Upgrading panel but keeping the OEM engine instruments

[Carpediem44DB]

I’ve decided to go with upgrading to the gS165 MFD which is too big to squeeze onto the panel in between the OEM instruments. I like the analog classic panel so I’m moving the instrument cluster to my blank accessory panel to the left of the helm. Still easily scanned and I don’t have to find the app or screen on the MFD to see my engine settings.
Cutting the 4.5 inch holes in the panel was nerve racking considering the cost of replacement. I’m installing the gS165 in a piece of black marine star board since it’s size will eat up most of the panel I figured it would be a waste to have a burl panel duplicated. We will see what it looks like.

 

[All's Well]

Nice work

 

[Express 390]

View attachment 69552 I’ve decided to go with upgrading to the gS165 MFD which is too big to squeeze onto the panel in between the OEM instruments. I like the analog classic panel so I’m moving the instrument cluster to my blank accessory panel to the left of the helm. Still easily scanned and I don’t have to find the app or screen on the MFD to see my engine settings.
Cutting the 4.5 inch holes in the panel was nerve racking considering the cost of replacement. I’m installing the gS165 in a piece of black marine star board since it’s size will eat up most of the panel I figured it would be a waste to have a burl panel duplicated. We will see what it looks like.[/QUOTE

Looks great nice idea !

 

[Express 390]

Looks great nice idea !

 

[Irie308]

Will the wiring harness reach to that panel?

 

[Carpediem44DB]

Will the wiring harness reach to that panel?

No problem, I actually was able to eliminate an extension harness as the wiring goes past the port panel on its way to the center panel.
Physical install done, now the head scratching on getting all of the equipment playing nice together through the MFD. Major learning curve. Radar getting installed today.

 

[370Dancer]

An easy way to get your SeaTalk autopilot to comm with NMEA2K is to get a bridge like this

I'm guessing by the sun cover that you are still using the 7000 or 8001 autopilot.
You'll need to interface your devicenet N2K backbone to a STng backbone. I just spliced the lines together. PM me and I can send you diagrams and pinouts.

 

[Express 390]

View attachment 69821
No problem, I actually was able to eliminate an extension harness as the wiring goes past the port panel on its way to the center panel.
Physical install done, now the head scratching on getting all of the equipment playing nice together through the MFD. Major learning curve. Radar getting installed today.

very very nice, Looks great

 

[dtfeld]

Nice work!!

Looks like your gS165 is running Light House 2 firmware. Not sure what radar your installing, but it may require updating to LH3 firmware to get all the features. Just make sure you understand what your getting and what your giving up. Read here...http://www.raymarine.com/software-updates/mfds/lh3/es-gs-series/#compareFeatures

I am running LH3 on an axiom because I wanted the Doppler Quantum Radar, and that radar is doing exactly what I expected (pretty awsome!!), but my legacy AP is marginally controllable from the MFD (there are limitations on the autopilot connected via the Seatalk/SeaTalkng interface), Engine Data is screwed up. The apps are cool, but not fully integrated yet (you cant have a split screen with Spotify app).

IMHO, If you dont need to upgrade to LH3 and are OK with the LH2 features, I'd stay there for a while as the LH3 product seems to me to be half baked and rushed to market. It does a lot a of cool things, but you give up some features coming from the LH2 considering the other electronics. I think the LH3 firmware will get there eventually, but a lot of work to do and an update is coming about every 2 months.

 

[Carpediem44DB]

I’m hoping to stay with LH2, I really am not going to go nuts in apps and full integration. I really just wanted the larger screen for basic chart plotter and radar. I’ll upgrade to Fusion Audio and operate thru the MFD but I don’t imagine doing much more. I am Happy using my auto pilot on its own as I have never even plotted a course. Following our rivers and plying the bay requires constant course correction any way.
I am really looking forward to learning its capabilities although it does seem daunting to configure every thing to work.

 

[dtfeld]

I like LH2, but need LH3.

If your going with Fusion, the LH3 can control 3 units or 1 unit with multiple zones, so on a bridge boat a nice feature.

 

[dtfeld]

I’m hoping to stay with LH2, I really am not going to go nuts in apps and full integration. I really just wanted the larger screen for basic chart plotter and radar. I’ll upgrade to Fusion Audio and operate thru the MFD but I don’t imagine doing much more. I am Happy using my auto pilot on its own as I have never even plotted a course. Following our rivers and plying the bay requires constant course correction any way.
I am really looking forward to learning its capabilities although it does seem daunting to configure every thing to work.

Its a huge learning curve. I've been pretty pleased with everything so far (LH3) , but a few surprises loosing some capabilities, gaining others. I spent a couple hours today working with the system, trying to learn how to make a lot of things I need happen. Slow going, but its pretty intuative once you see a few things.

I should have the new Quantum 2 installed by the week-end. In the limited testing I did prior to hard mounting, it does a really good job of identifying other boats as threats and lighting them up red. In a crowded lake, its like 4 more sets of eyes identifying potential threats. And that was in a covered slip in a crowded harbor. Should be much better out on more open water.