starting from scratch need advice

The info on my Tri Data is capable of being displayed on the larger RL80c. Yes redundant...but nice to have right in front of your face. And you can't modify what is displayed on the Tri Data - you can with the GMI-10. Also, on a small display like the 740s, you may not want data boxes cluttering up the screen. I see your point - it is pretty costly for the convenience but to keep the plotter screen wide open, some may find it worth the expense.
 
i think the benefits of the GMI-10 are self explanitory but for a $500 expense ??? i guess it can wait until next year. i have a pair of carbed 5.0's is there any information from them that can even be sent via nmea 2000? besides fuel flow that i would have to purchase a pair of sensors for anyway?
 
I don't know how much info you can pull off the engine's computer. I'm thinking nothing can be gleaned from the engines until they became "Smartcraft Capable" around 2001/2002. This is from the Mercury Marine website...

I would like to add SmartCraft instrumentation to my boat. Is my MerCruiser engine compatible? Can I install this myself?

All Mercruiser MPI (multi-port fuel-injected engines) sterndrive, inboard, and tow sports models with serial number 0M300000 and higher are compatible with SmartCraft instrumentation systems. Mercury Marine recommends installation of SmartCraft systems be performed by your Mercury Marine dealer.

The engines on my boat are OW_____ so they will work. The engines on my previous boat were OC_______ so they would not. The beauty of NMEA 2000 is that you can add stuff in later on just by screwing things together. Pretty cool technology.




This is a pretty good explanation of how you can use the GMI-10.

[video=youtube;KvddqAUPqD0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvddqAUPqD0[/video]
 
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my boat came with 4.3l v-6's and they were replaced in 2009 with 5.0l v-8's I don't know what type of computer they have though or how to "splice" into it. i'm not that familiar with the marine engine management systems...yet.
 
If you have SNs higher than OM3_____ and they are MPI, you're in. There's about $700 worth of gizmos you need to buy to convert Mercruiser's computer info to NMEA2000 info. I haven't done it yet (offseason project) but I have a friend that did and it works great. All sorts of engine info up on your display via NMEA2000. Been researching this stuff for the past couple of months.
 
No MPI, I have TKS Carbs so i guess no go. only fuel flow when I buy the sensors probably next year.
 
I'm curious what display you decide to go with. Keep us posted and happy shopping!
 
I was on the fence about the GMI 10. I found a good deal on a used one so I decided to jump on it.

I use it primarily for depth and water temp. I was planning on adding fuel flow sensors as well. It's nice, but if I didn't have it, it wouldn't be a deal breaker.

The 740s is almost a no brainer at its current $799 price.
 
Depth, speed and water temp is exactly what the TriData gives me, though the speed is not really accurate b/c it uses the little paddle wheel in the transducer.

For some reason it was on the fritz when I snapped this pic. The 740s will replace the dash-top 492 and will be mounted flush.
100_3878_zps7971a4bb.jpg




right about here...
GPStemplate_zpsda5049ba.jpg
 
As aesthetically pleasing as flush mounting the 740 would be, I would recommend temporarily bail mounting it where your current unit is with some heavy duty Velcro or something.

While it may not seem like a big difference but glancing to the top of the dash is much different than looking way down where your steering wheel is. You lose the benefit of peripheral vision.

it may be worth a try before you cut the hole.
 
I am going with the Garmin 740s and GMR 18 HD.

I like the idea of the GMI-10 system to upgrade next season.

WestMarine.com has the 740s for $799
HodgesMarine.com has the GMR 18 HD radome for $990 shipped to my zipcode.

that is cheaper than going to westmarine for the non HD combo and from the demos, the HD is a significant advantage.

until i add another unit or input i wont have any need for the NMEA 2000 system so i wont order any of the hardware until i need it. I do have to figure out haw to splice the airmar signal for depth and temp but I have time to figure that out.

looked at the other options for the past 48 hours at work and it just seems the most practical for me and the wife. i'll upgrade to g2 vision charts if we go further than the cape or islands as i have been in those waters my whole life. I like the ability to touch a waypoint and have the system find the best route and safest route.

i admit i was concerned about the magnet door interfering with the compass as that is what i actually trust and is the way i learned to navigate years ago as a child when my grandfather would teach me how to Navigate his Viking's and Carvers. first thing i bought when we got the boat was a set of waterproof charts and started to teach the wife how to find her way around. we started out easy in Boston harbor but she will learn the buoys soon enough.
 
is that the booklet from the 740?

thanks for the picture.

right now the sounder is plugged into the lowrance 3500 so i haven't taken a look at the pin connector. maybe...just maybe it will plug right in.
 
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unfortunately i don't have an extra $400 for an AIS black box and and another $600 for a compatable radio or simply $1000 for all in one unit.
 
That is a book from my old ray marine equipment. From what it looks like on the airmar website the transducers and conductors are the same, you just change the pin out for what ever manufacturer you are connecting to. Garmin in this case.
 
AFD said:
unfortunately i don't have an extra $400 for an AIS black box and and another $600 for a compatable radio or simply $1000 for all in one unit.
Click to expand...

Me either, that is why I added the Standard Horizion GX2150. I want to know where the big freighters etc. are, I'm sure they don't care about me, so this unit put them right on my 740s for near $300.

http://www.standardhorizon.com/inde...075389DC4199A79B6C1&DivisionID=3&isArchived=0

http://www.boemarine.com/standard-horizon-gx2150w-class-d-25w-matrix-ais-map-399-99/

At the cost of the GMI-10 I could just buy a second 740 to use as display and have added redundancy.

MM
 
The GMI-10s pop up on eBay for $3-350 from time to time. That's where I found mine.
 
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