SmartCraft gauges

[Tripline123]

Short answer: no. Longer answer is your engine is adaptable to do many things in the way of engine, boat systems and navigation display. You have to decide what specifically you want, and then that will dictate what specific bits of hardware you will need.

I would love to be able to have an ipad mounted on the helm showing at least rpm/speed/fuel level, and navigation as shown below. Now need to figure out how to get there. AS I'm finding that the garmin gps mounted on the boat is not easy to view and use while under power.

 

[ColoSR]

That is all you need for the iPad/iPhone. You plug it in at the engine, install the yellow terminator in place of the purple one on the vvm pigtail, get the app on your phone, and fire it up. Your 260 is small enough that you can pick up the Bluetooth signal at the helm.

 

[ColoSR]

Note that while the vvm gets engine data without cellular, the navigation feature doesn’t work unless you have a signal.

Apparently you can use some chart plotter apps that download maps on a gps equipped iPad to make this work, but I haven’t done it personally

 

[Henry Boyd]

That is all you need for the iPad/iPhone. You plug it in at the engine, install the yellow terminator in place of the purple one on the vvm pigtail, get the app on your phone, and fire it up. Your 260 is small enough that you can pick up the Bluetooth signal at the helm.

How does he get fuel data? On an 03 the fuel sender is analog and independent of the engine (and Smartcraft).

How about speed data? On an 03 the speed data comes from the pitot on the sterndrive.

Note that while the vvm gets engine data without cellular, the navigation feature doesn’t work unless you have a signal.

Apparently you can use some chart plotter apps that download maps on a gps equipped iPad to make this work, but I haven’t done it personally

This post answers the questions; Your solution won’t work without other stuff.


Tripline,
You need to combine GPS and fuel and Smartcraft data to accomplish your goal. Basically you need to combine boat data, engine data and navigation data. That can then be consolidated and exported. There are several ways of going about doing it with varying levels of expense. I’d suggest starting small and looking at vessel view mobile even though it might not immediately give you what you want.

 

[ColoSR]

The VVM app totalizes fuel use, so you can set your tank to full at the marina and it will count down the fuel remaining. Also, the VVM tracks speed via your phone’s gps, so it does not need a signal from the pitot connector.

You can also convert your fuel gauge from analog to digital, but that adds another $1-$2k depending on how you want to go about the work.

 

[Lazy Daze]

In addition to what Henry has stated about the inability to be able to just quickly "plug-n-play", another factor to consider with using tablets for navigation is that they are often hard to read in the sun and can even shut-off if they get too warm. I'm not sure what's wrong with your existing Garmin, but if something's not right with it, I would consider replacing it and delegate the tablet to back-up duty.

 

[Tripline123]

In addition to what Henry has stated about the inability to be able to just quickly "plug-n-play", another factor to consider with using tablets for navigation is that they are often hard to read in the sun and can even shut-off if they get too warm. I'm not sure what's wrong with your existing Garmin, but if something's not right with it, I would consider replacing it and delegate the tablet to back-up duty.

Thank you for all the replies and information. The exisiting Garmin is mounted down and to the left of the steering wheel, thus making it kinda hard to read while under power. All these newer boats with the larger screens appear to be easy to read and much easier to navigate. I kinda spoiled myself by drivig a Tesla vehicle all day for work, and now I want a similar larger screen in my boat. If I need to buy a dedicated screen I will, as my iphone overheated this weekend while on the boat. Just trying to figure out where to start with all this.