESA mount |
| build | ABS, ~184 x 144 x 79 mm, ~540 g, adjustable RGB backlight |
| marineRole | Pre-built bridge command / switch-and-encoder panel |
Pros
- Finished, plug-and-play panel — no soldering, enclosure or fabrication
- 19 controls and 30 programmable functions cover a full bridge command set
- Driver-free USB-C with desk or VESA mounting and adjustable RGB backlight
Cons
- Marketed for racing/truck/farming sims — you map buttons to marine commands yourself
- All-digital: no analog axis, so it complements rather than replaces a throttle or wheel
- RGB and racing styling won't match a realistic bridge aesthetic for purists
Common questions
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