Smartcraft Vessel View with 2001 300x’s Install

[turbo94gto]

I searched far and wide, it was hard to find good Smartcraft info for the DIY guy like myself. My boat needed trim indicators, new set of gauges, refinished center console and dash. My 87 32 Skater that has been re rigged with 300x motors and old analog gauges. I am going to go step by step with the parts I used how I did it and tips I learned with pictures.

[turbo94gto]

As you can see the dash is in need of some love in a bad way. I knew I was going to go with a smartcraft setup but just not sure which one. After comparing cost of the standard smartcraft round gauges or a Vessel View the choice was easy. The Vessel View!!!

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c265/turbo94gto/2013-02-17_17-41-24_354_zps392bd5f3.jpg

[turbo94gto]

So I decided on the Vessel View for the 2001 300x’s. I scoured the web trying to find any info if the latest and greatest of Merc electronics will work with my 1st generation of smart craft on my old 300xs will work. I called Merc directly and after talking to an expert here is what I got out of it. ALL!!! Newer smartcraft system are backwards compatible. If you have a smartcraft motor basically any smartcraft part will work with your motor. So I bought Merc part number 8M0029471

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c265/turbo94gto/379304_10200534222907086_939225080_n_zps66e8dfca.jpg

[turbo94gto]

So next I needed some harnesses to hook the screen to my motors and all the rest of the sensors. I bought merc 84-898273t01

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c265/turbo94gto/KGrHqRqQFBGvGM67dBQfcMNoF60_57_zps25c99e2f.jpg

[turbo94gto]

To hook the up the motors to the vessel view harness I needed 2 blue CAN cables and a 4 way junction box. The CAN cable part number was 84-879982T20 and I needed one for each motor. The 4 way junction box I used was part number 878492K14.

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c265/turbo94gto/KGrHqZqgFCruy4EMHBQ-YvkTfJw60_57_zpsde39ab84.jpg
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c265/turbo94gto/KGrHqFHJDMFCfleCcCBQouiF3U60_57_zpsc40cfbf6.jpg

[turbo94gto]

So now the vessel will plug into the motors through thevessel harness, junction box, and can cables. I wanted to just test it before Ireally went for the full blown install. The first thing that stumped me waswhere the heck does this pull power from? No power wires on the vessel view orits harness. I tried to hook up the CAN cable on the first motor and realized acouple pins on the harness on the motor were corroded real bad. So I hooked upjust the other, went and keyed on the motor and the Vessel view powered up. Iguess it pulls power from the motor. <o:p></o:p>


http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c265/turbo94gto/2013-02-17_17-43-15_36_zpsfede2488.jpg

[turbo94gto]

After looking through some of the sensor options when I tested the vessel view I ordered this 56-820386A76 air temp sensor. So I can see how warn or cold it is outside it was an easy add on, just plugged right into the vessel view harness.


http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c265/turbo94gto/T2eC16NHJGQE9noMZGd5BQtk9WYNhg60_1_zps9c598eb9.jpg

[turbo94gto]

I went to Cebelas with a buddy to get some shooting stuff. I swung by their marine section and the GPS/NAV/Fish finder section caught my attention. As you saw my dash panel is not very tall. I found and bought this guy for $700.00 just for the NAV chart plotter functions. One thing that would make or break the deal is it being flush mounted and that one can.

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c265/turbo94gto/lowrance_elite-7_1024x768_zpsbab38619.png

[turbo94gto]

Now it is time to start putting all these new goodies together. First thing is first time to remove the beat down dash panel. Since I am redoing the center console I removed it also.

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c265/turbo94gto/2013-02-21_18-37-32_249_zpsd1042824.jpg

[turbo94gto]

How and the heck am I going to build a new panel? Trace it and cut it by hand? I found this company called frontpanelexpress.com. I down loaded there software and went to work. After lots and lots of measuring I came up with this. To make sure it would fit right I had the fedex store print it for 9 bucks. But before I sent this off to be built I had another piece done that I think turned out great.

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c265/turbo94gto/2013-03-04_19-34-59_33_zps0cd3d446.jpg
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c265/turbo94gto/2013-02-27_19-50-04_130_zps6daa5a0b.jpg

[turbo94gto]

While the dash piece is being built its time to start wiring. The end of the CAN cable that hooks to the motor was to big to go through the hoses from the transom. I took apart the cable and taped up the end so it would go through the hose. It went through the hose real easy, then I re assembled the harness and plugged it into the motor.

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c265/turbo94gto/2013-03-02_09-36-01_370_zps998d860e.jpg
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c265/turbo94gto/2013-03-02_09-59-35_744_zps66c6c2e5.jpg
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c265/turbo94gto/2013-03-02_10-04-53_144_zps85ec47c9.jpg

[turbo94gto]

Rigid Industries just came up with a new bight small light. Since I doing interior work and lots of electrical work I took some time to install 2 pair or these guys. I think it is another great step towards modernizing the interior.
http://www.bytortruck.com/rigid-a-series-light-black-high-strength-red-set-of-2-48210-p-75716.html

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c265/turbo94gto/601419_10200810158085293_1036942109_n_zpsc7f9c3ca.jpg

[turbo94gto]

Now I just ordered 2 these Fuel/Oil/Paddle wheel harnesses. I need these harnesses to hook the Vessel view harness to the fuel and oil tanks. The Oil tanks that are in the boat do not have oil sensors so I am going to need to try and find the sensors. The part numbers are 84-859743T03

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c265/turbo94gto/T2eC16VHJHEE9ny2rS4QBRLuP-kS160_57_zps127cf4c8.jpg

[mustangjoe87]

I dig the setup, makes me wish I had power new enough to go smartcraft.

[euro scott]

Cool ,, dig the new style smartcraft screen, I got the older one, how much was it ?

[turbo94gto]

Cool ,, dig the new style smartcraft screen, I got the older one, how much was it ?
I got if off ebay for around 1000, I am on vacation more updates to come next week.

[jpf091959]

Great tip on the frontpanelexpress.com I will have to use them.

Keep the pictures coming. I have two projects going.

Rigging a new Daytona 22 and freshening up my Motion 25

273763273764273765

[turbo94gto]

<o:pI just got the new dash panel that I designed and built by frontpanelexpress.com. I test fitted the new Lowrance unit, Vessel View, and they fit great. Now it and the center consol goes off to be wrapped in carbon fiber.
</o

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c265/turbo94gto/IMG_20130320_163614_944_zps1b9f785d.jpg

[turbo94gto]

So I re test fitted the dash with the electronics in it. There is a small piece that needs to be trimmed behind the vessel view. I have been having trouble getting the port motor to connect. After talking to merc they said all motor ECUs are all setup as starboard. So I need to take the boat to a dealer to get the port motor re flashed to a port motor.

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c265/turbo94gto/554909_10200997983540812_808578110_n_zps29e61a2a.jpg

[turbo94gto]

Now I just ordered 2 these Fuel/Oil/Paddle wheel harnesses. I need these harnesses to hook the Vessel view harness to the fuel and oil tanks. The Oil tanks that are in the boat do not have oil sensors so I am going to need to try and find the sensors. The part numbers are 84-859743T03

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c265/turbo94gto/T2eC16VHJHEE9ny2rS4QBRLuP-kS160_57_zps127cf4c8.jpg
So I thought this harness attached to the vessel view harness. I could not find the connector anywhere. I called merc, they said all the info is processed by the motor computer then sent out through the blue can cable. Just plug it into the 6 pin connector on the motor.

[turbo94gto]

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c265/turbo94gto/CF6VBHmkKGrHqJhIE0fogtfJuBNWrzjKNGQ0_1_zps1da16c6d.jpg
So I hunted and hunted, I could not find a 6 pin connector to plug the 84-859743T03 anywhere on the motor. I called merc again they said yup just plug it into the 6 pin connector. GRRRR I could not find it anywhere I found a 8 pin but that is no 6 pin. I looked at the wire colors on the open 8 pin and the 6 pin harness, the wires were all the same but the 2 extra wires on the 8pin. I call Merc again and tell them what I found, oh yea you need this adapter harness. Kinda pissed me off but glad I got it figured out. The part number for the 8 to 6 pin harness is 859244A2

[turbo94gto]

It is getting closer and closer to being done.

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c265/turbo94gto/IMG_20130328_082704_101_zpsfd9c19bc.jpg

[Speed Jr.]

Everything looks great....is the smartcraft system nmea 2000? If so, why not use the Lowrance for everything?

[baja200merk]

Looks awesome, I went with the digital I-command Evinrude version of smart craft and I love them.

Are you sure you cant change the engine to port with the smart craft?

[turbo94gto]

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c265/turbo94gto/4737-3-lg_zpsc3dc4678.jpg

So I went to install the 859743T03 to the motor and 859244A2 to the boat. Super super frustrating the connector on the 859244A2 motor side was a female going to the boat and the 859743T03 going to the motor was also a female going to the motor. I said F it and cut both end off and soldered them together.

[turbo94gto]

Looks awesome, I went with the digital I-command Evinrude version of smart craft and I love them.

Are you sure you cant change the engine to port with the smart craft?

I am not positive, merc is!!! but they were also wrong when it came to the dumb 6 pin conector

[turbo94gto]

Everything looks great....is the smartcraft system nmea 2000? If so, why not use the Lowrance for everything?

My lowance unit is a lower model and you would need a smartcraft gateway if it was availible.

[Adam McKeon]

it would be trick to remove and paint the face plates of the VV and Low to match, either silver or??

[Sincs64]

Hey mate, love the info you have provided, I am going through a similar set up at the moment, only with a single engine, are you able to tell me where the oil and fuel sensors are for the fuel/oil harness?