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.....

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.