VesselView Mobile vs Lowrance Elite ti2 vs Smartcraft sc1000

[randydb]

Recently purchased a boat that came with a Lowrance elite 7 ti2 fish finder. Motor is a 2006
115efi 1115F23HD with about 500hrs on it.

The Lowrance is not hooked up to the engine. Boat only has basic rpm and fuel gauges.

My old boat had the smartcraft sc1000 monitor and it delivered the readings we needed...but not engine hours.

I'd prefer to keep cost down, and I know I can get an sc1000 kit for about $240cdn. Fairly easy install, I know it will give me what I want minus engine hours.

I also see the vesselview mobile. Similar price, easy install, gives me everything the sc1000 does plus engine hours and a couple other things. ****Question, is the app pretty easy to navigate?

Finally, what about connecting my Lowrance to the motor? I think I am looking at a kit that converts the data, takes a bit to install and runs me $900-1100cdn to get connected? NMEA 2000 Gateway kit (part #8m0105243), and a NMEA 2000 starter kit (part #8m0107522).

IF it costs me that much to hook up my lowrance, I'd rather go with one of the other options.

Is there any reason I should go with vesselview mobile or smartcraft sc1000 over each other?

Thanks.

 

[dingbat]

Finally, what about connecting my Lowrance to the motor? I think I am looking at a kit that converts the data, takes a bit to install and runs me $900-1100cdn to get connected? (part #8m0105243), and a NMEA 2000 starter kit (part #8m0107522).

Can't comment on the first two options. Not fan of using cell phones as instrumentation or scrolling thru menus to monitor critical engine functions.

While NMEA 2000 is the industry communications standard for electronics and peripherals, motor OEMs continue to use proprietary protocols, forcing you to purchase a proprietary gateway to communicate with the outside world.

The cost for the gateway and backbone (starter kit) is high.

You don't need a Merc labeled starter kit. As noted above, NEMA 2000 is a "generic" standard. Lowrance and Garmin both makes kits for @ $85 cdn. Gate ways can be found for $490 cdn

 

[QBhoy]

Hi. I can comment on the sc1000 and vessel view mobile. One of my boats has one..the other has the other.
But just before starting...are you 100% sure your 2006 has smartcraft capability ?

 

[randydb]

Yes, I checked, I can see the connector with the the termination end on it. It has smartcraft capability.

 

[paulswagelock]

Vesselview mobile app is simple to use, you can customize the screen to see up to 7 parameters at once, and has a performance report which is useful. It’s biggest limit is it does not show every smartcraft variable and especially motor trim even if it is digital and available to smartcraft.

 

[randydb]

We have a cabin about 8km by boat from where we moor it. in Howe sound. Fairly sheltered area, not much in the way of extreme weather.
Basically our trips are 15-20 minutes one way. My family has owned this place since 1956.
So all we really want is the basics. Old boat had smartcraft sc1000 on it. We basically used it for rpm and fuel used. I was going to get an sc1000 for the new to us boat. But I came across the VV Mobile and figured the fact that it also told me hours on the motor and I think it will read/tell me what faults we are getting. Price is similar for both. Get more info for the VV Mobile I think,

Trim - I don't think we ever used the trim read out on the sc1000. More or less put the motor down all the way and then moved it up bit by bit until the boat was running well and rpms were up.