Smartcraft / Outboard

[Faceaz]

Picked up one of these in test phase from my dealer last night, excited about trying it out. I have a 300x which is Smartcraft capable but currently runs analog. Right now it seems kind of basic, my phone or tablet will display what smartcraft currently does - gps, rpm, water pressure / temp, gph. It does read error codes & will get the ability to send them back to the shop from the lake. They're also working on adding more modules that will calc prop slip, best trim angles, etc.

 

[28skater]

What's are beloved Mercury Racing charging for that technology?:rolleyes

 

[Faceaz]

What's are beloved Mercury Racing charging for that technology?:rolleyes

Test phase, which is expect glitches, etc. It's 100 bucks. I think retail will be just under 300.

 

[Riley1]

Just spent $400 on a SmartCraft Guage (SC1000). Then when I went to install it, read "No Starboard Engine". With a little bit of research, I find that I need to go to a mechanic who runs the Mercury CDS to change the engines "location". Quality Marine says its $150 anytime he hooks up that lap top. Now its going to be over $550 for a smartcraft gauge.
The main reason I wanted the smartcraft gauge was so I could see water pressure, and alarms. I would much rather have the information on my phone. I assume these would work on all smartcraft motors? 496 included?

 

[SJP]

That is cool. :thumbsup

I love having all of the digital SC information. Ability to export and scan errors ' on the fly is killer. :cool

 

[Faceaz]

Just spent $400 on a SmartCraft Guage (SC1000). Then when I went to install it, read "No Starboard Engine". With a little bit of research, I find that I need to go to a mechanic who runs the Mercury CDS to change the engines "location". Quality Marine says its $150 anytime he hooks up that lap top. Now its going to be over $550 for a smartcraft gauge.
The main reason I wanted the smartcraft gauge was so I could see water pressure, and alarms. I would much rather have the information on my phone. I assume these would work on all smartcraft motors? 496 included?

I honestly don't know. I was told all smartcraft, but don't know if that was in the context of outboards or i/o as well. I would say contact your dealer and see if they're enrolled in the program. Ours seems to be keeping them local so they can manage the install, help debug, etc.

 

[DaytonaBabe]

Picked up one of these in test phase from my dealer last night, excited about trying it out. I have a 300x which is Smartcraft capable but currently runs analog. Right now it seems kind of basic, my phone or tablet will display what smartcraft currently does - gps, rpm, water pressure / temp, gph. It does read error codes & will get the ability to send them back to the shop from the lake. They're also working on adding more modules that will calc prop slip, best trim angles, etc.

Our Merc certified mechanic contacted us about testing one of these. Question - did you install it yourself or did you have to take your boat in to have it installed? Our boat is at the river, not in Phoenix...

 

[AzGeo]

Just spent $400 on a SmartCraft Guage (SC1000). Then when I went to install it, read "No Starboard Engine". With a little bit of research, I find that I need to go to a mechanic who runs the Mercury CDS to change the engines "location". Quality Marine says its $150 anytime he hooks up that lap top. Now its going to be over $550 for a smartcraft gauge.
The main reason I wanted the smartcraft gauge was so I could see water pressure, and alarms. I would much rather have the information on my phone. I assume these would work on all smartcraft motors? 496 included?

There is something wrong and you need it checked ASAP .

ALL motors (inboard and outboard) come from Merc as (starboard) and must be programmed for port and or shadow (s) .

DTS REQUIRES engine placement recognition, and so I'm again guessing that you have 'hard cable controls', for throttle/shift .

DO NOT EXPECT the Smartcraft fuel level gauge to be accurate at all with your existing analog gauge/sender (s) .

Good luck

 

[Faceaz]

Our Merc certified mechanic contacted us about testing one of these. Question - did you install it yourself or did you have to take your boat in to have it installed? Our boat is at the river, not in Phoenix...

Pretty certain we both deal with Brent?

Our boat is staying at the river. I'm waiting on a password from merc to download the app. Once I have it, I'm taking the phone down to Brent & he will set up my phone using his boat. Actual install on the boat is 1 plug, some zip ties & a screw - so no big deal. Should be a simple bluetooth connection after that.

 

[HavaToon]

This sounds like a nice setup and a lot less expensive than full gauges or VV. Does it have all the same functionality or is it more limited?

 

[DaytonaBabe]

Pretty certain we both deal with Brent?

Our boat is staying at the river. I'm waiting on a password from merc to download the app. Once I have it, I'm taking the phone down to Brent & he will set up my phone using his boat. Actual install on the boat is 1 plug, some zip ties & a screw - so no big deal. Should be a simple bluetooth connection after that.

Yep -- Brent is the best! Hmm, hopefully we can do it this way also. Mr.DB was under the impression that we had to have the boat here. Thanks for the info!!

 

[Faceaz]

This sounds like a nice setup and a lot less expensive than full gauges or VV. Does it have all the same functionality or is it more limited?

Since it's being developed, I don't think it's intended to replace gauges. But, down the road?? It's a bit limited but my understanding is it will grow.

Yep -- Brent is the best! Hmm, hopefully we can do it this way also. Mr.DB was under the impression that we had to have the boat here. Thanks for the info!!

I dread towing our boat home, but there's nobody I would rather have work on it. :thumbsup

 

[DaytonaBabe]

Since it's being developed, I don't think it's intended to replace gauges. But, down the road?? It's a bit limited but my understanding is it will grow.




I dread towing our boat home, but there's nobody I would rather have work on it. :thumbsup

Agree. He is the only one that we trust and he is the only reason that we tow it home. :thumbsup

 

[Riley1]

There is something wrong and you need it checked ASAP .

ALL motors (inboard and outboard) come from Merc as (starboard) and must be programmed for port and or shadow (s) .

DTS REQUIRES engine placement recognition, and so I'm again guessing that you have 'hard cable controls', for throttle/shift .

DO NOT EXPECT the Smartcraft fuel level gauge to be accurate at all with your existing analog gauge/sender (s) .

Good luck

I do have cable controls (non dts). Boat sat outside for a few months before I purchased it, my tach and oil pressure are not reading correctly. I decided the best way to fix both of these was to purchase the smartcraft gauge. Mostly like the fact that the gauge tells you what an alarm is for. I had my alarm go off for a couple seconds, went down to idle and it didn't come back all weekend. Knowing what alarm it was would be helpful

 

[Fun Times]

Not meaning to hijack your topic Faceaz but since it's sort of a similar topic I figured others here might like to know that there also seems to be something new on the market for the owners of the original MEFI 1 - 4 systems should you have been thinking about connecting up with the Gateway/NMEA2K system. Someone on another forum stumbled onto a system designed by Fox Marine... http://fox-marine.com/index.php?route=information/information&information_id=7

Enhance your boating experience with Fox Marine?s MEFI engine gateways, transmitting fuel flow rate, engine RPM, coolant temperature, alternator/battery voltage, engine run hours, and active alarms right to a NMEA 2000 compatible GPS/Multi-function display as well as to your Bluetooth enabled Apple or Android mobile device.

Also just noticed something by Livorsi Marine. Their part number LGM4N2K description mentions MEFI to NMEA2K. http://www.livorsi.com/catalog/mefi.html

 

[Faceaz]

Not meaning to hijack your topic Faceaz but since it's sort of a similar topic I figured others here might like to know that there also seems to be something new on the market for the owners of the original MEFI 1 - 4 systems should you have been thinking about connecting up with the Gateway/NMEA2K system. Someone on another forum stumbled onto a system designed by Fox Marine... http://fox-marine.com/index.php?route=information/information&information_id=7



Also just noticed something by Livorsi Marine. Their part number LGM4N2K description mentions MEFI to NMEA2K. http://www.livorsi.com/catalog/mefi.html

I got to say, some of the stuff out there - especially catering to fishing guys, is out of control. Lawrence this, nmea that, garmin, dual transponders, blah, blah. These guys have thousands & thousands wrapped up in their systems, mapping the floor so they know exactly when over a shelf fishing. We're just pleasure boaters, but he went over all that stuff for a couple hours last night - way beyond my needs...lol

 

[DaytonaBabe]

Picking ours up on our way to the river this afternoon. Should be fun to check out for sure :thumbsup

 

[DaytonaBabe]

Bummed we can't use it this weekend. Have to wait for a junction box and an extra adapter to come in next week. We already have the SmartCraft hooked up, so the install is a bit different. It'll be fun to play with it next weekend though 🖒

 

[Faceaz]

View attachment 511872

Bummed we can't use it this weekend. Have to wait for a junction box and an extra adapter to come in next week. We already have the SmartCraft hooked up, so the install is a bit different. It'll be fun to play with it next weekend though 

Nice! I'm installing ours tomorrow but haven't had Brent setup my phone yet. I installed the hockeyapp so maybe it will work but next weekend is more realistic.