Smartcraft/Vesselview
 

Comment:

Anyone running this piece of electronics on their boat?

Second, if you are can you provide a brief summary of the likes and dislikes of this unit.

In addition, can you give us some background information on your boat ie...twins, single, your personal rationale into why you opted for this unit over analog gauges [or builders rationale as told to you].

The more information you can provide the better, also what feature would you like to see added.

I know Mercury offers this unit in a race version which also calculates slip anyone have one of those units chime in.

It would be nice to hear from owners what they have to say about this optional feature. When looking on the web very little is said about this high priced featured electronics in the performance boat sector.

A lot more feedback by owners with yachts and bigger cruiser type boats.

KAP

I had the race edition with tripple 300xs, it tells you everything
it is a great tool, but if you dont know howe to use it, it will be worthless and you are better off with the guages.I did not learn how to use it, sold the boat.But has many functions.

Comment:

Well I know how to use a GPS and figuring out a Smartcraft screen cannot be too difficult.

The race model is the one I like----everyone I have talked to has said to get it but wanted to hear from actual users and boaters.

Curious as to why you did not end up using it to it's full potential.

KAP

I have the Mercury Racing, SC5000, System View, Race edition on my 2007 308 Skater with T/300XS.

The reason I had it installed during the build, was due to being given incorrect information about it being the only way for a user, to reset 'guardian'' mode. While this is not accurate information, I am glad I spent the money and put it in. I will not build another boat with out it or something similar.

Information is power, and it give you tons of both real time, and cumulative info. Most likely you engine is computer controlled, why not have access to that data.

Be aware that the race version, the one I have, has lots of functionality the non race version does not have.

If anything is wrong, it sounds an alarm sounds, and the screen tells you in words, which engine and what the issue is.

Display up to 20 fields of real-time engine data, one engine at a time.

Display engine run history, by RPM range (1000-1999, 2000-2999...) with life to date hours in that range.

Display total life to date run time, by engine

Fuel level, shown both analog and digital.

Trip info, time, distance, fuel burn, average fuel burn, MPG, average speed

Peak RPM and MPH

Navigation data, current course, next waypoint (analog and digital).

Estimated fuel range, GPH, all in real time.

Drive trim, shown both analog and digital.

On my twin engine setup, 20+ different screens of data. I can the few that have info important to me, and it can display those, on a rotating basis, in real time.

This are just the ones I know about and use, and can remember, sitting here in my office.

Appsyscons...

You say you would NOT build another boat with this or something similar?

Chris

AppSysCons:

Thank you for an excellent response that is exactly the kind of feedback I was looking for from a performance boater.

I intend to use it on a twin outboard platform and your just the type of boater I was looking to hear from. I spoke to Mr. Tomlinson today and he echoed your description which is very comforting and extremely useful feedback.

All to often boaters buy stuff they never use and I like a spartan dashboard only the stuff I need to use no collateral nonsense.

I like having alarms and the ability to code read or trouble shoot a problem especially if it is something minor or critical ie...when you really should be towed in:).

Great stuff really appreciate the feedback:ernaehrung004:

Sidenote: Do you run full power steering in your Skater as well or just hydraulic?

KAP

P.S. Great video stuff on your boat can't wait for mine to be built.

typo on my part.

I would not build another boat without it or something like it.

No power steering at all.

Full hydraulic helm, hoses go directly to dual rams.

PS: Just to be clear, I had a typo in my original response. Should read I would not build another boat without it or something like it.

I would highly recommend vessel view race edition. Software has specific features for set ups and testing. I have a 28 skater with two displays and no gauges. Works awesome. Not hard to use if you take the time to learn it. Best part in edition to all the info available is it has a page that you can reset after each run that records max speed, the cool thing is it will tell you what the rpm, and trim settings were at that point.
Also interface it to a gps and it will give you tons of information regarding fuel mileage, fuel required to destination etc.
Only bad thing is they are not cheap and sometimes they fog up for a short period of time. Not bad enough not to see Info though.

I got the screen, Can't find harness for a twin 525 set up.
Once I get it and install, I would drop a feedback.

I just had my boat rigged with twin 250 mercs, and had the race edition installed, and I love it. The information I like having beside the basic rpm, water temp, water pressure, etc is the fuel flow/gph readouts, and trim tab/engine trim read outs, which you can program to pop up anytime you use the trim or tabs. I am still in the process of learning how to use it, but that is part of the fun. If I had one complaint, it would be that with uv sunglasses on, the screen can be a little harder to read, I would make sure that I installed it dead center to the steering wheel and as close as you can, but its defeinitly not a drawback. You can also daisy chain regular gauges off the vesselview, I had psi/water temp put on, just to be able to see the readout in case I had the vesselview screen in a mode were PSI/temp wasnt shown

Great Post!

Honestly, hearing from real boaters means more to me... and is the biggest selling point by far for this device... and so far it is an overwhelming A++.

Are you sure dead center is best it would seem to me the best place would be slightly to the port side... if your steering wheel is on the starboard. The rationale is you can hold onto wheel with right hand and hit the buttoms with left hand or vice versa if you feel more comfortable the other way.

I will know more when install time comes around maybe even dead center so passenger can read the screen while driver operates the boat. At this time I am merely speculating will know more as the time gets closer.

Really appreciate the information and feedback.

AppSysCon:

I knew what you meant despite the typo:drink:! I think power steering is a must for me I do not like kick back, shimmy or feedback I like one finger turning.

KAP

What kind of boat and what power?

I have had non-power full hydraulic, 2 hose, like my 308 Skater
full power, full hydraulic helm, 4 hose on my OuterLimits
air pressure assist, full hudraulic, 3 hose (I think), on my A-class race boat
full power, full hydraulic helm, 4 hose, on my B-class raceboat

Each one was exactly the correct on for boat, power and use.

Sold the boat so did not have much time to use it.

Is it possible to have the vesselveiw race edition and also have analogy gages?

Yes, I have Mercury Racing, SC5000, System View, Race edition, and Livorsi Monster racing, analog guages.

To do analog guages you need an AGI box, for each engine, to convert the digital signals to analog guage acceptable signals.

You also could omit the AGI box, and use the MR SmartCraft guages, but many people, including myself, think they are ugly.

I have the race view in my twin 525 28 eliminator. I can't figure out how the inches per revolution is used to maximize propeller efficiency. Anyone know how

We have Raceview on our Fountain with 700's. Recently, had a problem that I corrected with an IAC control. Screen told me IAC Fault on port motor. Changed the IAC, good as new. Not every problem will be easy to fix, but it gives you real time information about whats going on with your motors. I second putting the screen directly in front of your driving position. Makes it easier to see. You can run one screen and split it port and starbord, or run 1 screen for each motor. I also have analog gauges for a back up. Its interesting to note the difference between digital readings, and the analog gauges. I have one analog tach that is 300 rpm off, when the digital shows rpms even, port motor is 300 rpms higher on the analog tach. Great investment.

I have vesselview on my 2009 35 Fountain Lightning. I have not played with it too much but find valuable. stbd tach reads about 400rpm off but i just watch the screen and all is ok .......just need to figure out how to change the gauges........my bottom two are voltage and i would like something else obviously, have looked but can't switch them out.
It is great.........

Jay

My boat has Livorsi analog guages and the agi, so would I have to run a new wiring harness to the engine or is there some type of connection already there? My engine is a 600sci.
thanks john

Mine is an older 2007 version, and does not have this feature.

According to Mercury Racing "Unique to VesselView - Race Edition is the inches-per-revolution measurement. This information, calculated in real time from multiple SmartCraft sensors, can be used to trim outboards, drives and trim tabs so maximum propeller and hull efficiency is achieved. It also allows for a direct comparison of different drive and propeller combinations that does not rely on the often hard-to-determine pitch of the propeller, and eliminates having to update the display every time a propeller or gear ratio is changed. From this data, the operator can easily calculate propeller slip and other propeller attributes that can quickly be used to determine which propeller is really needed for a particular race-day, or everyday, by helping to get the best “all-around” setup. This information can be used to easily configure another screen unique to VesselView - Race Edition, the drive/tab trim position screen. Trim tab positions are displayed from zero to 100 percent, and can be calibrated to place the optimum setting, while propeller icons display accurate trim positions for each engine on a scale of 0.0 (minimum trim) to 10.0 (maximum trim), or 0.0 (minimum trim) to 10.0 (maximum trim) to 25.0 (maximum trailer), adjusting the display resolution to your needs. "

Thanks. I just checked. It is inches per revolution of the engine not the drive. That is why it is so much lower than the prop pitch.

Does anybody have an extra smartcraft raceview sun cover they want to get rid of? Just need one, lost one a while back, believe it's for the SC5000. Where can I get one cheap?

Ben

TNT in north Miami or any Mercury dealer. Just make sure it is the race view addition. They come from Mercury Racing .

Livorsi Marine, below is the page from the current on-line catalog

I have a Northstar GPS with Smartcraft and it is awesome. Great piece of mind thing to have on board. I have it setup with my twin 496's and compliments my Livorsi analog gauges on the dash. Just about ALL of my analog gauges are off plus or minus a tiny amount compared to the real engine data being fed to the smartcraft sreen.

Not sure if anyone has mentioned it so far, but for me the fuel burn data alone is worth the cost of the setup. I know down to the last drop of how much fuel I burn. No more wondering about how much is left and we all know how flaky the tank gauges can be especially on a low fuel amount.

I can't imagine not having it!

I have the SC5000 in my 292 and also love the fuel burn data. Simply reset after fill-up and you know exactly how much you have left. The steering position indicator to show exactly where the drives are pointed when manuvering in tight spots in a marina is a nice feature, as well as the peak speed and rpm feature, as well as...:drink:

I have both (Race View and Vessleview) that will be going in the Swap Shop soon if there is any interest. Both are new units from an employee sale a few years ago, but you will probably have to purchase the plugs/wiring for them. I'll check to see what I have.

Has anyone linked their Vessel View system to the windlass? In the beginning it was supposed to have anchor warning, scope measurment etc..

No, but I did use it to try and save 15% on my insurance!

System view or Northstar are not now the only option - with Mercmonitor you can plug in any NMEA 2000 compliant GPS - in simple terms this means that all of the touchscreen Garmins will display the engine data on the screens - I doubt it will give you a slip reading, but it will give you all of the fluids levels and temps along with fuel to waypoint information.

Hope that is of interest?

If anyone is interested I can convert old style motors to display this date. I have tested it a bit and it works very well.

Jon

Comment:

Seriously, I do not think this is possible can you explain how this is possible and projected cost. I have several friends that would love to have the Smartcraft/Vesselview unit on their respective older boats.

KAP

Jon,

According to Mercury "All Mercruiser MPI (multi-port fuel-injected engines) Sterndrive, Inboard, and Tow Sports models with serial number 0M300000 and higher are compatible with SmartCraft instrumentation systems."

As an example my 2004 350magMPI S/N:0M689xxx, can be converted, that is clear, but are you saying you can get SmartCraft to work on older motors?

I have a Garming 4208. Is there a way to get the data to my Garmin?

I dont have any more dash space, can the Garmin be my monitor?

I have a race edition and a 5212 in my active thunder and i hooked the garmin to the vesselveiw and it gives it the deep readings and gps speed. Its a awesome peice on equipment..

Did you ever list these for sale? I might be interested.

Bump for the same question. Thinking my winter project is going to be a new dash. I want to trash all the gauges and start from scratch. Debating between a single screen that can handle GPS and smartcraft info and two screens. Anybody?

I have the same problem with my 08-42' 700 boat. Tachs and speedo read different than race view. Which is correct, and is there a fix to bring all together for accuracy?

The digital smart craft is what everything is tied too, as far as rpm limiters, and warnings. I would put more faith in that being accurate, than the analog gauges.
Be carefull scrolling through the pages that you dont activate this: