Smartcraft Guage - What is this?

[randmhall]

We just acquired a 'new to us' 2015 270 Sundeck. It has the Raymarine a65 plotter in the dash, with a standard analog speedo and the smart craft tach. While poking around behind the dash, there is another smart craft gauge tucked away. It shows the perfect pass info, RPM, etc. I think it is a MercMonitor? Should the info it displays be on the plotter as well? I can see a screen on the Ray Marine for engine info, but all the info is blank. Can I just swap the digital gauge and the speedometer? The digital seems much more useful.

 

[Korkie]

Just never know what surprises you will find that the PO left for you.

 

[Fill Ess]

Surprising someone would buy that, wire it in, then leave it under the helm

Not familiar with your dash layout but is there any way to put it on the dash or would you be cutting a hole for it?

 

[randmhall]

I have what looks to be the factory option plotter in the dash. I just can't figure out how the Raymarine displayed engine info. There is nowhere to put the MercMonitor unless I swap out the speedo. This is a factory pic of the dash, since the boat is under cover at the moment.

 

[alnav]

I have what looks to be the factory option plotter in the dash. I just can't figure out how the Raymarine displayed engine info. There is nowhere to put the MercMonitor unless I swap out the speedo. This is a factory pic of the dash, since the boat is under cover at the moment.

View attachment 123032

Sure looks like a Mercmonitor. Mercmonitor was one of Mercury's first devices that could convert engine data to NMEA 2000. If you have the NMEA 2000 model, I imagine it's connected to a NMEA backbone and thence to your Raymarine MFD. If it is NMEA 2000, I'm guessing it was installed solely for that purpose, and without a dash spot to place it, ended up where you found it. If I were you I would get the model number off the back and see if it has a NMEA drop cable attached, if so trace that to your backbone. If it's working and sending to NMEA, then you should check for configuration menus on both it and the Raymarine that may unlock the engine display capability.

 

[paulswagelock]

That is a Mercmonitor. I also have to believe that is being used as the interface for your Raymarine. Although odd, it is a valid way to convert and serve the data. If it is the same diameter, and it should be, I would consider putting it where the speedo is. The tach likely needs to stay to serve data for the smartcraft instruments you have.

 

[randmhall]

Thanks everyone for your help and advice. I'll investigate further later this week.