Best Option to replace SmartCraft SC5000

[ryanathompson]

I've seen a number of posts on upgrading the SmartCraft SC5000 to Vessel View. My screen has faded on the SC5000 to make it basically unusable. Given that I have analog gauges that cover most everything the SC5000, I'm looking for an affordable upgrade path and hoping to not spend $2000+. Questions:
(1) what's the most affordable path to get a digital console replacement?
(2) If I went with the Vessel View 403, is it plug and play?

 

[kysearay]

watching this as I have not gotten much response on mine. I have a 420 and considering the simrad 903 to remove my lowran that is useless and the faded vessel view from '05. Good luck?

 

[yv1]

If you upgrade from a SC5000 to Vesselview 4 or 7 is plug and play (Vesselview 4 or 7 that comes with all the wire harnesses). All the other Vesselviews MFD (903, 703, 403, Simrad, Lawrance,etc) are not plug and play. It may not even be possible to upgrade unless you change your SC100 tachs with SC1000. The main problem is that the SC5000 feed data into the SC100 gauges. The Simrad products use the new Vessel Link. There are no wire harness that feeds data to SC100 from a Vessel Link system. Mercury might have a Harness that solve this problem. But I could not find it. I even called Mercury customer service, they said only Vesselview 4 or 7 in my case. Same problem if you get the NMEA 2000 interface and remove the SC5000. No way to feed data into the tachs and other gauges.
I just upgrade mine. My SC5000 still works. The display is starting to fade on the periphery under high temp. I'm going to sell it on Ebay soon.
By the way, the SC100 tach is the tach without the LCD display on the bottom part. The SC1000 series are the one with LCD display.

 

[leferink]

If you upgrade from a SC5000 to Vesselview 4 or 7 is plug and play (Vesselview 4 or 7 that comes with all the wire harnesses). All the other Vesselviews MFD (903, 703, 403, Simrad, Lawrance,etc) are not plug and play. It may not even be possible to upgrade unless you change your SC100 tachs with SC1000. The main problem is that the SC5000 feed data into the SC100 gauges. The Simrad products use the new Vessel Link. There are no wire harness that feeds data to SC100 from a Vessel Link system. Mercury might have a Harness that solve this problem. But I could not find it. I even called Mercury customer service, they said only Vesselview 4 or 7 in my case. Same problem if you get the NMEA 2000 interface and remove the SC5000. No way to feed data into the tachs and other gauges.
I just upgrade mine. My SC5000 still works. The display is starting to fade on the periphery under high temp. I'm going to sell it on Ebay soon.
By the way, the SC100 tach is the tach without the LCD display on the bottom part. The SC1000 series are the one with LCD display.

Will I be able to hook my sc100 gauges with the VV7 harnesses that come with the kit?

 

[rlynch03]

I was able to switch from the Diesel View (2006/07) to a new VV703 and keep my Smartcraft Analog Gauges going.
It did however require another wire harness from Mercury.

One thing you may loose and I am not sure you will be able to regain is the generator data, if you have it currently displayed on your SC5000.

For more details see my post (Diesel View / Vessel View Upgrade) on this topic and additional part numbers needed to pull it all together.

If I did it all again, I would probably purchase the 903 and remove the RPM gauges. That would require replacing the Panel to fill the holes though.

Oddly the 703 and 903 are within $30 in price.

 

[RBB]

If you upgrade from a SC5000 to Vesselview 4 or 7 is plug and play (Vesselview 4 or 7 that comes with all the wire harnesses). All the other Vesselviews MFD (903, 703, 403, Simrad, Lawrance,etc) are not plug and play. It may not even be possible to upgrade unless you change your SC100 tachs with SC1000. The main problem is that the SC5000 feed data into the SC100 gauges. The Simrad products use the new Vessel Link. There are no wire harness that feeds data to SC100 from a Vessel Link system. Mercury might have a Harness that solve this problem. But I could not find it. I even called Mercury customer service, they said only Vesselview 4 or 7 in my case. Same problem if you get the NMEA 2000 interface and remove the SC5000. No way to feed data into the tachs and other gauges.
I just upgrade mine. My SC5000 still works. The display is starting to fade on the periphery under high temp. I'm going to sell it on Ebay soon.
By the way, the SC100 tach is the tach without the LCD display on the bottom part. The SC1000 series are the one with LCD display.

My boat has the 8.1s also, it’s a 04 sr 390my. Are you saying I can remove the sc5000 and plug and play with vv 4 or 7 and the gauges will still work? If so what’s the approx cost. I am IT challenged.
Thanks

 

[rlynch03]

Please see the SeaBoard Marine link in my post which will help confirm if your motor and system is compatible for the upgrade.

There is also a phone number in there for Mercury Tech Support. They were very helpful and knowledgeable about the conversion.

 

[Henry Boyd]

My boat has the 8.1s also, it’s a 04 sr 390my. Are you saying I can remove the sc5000 and plug and play with vv 4 or 7 and the gauges will still work? If so what’s the approx cost. I am IT challenged.
Thanks

As far as engine and boat data are concerned it would be a pretty easy thing to do. The complication comes in if your SC5000 currently has the navigation functions working such as waypoint, time to waypoint, SOG, COG, etc. These would mean that navigation (and possibly depth) data comes from your navigation gear. Depending on the manufacturers of your other hardware and it’s vintage, it gets complicated integrating it with VesselView.

That said, the thing to remember is that VesselView does not offer the same screens as the SC5000. I looked at upgrading our 280 to VesselView, but decided not to because it would take away the navigation features like waypoint steering, time to waypoint, sog, cog that were more convenient to use on the sc5000 than our RM c80. If the nav features aren’t an issue for you the importance of integration goes away.

 

[RBB]

As far as engine and boat data are concerned it would be a pretty easy thing to do. The complication comes in if your SC5000 currently has the navigation functions working such as waypoint, time to waypoint, SOG, COG, etc. These would mean that navigation (and possibly depth) data comes from your navigation gear. Depending on the manufacturers of your other hardware and it’s vintage, it gets complicated integrating it with VesselView.

That said, the thing to remember is that VesselView does not offer the same screens as the SC5000. I looked at upgrading our 280 to VesselView, but decided not to because it would take away the navigation features like waypoint steering, time to waypoint, sog, cog that were more convenient to use on the sc5000 than our RM c80. If the nav features aren’t an issue for you the importance of integration goes away.

Thanks , I am on the Ohio River. What I like about the sc5000 is fuel burn, miles till empty on fuel etc.
I have no idea about the way point info and steering, have looked at those screens though.
There is a Simrad plotter on board also
. Truly I am so green not sure what all it does. But would like to upgrade if it’s not
To pricy.

 

[Henry Boyd]

I was able to switch from the Diesel View (2006/07) to a new VV703 and keep my Smartcraft Analog Gauges going.
It did however require another wire harness from Mercury.

One thing you may loose and I am not sure you will be able to regain is the generator data, if you have it currently displayed on your SC5000.

For more details see my post (Diesel View / Vessel View Upgrade) on this topic and additional part numbers needed to pull it all together.

If I did it all again, I would probably purchase the 903 and remove the RPM gauges. That would require replacing the Panel to fill the holes though.

Oddly the 703 and 903 are within $30 in price.

RBB is talking about Mercruiser 8.1 gas engines, so part numbers from a Cummins diesel view conversion may not be applicable.

Leferink, if you have a working SC5000 now, the SC100 gauges will plug right in. The only thing you would need to do for the gauges is recalibrate your fuel tanks(s) and drive trim if you have sterndrives.

 

[Henry Boyd]

Thanks , I am on the Ohio River. What I like about the sc5000 is fuel burn, miles till empty on fuel etc.
I have no idea about the way point info and steering, have looked at those screens though.
There is a Simrad plotter on board also
. Truly I am so green not sure what all it does. But would like to upgrade if it’s not
To pricy.

You should look at the data the VesselView would give you to see what it offers. Fuel consumption in terms of gallons burned would be available without a nav connection as that is calculated based on the data received from the engine. Miles to empty, and fuel mileage would require a gps connection. Getting that from your Simrad could be simple, or complicated, depending the Simrad age and features.

Ok, short version is an upgrade to VesselView is doable as a diy, or reasonable if hired out.

If the boat is new to you, and the sc5000 is working, I’d suggest leaving it alone until you have worked out what you like and don’t like about the sc5000. Then research VesselView and see if it will give you what’s important to you.

The other thing is that there may be other ways to get what you want without replacing the sc5000. For example, I added a Garmin display to our new boat just for the engines rather than screw around with Volvo’s equivalent of Smartcraft.

 

[JAM420SD]

Hello, I'm bringing this back to the top. I have SC5000 on its last days but also have a Vesselview 4 PN #8m6001428 that came with the boat as a replacement. is this really a replacement or was maybe the previous owner mistaking. I wouldn't mind keeping the sc5000 if i could find a new one, love the rudder view on the display. Any advice what i should do? Thanks

 

[Henry Boyd]

Hello, I'm bringing this back to the top. I have SC5000 on its last days but also have a Vesselview 4 PN #8m6001428 that came with the boat as a replacement. is this really a replacement or was maybe the previous owner mistaking. I wouldn't mind keeping the sc5000 if i could find a new one, love the rudder view on the display. Any advice what i should do? Thanks

Best way to get started is to just post a pick of the “new” vesselview. The first generation VV was introduced with 2006/7ish models and was very close in features to the sc5000 and might be a drop in (with right matching harness). Later version were much more advanced and could require more serious modifications.

 

[JAM420SD]

Best way to get started is to just post a pick of the “new” vesselview. The first generation VV was introduced with 2006/7ish models and was very close in features to the sc5000 and might be a drop in (with right matching harness). Later version were much more advanced and could require more serious modifications.

Trying to figure out how to post images now

 

[JAM420SD]

 

[JAM420SD]

not sure why the images load sideways - but here is the dash as well, the SC5000 sits to right behind the wheel.

 

[rlynch03]

not sure why the images load sideways - but here is the dash as well, the SC5000 sits to right behind the wheel.

If you crop the picture before uploading, it will straighten itself out.

 

[hynespa]

@JAM420SD - are the dimensions of the cut out the same or do you have to cut into the fiberglass on the dashboard due to a different size?