SmartCraft Replacement

[GeoffG]

The screen in my SmartCraft Diesel View has died, like most of them it seems. Purchasing a new DV using the same outdated technology does not seem logical, especially given the fact they are ridiculously expensive. I think the new Vessel Views are compatible, though i have read that the SIM's may need to be replaced. Mine are part number 4929301, date of manufacture 01.11.05 and engines are 05, 380HP QSB's.
My other electronics are a newer E127 which replaced the Navigator system and an original (2005) C120 which also displays radar. The screen on this unit is fading and I fear that it may have a limited life expectancy.
I believe that it is now possible to have engine date etc report to a "regular" MFD. I know that I would lose radar or have to replace the radar, if I eliminate the C120.
So my questions are:
- Is a new Vessel View the best way to go and is this unit directly compatible with my system/SIM's?
- Should I replace the C120 and is so, with what? What is needed to convert the data from the DV to the new MFD?

Thanks for any help and advice.

 

[alnav]

Geoff, Seaboard Marine has a compatibility table here: https://www.sbmar.com/cummins-dieselview-display-upgrades/. Looks like you are OK for compatibility based on your build date and SIM PN. They also sell new VesselViews as well as their own solution. They have a guy who is knowledgeable on the nuances of diesel display replacement who could come in very handy as it is very hard to get help from Mercury. As far as I can tell, there has bee no diesel-specific documentation since Mercury and Cummins split. The good news is that the firmware in the units still recognizes Cummins engines. In addition to display units, Mercury now sells gateways that convert engine data and send to MFDs without an engine display so those are options as well.

The data conversion from the newer displays and gateways to MFD is through a NMEA 2000 port that comes with the display. Unless your E127 is already set up with a NMEA 2000 backbone, you would need to build one and and sort through any compatibility issues but I believe newer RayMarine units will connect up fairly easily.

I recently replaced my aging DieselView with the VesselView 4 connected to a new all-Garmin suite which already needed a NMEA 2000 backbone. The VV4 is the smaller unit but I was OK with that because I can call up engine parameters on the MFD and it saved dash real estate; I'm very happy with it. The NMEA connection was easy in my case. Connection of the new VV to the engine junction box was a little more challenging. The VV comes with a harness that may be all you need and will be plug and play. But, you will need to scope out how your DV is currently connected and may need additional connectors and potentially a crossover cable depending on your current setup. If you follow the links on the Seaboard site you will get to the installation manuals that will be helpful to a point but assume a single cable can go straight to the J-box. If you have dual connectors you will probably need some help to get the right cables to make the VV work.

 

[GeoffG]

Thanks very much for the speedy and detailed response alnav. Obviously i need to do some further research on the Seaboard site. I installed the Seaboard Seawater pumps on my boat when I purchased it two years ago, so I am familiar with them. Great pumps by the way, if you need to replace yours any time. I did not know that they have the compatibility info you list here though, so i will certainly look in to that, as well as try to talk to their expert.
A quick clarification question for you though. Are you saying that a new Raymarine MFD with NMEA 2000 backbone will accept the date right from my existing engine data J box? if so, I may well go that route, as i like the idea of having the data on the big screen. It sounds as though you have this set up as well, with your Garmin MFD's, so i wonder why you also needed the VV4?
Thanks again for your great information.

 

[alnav]

Geoff, sorry, no it's not that easy. The engine data is in a different format (J1939) and has to be converted to NMEA 2000 for the MFD to accept it; the converter is typically referred to as a "gateway". For the longest time there was no good mainstream means to do that, but recently Mercury has put lots of equipment with gateways on the market. That could be a standalone gateway (lowest-cost option) that only performs the data conversion function or the gateway could be built in to the display unit. I went with the VV4 (lowest cost display with gateway) both to get the data over to Garmin but also to have a simple display available on the helm without giving up too much real estate.

 

[GeoffG]

Thanks again Alnav. Figured there had to be a reason for needing the VV4. That makes me think I should go the VV4 route also. My E27 does have a screen option for engine info, so with the VV4 I could also have the data show there as well, I assume. I think i would also need a NEMA backbone to do that, as the unit is stand alone right now.
Again thank you for the help.