Preparing to install Mercruiser Gateway - 2006 340 Sundancer

[boatrboy]

I am planning on slowly preparing my boat for a Garmin 8610 xsv and Phantom Radar for the winter.

I’m thinking I need this gateway

I also have read the install manuals and posts and most talk about needing a 6 port box. This pic is what I have using a vessel view 1.5. I have two 4 port boxes with an open port but they have covers on them. Is this where I plug the gateway?

 

[jmauld]

I’m not an expert here, but I think you want this instead.

https://www.simmercury.com/dual-engine-under-helm-smartcraft-connect-kit-8m0173696/

The one you linked to only puts the data on the network. This one gives you the mercruiser screen with more warnings and error codes. And of course it’s double the price.

 

[jmcdboater]

I’m not an expert here, but I think you want this instead.

https://www.simmercury.com/dual-engine-under-helm-smartcraft-connect-kit-8m0173696/

The one you linked to only puts the data on the network. This one gives you the mercruiser screen with more warnings and error codes. And of course it’s double the price.

Wow, Salty! And that’s JUST for the cord/hookup! I’m glad I’m NOT doing that job.

Wishin’ you good luck with it, @boatrboy, hope it turns out perfectly!

 

[Fill Ess]

As long as you have a spare/unused plug on one of the boxes -- plug it in there. When I went to add vessel view mobile, I had a six on mine that was full, so I had to swap it out for an 8-port box ... which is essentially the same as you've got with two 4-port boxes.

 

[boatrboy]

I’m not an expert here, but I think you want this instead.

https://www.simmercury.com/dual-engine-under-helm-smartcraft-connect-kit-8m0173696/

The one you linked to only puts the data on the network. This one gives you the mercruiser screen with more warnings and error codes. And of course it’s double the price.

I’ll dig deeper but this one has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth which I don’t really need. I also am keeping my vessel view 1.5 which does show some error codes.
Thanks for the link - hoping I don’t need that one

 

[boatrboy]

As long as you have a spare/unused plug on one of the boxes -- plug it in there. When I went to add vessel view mobile, I had a six on mine that was full, so I had to swap it out for an 8-port box ... which is essentially the same as you've got with two 4-port boxes.

So will I get engine data on both engines plugging into only one of the j-boxes? I’ve seen on the websites that sell this a cable that looks like it plugs into both j-boxes and you plug the gateway into the cable. Will I need this or since I already installed the “wake” cable will I skip this?
Phil - do you have to separate j-boxes or are both motors in that same 8 port you mentioned?
Thanks.

 

[Fill Ess]

If you have data from both engines on your current VV display, then you would only need to plug the Mercury plug (on the new adapter from your first post) into one of the junction boxes. I think -- it's hard to tell what's plugged into each box. It might be that the PO had access to (2) 4-port boxes so that's what they used (cheaper, easier to get, who knows!)

I know less about the Garmin MFDs but if they require the 2000 gateway, what you have in your first post should work.

Hopefully someone with more knowledge of NMEA will chime in I thought the way to do it was to have a backbone -- rather than just taking this round plug and going right into the new MFD. If you have the backbone, then you can start introducing more items later.

I'm in a similar spot now with both my Whalers. I've got Smartcraft due to Mercury, but my MFDs are Simrad and they have an NMEA connection. So I'll need to do the same at some point if I want the Smartcraft and other engine data on the MFD.

 

[Fill Ess]

There is also 8M0165589 which comes with a T fitting

 

[boatrboy]

If you have data from both engines on your current VV display, then you would only need to plug the Mercury plug (on the new adapter from your first post) into one of the junction boxes. I think -- it's hard to tell what's plugged into each box. It might be that the PO had access to (2) 4-port boxes so that's what they used (cheaper, easier to get, who knows!)

I know less about the Garmin MFDs but if they require the 2000 gateway, what you have in your first post should work.

Hopefully someone with more knowledge of NMEA will chime in I thought the way to do it was to have a backbone -- rather than just taking this round plug and going right into the new MFD. If you have the backbone, then you can start introducing more items later.

I'm in a similar spot now with both my Whalers. I've got Smartcraft due to Mercury, but my MFDs are Simrad and they have an NMEA connection. So I'll need to do the same at some point if I want the Smartcraft and other engine data on the MFD.

View attachment 148600

I should have mentioned I already have ordered the nema 2000 starter kit which I will be installing shortly. Nothing I have now uses nema 2000 but I will eventually get a newer radio and depth transducer and will start using the 2k for networking. I plan on leaving the vv 1.5 which uses nema 0183 for the foreseeable future as it work great for me.
My prep is more for the GPS as my Raymarine c80 started acting up. If I go for the Garmin, I thought it would be good to have the nema 2k stuff ready to go.
I realize that realistically, i could install the Garmin and use the nema 0183 for the gps data only and NOT have engine data available, but I figure if I do this piecemeal, the cost hit will be easier to swallow... and maybe the wife wont notice

 

[jmauld]

I’ll dig deeper but this one has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth which I don’t really need. I also am keeping my vessel view 1.5 which does show some error codes.
Thanks for the link - hoping I don’t need that one

Let me know if you find out if this one works.

I think this will just put the data on your screen, but doesn’t allow you to enable the Vesselview app. So it depends on what you’re after with your install. Next time I’m at my boat I can get photos from my axiom to illustrate the difference, if you’re interested.

https://www.mercurymarine.com/en/us...ctionality-to-garmin-and-raymarine-displays-/

 

[alnav]

I have a Smartcraft Connect (SC) I bought right about the time they were introduced. The Connect was designed to completely replace legacy Smartcraft/Vesselview functionality. The other Mercury adapters are more like data taps to enable N2K/Bluetooth/Wifi connections to display engine data. The Connect contains actual processing and control functionality using chart plotter screens for the interface (while also displaying data including fault codes).
I too wanted to keep my old VesselView but sadly, I found in my case that this generated significant interference and weird behavior. It now makes sense that having two control devices contending on the same bus would cause problems.

 

[boatrboy]

I have a Smartcraft Connect (SC) I bought right about the time they were introduced. The Connect was designed to completely replace legacy Smartcraft/Vesselview functionality. The other Mercury adapters are more like data taps to enable N2K/Bluetooth/Wifi connections to display engine data. The Connect contains actual processing and control functionality using chart plotter screens for the interface (while also displaying data including fault codes).
I too wanted to keep my old VesselView but sadly, I found in my case that this generated significant interference and weird behavior. It now makes sense that having two control devices contending on the same bus would cause problems.

I just got off the phone with Mercruiser and they did say the SC would provide some more features than the original gateway. However, it appears that there are some updates that caused issues with my vintage motors and they cause some errors on displays. He stated they are working on these and have solved 2 of the 3 issues.
But it does look like the gateway should provide me plenty of engine data and rudder angle which was something I was hoping to see.

At double the cost, the SC should dock the boat for me.