Add Guages ?

[Rayandrewss]

Hey all.......Got rid of the old boat and bought a new 165 Tracker....Mercury 25 hp 4 stroke. The boat came with no gauges at all. I would like to add : Speedometer, Trim and hour meter. Any ideas where to start as to where to buy and should I install myself or just have the shop do it? The Mercury site says that they have to be analog gauges ( havnt seen an analog hour meter). Just looking for suggestions before I get seriously started.

 

[NYBo]

Re: Add Guages ?

Do you have a console of some sort?

For a speedometer, a GPS chartplotter/fishfinder will be a lot more useful. But a marine speedometer is fairly easy to install- no interface with the motor.

Do you have power tilt & trim? If not, a trim gauge is totally worthless (and not much better if you do have power T&T).

A digital hour meter will work just fine. You just have to find a power lead that is hot only when the motor is running plus a "ground" (battery negative connection).

A tachometer is a valuable instrument, IMO.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Add Guages ?

Of all the gauges there are three that are more meaningful than others.
1) Tachometer
2) Fuel
3) Voltmeter

These follow in relative order of importance

4) Water pressure
5) Engine Temp
6) hour meter
7) Trim (note that this is the least important). The seat of your pants is a better indicator of where trim should be set. Besides, trim setting is not one size fits all. Any change in load requires a different trim setting.

 

[Rayandrewss]

Re: Add Guages ?

NYBo & Silvertip.....lots o' help there...thanks....both a good call on the tach....didnt think about that one. I do have power tilt & trim but I see what your saying as far as importance. I didnt really think about the fuel either ( I thought that might get a little more involved as opposed to just running some wires) Yes, I do have a console, being a brand new boat, I hate the thought of cutting in to it but the gauges would be a heap o' help. Speaking of help, thanks again for your suggestions.......Ray

 

[NYBo]

Re: Add Guages ?

Is the fuel tank built in?