Axius Gen1 boat personality file

[silver_power]

Hello, i recently bought a used Cobalt 303 with 2010 axius Gen1 system. The boat had problem and previous owner unistalled the axius components (actuators from both engines and steering pump, HP filters etc from starboard engine) and converted it to classic cable steering system with a tie bar between two drives.
So, i found two actuators and every component needed to make axius work again as the rest of the ecectronics were been installed.
The mechanic calibrated the components but cannot calibrate the actuators.
For now, everything seems to be ok, BUT, steering actuators are locked with no response at all.Now the problem is that G3 software of the mechanic, asks for the boat's personality file.
I tried to contact Cobalt but i am still waiting as they told me that they do not have it and i must contact Mercruiser. Mercruiser told me that i must contact boat manufacturer first and after thew will see what they can do........
The fact now is that my boat has no steering and so it can not work.
My mechanic told me that even a "boat personality" file from other boat would unlock the actuators and allow him to make the calibrations. In this case the boat will have at least the steering system and it could work. Obviously the joystick would not be accurate but the most important is to have steering.
This Cobalt 303 is 2010model, Axius GEN1, with 2x mercruiser 377mag's mpi B3.
Here in Greece are really few boats with sterndrive axius system (5to 10 max) and so i can not find a file
I hope to find a solution from Cobalt but in case they tell me "sorry we can not make anything",....i have two solutions.
1. To sell the boat
2. To unistall all the parts i bought and installed and put again the classic cable steering system.
I hope you see how big is the problem.....
Thank you very much!!

 

[alldodge]

Paging @Fun Times and @muc can you come to the front office please

 

[silver_power]

Paging @Fun Times and @muc can you come to the front office please

Sorry but my English are a little poor....what do you mean "can you come to the front office"???

 

[JASinIL2006]

Sorry but my English are a little poor....what do you mean "can you come to the front office"???

By tagging those two unusually knowledgable and helpful gents, he's requesting their help with your problem. He's 'calling them in from the shop.'

 

[alldodge]

^^^ Yes, I'm just old and remember when they would come across the speakers in school calling for some that way, along with hearing it on comedy shows. They are the 2 I believe would have the greatest possibilities to answer the question

 

[silver_power]

Thank you very much.....I will try!!!!

 

[Fun Times]

Thanks guys, Silver power also sent a PM which I replied to first before seeing this… unfortunately my axius knowledge is very low so not much help… hopefully Muc has had some training on the subject or maybe even any Merc trained lurkers in here can join and chime in too.

Thinking since he needs a boat personality file Silver power could try asking over in the cobalt chat forums to see if they know of something. Until then I’ll start doing some homework assignments to see if I can help out too.

Electronics - Cobaltchat.com

A Forum for Cobalt Boats. The Cobaltchat.com web forum provides an active community for owners of Cobalt Boats to share advice on using, buying, servicing, and enjoying Cobalt boats.

www.cobaltchat.com

 

[Fun Times]

Home work started,

Personality
Personality (referred to as Import in previous versions of CDS G3) allows access to a function for importing a vessel specific file into a boat that contains calibrated parameters. (Example: boat length, center of gravity, or reverse drive efficiency.)
This screen also provides the ability to import and export gauge settings. These files are created by an OEM engineer. This feature applies to a Joystick Piloting system.

Personality File - Mercury Vessel View 4 User Manual [Page 64]

Mercury Vessel View 4 Manual Online: Personality File. Page 60 Alarms Shows legacy alarms NOTE: These settings must be enabled to receive alarms. Shallow water—On—dot, Off—no dot Deep water—On—dot, Off—no dot Speed through water rationality fault—On— dot, Off—no dot Fuel remaining...

www.manualslib.com

Steering Override: This test is used on Axius engines only and allows you to override the TVM drive position on an Axius Gen I or Axius Gen II system.
You can set the drive position via a slider or select auto to begin a sine wave sequence for a short period of time. For Axius Gen I, the engine must be running to change the drive position. Axius Gen II systems have the option to override the drive position while the engine is not running.

https://www-alt.mercurymarine.com/MercU/CDS_G3_Distance_Workbook.pdf

https://holesbaymarine.co.uk/catalog/media/F53DEL3GOJSW4Y3INVQXE2LOMUXW2ZLENFQS6YTNMUXUOQKZIRBVQQSRI5JE6RCFJVBFER2GJ5CUWVCTG5DUCWSBFZYGIZQ

 

[muc]

I’m not going to be much help here. I worked on very few Axius equipped boats. When MerCruiser first started offering this was when the dealer I worked for went to almost all Volvo. We only ordered a couple Axius boats for customers that just had to have Mercury power. I attended the bare minimum of classes to maintain my MerCruiser master certification. Here’s what is left in my memory.
The boat personality file comes from the boat builder and is critical for joystick and skyhook functions, but is also used in other aspects. Mercury has a copy of the file in their computer, they were the ones who supplied it to the dealer when a update or replacement components were required.
I would think Cobalt could supply the file to the dealer that is repairing this boat, as long as all the same components that came on the boat when it was new are there and nothing else has been added. If anything has been added that would change the boats personality and Cobalt never sold a boat with those exact components they won’t have a file and most likely won’t make a file for you.
The boat personality file is developed and owned by the boat builders. I’m guessing that due to liability issues no one but Cobalt will release a file for any boat except the exact boat it was designed for.
I suggest that you have the servicing MerCruiser dealer contract Cobalt. I don’t think this is something that a DIY person can get.
I see your in Greece so I don’t know how much that changes anything.
This is all from memory from long ago, so take with a grain of salt.

 

[silver_power]

Thank you ve

Thanks guys, Silver power also sent a PM which I replied to first before seeing this… unfortunately my axius knowledge is very low so not much help… hopefully Muc has had some training on the subject or maybe even any Merc trained lurkers in here can join and chime in too.

Thinking since he needs a boat personality file Silver power could try asking over in the cobalt chat forums to see if they know of something. Until then I’ll start doing some homework assignments to see if I can help out

I’m not going to be much help here. I worked on very few Axius equipped boats. When MerCruiser first started offering this was when the dealer I worked for went to almost all Volvo. We only ordered a couple Axius boats for customers that just had to have Mercury power. I attended the bare minimum of classes to maintain my MerCruiser master certification. Here’s what is left in my memory.
The boat personality file comes from the boat builder and is critical for joystick and skyhook functions, but is also used in other aspects. Mercury has a copy of the file in their computer, they were the ones who supplied it to the dealer when a update or replacement components were required.
I would think Cobalt could supply the file to the dealer that is repairing this boat, as long as all the same components that came on the boat when it was new are there and nothing else has been added. If anything has been added that would change the boats personality and Cobalt never sold a boat with those exact components they won’t have a file and most likely won’t make a file for you.
The boat personality file is developed and owned by the boat builders. I’m guessing that due to liability issues no one but Cobalt will release a file for any boat except the exact boat it was designed for.
I suggest that you have the servicing MerCruiser dealer contract Cobalt. I don’t think this is something that a DIY person can get.
I see your in Greece so I don’t know how much that changes anything.
This is all from memory from long ago, so take with a grain of salt.

Thank you very much for your help!!

I have already contacted Cobalt for the personality file and they told me that Mercruiser gave it to them and they do not have it now. They suggested me to contact directly Mercruiser. But I told them that Mercury will not give something unless the boat manufacturer ask for it. Now the conversation is at the point that Cobalt asked me the SN of the boat and they will reach Mercruiser to see what can be done......
According your experience, is it possible that Mercruiser has the file for a 10 years old boat??

 

[alldodge]

According your experience, is it possible that Mercruiser has the file for a 10 years old boat??

As MUC said, you have to get a Mercruiser Dealer ask Cobalt for the file
Most hulls are made for many years, so a 10 year old hull may still be made today

 

[Fun Times]

As MUC said, you have to get a Mercruiser Dealer ask Cobalt for the file
Most hulls are made for many years, so a 10 year old hull may still be made today

X 2, that’s what I’m thinking as well… If they don’t have yours they should have something similar still stored elsewhere for this boat model and engine model Application.
That mentioned, generally speaking here I recall Merc saying at some point that if they discontinue or change a major product type that hit the market and they can’t buy it back then they’re supposed to carry servicing literature, repair tools, supplies for 10 years… So with that 10 years in mind you might be right at the limit of having yours or not… Stay on it the best you can.
Good luck Silver Power.

 

[silver_power]

I reached Cobalt and that is what they told. " We installed the boat personality on this 303, but we got it from Mercruiser. We no longer have it here, but you might check with Mercruiser to see if they can pull this one up and get it to you."
I sent them email again asking to contact mercruiser and they answered this
"We are reaching out to our Merc rep to see what can be done. Do you have your boat serial number?"
Now I am waiting.....I hope finally to give me something, at least s similar file to work my boat....
Thank you very much for your help...

 

[muc]

I reached Cobalt and that is what they told. " We installed the boat personality on this 303, but we got it from Mercruiser. We no longer have it here, but you might check with Mercruiser to see if they can pull this one up and get it to you."
I sent them email again asking to contact mercruiser and they answered this
"We are reaching out to our Merc rep to see what can be done. Do you have your boat serial number?"
Now I am waiting.....I hope finally to give me something, at least s similar file to work my boat....
Thank you very much for your help...

I’m guessing on what is happening here.
Cobalt was purchased by Malibu boats a few years ago. Sometimes when this happens, the new owner takes this opportunity to destroy a lot of the documentation of models that they will no longer build. This gives them an easy answer when owners who purchased boats built by the previous company call for help. “We don’t have any information about this boat” I don’t agree with this Philosophy but have seen it many times in the past. I’m sad if this is what Malibu has done because it affects the value of older Cobalt models.

The good news is that MerCruiser should have the boat personality file in their system and be able to send it to your dealer. I’m guessing they will want the HIN and engine, drive and transom serial numbers. Probably going to want all the information on all the other components like the helm control unit, TVM, joystick etc.

 

[dubs283]

I worked for a minute for a cobalt dealer. Was like pulling teeth just to get info regarding boats they manufactured still under warranty.

At times they were great, unfortunately most often they were distant and responses were few and far between. Ime when cobalt could feasibly pass the buck they would, and quickly leave it up to what I refer to as dealership administration to hunt down info, ymmv

 

[tpenfield]

I have one of these 'new technology' boats . . . and it is a different world. Jury is still out if it is any better.

I recently read about the 'personality file' in my documentation set and have no idea what it does for the system, other than it needs a personality

Too bad all the original stuff was not available from the PO, as it sounds like you had to cobble it together. It might almost be worth getting a boat that has it already installed and working.

Perhaps the Cobalt Owner's forum might be helpful. My boat is a 2016 model w/ VesselView4. You may have to make sure you get something that is compatible with the version 1 of the system.

 

[achris]

I recently read about the 'personality file' in my documentation set and have no idea what it does for the system, other than it needs a personality

Basically it's the parameters of the boat including (but not limited to) length, beam, draft, windage, mass, centres of gravity, buoyancy, locations of thrust and drag, planing speed, power of the engines.... etc, etc, etc.

It's what the CPU uses to calculate how to apply power and in which directions to achieve the boat moving in the direction you push the joystick.

If you have access to your boat's personality file, BACK IT UP!

Chris........

 

[dubs283]

If you have access to your boat's personality file, BACK IT UP!

I read this (whole post) as, buying a Brunswick product will make your boating life easier (?)

 

[achris]

I read this (whole post) as, buying a Brunswick product will make your boating life easier (?)

I would never infer that!

 

[dubs283]

I would never infer that!

Says the lifer....

OP: pretty sure you'll have a much better experience dealing with mercury than cobalt. Mercs csi is one of the nation's best when looking at the pleasure/recreation industry. They aim to please and have given consumers an alarming (imo) amount of access to their support and information. I personally am not a boat owner but my experience with mercury customers has shown me most have an overwhelming loyalty to mercury products.

If you happen to find the right mercury service center or (shudder) dealer they ought to be able to help immensely, ymmv