Josh28161
Active Member
Has anyone removed their smartcraft gauges and put in a vesselview display? I have an 03 280 and am considering the switch. Any input appreciated.
Smartcraft to vesselview conversion
- Thread starter Josh28161
- Start date
joehagner
New Member
Hi Josh,
I Recently swapped my Smartcraft 5000 out for a VV703 on my 2005 340SDA. The swapout is pretty straightforward. Veep in mind you'll need to purchase the VV Link (ABOUT 1K) as well as the VV703. This allows the Smartcraft data to be seen on your unit. One other thing to keep in mind is if you also want to use your analog guages you'll need to purchase a separate cable to enable that.
Everett Lewis
New Member
- Dec 30, 2020
- 3
- Boat Info
- 2006 SeaRay Sundance 44
- Engines
- Cummins QSC 8.3
I have a 2006 SeaRay 44 Sundancer in Hawaii and need to replace the Smartcraft 5000 and looking at VV703. Is there a diagram or similar with any additional parts and numbers that makes it clear how to connect the VV703 to the existing SmartCraft wiring? I have twin Cummins QSC 8.3s and I think the sims on those are compatible, I do have the round gauges as well that need to stay operable.
Mahalo
Everett Lewis
- Dec 31, 2006
- 2,823
- Boat Info
- H2O Therapy
2006 Sundancer 48
Novurania 430DL
HighField 340-FCT
Yamaha EX-R
Raymarine
PADI DM
- Engines
- Cummins QSC 540's
Start here I just finished...
http://www.clubsearay.com/index.php?threads/diesel-view-vessel-view-upgrade.96502/page-4
joehagner
New Member
Hi Everett,
You need to make sure you tell the dealer you're buying the unit from what your running. All existing Smartcraft cabling will come out. Once you get the unit it will all become clear. Get the cable to the guages and don't let anyone tell you you don't need one. I spent a lot of time with one of those guys. Call Merc. Their tech support is willing to help. Good Luck! -Joe
Josh28161
Active Member
Do I need to have a dealer do any programming, or is it plug and play?
Atalla
Active Member
You won't need any dealer programming if you're comfortable with electronics. You do have to do some setup, but it isn't complex. Calling it plug and play might be a bit of a stretch.
Agree with previous post. Call or submit a support request to Merc with your engine serial numbers and they will give you precisely the cabling and harnesses required. Mention your gauges. Also, depending on your MFD, you may be able to just get a VesselView Link and get the the Merc data on your MFD without buying the additional 703. Also VV Mobile is slick if you have an ipad you use for a secondary screen or the like. All depends on what you're going for.
- May 16, 2019
- 1,035
- Boat Info
- 07 52 Sedan Bridge, 2019 Brig Falcon 360HT-30HP Honda, 2003 16' Dauntless
- Engines
- Cummins QSM 11 660 HP w/ ZF 325-1A
If you tie your VV into a N2K backbone and using one of the newer Garmin MFD's the entire MFD interface can be displayed on your Iphone or Ipad via Active Captain.
Henry Boyd
Well-Known Member
- Apr 24, 2007
- 6,014
- Boat Info
- ‘09 Sabre 38 Hardtop Express “Serenity”
- Engines
- Volvo D6 w/IPS450 Pods
Josh,
Are you sure you have Smartcraft? Our 02 280 did not, although the engine (496) was compatible. Even though your engines might be compatible, Sea Ray may not have installed Smartcraft gauges. For reasons only known to them, Sea Ray held off implementation of SC well after Mercury started building SC capable engines.
If the tachs only have a lcd hours display and no buttons then they are NOT SmartCraft. The project may still be do able, just more complicated. I did it to our 280 in 08 so it is very DIY. You first have to find out if the engines are SC compatible and work from there.
Are you sure you have Smartcraft? Our 02 280 did not, although the engine (496) was compatible. Even though your engines might be compatible, Sea Ray may not have installed Smartcraft gauges. For reasons only known to them, Sea Ray held off implementation of SC well after Mercury started building SC capable engines.
If the tachs only have a lcd hours display and no buttons then they are NOT SmartCraft. The project may still be do able, just more complicated. I did it to our 280 in 08 so it is very DIY. You first have to find out if the engines are SC compatible and work from there.
Josh28161
Active Member
Thanks Henry, they started using the smartcraft in 03. Any info you can share about your conversion would be appreciated. I’m planning on getting rid of the gauges. I modified the dash panel last year to allow for a 10” garmin and don’t like how crowded it is.
Henry Boyd
Well-Known Member
- Apr 24, 2007
- 6,014
- Boat Info
- ‘09 Sabre 38 Hardtop Express “Serenity”
- Engines
- Volvo D6 w/IPS450 Pods
My conversion was to add SC gauges plus the SC5000 display that is the grandad of the current vesselview. Here is a pic of my final dash layout:
The current boat almost has a “glass cockpit” where the only gauges are two multi function tachs, the rest being two RM Axiom 12 pros, a RM autopilot display and Garmin 7608 display. The axioms run nav & radar mostly and the Garmin is dedicated engine gauges. Although from time to time I’ll put up engines on one of the big displays, just so I can have everything up. Personally I’d rather have a full suite of gauges, only because scrolling through 4 or 5 screens can be a pain.
