2003 353 with 496 HO's, needs GPS/Smartcraft Chart plotter.
 

My new to me 2003 353 Fastech is 100% bone stock with Livorsi gauges. I want to add a GPS that is compatible with the Smartcraft technology so that I can monitor the engines. Who makes the easiest unit to connect with keeping the GPS/Chart plotter ability as well?

Yes i've been searching for the last two days and haven't found exactly what i'm looking for yet

?????? Robert, have no idea but I'll buy the beer to help with the install.....:party-smiley-048::stooges:

Chris

Look into the Vesselview 702/502 technology. I started a thread on an installation I completed on our 2006 353. I faced a few challenges, but overall, it worked. To my knowledge, Simrad and Garmin have a couple of specific GPS models that will offer "FULL" compatibility with the Smartcraft VesselView systems. I am personally considering installing the Garmin HDS-3 Carbon series to replace my current Garmin 740S. As you get into this project, you will learn that a NEMEA backbone will link the components to a certain level, but if you want full functionality you will need to lean towards the specific units offered by Simrad and Garmin. The Mercury VesselView website can offer additional information.

I was actually looking at the Garmin site and the GPSMAP 740s because it looked like it was capable of doing what I wanted. I was hoping someone would know exactly what was needed for these to make it a little easier. is it mostly plug and play?
just looked into the Vesselview that looks like what im looking for.

Study up on your needs and wants. If the 740S meets your needs, I have a gently used model with no blemishes that would be available to you. The systems are plug and play but you must build a NEAMA backbone system to link the components (VesselView, transducer, seawater, atmospheric temperature and barometer, GPS antenna, if needed, etc.). Everything ties together and "talks" via the NEAMA backbone system.

Can't you just you a gateway to connect ?

So it seems that this is not a just a direct plug into the ECM' and to the monitor to see what the ECM is seeing? this is the first time I am looking into having something like this on any of my boats. sounds to me like the "smart craft" still has to have a backbone harness built to be smart?

The smart craft system will have it's own cable that links the engine(s) ECM's to the helm location. The helm connection will link to the VesselView display at the dashboard. That "circuit" completes the basic smart craft system. One can build on the system by adding smart craft sensors (trim, tabs, depth, etc) to the basic system. In addition one can use a VesselView gateway connection to open accessibility to non-smarcraft devices such as chart plotters, music, depth, temps, etc., via a NMEA backbone connected to the gateway.

I do not have Smartcraft gauges just the analog Livorsi gauges. Mine is a 2003, that's why i'm thinking this may be difficult to add to my setup. Thinking about removing the compass and just making a mount for the garmin there, and keeping the stock gauges in place.

From the Garmin website:

Mercury SmartCraft information can be displayed on a NMEA 2000 compatible Garmin Marine Chartplotter/Sounder with the use of a NMEA 2000 adapter called MercMonitor.

Since the Mercury SmartCraft gauges output the NMEA 2000 data in a different protocol language than the Garmin chartplotter/sounders can read, an adapter will need to be installed on the boat. The adapter is called SmartCraft MercMonitor with Mercury Gateway.

Unfortunately Garmin does not offer this adapter. Please contact a Mercury dealer for more information on the MercMonitor adapter.

I'm using an older Navman chartplotter with the Merc Gateway to get the engine data. You just need to get the gateway and the cables for a twin engine installation from Merc and you should be ok to go. The wiring isn't trivial but for the most part it is all plug and play once you run the wiring from the motors to the dash.

FYI, the Mercury VesselView 7 and 702 are literally re-branded Simrad plotters. If your 2003 Fastec has smartcraft engines, it will be pretty easy to make it work.

I concur with the last post. Your Livorsi gauges will not be linked to the smartcraft system. Did you find my thread titled "VesselView upfit"?

Rob,
I'm going through the same thing, if your boat is like my 2005 370 (no smartcraft from the factory) then you need pretty much everything from the engines forward.

I installed a Simrad NSS12 Evo2 this off-season that I'd like to display the smartcraft info to. You can use a gateway to get the info to the NMEA2000 backbone but the info and how you display it may be limited. Mercruiser recently came out with a VesselView Link module specifically for the Simrads that I'm looking into. The attached scematic shows how it should be hooked up, I need everything but the VesselLink 702 display :(

https://1drv.ms/b/s!Am_PhN5tNRAAlc9JE-ZDCuwqQE_3Tw

Another option if you are just interested in getting engine data. Looks like they include the gateway with the gauge.

Livorsi Marine, Inc. - Smartcraft MercMonitor and Mercury Inline Gateways

One more tip. When you get things hooked up, you'll need a scan tool to get into the ECM's on your motors to designate the engine output for port and starboard. I believe the default setting on the 496 ECM is set as "starboard", so you'll need to change that setting to "port" for the port engine. If you don't the engine data sent to the monitors will be messed up.

I just went through this with my 2003 312. My 496ho were smart craft capable, but came with nothing hooked up. Ended up building a smart craft network feeding a NMEA200 network for full display of my motors and fusion stereo on my Garmin 942. You will get a ton of information off of the motors. I would show a picture of the set-up but I can't upload attachments.

Anyway, assuming your motors are smart craft capable, here is what you need from mercury to do it.

Starting at the motors
two 10 pin CAN P Link Harness(879981T??) - Length varies
two 4 way junction boxes(878492K14)
one CAN P Link Harness Assembly (891957K01) - this link goes between the junction boxes to allow for communication between the motors
one Duel Engine Adapter (892323T01) - this allows the system to be powered by either key
one NMEA gateway (8M0105243)
From this point you start the NMEA Network. How the NMEA network looks will depend on your situation.

Hope this helps.

MNHeat, thanks for posting! This is just the info I was looking for, would love to see some pics, I'll PM you my email address if you don't mind sending some.

Got it installed today. I will be working on getting all the items to hook up the engines soon. thanks to all for their help.

I'm working on pictures for those of you that have asked.
Just a couple of pointers as you hook it up.

1. Make sure that the yellow end of the 10pin harness is connected to the motors, the other end connects to the 4 way junction box.
2. You will have to have your motors assigned (by a dealer) Port and Starboard after everything is installed or the system will be confused.
3. The NMEA200 network needs to be on a switched circuit or you will drain your batteries.

In regards to #2, I have a Rinda Techmate Pro, and I was able to assign the port/starboard in the ECU with it when I did my VesselView install.

There is also another option, they make a module that plugs into your motor and it wirelessly via Bluetooth connects to a smart phone and gives you all of the same data. You have to download the app which is called Merc vessel view and obviously by the module

I have this list set and in the works. Did you have to buy a NMEA 2000 starter kit as well or will this plug in and work without that?