DoTheMath

I am looking for some feedback on Merc's Smartcraft Gauges vs. the others, (the SC 100 / 1000 series, not the LCD displays like the SC 5000). Durability, accuracy, performance and so on... Good, bad or indifferent - just looking for thoughts on, "if you were building a new boat and could put any Gauge set in it, what would you use and why?".

Thanks!

Joe

???????????????

DoTheMath

Joe - why the ?????

Joe

I'm not sure what you're asking? Are you installing SmartCraft / do you already hav it / what engines do you have etc.... Maybe I'm just a bit slower than normal today

I'll try to answer by saying: I have SmartCraft and haven't had a single problem (absolutely love it). The boat also came w/ Livorsi products and they all still work fine (2003 boat). Love the Monster sizing --- much easier on the eyes.

I am upgrading the indicators this winter to the new Livorsi LED's, which look very cool and are also easier to read (not that I'm getting old - BECAUSE I'M NOT.... haha ).

Hope this helps. If not, please restate what you're asking and I'll try again.

DoTheMath

Well, that is part of what I am asking... yes. Basically, if you were building a new boat today, would you use Livorsi (Autometer) gauges or would you consider the Smartcraft line of gauges?

These are what I am talking about: http://www.mercurymarine.com/smartcraft_sc100_links_2

Livorsi also offers a variation:
http://www.livorsi.com/catalog/smartcraft.htm

So, do you consider using this line or do you just go with conventional gauges like everyone else has / is?

Hope that helped clear it up a bit? (Thanks for the initial response Joe).

Mark.

Joe

ahhhh..... sorry. It's all starting to make sense now ( ).

Personal opinion.... if you run SmartCraft, from my understanding, the wiring (to the engines) is different --- sorry, layman terminology here. I was looking at a 2nd boat to buy w/out power and was told that, since the boat was orig. rigged w/ the merc 850 efi's the wiring etc... would all have to be redone for any "non-SmartCraft" / analog gauge application. Now, whether that is true or not, I can't say --- and I didn't wind up buying the boat so I never found out. Sorry.

Depending on what brand of boat you're considering, you might call the engine or boat builder (or a rigger like Grant's Custom Rigging - Ft. Lauderdale) for their opinion.

P.S. If you run SmartCraft, in my opinion I'd prefer one central system w/ the analog gauges as a secondary "quick view". The SmartCraft is not easy to read in an all-in-one view and, if you have a gauge problem and it has both SmartCraft and analog in one, you've now lost both. If you do the SmartCraft and analog separate and your analog goes out, the SmartCraft will still "beep" at you and you can scroll thru to see what the problem is vs. having the possibility of 1 gauge failure and both systems not working - hopefully that made sense.

No facts here... just my opinion!

Joe

DoTheMath

Yep - you're getting there, but this would be a fresh install - new boat, Merc. motors (o/b's) so I have a choice and I don't know much about the SC stuff so I figured I could find some answers here.

Anyone else, Smartcraft gauges (not the LCD SC 5000 display now, just the gauges) vs. the rest... going once, going twice... Help a brotha' out.