Smart Tow on DTS Equipped Boats?

N

NorCalGlenn

New Member
Feb 20, 2012
402
Bullards Bar Reservoir, CA
Boat Info
230 SLX
Engines
350 MAG / Bravo Three
Hey Folks,

Anybody have experience with Smart Craft/DTS boats which are equipped with Smart Tow?

I've surfed Mercury Marine's website, and there's not much information other than that it's an upgrade available on engines with DTS.

Also, I don't see anything about it on Sea Ray's website - meaning the option list.

Any information or opinions would be appreciated!

Glenn
 
It might just be a misprint on the Sea Ray website. It's available. I'm not 100% positive on what to do to upgrade - it might just be replacing the tach. Pretty cool feature - works VERY well. I didn't think I would need it or like it, but after using it a few times... yeah, it's cool.
 
In my research, I found the SmartCraft Owner's Manual here at the Merc site:

http://www.mercurymarine.com/media/mercury/documents/SmartCraft_Gauges_Owners_Guide.pdf

Seems that the SmartTow is a feature on second generation guages. I have Gen 1 :smt089...

I don't know but I assume that you will need to upgrade the SmartCraft guage. Not sure about compatability as I have put it on the back burner for now. Gotta get the boat in the H2O!

Hope this helps.

Cheers!
 
Thanks for the feedback. Just off the phone with Sun Country (I *LOVE* them!) and they believe I have several options. SCM1000, which is an analog gauge which incorporates Smart Tow (with versions that are RPM or Speed based) and the new(er) MercMonitor, which has no analog dial and incorporates a lot of other display features and can have a GPS speed based Smart Tow.

I think I'll go with the MercMonitor GPS version. First, I like the accuracy of GPS, but as far as design goes the SCM1000 has an analog tach which doesn't match the Sea Ray gauges. The MercMonitor is all digital, so there's no "mis-match". One thing that is a bummer (design wise) is that the bezel around the SmartTow (Merc) gauges appear to be chrome - but are flat, so they won't match the other two bezels on the Sea Ray gauges.

Oh, well.

Not sure if I'll have time to get it installed before Summer starts, but maybe at my 20 hour service in July (?)...definitely next winter.

On a side note, Sea Ray offers wake/sport options on the 230 (Dynamic Running Surface, Tower, Swivel Racks, ski mirror) ... it's a head scratcher as to why they wouldn't offer this option (or market it, if it is available)?
 
No, it IS available. Like I said, just a misprint.

The speed-based version is obviously more expensive (given that you need a GPS signal, as well) but it gives a more "user-friendly" final speed since you're not relying on RPM. There should be, if you wanted to, a direct replacement for your existing gauges that would match.
 
Well, after quite a bit of communication with Sea Ray and my dealership, here's the skinny:

*Per Sea Ray, Smart Tow has/is not offered as an option on the current generation of the 210 and 230 SLX, so...
*that upgrade is not avaialble, but....
*it could be possible to order the part from a different model and have my dealer fabricate it in, and...
*it appears Smart Tow is available on the 240 Sundeck, but the gauge size is different, and...
*it looks like the previous generation 2011 SLX (which offered Smart Tow in both Speedometer and Tachometer) has simiar gauges as the current SLX, but doesn't seem to be available, and...
*my dealer has done more research on the (non Sea Ray spec) options available on the SC1000 and MercMonitor options, and there *might* be an issue in avaialble sizes - the Sea Ray factory gauge/cutout might not be a good fit.

So, still a possibility, but definitely going to a back burner for the time being as it's a bit of a brain drain.

Gotta say, my dealer may be 400 miles away, but am impressed at their interest in helping me find a solution. I unepxectedly made a second call to them this afternoon, only to discover they were still trying to figure out a solution. It's great workign with a dealer who's so into helping out their client!

Thanks again for all the advice!

Glenn
 
There is one issue with the gps version if you use it on a river the current throws the speed off. Perfect pass also makes a paddle wheel speed sensor not sure if smarttow has that option but if you're running a lake it's not an issue.

Sent from my SCH-R530U using Tapatalk
 
Glenn, you are correct. My mistake.

This is strange and I don't understand why. It's not available on the 210/230 SLX, but is available on the 250SLX. It is not available on the 220SD, but is available on the 240/260SD. I just looked at a couple boats in the showroom (230SLX and 260SD). The physical gauge face of the SmartTow Tach in the 260SD matches the gauge face of the 230SLX. It appears to match in both how it looks and size (I only measured it quickly, though). But the bezel around the two gauges is different. The 260SD has what appears to be an "add-on" bezel, but that also appears to not be an integral part. However, the "built-in" bezel is a little deeper with the 230SLX. Now, could the "guts" of the two gauges be swapped? I don't know - I'm not sure how integral the "built-in" bezel is to either gauge and whether it can easily be taken off. Either way, it seems your dealer is on top on things - I hope it works out for you!
 
Thanks for checking Dennis, I *always* appreciate your feedback and advice. When I was talking with my dealer yesterday, I made the observation that if this doesn't work out, it's not the end of the world - that if something like Smart Tow were so key to the enjoyment of my boat I would (or should) have bought a tow boat or addressed the issue earlier. I'll still try to figure it out, but it'll be a NO-GO if it my dash will end up looking catty-wompus. (Uh, that's a word, right?)

So now I'm moving on to the bow filler cushion. I can install that myself. Ha!
 
LOL

Actually, I checked because...I have nothing better to do before heading to my boat storage unit. "Cattywampus" is a word! Askew, off measurement, etc.

Now back to Smart Tow, I'm seeing some internet pics of 2010/2011 210's and 230's equipped with it - with the same gauges as the 2012-2014's. But they are on the tachometer, not the speedo. Does this mean that it is the RPM cruise control, and the speed based cruise control versions would be on the speedo instead of the tach?

The reason I ask is that I'm not interested in Smart Tow for the launch control, more for cruise control - and by speed as opposed to rpm.

I think I'll give the parts guy at the dealer a few days off before I start bugging him again - but I'd love to track down on of these units from an older model!
 
Hey Folks!

I have a quick update for those who might be interested in equipping their boats with Smart Tow that also has a speed control which utilizes GPS. (I mention this detail because besides including a launch control, depending on the model Smart Tow's speed control can be based on RPM, non-GPS speed, or GPS speed).

I wanted a GPS speed control version of Smart Tow, and at the same time maintain my Sea Ray gauges, because, well, stuff like that is important to me.

Well, the engineers at Sea Ray were tremendously helpful, and worked through several possible options - and at the end of the day came up with the PERFECT solution:

(Keep in mind that Perfect Pass won't work with Mercruiser's DTS engines)

Mercury's Merc Monitor - Level 3 - with Smart Tow Pro Speed (Part Number 8M007966) includes all the components needed!

You replace the tachomenter or speedometer with this gauge (I'll be losing the speedo), and IT'S A PERFECT FIT UNDER FACTORY GAUGE BEZEL!

mercmonitor.jpg

And for those of you with a 210 SLX, I would imagine it would also be a "plug and play" option for your boats as well?

Ordered mine today, and will share how it goes - both the install, and if that's successful...how it works!
 
cool - and that is the biggest MercMonitor you can get. :) And I guess it has multi engine support so WHEN you upgrade you boat - you can take the gauge with you :)
 
Guys, when I put in a MercMonitor Level 2 software version 7.X something, I put it in to tie my RayMarine system into SmartCraft an for the ECO feature. I have DTS with troll control. MY GREAT SURPRISE IS SMARTTOW CAME UP!!! And it works GREAT!. The you can select select the ECO Launch profile and it will launch and cruise great.
 
Well, look what just arrived!



And as expected, installation anxiety has ensued.

But I'd probably regret attemping to do this after popping a Xanax and washing it down with a beer?

Right?

Ha!
 
NorCalGlenn said:
Well, look what just arrived!



And as expected, installation anxiety has ensued.

But I'd probably regret attemping to do this after popping a Xanax and washing it down with a beer?

Right?

Ha!
Click to expand...

Don't worry - it is easy to install. It was the first thing I installed myself in my SR210 :) Just remember you junction box needs to have 1 terminator left in it. There are blanking plugs and terminators - and terminator needs to stay put. :)
 
Thanks for the advice! If I've said it before, I gotta say it again...the engineers at Sea Ray have been *incredible* in the level of assistance they've provided - detailed instructions, diagrams, schematics, and emailing on weekends. I should be good to go! (FAMOUS. LAST. WORDS.)
 
Well,I installed the MercMonitor today and...it lit up!

Success?

For now, but we'll see what happens when we're out on the water tomorrow...

I'd give it 50/50 odds, based on my skill set with this type of thing.

I just went really...really...really...really slow.

:)

5a5e0574737a1e3012115957918c3523_zps3cf0c3e9.jpg


b1ff8495f7e3d2eac91726041ae95d04_zps47ab1314.jpg


b13efa94447fcb844ceb1a5a9d05e4e7_zps57aead46.jpg


2c328d97956f5d90e70bbd308543fbd7_zps88515e8c.jpg


6d630538efa94d96dadaabebd924899c_zpsbb4d29ac.jpg


693093e33472b3ea7e03b32e44976444_zpsc0fdd540.jpg



Tonight I've got to do a LOT of reading. It seems like a cool system, but for someone who just wanted gps speed control...a little overwhelming.
 
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