Smartgauge - worth it?

[lakelandterrier]

When I get the next boat is it worth fitting a smartgauge for fuel?

Let's assume a 140hp 4 stroke with 90-100l litre tank and NMEA 2000 fitted. Speed I've measured on the plotter.

On previous boats I've measured fuel consumption by brimming that tank on refuels and keeping a moving average of mpg which has been fairly consistent.Speed I've measured on the plotter.

What are the benefits and what sort of cost is involved?

LT

[jonp]

I personaly like seeing my fuel burn as I'm running, you often find that small amount of trim and just the right rpm get the boat running at its best economy.

The gauges seem to work well but I found on a previous boat with a Suzuki running nmea through my Lowrance gave rediculus readings ( burning 650 lt at 1000 rpm etc). The more I looked into the problem the more I found others with the same problem, in fact the dealer who installed my engine diagnostics told me he had never gotten one to work right.

Suzuki gauges work fine it's just some don't talk to Lowrance. Spoke with Lowrance who claim it to be a Suzuki problem and Suzuki claim it to be Lowrance.

I've not had any problems with Yamaha and nmea but if you just go with the manufactures gauges you can't go wrong. Must admit with my little Yamaha f 70 it uses so little fuel I don't care how I run it so haven't bothered with running the cable through to my Lowrance.

Jon

[JA1000]

Hi - can I ask what you've paid NMEA cable for Yamaha - I have been quoted £200 which seemed a lot just to have some gauges on my Garmin plotter

[jonp]

Originally Posted by JA1000

Hi - can I ask what you've paid NMEA cable for Yamaha - I have been quoted £200 which seemed a lot just to have some gauges on my Garmin plotter

This side of the pond they are about $140 which works out to be £70 converted.

Jon

[JA1000]

Blimey that's a difference - typical

[sailrib]

Originally Posted by JA1000

Hi - can I ask what you've paid NMEA cable for Yamaha - I have been quoted £200 which seemed a lot just to have some gauges on my Garmin plotter

I believe this is the cable you need, it will work for Garmin. its £99.99 fee ship:

Yamaha engine interface cable - Lowrance HDS - Link Cable - NMEA2000 - N2K | eBay


Here's a thread on another site that discusses the subject:

Success - Yamaha outboard direct to Garmin NMEA 2000 data via Lowrance EP-20 cable - The Hull Truth - Boating and Fishing Forum


If you have a Raymarine and a Yamaha, then this Command-Link Plus cable for £40.00/free ship.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Raymarine-...oAAOSweWVXdi7O

[JA1000]

Hi - Thanks for this very useful and interesting information - my Garmin is linked to the fusion not sure why it was all linked up, I guess cost. I need to explore the cable run from the engine run to the console network.