I bought the photo shoot 08 353,the only gauges are a pair of Livorsi Monster Tachs,nothing else as far as gauges.Everything else is in the SC5000 Race monitor. Am I just a dinosaur here? Does nobody want real gauges?What does Merc have against gauges? I don't want to scroll up and down to see fuel level,oil pressure,water temp,etc,on a small digital screen,I want to see gauges. Am I in the minority here?Are most performance boaters happy with the new technology? If so,I will shut up and look at the real gauges in my 1968 Switzer Just venting in my old age I guess

Tis is a sign of times. alot of folks are used to staring at Computer screens all day so why change when ya get in the boat?
as for myself Im a fan of guages,but Im also a technology nut. so Id prefer both. there are some things availalbe in the pc interface that a good ole mechanical guage could never measure up to.

I'd rather have the gauges.....but since you would too, I'll trade 382's straight up!!

Slow cruise in a large cruiser or motoryacht I can see the enjoyment of scanning screens to make a check. Because it's so dam boring to drive.

In a 353 or 382 gauges would be a must on most lakes. MHO.

hey Magicfloat, I am with you I hate the smartcraft system. It is too small and the are real hard to see in the direct sunlight!

Robert,

I'm with you. Old school here, too! Nothing like watching the needles bounce!

What DedRog said

Myself I like the gauges. I never liked digital displays in cars either for that matter.

Combination is best. The SmartCraft does so many things more than regular analog gauges like... instant range based on gph speed and remaining fuel, instant mpg, gallons used since last fill-up, steering angle, depth, oil pressure, water pressure, water temperature, voltage, air temp, water temp, engine sync, trim, rpm, gps mph, etc. etc... now that would be a lot of gauges!

I like both. Analog gauges for running at speed and smartcraft to check the other things like 4mulafastech stated above. I do think Formula (and others) should add redundant volt/ fuel/ oil/ water gauges at the helm when smartcraft is featured/ offered.