Which smartcraft setup for fuel flow

[GTRMick]

I have a boat that I use mostly for skiing. It has a 2002 Merc 225EFI. The boat doesn’t currently have a fuel gauge and there is no easy way of getting to the tank to add a level sender. I want to add a gauge, so I thought of something like the Navman 2100, so I don’t need a level sender.

I currently have a dash mounted GPS that I use for a speedo, but it is an old one which I don’t really like anyway. So…I’m thinking I should get rid of that, run a Navman / Northstar chartplotter and smartcraft.
<O:p</O:p
Will this give me the fuel management I want? I would like something that I can enter the amount of fuel I fill it with at the beginning of the day, and then it will display a fuel level gauge as well as gallons used. Miles/Gallon would be a bonus.
<O:p</O:p
Will this work on a 2002 model 225? (It has a smartcraft emblem on the cowling)
<O:p</O:p
Will I be able to read other engine parameters?
<O:p</O:p
Does anyone have any recommendations?

[woodduck]

Mick, if it is smartcraft capable, the little square system monitor will give you fuel used, you just have to calibrate it from an empty tank to a full tank. Can't you get to the tank at all? Pretty sure you could still run all the anologue gauges too. We use it to gauge how much fuel to carry when racing, after 100k's we are left with 4 or 5 litres, seems to work!

[Noah1]

Hi GTRMICH:cheers:

Let me know if you get one. I'll have to Google the Navman fuel 2100 & price them out.

[GTRMick]

Mick, if it is smartcraft capable, the little square system monitor will give you fuel used, you just have to calibrate it from an empty tank to a full tank. Can't you get to the tank at all? Pretty sure you could still run all the anologue gauges too. We use it to gauge how much fuel to carry when racing, after 100k's we are left with 4 or 5 litres, seems to work!

Thanks for the help mate. That sounds okay...if I can't work out which GPS to use, I may just grab that. Better than effing around with flow sensors.

It's a bullet. As far as I can see there is no acccess to the tank as its all glassed in.

[Fast Fig]

I have a boat that I use mostly for skiing. It has a 2002 Merc 225EFI. The boat doesn’t currently have a fuel gauge and there is no easy way of getting to the tank to add a level sender. I want to add a gauge, so I thought of something like the Navman 2100, so I don’t need a level sender.

I currently have a dash mounted GPS that I use for a speedo, but it is an old one which I don’t really like anyway. So…I’m thinking I should get rid of that, run a Navman / Northstar chartplotter and smartcraft.
<O:p</O:p
Will this give me the fuel management I want? I would like something that I can enter the amount of fuel I fill it with at the beginning of the day, and then it will display a fuel level gauge as well as gallons used. Miles/Gallon would be a bonus.
<O:p</O:p
Will this work on a 2002 model 225? (It has a smartcraft emblem on the cowling)
<O:p</O:p
Will I be able to read other engine parameters?
<O:p</O:p
Does anyone have any recommendations?

Navman/Northstar have the Smartcraft interface capabilities but, these units require additional components in order for you to operate these functions.
First off you need to purchase the GPS unit a Smartcraft Gateway and a Fuel Sender as well.
Why would you go through such an expense if you could in fact obtain this same feature/functions with Mercury Smartcraft gauges or a Smartcraft Systems View Display if you like a display instead of gauges. The smartcraft system is it without that, Navman/Northstar is worthless.

What I do not understand is; Where you read that a fuel gauge or fuel management system of any kind would register data from the tank to the display without a sending unit...........the Navman/Northstar system would require both and the smartcraft interface in order to work.

I strongly recommend against the Nav/North products............in the US you can't give them away.......their tech support system is the absolute worst and they do not stand behind the product, as you may have realized at this juncture their advertising is vague/generic and so are their schematics/manuals..........
Hope this information saves you money and lots of heartache
Good luck buddy!
FIG

[GTRMick]

I'm happy to buy the smartcraft interface....that's no real issue. You are correct, the manuals are poor, but from my understanding each time you fill the tank, you enter the amount of fuel you put in and it will display a level gauge. Am I wrong? Will smartcraft do this?





Navman/Northstar have the Smartcraft interface capabilities but, these units require additional components in order for you to operate these functions.
First off you need to purchase the GPS unit a Smartcraft Gateway and a Fuel Sender as well.
Why would you go through such an expense if you could in fact obtain this same feature/functions with Mercury Smartcraft gauges or a Smartcraft Systems View Display if you like a display instead of gauges. The smartcraft system is it without that, Navman/Northstar is worthless.

What I do not understand is; Where you read that a fuel gauge or fuel management system of any kind would register data from the tank to the display without a sending unit...........the Navman/Northstar system would require both and the smartcraft interface in order to work.

I strongly recommend against the Nav/North products............in the US you can't give them away.......their tech support system is the absolute worst and they do not stand behind the product, as you may have realized at this juncture their advertising is vague/generic and so are their schematics/manuals..........
Hope this information saves you money and lots of heartache
Good luck buddy!
FIG

[Fast Fig]

Both the Northstar and Smartcraft Systems initialy require you to input data/parameters of your particular vessel/application, such as fuel tank capacity, and other pertinant data in order for the system to accurately display the readings, engine data, fuel consumption rate, range level, etc.

You still need to have a fuel sender and an inline flow sender which ties in to the tachs/smartcraft system...........it all interfaces and requires all these parts and then some depending on how much of these options you want to utilies.

Untill you don't call Navico tech support and inquire you'll rip your hair out trying to make heads or tails according to the info provided in their literature or web site.

Good Luck!
FIG

[hsbob]

for the SC to read tank levels it needs the sende, which he doesnt have. what you need is the correct SC unit that will give you fuel used. it needs to be reset everytime you fill the tank. from that point on it will give you fuel used.

be sure to get the right setup. sometime in the 2001 or 2002 they changed the SC systems.

[Fast Fig]

SC '07 System View changed to display and added features in '08 to the Vessel View.

[flabum1017]

A SC Tach will give you fuel used and fuel flow. Livorsi makes one as well. Option 5: http://www.livorsi.com/catalog/smartcraft.htm