What gauges should I add?

[JonathanEngr]

Okay--I have my boat *almost* where I want it. I've polished and waxed the paint, polished the pontoons, mostly dialed in the prop, and now it's time to start on the interior.

I purchased a wood burl vinyl laminate to go over my old control panel that is beginning to fade, and while I have the panel out I want to replace the gauges (they both get condensate in them). My boat came with a fuel gauge and tachometer, and has one extra 2" opening. I plan on opening the 2" fuel gauge to a 3.5" opening for a larger gauge, and add another two inch on the left side. I'll have openings for two 3.5" gauges (tach and speedo--I know speedos aren't terribly accurate, and I use my GPS for true speed, but I like the look and function of a speedo), and two 2-inch openings. I know the fuel gauge is a must, but what other gauge should I get? Voltmeter? Water pressure (is this applicable for a two-stroke?)? Trim? I assume the water pressure would be pretty simple to hook up, what what about the voltmeter or trim? I have a 2-stroke Merc outboard. Would the necessary trim hookup components already be on the engine? Which of these gauges would be most useful? I guess if more than one would be useful, I can always place some gauges in the console outside of the panel. Any input would be appreciated!

Also--I planned on using the Teleflex lido gauges. They match my white interior and look good. Are they good gauges?

 

[GaryO]

Re: What gauges should I add?

I guess my choice would be voltage. If the system isn't charging the battery, I wouldn't want to be out on the water when the engine shuts down. It's not fun getting towed back to the dock with a boat full of family and friends. Been there - done that

 

[JonathanEngr]

Re: What gauges should I add?

Thanks! How hard are voltmeters to wire up? Any idea?

 

[DJ]

Re: What gauges should I add?

You don't say what type/brand/year of engine.

That makes a big difference.

If the engine is a later model, many have "multi function" guages that give you a great amount of detail. Without cutting more holes.

 

[mikegj]

Re: What gauges should I add?

the 3 most important to me are Tachometer, Water Pressure, Cylinder Head Temperature.

 

[JonathanEngr]

Re: What gauges should I add?

DJ--I guess that would help--sorry! I have a 2009 (or maybe 2008??) Mercury 90 hp 2-stroke engine. I bought it new from a certified Mercury dealer, and it came with the additional 2 extra years of warranty they were offering there for a while. I have the title somewhere if there's a difference between 2008 and 2009.

As for the multi gauges, are there any out there that would match the Teleflex Lido set (white face with silver trim)? Thanks!

 

[JonathanEngr]

Re: What gauges should I add?

Okay--I just googled "multi-function gauge" and came up with a Faria that is white with silver trim. However, it has fuel, voltage, oil pressure and water temp. I'm assuming oil pressure is useless to me. With a 2-stroke, what other (if any) gauges would not be applicable?

 

[NelsonQ]

Re: What gauges should I add?

DJ--I guess that would help--sorry! I have a 2009 (or maybe 2008??) Mercury 90 hp 2-stroke engine. I bought it new from a certified Mercury dealer, and it came with the additional 2 extra years of warranty they were offering there for a while. I have the title somewhere if there's a difference between 2008 and 2009.

As for the multi gauges, are there any out there that would match the Teleflex Lido set (white face with silver trim)? Thanks!

Jonathan

I just bought a new 175HP 2 Stroke Optimax.... They have several gauges available. They're HERE

here is what your engine should support Controls and Rigging

The online manual for the System Monitor which I added to mine

For everyday use, System Monitor works great and gives you a read on what the beeping means. You can also link up any standard gauges on the boat like voltage, tach, speedo, etc. It will run all of them together.





Hope this is helpful.

 

[JonathanEngr]

Re: What gauges should I add?

I know that carbed 2-strokes are being phased out, but I wish they kept the info current on the Merc website. I assume the hookups for the Optimax will be quite different than for the classic 2-stroke?

The System monitor looks absolutely awesome! If you don't mind me asking, what does the unit cost?

 

[NelsonQ]

Re: What gauges should I add?

Here is a pic of the Smart Monitor

 

[NelsonQ]

Re: What gauges should I add?

I know that carbed 2-strokes are being phased out, but I wish they kept the info current on the Merc website. I assume the hookups for the Optimax will be quite different than for the classic 2-stroke?

The System monitor looks absolutely awesome! If you don't mind me asking, what does the unit cost?

Jonathan

If yours is from the 2008/2009 range, it would be an Optimax correct?

The Smart Monitor gauge (Red one I showed) with the wiring harness (when I priced it on ebay quickly) came in around $300-$400 USD....

I paid $700 Canadian installed. A little more than I wanted to spend, but then again, when i pick up my new boat, it's ready for the water and I don't have to spend a few hours pulling cable and hooking it up, calibrating it, etc.

The SC1000 gauges are different prices (depending on Analog/digital, multi or single, etc)

Search them on ebay for basic pricing.

 

[JonathanEngr]

Re: What gauges should I add?

Hmmmmm... I'm not really sure--I'll have to find the paperwork and see. I know the dealer was liquidating his inventory, and I got it for a steal. I assume Mercury passed along the temporary extended warranty to help in the liquidation process. I think I actually posted the serial number somewhere here in the forums but can't find it (I wanted help in determining that the unit was new, and finally called Mercury. It was brand new and had never been registered). It even came in the original crate.

Let me dig through some stuff here, but I think the registration for the motor is at the lake in my boating folder. Either way, the engine is definitely not an Optimax. I thought about going with an Optimax, but for the same HP it was around $3000 more. I wound up paying $3800 for the carbed 2-stroke.

 

[NelsonQ]

Re: What gauges should I add?

Hmmmmm... I'm not really sure--I'll have to find the paperwork and see. I know the dealer was liquidating his inventory, and I got it for a steal. I assume Mercury passed along the temporary extended warranty to help in the liquidation process. I think I actually posted the serial number somewhere here in the forums but can't find it (I wanted help in determining that the unit was new, and finally called Mercury. It was brand new and had never been registered). It even came in the original crate.

Let me dig through some stuff here, but I think the registration for the motor is at the lake in my boating folder. Either way, the engine is definitely not an Optimax. I thought about going with an Optimax, but for the same HP it was around $3000 more. I wound up paying $3800 for the carbed 2-stroke.

Understood... sorry I didn't realize it was the carbed version.... I'm not certain but wasn't that the Black Max series from Mercury (I'm not sure)

But you're certainly right on the Mercury site. Nothing on their carbed motors so all the information I've sent you I think may be useless as the electronics for the SmartSystems I think are only in the Optimax and Verado series.

Either way, that's a good price for a new crated engine.

 

[JonathanEngr]

Re: What gauges should I add?

I've really been happy with it. My boat came with a 50 hp 2-stroke, and it was a 2003 model. It was actually a strong engine, and pushed the boat almost as fast top-end as the 90. However, although the 90 is carbed, too, it uses quite a bit less 2-cycle oil... not really sure what the reason is, but it does. It's also quieter, and the biggest benefit performance-wise is takeoff and turning. If I hit a turn with the 50 hp it just murdered the speed. With the 90, it just pushes right through the turn. Perfect for pulling kids on a tube. Also, 90 hp is the max my boat is rated for, so I never looked for anything bigger.

 

[JonathanEngr]

Re: What gauges should I add?

Okay--here we go. The engine's manufacturing date was December of 2007, and I bought the engine on August 3, 2009. The serial # is 1B543752. It has "program year 2010" on the "Manufacturers Statement of Origin". The model number is 1090412FY.

 

[NelsonQ]

Re: What gauges should I add?

Okay--here we go. The engine's manufacturing date was December of 2007, and I bought the engine on August 3, 2009. The serial # is 1B543752. It has "program year 2010" on the "Manufacturers Statement of Origin". The model number is 1090412FY.

Jonathan

You may want to open a new question under the Mercury Outboards section so the right eyes see your request.

They'll be able to help you.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: What gauges should I add?

The gauge you don't need is a trim gauge. Turn your head and look at the engine. A tach is a must. Fuel gauge is a yes or no depending on how big the body of water is you boat on and how far you get away from a source of fuel and whether you can actually look at the tank to see how much you have. A voltmeter, engine temp and water pressure gauge are far more useful. A volt meter is not connected to the engine, it is simply wired into +12 volts and ground off the fuse panel or any other gauge. engine temp gauges require a sender in the engine cooling system with one wire going forward to the gauge. Then +12 volts, ground and a light are all that's required for it. Water pressure requires only wiring for the light (wire to any other gauge) and a plastic tube that goes to a "Tee" in the tell tale on the engine. I want no arguements on the "T" in the tell tale. Just do it. Here are installations on a 75 HP Merc which is the same block as the 90. For multi-function gauges you cannot beat prices or selection at Greatlakesskipper.com. These are generally new-old stock gauges but some are very attractive. As a two-stroke owner you do not have use for an oil pressure gauge.

Water pressure installation:

Temp sender installation: