Vessel View

becnme

Active Member
Oct 31, 2008
285
Fort Myers
Boat Info
2009 Formula 45
Engines
Volvo Penta 600 IPS
I have a new to me 05 420 Sundancer which has a bad Smart Craft Vesel View on the dash. Working but the screen is hard to read. I have two questions for anyone with a diesel 42 like mine, does anyone have one for sale or has anyone replaced theirs with a later version. I have done some research and even the local Searay dealer is not much help.

Thanks
 
I don't have a diesel but I have an 05 gas and I changed out the system view for vessel view 7. Great unit and it was plug as far as smartcraft connections.
 
Jeremy,
Really plug and play? I have 2004 390 with 8.1 Horizons, Mercury tells me compatible with VV7 but can't find a dealer who feels comfortable with install. Pretty handy but hate to make a mistake with cost. Do it yourself? Instructions clear? Thanks
 
Jeremy,
Really plug and play? I have 2004 390 with 8.1 Horizons, Mercury tells me compatible with VV7 but can't find a dealer who feels comfortable with install. Pretty handy but hate to make a mistake with cost. Do it yourself? Instructions clear? Thanks

I did it myself no problem. It was 2 years ago so I am trying to remember the specifics with the instructions but it was really plug and play. I think there was a plug that came with it that tied it into the smartcraft module under the dash but that was about it. It took me longer to cut out the mounting surface and mount the unit than it did to wire it up. Also, the VV7 has a built in gateway so you can hook it up to nmea2k components to get the info from the smartcraft onto and MFD. Here is the link to my dash remodel thread.

http://clubsearay.com/showthread.php/58925-2005-340-DA-Helm-remodel
 
Just installed a VV 4 in place of the SC5000, not truly plug and play if you want all the same data as there is no NMEA0183 data input so some items you are used to seeing will not be there. We added a NMEA2000 network and get data from the Raymarine E120 for environment. We are not too far from Ft Myers and if you wanted the unit we took out you could have it for next to nothing, but our boat is gas, don't know if the software will work.
 
Thanks, actually my SC5000 still works at least all but depth for some reason. What did you lose. Also I still have original RL70RC radar, chart plotter so don't know if your NMEA solution would work for me. Still surprised at how little knowledge local Mercury service folks have on VV7. I'm also gas so spare SC might be good if I chicken out on upgrade
 
It brings in all available engine data but environment data, no gps heading, steering angle, clock (cannot set manually), waypoint eta, etc. Anything your engine pcm ourputs will display. To get everything back with your current gps you would need a N2K backbone and convert NMEA 0183 data to N2K.
 
Sorry, that is correct about the N2k backbone being needed to be truly plug and play. I had already installed a backbone the year prior and had the merc gateway to transfer the information to my MFD. to make full use of the VV7 you would want to have a N2K network to transfer information to and from your MFD.
 
just bought a VV4 to replace the SC5000 LCD died on the 04 340, lets see how plug and play it really is..... marine max is trying to rip me off saying boat has to be pulled out of water and I have to take boat to them ........
 
Just read your post. I have a new to me 04 340 with very difficult to read smartcraft. Curious as to how your conversion to the vv4 worked out. Other than the vv4, did you have to purchase any other hardware? Can you share about what you you paid and where you bought it. I'd love to get the vv7, but budgetary limits are in force!!
 
Just installed a VV 4 in place of the SC5000, not truly plug and play if you want all the same data as there is no NMEA0183 data input so some items you are used to seeing will not be there. We added a NMEA2000 network and get data from the Raymarine E120 for environment. We are not too far from Ft Myers and if you wanted the unit we took out you could have it for next to nothing, but our boat is gas, don't know if the software will work.
 
Just read your post, any chance the smartcraft is still available? I'd like to upgrade, but finances are not in my favor right now!
 
I have a new to me 05 420 Sundancer which has a bad Smart Craft Vesel View on the dash. Working but the screen is hard to read. I have two questions for anyone with a diesel 42 like mine, does anyone have one for sale or has anyone replaced theirs with a later version. I have done some research and even the local Searay dealer is not much help.

Thanks

I dont have one for sale but I am looking for one that doesnt work. I simply need the face and buttons. I have a bad
set of buttons. Please let me know if you would be interested in selling it.

Thanks
Phillip
 
I dont have one for sale but I am looking for one that doesnt work. I simply need the face and buttons. I have a bad set of buttons. Please let me know if you would be interested in selling it. Thanks Phillip
I dont have one for sale but I am looking for one that doesnt work. I simply need the face and buttons. I have a bad set of buttons. Please let me know if you would be interested in selling it. Thanks Phillip
 
I dont have one for sale but I am looking for one that doesnt work. I simply need the face and buttons. I have a bad
set of buttons. Please let me know if you would be interested in selling it.

Thanks
Phillip[
If, and mostly likely when I replace unit, I'll shoot you a message
 
Just read your post. I have a new to me 04 340 with very difficult to read smartcraft. Curious as to how your conversion to the vv4 worked out. Other than the vv4, did you have to purchase any other hardware? Can you share about what you you paid and where you bought it. I'd love to get the vv7, but budgetary limits are in force!!
I changed out my original DieselView unit for a VV4 last fall. It was very much plug and play in my case but in doing research I saw a couple of instances that needed minor parts like special cables, just depends on your original configuration. I bought the VV4 at Verado Parts Club which seemed to have the best price when I bought. They also had an ace tech who was able to provide limited help for a diesel install but I imagine would be even more helpful for a gasoline set-up.
 

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