Is the speedo a fully electronic one (runs off GPS), or does it have a hose nipple on the back? If there is a hose nipple, it operates off a pitot or, in the Bravo III's case, the speedo pickup built into the nose of the lower drive unit and runs off that water pressure created while moving forward. No "twitching" on power up, as there is only power to the light, not the actual gauge.

The hose disconnected, not moving thru water or that pickup plugged with mud will equal no speedo reading.

Post a pick of the back of the speedo

 

 

Did you get one of the new SC1000 speedos and have your old white/black face w/ Sea Ray logo transferred to that? If so it could be a mechanical issue -- like maybe the new face is too thick and interferes with the needle. Or it could be a Smartcraft issue -- not picking up the speed source from the Smartcraft data. Is it the system link 3-wire plug on the back? Or the big 14-pin connector?

 

Can you see the speed in the Smartcraft display inside your tach?

 

I wonder if you have to do a system reset after swapping speedos? Never swapped speedos before on a Smartcraft system, but I'm in the process of adding a new SC1000 speedo and tach (10-pin connector on the back) to a boat that only has an MFD and no guages. When the system recognized a new SC1000 tach, it prompted me to go through the steps of setting it up (via LCD at the bottom). Since your speedo is the 3-wire kind, are you seeing a message on the tach? If not, you might have to do the reset procedure.

 

Life was so much simpler when we stuck a wood yard stick in the opening of tank to determine fuel, when you knew you exceeded the speed limit from the sound of the propeller cavitation, when nobody gave a shat what GPH was cause it was $.65 a gallon. And no holding tank needed cause you could poop and pee off swim platform. MAGA! No EPA, if cholera was good enough for our ancestors, it’s good enough for you! Toughen up.

 

Life was so much simpler when we stuck a wood yard stick in the opening of tank to determine fuel, when you knew you exceeded the speed limit from the sound of the propeller cavitation, when nobody gave a shat what GPH was cause it was $.65 a gallon. And no holding tank needed cause you could poop and pee off swim platform.

So that reminds me ....

Yesterday we are anchored out in the bay, off an insland. Weather is perfect, kids are not on devices, everyone is getting along, life is good. There is a 40' trawler nearby that beached itself on a sandbar, listing about 45 degrees to port. Sea Tow and the harbor police are there, but it's a waiting game now. It's just about low tide and we are getting ready to leave. (We have up to 12 foot tidal swings here). So I fire up the OB and the depth says 3 feet. Holy bleep, 3 feet is my draft with the OB all the way down I took my docking pole, extended it out all the way, and sure enough we're in 5 feet of water. When in doubt -- nothing beats the old fashioned stick in the mud

 

So I fire up the OB and the depth says 3 feet. Holy bleep, 3 feet is my draft with the OB all the way down I took my docking pole, extended it out all the way, and sure enough we're in 5 feet of water. When in doubt -- nothing beats the old fashioned stick in the mud

Most likely the 3 feet on the depthsounder was 3 feet under the keel (assuming you have a 2 foot draft).

 

I think you're right. Better safe than sorry!

Had to zoom in but here was the guy beached on the sand bar next to the island

 

We saw the same situation on our local sandbar recently. We warned the guy that the tide was going out and maybe he should move his boat out a little. He told my friends..."don't worry, not a problem" An hour later it was a huge problem. 8 guys could not budge it and then it took Towboat US an hour after bringing in reinforcements. Dumb ass.

 

"Some men, ya just can't reach"...