2008 Searay Amberjack Gauges

[Rocky5514]

Good evening everyone, this is my first post and my first Searay Boat in South Florida. Bought a 2008 Searay Amberjack. Low hours on Merc Twin 260HP with Bravo 3 outdrives. Smartcraft Gauges, DTS shifters and has a Simrad NSS 12 EVO 3 with an older Raymarine ST6002 Auto pilot....new to a boat this size, had a 22' Tahoe Q8i last. Looking for suggestions and recommendations:
1. Should I invest or do I even need Smart Vessel View when I already have Smart craft Gauges?
2. Any recommendations on a VHF Radio for this boat?
3. Any other electronics you recommend I add to the boat....Have the wife and 4-kids and we will travel probably no more than as far as Binini....maybe the Bahamas with my buddy who has a 54' Tiara....
Would love everyones expert feedback....

 

[WV 320 Dancer]

I would invest in a VHF that has AXIS. I am adding VV next year just because I want access to all the extra data at my finger tips.

 

[AJSB]

Congrats on the new boat. Since you already have SmartCraft gauges and an NSS, you could add a VesselView link multi engine #8M0110639 and get all the data on your NSS. Assuming you have an open port on your SmartCraft junction box it could be a pretty simple install. There are kits available for around $550 on eBay. As for VHF, any newer model with AIS should suffice as long as you can add it to your nmea network but if you’re brand loyal and/or like things to match up the Simrad VHFs have all the functions you’re looking for. You can probably find a new previous year model for a good price, just start searching. You didn’t mention, but do you have Simrad radar with your NSS? If not, that would be my suggestion for an add on, before the VV link. Good luck.

 

[KevinC]

I would invest in a VHF that has AXIS. I am adding VV next year just because I want access to all the extra data at my finger tips.

I am sure you meant AIS and spell check corrected it.

-Kevin

 

[Stee6043]

You may well find that it all comes down to your tolerance for spending! You're question # 3 could easily rack up $20k of goodies...and that's not even "extreme" for the kinds of people that hang out around this forum! ha.

First cruiser you say??? My two cents - get a decent VHF w/DSC (many folks like the Standard Horizon GX1700) and cruise for a year before spending a bunch on the other bits. Your Simrad gear is more than enough to support some casual cruising...

 

[Rocky5514]

Congrats on the new boat. Since you already have SmartCraft gauges and an NSS, you could add a VesselView link multi engine #8M0110639 and get all the data on your NSS. Assuming you have an open port on your SmartCraft junction box it could be a pretty simple install. There are kits available for around $550 on eBay. As for VHF, any newer model with AIS should suffice as long as you can add it to your nmea network but if you’re brand loyal and/or like things to match up the Simrad VHFs have all the functions you’re looking for. You can probably find a new previous year model for a good price, just start searching. You didn’t mention, but do you have Simrad radar with your NSS? If not, that would be my suggestion for an add on, before the VV link. Good luck.

Thanks

Congrats on the new boat. Since you already have SmartCraft gauges and an NSS, you could add a VesselView link multi engine #8M0110639 and get all the data on your NSS. Assuming you have an open port on your SmartCraft junction box it could be a pretty simple install. There are kits available for around $550 on eBay. As for VHF, any newer model with AIS should suffice as long as you can add it to your nmea network but if you’re brand loyal and/or like things to match up the Simrad VHFs have all the functions you’re looking for. You can probably find a new previous year model for a good price, just start searching. You didn’t mention, but do you have Simrad radar with your NSS? If not, that would be my suggestion for an add on, before the VV link. Good luck.

Thanks AJSB...….Not sure if it has the Vesselview link to read off the NSS already.....was so concerned with driving the boat during seatrial and checking everything out that I did not bother to play with the simrad enough. Also the radar 4G dome is expensive.....$2K......might bite the bullet and buy a Bundle on the NSS12 and double up on screens.
Looking at the Simrad radio to keep everything the same.
Also is there anyway to link a Raymarine Auto pilot ST6002 to the NSS? or is the technology too old?

 

[Rocky5514]

You may well find that it all comes down to your tolerance for spending! You're question # 3 could easily rack up $20k of goodies...and that's not even "extreme" for the kinds of people that hang out around this forum! ha.

First cruiser you say??? My two cents - get a decent VHF w/DSC (many folks like the Standard Horizon GX1700) and cruise for a year before spending a bunch on the other bits. Your Simrad gear is more than enough to support some casual cruising...

Thanks....Stee6043...….Yeah I am coming to find out just how expensive electronics are....My Simrads seems more than sufficient, I have all three transducers, but I do not have Radar...…..that alone is 2G

 

[AJSB]

[QUOTE="Rocky5514, Also is there anyway to link a Raymarine Auto pilot ST6002 to the NSS? or is the technology too old?[/QUOTE]

I don't know the specifics of the ST6002 and it's connections but I assume you should be able to connect it to your nmea network using a SeaTalk ng to nmea cable:
https://www.boemarine.com/raymarine-devicenet-female-adp-cable-seatalk-sup-ng-sup-nmea-2000.html

If the ST6002 has the older SeaTalk 1 connections, you'll need to use Raymarine SeaTalk 1 to SeaTalk ng Converter Kit:
https://www.boemarine.com/raymarine-e22158-seatalk-1-to-seatalk-sup-b-ng-b-sup-converter-kit.html

Once the AP is on the nmea network (if it isn't already), you should be able to follow a course from your NSS using the AP. Your best bet is probably to reach out to BOE and let the experts there guide you. You'll probably have to do some investigating to see what is behind the helm, what's connected to what, etc. Some of this may have been done by the PO already.

 

[Rocky5514]

Thanks, new to all this stuff, doing a lot of research online. Boat gets delivered on Wednesday will play with the system some more.

 

[Captn TJ]

Thanks


Thanks AJSB...….Not sure if it has the Vesselview link to read off the NSS already.....was so concerned with driving the boat during seatrial and checking everything out that I did not bother to play with the simrad enough. Also the radar 4G dome is expensive.....$2K......might bite the bullet and buy a Bundle on the NSS12 and double up on screens.
Looking at the Simrad radio to keep everything the same.
Also is there anyway to link a Raymarine Auto pilot ST6002 to the NSS? or is the technology too old?

FYI you won't need a Simrad VHF - most radios today will connect to your chartplotter via nmea 0183 and a few through nmea 2000. Since you are going to buy a radio and if you plan on connecting it to the chartplotter, I'd definitely get one that has AIS as others have mentioned. FYI keep in mind that the faceplate for your current radio and an new one will most likely be different so you'll need to craft a new one. Easy to do with starboard. FYI I have a Standard Horizon GX 2200 and love it (it does have AIS).

 

[Rocky5514]

Thanks Captn TJ I was able to pick up the Simrad RS35 w AIS,.....for $171 on Defender Marine....Great price..

 

[Stee6043]

For the record - you need to share photos of the boat when you get it delivered. Forum rules

 

[Rocky5514]

 

[Rocky5514]

Here's a couple of photos of my boat. I bought a RS35 w Ais radio and I also bout a 4G dome from Simrad. The installer was telling me I could not connect my Smart Craft Gauges to the Simrad Nss Evo 2......is that correct? I find that odd?
Going to lift the panel where the simrad is mounted to see what type of connections are there.

 

[Captn TJ]

I would think the only way to do this would be if both had a NMEA 2000 connection . Alternatively there are a bunch of posts on using Vessel View (bluetooth) to send engine information to a phone or tablet.

FYI - great looking boat

 

[AJSB]

VesselView Link integrates your existing SmartCraft data with your MFD. You can get a multi-engine kit #8M0110641 (I gave the single engine part number in post #3 above, sorry). You'll need to make sure you have an open port on a junction box.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Mercury-Ve...014311&hash=item2a7e671074:g:3m8AAOSwA29Y3T3T

I purchased some VV stuff from Mike Wood at Coast Marine Export in Boyton Beach. He had the best prices around.
COASTAL MARINE EXPORT
1202 Villa Lane
Boynton Beach FL 33435
954-658-0836
Coastalmarineexport@yahoo.com Coastalmarineexport.com
facebook.com/pages/Coastal-Marine-Export/547716368614855

Given the cost of the VV Link by itself, if you have the space and would like a 2nd display you may want to look into getting a VV Display kit. They come in various sizes (5-7-9) and include a display and the link.
https://www.mercurymarine.com/en/us/gauges-and-controls/gauges-displays/vesselview/
I added a VV703 kit for about $1,800 (vs. $2,300 on eBay).

Give CME a call and they'll walk you through some options.