Fox Marine Gateway

Daleo56

Member
Aug 9, 2016
69
Long Beach, CA
Boat Info
1998 Sea Ray 370 AC
Engines
454 Mercruisers
I purchased two Fox Marine Engine Gateways for my 1998 Sear Ray 370 AC. My original plan was to use a Noland Analog converter and Garmin GFS10 fuel senders but after reading another post here I decided to go with Fox Marine since it was plug and play. By not using the GFS 10 I give up a direct NMEA connection to the fuel tank senders but I benefit from not having to cut in to the fuel lines. I connected the two units to the engines, mounted the boxes on the rear engine bulkhead and then ran the NMEA backbone cable up to the Fusion stereo where I had left the previous end of the cable. I do need to get a couple mone foot NMEA cables instead of the 2m ones I had lying around!

Once I start the engines I power up the two Garmin 741xs units they read the engine data just as expected. These are simple to install and a great value.

http://fox-marine.com/

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Any idea if these will work on 1994 engines?

I would check with Fox Marine but I think it is 1992 - Up EFI engines and 1996-up Carbureted engines with Thunderbolt V ignition. You should see the 10-pin connector on your engine. You can also enter your engine serial number (link below) and see the parts list and determine that information as well. Go to the Wiring Harness section and look for the Data Link Connector to confirm.

https://www.mercurymarine.com/en/us/parts-and-accessories/parts-catalog
 
I would highly recommend the Fox Gateway. Their app shows everything that a Rinda tool would and it allows me to view all of the detailed data without having to show it on the Garmin chartplotters.

Now I need to figure out the fuel flow rate delta and throttle issue...



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I purchased two Fox Marine Engine Gateways for my 1998 Sear Ray 370 AC. My original plan was to use a Noland Analog converter and Garmin GFS10 fuel senders but after reading another post here I decided to go with Fox Marine since it was plug and play. ... I connected the two units to the engines, mounted the boxes on the rear engine bulkhead and then ran the NMEA backbone cable ... Once I start the engines I power up the two Garmin 741xs units they read the engine data just as expected. These are simple to install and a great value.

30350778803_467b181bff_c.jpg

So a buddy just told me about these Fox Marine Gateways this morning. Then I stumbled across this thread. Talk about good timing! I have been kicking around adding a SmartCraft to NMEA2000 gateway to my 320DA (my engines are SC-capable, just not hooked up to any SC gauges). This might be a much more economical approach. But my question pertains to this one picture. In it, your Garmin shows 179 gallons. Is that an actual fuel tank reading? The Fox Marine web site doesn't say anything about showing fuel remaining, just fuel burn rate. How did you get that data to the Garmin? That's actually THE critical piece of data that I'd love to have at the helm, so if the Gateways can get that data there, this might be the way to go.

Can you comment on this, please?

Thanks,
 
The Fox Marine Gateway only reads fuel burn rate at the engine. The Garmin 741xs allows me to enter the total amount of fuel I have on board so each time I add fuel I set the total gallons in the Garmin. This method does not keep track of the genny burn rate of about one gallon per hour but I rarely use the generator.

The Garmin GFS10 (NMEA 2000 which I had used on my prior Maxum) uses a flow meter AND connects to the fuel tank gauge. Of course the reading is only as accurate as the sending unit so I would prefer to enter my gas addition each time I fill up anyway and enter it into the Garmin.

If your SC ties into the existing fuel senders then I would go that route. My boat is a 1998 and did not support SC. The advantage to the Fox Marine Gateway is that is connects to the engine data without using analog connections. Had I used the Noland unit I purchased, along with the two Garmin GFS10 units, I would have had to connect to every gauge behind the dash AND cut in to both fuel lines with the GFS10 units. This was my original plan and I have the $700 worth of unused hardware sitting in a box. Check out the iPhone app screenshots above to see the Fox Marine gateway data available from the MEFI-1. If you have a newer engine that is MEFI 2/3/4 you should also have active alarms as well as low fuel pressure, low oil level and low system voltage.
 
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The Fox Marine Gateway only reads fuel burn rate at the engine. The Garmin 741xs allows me to enter the total amount of fuel I have on board so each time I add fuel I set the total gallons in the Garmin. This method does not keep track of the genny burn rate of about one gallon per hour but I rarely use the generator.

The Garmin GFS10 (NMEA 2000 which I had used on my prior Maxum) uses a flow meter AND connects to the fuel tank gauge. Of course the reading is only as accurate as the sending unit so I would prefer to enter my gas addition each time I fill up anyway and enter it into the Garmin.

If your SC ties into the existing fuel senders then I would go that route. My boat is a 1998 and did not support SC. The advantage to the Fox Marine Gateway is that is connects to the engine data without using analog connections. Had I used the Noland unit I purchased, along with the two Garmin GFS10 units, I would have had to connect to every gauge behind the dash AND cut in to both fuel lines with the GFS10 units. This was my original plan and I have the $700 worth of unused hardware sitting in a box. Check out the iPhone app screenshots above to see the Fox Marine gateway data available from the MEFI-1. If you have a newer engine that is MEFI 2/3/4 you should also have active alarms as well as low fuel pressure, low oil level and low system voltage.

My engines don't tap into the senders. The info I have from Mercruiser says that with just the SC to NMEA gateway, I can read fuel flow and fuel used. So I'd need to add a sensor - probably like the GFS10's - to see fuel levels.

So you enter the fuel amount into the Gamin on each fill up. That's not too bad. Does the Garmin then keep track of fuel used somehow, based on the fuel-burn data given by the Fox Gateway? That is, how do you know at any given time how much fuel you have left?
 
My engines don't tap into the senders. The info I have from Mercruiser says that with just the SC to NMEA gateway, I can read fuel flow and fuel used. So I'd need to add a sensor - probably like the GFS10's - to see fuel levels.

So you enter the fuel amount into the Gamin on each fill up. That's not too bad. Does the Garmin then keep track of fuel used somehow, based on the fuel-burn data given by the Fox Gateway? That is, how do you know at any given time how much fuel you have left?

I would not buy the GFS10's just to get a sender level reading. You can keep your gauges connected and just reference them if needed. I do not know how the GFS10 provides data to the 741xs but I never had the option of calibrating it. You just fill up and enter the full tank setting. You can also set the total fuel on board if needed. I rarely fill up to the 300 gallons so I just make sure when I get the receipt from the gas that I enter it in at that time.

Get the SC or Fox Marine Gateway and then just keep track of gallons you add by entering it into the chartplotter. The biggest advantage to having fuel burn data is to get up on plane and see where the sweet spot is for MPG. On my 370 AC the best MPG I can get going fast is about .75 MPG. Going slower I can get about 1.25 MPG and could get even better if I went Nordhavn speed ;-)

My Garmin 741xs was on the Maxum (below) and it worked well with the GFS10 but it was carbureted and did not have the MEFI connection.

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Get the SC or Fox Marine Gateway and then just keep track of gallons you add by entering it into the chartplotter.

Ha ha. We are having a miscommunication of our own.

Keeping track of the gallons I *add* isn't the issue. Keeping track of the gallons I *burn* is. Does the Garmin automatically decrease the gallon value, based on the fuel burn data from the Fox Gateway? (If it didn't, I wouldn't need to enter a new value at next fill up, would I?)
 
Ha ha. We are having a miscommunication of our own.

Keeping track of the gallons I *add* isn't the issue. Keeping track of the gallons I *burn* is. Does the Garmin automatically decrease the gallon value, based on the fuel burn data from the Fox Gateway? (If it didn't, I wouldn't need to enter a new value at next fill up, would I?)

Yes the Garmin 741xs reduces the total fuel on board by the total fuel spent. It does not account for fuel burn when the Garmin is NOT powered on or for fuel used on the genny.
 
Yes the Garmin 741xs reduces the total fuel on board by the total fuel spent. It does not account for fuel burn when the Garmin is NOT powered on or for fuel used on the genny.

Thanks! You've been very patient with me. lol
 
Anytime! I just want to make sure you do not end up with parts you do not need like I have now!

I appreciate that. I want to make sure I end up with the right parts to read the data I want. Engine temp would have been a big help last summer. My analog temp gauges read about 170 at idle and looking like they were 190-200 when running. The engines should be about 170 at cruise, so I was freaking out. They ran just fine, but I just knew I was going to crack a block or something. After a lot of checking of seacocks, coolant levels and flow, I finally bought an I/R temp reader and shot all over my engines. Hot, they were 170. Go figure. Damn analog gauges. Had I had this Gateway and a good MFD then, I would have saved a lot of climbing all over my engine room in 100 degree heat and humidity!
 
Tim, I'm glad to hear that you've had a positive experience with these gateways. I've been toying with the idea of buying them and I think you just made me a believer. That said, is there anything you don't like about them? Which of the models do you have... MEFI 1, 2, 3 or 4?

Thanks!
Nick
 
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Tim, I'm glad to hear that you've had a positive experience with these gateways. I've been toying with the idea of buying them and I think you just made me a believer. That said, is there anything you don't like about them? Which of the models do you have... MEFI 1, 2, 3 or 4?

Thanks!
Nick

I have MEFI-1. When we did the haulout and survey my mechanic showed me the DIACOM screen where I could see it was MEFI-1. If you are not sure about your engine the FAQ below shows how to tell the MEFI of your ECM.

http://fox-marine.com/index.php?route=information/information&information_id=7

Tim
 
I have MEFI-1. When we did the haulout and survey my mechanic showed me the DIACOM screen where I could see it was MEFI-1. If you are not sure about your engine the FAQ below shows how to tell the MEFI of your ECM.

http://fox-marine.com/index.php?route=information/information&information_id=7

Tim

Tim, appreciate the quick note back! I did indeed pull the engine computer and identified the model # and will require a MEFI-1. That said, I was looking to confirm that can expect the same results you've had. I'm excited to install them this spring!!

Nick
 
I purchased two Fox Marine Engine Gateways for my 1998 Sear Ray 370 AC ...I connected the two units to the engines, mounted the boxes on the rear engine bulkhead and then ran the NMEA backbone cable up to the Fusion stereo where I had left the previous end of the cable.

31157987805_397ef530ff_c.jpg


30790267750_142f69cb93_c.jpg

Do you have any more pics (perhaps from further back) to show where you mounted the gateways? I'm going the Mercruiser SC/N2K gateway route but have the issue of where I should mount junction boxes and the gateway itself. Did you mount the Fox gateways in the engine room?
 
Do you have any more pics (perhaps from further back) to show where you mounted the gateways? I'm going the Mercruiser SC/N2K gateway route but have the issue of where I should mount junction boxes and the gateway itself. Did you mount the Fox gateways in the engine room?

I do not have a straight view picture of the location. I have them mounted against the rear engine bulkhead (red circle below) next to where the cable tv wire hole is located. I used a hole saw and made another hole next to that hole and then ran the NMEA cable up to the bottom of the drawer and then starboard under the stairs to behind the AC/DC panels.

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