Is a "glass dash" conversion possible.

[Docjason]

Have a 2006 44da with 8.1 gas engines. Interested in converting to a "glass dash" by replacing my old chart plotter and all gauges to then new systems and adding radar. Is this even possible and what would need to be done

 

[Gofirstclass]

Doc, somewhere around LOTO there must be a qualified marine electronics store. My suggestion would be to sit down with a rep from that company and explain to him what it is you're looking to have as an end result. He'll likely be able to show you a few different brands and a few ways to accomplish what you want. He'll also be able to tell you what it would take, how long it would take, and how many boat bucks you're looking at.

 

[MExcelsior]

Doc, the first step is to determine your Smartcraft engines capabilities. First, with your engine serial numbers, call Merc to see if they would work with a Mercruiser VesselView 4 or touchscreen VesselView 7. If so, the installation of one of these units would work as your new glass gauges and also work as a gateway to talk with other "glass" chart plotters depending on the number you want to install. After that, we can discuss what kind of brand of chart plotters and equipment further. I'm pretty sure the 2006 8.1s are ok, but check with Merc first. Look forward to discussing this further.

Hope this helps,

Mike

 

[Jeremygavin]

I have installed vessel view 7 on my 2005 with 8.1s and with this installed I could delete all my regular guages. I can pull up any info I want from the engines on the VV7 and then with the n2k backbone it pushes that info to my Raymarine E95.

 

[Docjason]

Checking with merc. If good, I'm leaning towards doing an "all glass" upgrade. Leaning towards ray/flir e127 12.1" mfd and adding the new quantum chirp radar. Never had radar on a boat before. We are on LOTO and we love heading out at night. Think adding radar would give me that extra level of protection. From my research,it looks like I can use the e127 as chart plotter and radar simultaneously. Trying to figure out what display to get for vessel management screen. Thought?