Vesselview smartcraft

[jmauld]

Mercury stopped supporting the CAN format generator data around 2012. Newer VesselViews will only read it if it is in NMEA 2000 format. I think you're still going to need a converter.

I ordered a converter from yachtdevices back in January. They thought it would do the conversion, but It doesn’t grab the data correctly, although they can see something there. They have been working on this for a few weeks now and have even offered to extend the return window, while they try to figure it out. Hopefully they come up with a solution.

 

[Siboatguy]

So I started anther form but maybe you guys can answer... I'm looking to get rid of the Vessel View and do Garmin... Can I? Will all my codes & Alerts come up on my Garmin? This is a pic of my dash now..

 

[ttmott]

So I started anther form but maybe you guys can answer... I'm looking to get rid of the Vessel View and do Garmin... Can I? Will all my codes & Alerts come up on my Garmin? This is a pic of my dash now..


View attachment 121475

I think you will find that your analog gauges are Mercury System Link gauges; they are daisy chained together for the port and daisy chained together for the starboard and all connect to the Vesselview wiring harness. These gauges require the Vesselview to provide them the data and power. They will not operate without the Vesselview.
Youve got two paths one is to replace the Vesselview with a later model Vesselview that has a NMEA2000 port so the system not only drives the gauges but also is partially integrated with NMEA 2000.
Or, get a Vesselview Link which will eliminate the Vesselview display but yet still drive the gauges and provide a partial NMEA 2000 integration.
I would replace the Vesselview display with a later Vesselview that has NMEA 2000 (this is what I did). The reason I say this is Vesselview is the only device that will display the Smartcraft engine errors. Smartcraft error messages do not transmit on NMEA 2000 and consequently you will not know on any other MFD. Now Garmin and Mercury has been doing collaboration on getting the Smartcraft data on the Garmin MFD's but I haven't heard anything about the fault messaging.

 

[Siboatguy]

O... I thought the gauges plug in like the smart-craft gauges did.... Maybe ill lose the speed O and put the smart Craft there.... Damm!!!!

 

[ttmott]

O... I thought the gauges plug in like the smart-craft gauges did.... Maybe ill lose the speed O and put the smart Craft there.... Damm!!!!

You could put a Smartcraft master gauge in place of one of the port and one of the starboard sets and It will work... But the cost.....

 

[Siboatguy]

You could put a Smartcraft master gauge in place of one of the port and one of the starboard sets and It will work... But the cost.....

So you mean just change out both RPM gauges to Smart Craft and then the rest would work?? I would also have them programed to port & starboard engines prob

 

[jmauld]

So I started anther form but maybe you guys can answer... I'm looking to get rid of the Vessel View and do Garmin... Can I? Will all my codes & Alerts come up on my Garmin? This is a pic of my dash now..


View attachment 121475

Not unless there have been updates made recently. The last reports that I’ve seen is that garmin does not fully support the smartcraft connect data.

 

[ttmott]

So you mean just change out both RPM gauges to Smart Craft and then the rest would work?? I would also have them programed to port & starboard engines prob

I'd like to say it's that simple but there are pretty massive wire harness changes that goes along with the installation of the Master Gauges. Then who knows what on getting the gauges set up from a programming aspect. I suspect you have eclipsed to a Mercury dealer install to make sure it gets done right.

 

[alnav]

So you mean just change out both RPM gauges to Smart Craft and then the rest would work?? I would also have them programed to port & starboard engines prob

I have seen several instances of converter installations (VV Mobile, VV Link, etc.) where the solution to the gauge problem was to just retain the old Smartcraft/VesselView box behind the dash just to drive the gauges. So that is an option. You would need to have room on your J-box or install another one.
Smartcraft Connect is Mercury's latest converter. It's advertised as providing a complete replacement for VesselView including showing fault codes. It provides a VV-like interface on Raymarine or Garmin MFDs including the same data on the analog gauges. Also pricy at ~$1000. But, with that, conceivably you could do without gauges and use that real estate for something else.

 

[Siboatguy]

I have seen several instances of converter installations (VV Mobile, VV Link, etc.) where the solution to the gauge problem was to just retain the old Smartcraft/VesselView box behind the dash just to drive the gauges. So that is an option. You would need to have room on your J-box or install another one.
Smartcraft Connect is Mercury's latest converter. It's advertised as providing a complete replacement for VesselView including showing fault codes. It provides a VV-like interface on Raymarine or Garmin MFDs including the same data on the analog gauges. Also pricy at ~$1000. But, with that, conceivably you could do without gauges and use that real estate for something else.

I kinda like that idea of just sticking it behind the dash.... If I don't have a extra port on my junction box I assume I can just buy a bigger one??

 

[alnav]

I kinda like that idea of just sticking it behind the dash.... If I don't have a extra port on my junction box I assume I can just buy a bigger one??

Correct.

 

[Henry Boyd]

So I started anther form but maybe you guys can answer... I'm looking to get rid of the Vessel View and do Garmin... Can I? Will all my codes & Alerts come up on my Garmin? This is a pic of my dash now..


View attachment 121475

Hey dude,

You might have mentioned you cross posted. I just wasted my time writing a response to your reply to me in the original thread that other folks had already answered here.

 

[Siboatguy]

Hey dude,

You might have mentioned you cross posted. I just wasted my time writing a response to your reply to me in the original thread that other folks had already answered here.

Sorry about that and I just answered you on the other post as well... I'm going to delete that other form... As Ty everyone for all the Help... As I'm going to put the VV where the Speed O goes and put the Garmin 9 inch in the middle and put the 10 inch gamin on the side... The AP ill find a spot off to the side... Prob won't be the engine data over to the gamins right now.. But we will see how the cost is this year with the rising gas prices & everything else.. Thanks again everyone..

 

[Siboatguy]

I think you will find that your analog gauges are Mercury System Link gauges; they are daisy chained together for the port and daisy chained together for the starboard and all connect to the Vesselview wiring harness. These gauges require the Vesselview to provide them the data and power. They will not operate without the Vesselview.
Youve got two paths one is to replace the Vesselview with a later model Vesselview that has a NMEA2000 port so the system not only drives the gauges but also is partially integrated with NMEA 2000.
Or, get a Vesselview Link which will eliminate the Vesselview display but yet still drive the gauges and provide a partial NMEA 2000 integration.
I would replace the Vesselview display with a later Vesselview that has NMEA 2000 (this is what I did). The reason I say this is Vesselview is the only device that will display the Smartcraft engine errors. Smartcraft error messages do not transmit on NMEA 2000 and consequently you will not know on any other MFD. Now Garmin and Mercury has been doing collaboration on getting the Smartcraft data on the Garmin MFD's but I haven't heard anything about the fault messaging.

I hate to ask again but can I just Add a VV 4... Remove the one I have and is a VV4 plug and play... And my gauges will still work? I like that because its small and I can put it where my Speed O is...

 

[alnav]

I hate to ask again but can I just Add a VV 4... Remove the one I have and is a VV4 plug and play... And my gauges will still work? I like that because its small and I can put it where my Speed O is...

Yes, the VV4 is pretty much plug and play and will drive the gauges. You will just need to make sure you order the right unit for your engines and that it has the proper system link cabling for your gauges.