Adding SmartCraft?


kai330

kai330

Member
Our 2002 Formula has "SmartCraft" decals on both of the 496 Mags and the Bravo IIIs. We do not have any smartcraft gauges.

We looked at a 2002 or 2003 Powerquest 320 last year that had a digital SmartCraft display that looked to give all sorts of great info on the status of the engines/outdrives.

How difficult is it to retrofit a SmartCraft display that will give me accurate RPMs, GPH, etc? Is it a plug and play setup, or do all sorts of fittings and wires need to be run.

Also, is the speedometer on the SmartCraft display GPS based or is it only a speedoguesser like the normal boat speedos?

Thanks
 
Some of the first edition Smartcraft systems were, not so smart. They changed the pin connections and revamped the system after a certain engine number. My 2001 falls into that category. I have the smartcraft stickers and a plug but its a 9 pin and the smarter smartcraft changed over to a 14 pin or something like that. I have the VDO gauges and have tried the same thing to no avail. They told me the smartcraft gauges have Smartcraft written on the bottom of the gauges. Call formula directly and ask for the good/bad news. Not worth it to change alllll the connections and harnesses on the engines. You can go aftermarket or hook up a program like Rinda and put 2 computer screens into your dash. Long way to go to get info but its cheaper than redoing the harnesses. If your system isn't the not so smart smartcraft, then I apologize for the writing and go back to your normally scheduled programming.
Clueless ???
 
clueless said:
Some of the first edition Smartcraft systems were, not so smart. They changed the pin connections and revamped the system after a certain engine number. My 2001 falls into that category. I have the smartcraft stickers and a plug but its a 9 pin and the smarter smartcraft changed over to a 14 pin or something like that. I have the VDO gauges and have tried the same thing to no avail. They told me the smartcraft gauges have Smartcraft written on the bottom of the gauges. Call formula directly and ask for the good/bad news. Not worth it to change alllll the connections and harnesses on the engines. You can go aftermarket or hook up a program like Rinda and put 2 computer screens into your dash. Long way to go to get info but its cheaper than redoing the harnesses. If your system isn't the not so smart smartcraft, then I apologize for the writing and go back to your normally scheduled programming.
Clueless ???
Click to expand...

Thanks for the detailed info, that is what I needed.

I think the best course is to buy a newer, bigger boat with it already installed! Now, where did I put that lottery ticket.....?
 
When I get everything else in order I will set up the monitors in the dash for the software it's the best self diagnostic tool I ever bought. If you think about how many times you pay a marina to hook up your engine to the code box, it pays for itself in a couple uses. Check out just some of the stuff it does.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kbOJSiGTcME

Clueless ???
 
It gives you the codes and what they mean along with possibilities of what to check. It even has a button to open the manuals to look up the codes right from the software.
 
Regarding adding smartcraft, I have a 2002 370SS twin 496HOs with smartcraft and no smartcraft gauges. I talked to mercury and bought a gateway [along with a couple cables and junction boxes], it converts mercury smartcraft to nema2000 info that can be displayed on my garmin in the dashboard view, It works great, digital or analog setup, not as much info as the systems on the newer smartcraft but i get alot. To mention a few i get water pressure and temp, oil pressure, rpm, trim, volts, mpg and gph, and a few more that i can't think of right now. Just hooked it up a couple of weeks ago and still playing with it. Looking to connect fuel tanks to the smartcraft harness, just ordered cable. Any mercury certified dealer should help you with ordering what you need, although i did email mercury direct to confirm what i needed.
 
Interested in hearing more from people who have added SmartCraft monitoring after the fact. I have an '03 330 SS with 496's and would like to explore the possibility of adding SmartCraft monitoring. The engines are reported to be capable of doing so, but did not include the monitor as factory equipment.Trying to judge the size and scope of the project from someone who has actually been through the exercise.
 
its plug and PLAY! I emailed mercury for list of items, then had to go through a distributor, they won't sell direct. I connected it to both of my garmins with a n2000 and they share info. Just run the wires, plug it in and watch the gauges.
 
2002-370SS said:
its plug and PLAY! I emailed mercury for list of items, then had to go through a distributor, they won't sell direct. I connected it to both of my garmins with a n2000 and they share info. Just run the wires, plug it in and watch the gauges.
Click to expand...



Sounds great. May I be so forward as to ask at what cost?
 
Curious about the cost as well...I am looking to upgrade to a Garmin 741xs on my 06 280 ss, and I would like to get the smartcraft info to display. I am wondering what it will cost to create the network just for the engine data.
 
I have 2002 370SS twin 496HO, needed 2 engine cables, 3 junction boxes, a y-cable, and a smartcraft gateway[from a Mercury dealer]. Plus a n-2000 backbone kit[amazon]. the Mercury parts were @ $900.00. It works great!
 
2002-370SS said:
I have 2002 370SS twin 496HO, needed 2 engine cables, 3 junction boxes, a y-cable, and a smartcraft gateway[from a Mercury dealer]. Plus a n-2000 backbone kit[amazon]. the Mercury parts were @ $900.00. It works great!
Click to expand...

Thanks I might ask Santa for this for Christmas.
 
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