2008 AXIUS - Gen1

[Boater71]

looking at a 310 08 with AXIUS. At Sea trail, mechanic said the Skyhook and autopilot were disabled with white glove service. any feedback on this?

 

[tony1b2000]

Those are key components. Why were they disabled? There is no good reason to disable them as it requires some operator input to use those features! I have a feeling a sensor went bad somewhere and this was the quick fix!

 

[Boater71]

I was told they were disabled because of the white glove service. The joystick works, but not the skyhook nor autopilot.

There was a new GPS installed, Garmin 74CV. but Garmin is not connected to smartcraft.

 

[stephenm27]

I was told they were disabled because of the white glove service. The joystick works, but not the skyhook nor autopilot.

There was a new GPS installed, Garmin 74CV. but Garmin is not connected to smartcraft.

There's a long history regarding the early days of Axius. Essentially, features were disabled until Mercury legal teams could satisfactorily address liability concerns regarding Skyhook. Many 2008 and some 2009 model year boats were sold equipped with hardware for these features, but disabled via firmware.

The 'white glove service' was an update that was offered (mandated) after Mercury decided all Axius-equipped boats needed better batteries (voltage drops during cranking was wreaking havoc with Axius command modules) as well as updated software to activate and refine software features. Early boats had to have a warning beeper installed to alarm while Skyhook is active.

I'm guessing your auto pilot issue is related to the new GPS that isn't properly connected to allow use by the autopilot.

To my knowledge, the 'white glove' update did not deactivate anything--to the contrary actually.

 

[Boater71]

I guess the new GPS supports NMEA 2000 and the smart craft VesselView is NMEA0183. Is this what you are referring to? Connecting both using a gateway should technically resolve the issue?

 

[Boater71]

There's a long history regarding the early days of Axius. Essentially, features were disabled until Mercury legal teams could satisfactorily address liability concerns regarding Skyhook. Many 2008 and some 2009 model year boats were sold equipped with hardware for these features, but disabled via firmware.

The 'white glove service' was an update that was offered (mandated) after Mercury decided all Axius-equipped boats needed better batteries (voltage drops during cranking was wreaking havoc with Axius command modules) as well as updated software to activate and refine software features. Early boats had to have a warning beeper installed to alarm while Skyhook is active.

I'm guessing your auto pilot issue is related to the new GPS that isn't properly connected to allow use by the autopilot.

To my knowledge, the 'white glove' update did not deactivate anything--to the contrary actually.

So maybe the beeper was not installed?

 

[stephenm27]

I guess the new GPS supports NMEA 2000 and the smart craft VesselView is NMEA0183. Is this what you are referring to? Connecting both using a gateway should technically resolve the issue?

I think the Garmin 74cv supports NMEA 183 natively---it's probably just not connected to the SmartCraft.

 

[stephenm27]

So maybe the beeper was not installed?

You can usually tell if the service update to enable skyhook was done as there will be warning decals on the helm and transom indicating that "props may start suddenly while engines are running" or something to that effect. The beeper itself is actually a truck back-up alert (think beep-beep-beep). I was told it was installed in the transom area. Not sure exactly where to tell you to look though (my 2009 never got the update and I had to sort it all out a couple of years ago when I bought the boat). Along with the beeper, is a software update that a dealer must perform as well as some minor calibration of the heading sensor.

If you have the ability to mandate that these systems work before you accept the vessel, you'll avoid a lot of hassle. On the other hand, if you already own it, work with your dealer as you cannot do it without them (unfortunately).

 

[Boater71]

I’m suppose to close on Tuesday. Sea trial, survey and oils results are all good. Only thing the dealer said before anything is they are disabled (skyhook and autopilot). I just read in the Garmin specs, it does have a NMEA 0183 ports in and out. Based on you are saying, the Smartcraft should work with the garmin 74 without a gateway. I can still ask and demand it works properly.

Another question, what if they don’t run? What issues i May have besides not being able to use them?

Thanks again for your help.

 

[stephenm27]

Yes, my understanding is that the Garmin should be able to be the GPS source for the autopilot (any NMEA 183 source should suffice). My boat still has the Raymarine C80 unit. Note also that the Skyhook utilizes it's own GPS and heading sensor. The heading sensor is under the instrument panel in the upper part of the helm while the GPS is contained in the antenna on the arch.

If Skyhook and autopilot are not operable, there are no side-effects beyond simply not being able to use them. My boat ran this way for ~ one year while I sorted through what needed to be done (I had to piece together the story with many calls to Mercury, Sea Ray and my dealer). The original owner apparently wasn't interested in activating the features he had actually paid for and ran without them from purchase through 2015.

All in all, I spent a lot of my time and about $2K in dealer labor and parts (beeper) to get it functional...so perhaps you at least have a negotiation point if they won't resolve prior to closing.

 

[Boater71]

Thanks again for the feedback. This is exactly what I was looking for.

I have uploaded a couple of pictures.

How often do you the skyhook and autopilot? Was it worth the 2k?

 

[stephenm27]

View attachment 61560 Thanks again for the feedback. This is exactly what I was looking for.

I have uploaded a couple of pictures. View attachment 61561

How often do you the skyhook and autopilot? Was it worth the 2k?

We’re inland lake boaters so autopilot is really not a necessity for us. We do use Skyhook while waiting for a fuel dock or waiting to put the boat back on the trailer.

Overall, I’m mixed on whether it was worth the extra $. I followed through on it largely so that it’s not a resale issue for me down the road.

 

[Boater71]

Makes sense - thanks.

 

[techmitch]

Gotta ask, do you guys have any idea how much wear and tear this system puts on your drives and thruster, especially in windy conditions, fast moving current or both?

 

[stephenm27]

Gotta ask, do you guys have any idea how much wear and tear this system puts on your drives and thruster, especially in windy conditions, fast moving current or both?

Axius doesn’t involve any thrusters so no wear there.

The drives definitely are active in positioning when challenged by current and or wind, especially if it’s variable which results in repeated gear shifting. The same can be said for aggressive mis/use of the joystick (ie not auto-positioning). As with traditional drive systems, I consider what my inputs will translate to in terms of the drivetrain and let that help guide my use of the system. In my opinion, that’s reasonable considering the effortless control of the vessel that the joystick provides, especially to less experienced captains in the family.

To date (9 year old boat), I’ve had no evidence of any Axius related damage with respect to the drives, drive actuators or gears. Perhaps that’ll change but so far I’m very pleased.

 

[Boater71]

We’re inland lake boaters so autopilot is really not a necessity for us. We do use Skyhook while waiting for a fuel dock or waiting to put the boat back on the trailer.

Overall, I’m mixed on whether it was worth the extra $. I followed through on it largely so that it’s not a resale issue for me down the road.

To help me have an educated conversation with dealer:
- to verify if the Skyhook was enabled by the White Glove service, there is a decal and alarm installed in the transom - from the pic attached, can you tell if the decal is there?
- to enable Skyhook and autopilot, connect Smartcraft to Garmin using the NMEA 0183 or another cable
- Install the Alarm
Update the Skyhook software (is that done through smartcraft VV)

Am I missing anything else?

 

[stephenm27]

No, it does not appear that the decals are present. The decals in question are part #879312A02.

The alarm module (buzzer) is Sea Ray part #2016763.

Two additional harnesses are also required (Sea Ray part #2104329 and #1960801). Aside from labor, that was all that my boat required.

There was not a part # for the VesselView software update, but my dealer worked with Mercury directly to acquire the software and that was included in the estimated 6 hours of tech labor. It (VesselView) is updated from a USB flash drive. There is no specific SkyHook software per se, only CCM (SmartCraft firmware) and VV (touchpanel) software that enables the feature.

An authorized Mercury dealer will know (or can quickly learn from Mercury tech support) how to enable these two features. The parts listed above total about $300, list price. Labor on my boat was estimated at 6 to 8 hours (to install alarm, update software/firmware, on-the-water calibration of heading sensor). Having a Sea Ray dealer to work with is even better as they are typically familiar with this odd history of Gen 1 Axius boats.

Note that it will require an authorized dealer as the software updates involve using Merc's CDS diagnostic software that is only available to authorized (and current) dealers.

 

[Boater71]

This is awesome - thanks.

 

[texasortho]

No, it does not appear that the decals are present. The decals in question are part #879312A02.

The alarm module (buzzer) is Sea Ray part #2016763.

Two additional harnesses are also required (Sea Ray part #2104329 and #1960801). Aside from labor, that was all that my boat required.

There was not a part # for the VesselView software update, but my dealer worked with Mercury directly to acquire the software and that was included in the estimated 6 hours of tech labor. It (VesselView) is updated from a USB flash drive. There is no specific SkyHook software per se, only CCM (SmartCraft firmware) and VV (touchpanel) software that enables the feature.

An authorized Mercury dealer will know (or can quickly learn from Mercury tech support) how to enable these two features. The parts listed above total about $300, list price. Labor on my boat was estimated at 6 to 8 hours (to install alarm, update software/firmware, on-the-water calibration of heading sensor). Having a Sea Ray dealer to work with is even better as they are typically familiar with this odd history of Gen 1 Axius boats.

Note that it will require an authorized dealer as the software updates involve using Merc's CDS diagnostic software that is only available to authorized (and current) dealers.

Old thread, but new to me! I have a 2008 Sundancer 330 Axius, and bought it with Skyhook not ever functional. For some reason the original owner never did the update. Lives on a lake now, so not really needed, but would be nice for resale. I have my Marinemax dealer looking for the parts, but for now the cables and alarm seem to be out of stock. To make things even more frustrating the joystick function quits now intermittently, and the dealer thinks it is internal to the joystick, and I need a new joystick. I wish there was a joystick rebuild service!

 

[stephenm27]

Old thread, but new to me! I have a 2008 Sundancer 330 Axius, and bought it with Skyhook not ever functional. For some reason the original owner never did the update. Lives on a lake now, so not really needed, but would be nice for resale. I have my Marinemax dealer looking for the parts, but for now the cables and alarm seem to be out of stock. To make things even more frustrating the joystick function quits now intermittently, and the dealer thinks it is internal to the joystick, and I need a new joystick. I wish there was a joystick rebuild service!

FYI the alarm is literally an electronic backup beeper for a heavy truck (dumptruck). Many Sea Ray boats use that same part # for the "axius alarm". Find a commercial 12VDC "truck backup alarm" and you'll have what you need. And then you'll promptly begin searching for ways to mute/silence it lol.

Joysticks used to show up on eBay now and again. You might set up a search there to alert you if one shows up (e.g. new-old stock).