Have SmartCraft on the Verados and they give a lot of information and can do several functions at once but I do not like having to navigate the different pages..especially while zipping along at higher speeds or rougher water. Some old "steam guages"(Livorsi type) would be great for quick glances and scanning for pressures and temps.
But do love the SmartCraft modes for fuel used , fuel burns per engine and miles traveled for present trip. The digital read out for tachs are more precise than the tach needles also.
Actually both would be the set up and very large in size for the older eyes!!

Another feature I like with the SC5000 is the screen shot showing the steering angle. Really helps knowing where your outdrives are pointed when manuvering in tight quarters or putting the boat in a slip. I find myself clicking that screen on every time I pull in!

I have a complete set of monster gauges as well as a pair of SC1000 smartcraft monitorrs. The SC1000 are the small round monitors and they work great. The monitor RPM, Temp, Oil PSI, Water PSI, Battery Voltage, Fuel consumption both in GPH and total fues used since last reset. It's really nice to know exactly fuel I have burned.

You need both Alex, like mine. The smartcraft gauges are hard to read at high speeds and/or sometimes glare. But, they are nice because you can access historical data in an instant like alarms, etc. Do one smart craft screen and the regular monsters as planned.

Go down the street and check mine out if you want.

I'd rather have 1 guage go down then the whole digital screen go down and loose everything. I would have a mixture of both if I had to choose.

Has anyone ever used this screen with the smartcraft, northstarnav.com, it looks like it would do more than the merc screen.

Do NOT use Dumb Craft

Analog....prefer the look and agree with Panthers concern.

Im having one installed on a new 37 Active Thunder. One screen for your chart plotter and smartcraft. I also have complete monster gauges as well. One screen for everthing cleans the dash up nice. I should be able to get some pics. posted in a couple of weeks.

No one has mentioned it but you can install System Link Gauges that give your SmartCraft information on individual function (analog looking) gauges. Basically they are repeaters for the System View, System Tach/Speed, or System Monitor controllers.

Also keep in mind that more and more the analog gauge signal from the motor (i.e. 525EFI) is a conversion of the (digital) information from the ECM/PCM to an analog format. Other motor(s) (i.e. Verado) you have to buy an AGI (Analog Gauge Interface) to convert the digital info for use on an analog dash.