Home › Forums › Bass Cat Boats › Getting to know your motor, NMEA2000 and Fuel Flow Observations, my SaberFTD is dialed in!
GRR884.
I was out today using summer time fishing as an excuse to run my boat. Man, the fishing is tough during these dog days and realizing that night time endeavors will be my plan of action till the days start to cool off. Nuff of that. I was running up and down Lay Lake being centric to my Lowrance HDS8 NMEA2000 LCD cluster gauges. After today I now have my boat dialed in thanks to my digital feedback from my NMEA2000 motor. This now applies to Mercs with merc monitor as a bridge to NMEA2000 as well. I am sure NexSysLink and Smart Craft gauges will provide this too. IMO HDS8 NMEA2000 is a more affordable option vs. computerized gauges.At 3200 rpms at 75% trim I get 5.1 plus mpg. Speed is around 35 mph.At 5000 rpms at 75% trim I get 5.1 to 5.4 mpg. Speed is around 57-59 mph on the GPS speedo. What interesting is watching the Fuel flow gauge mpg increase as you dial in the trim, speedo and WPSI gauge at 12.5 lbs. All this can really add up in savings because anything less has me in the 4 to 4 plus mpg range. That is an estimated 20% savings if you are making lots of long runs over a fishing/tournament season. Thats money saved at the gas pump. Other observations vs my analog gauges.Digital vs Analog observations.Trim: Digital is set at 75% on the HDS digital gauge while on my Analog gauge its higher around 7/8s full trim.Fuel Tank: Digital Fuel tank is just below 50% while on Analog it shows around 5/8s full tank.HDS offers battery voltage gauge. Thats a nice perk. As well at alternator gauge too. Theres more options like seasonal fuel used that has potential.Engine Hours is a bonus too.I have never had a analog engine temp gauge for reference but now with NMEA2000 engine harness I have that available for reference. Its nice knowing the accurate idle temps before take off. Now I know my motor is properly warmed up before take off. I am still new to Info” page on my HDS8 gauges but the more I use this the more educated I become with my very expensive engine. To some this is over the top but for me knowing the amount these engines cost I feel more in control for a better performing engine. I may not catch fish like I used to but I sure in the heck know my boat will perform better. Are there guarantees no but I do like my chances going forward.Last edited by Flyswatter on September 3rd, 2012, 12:17 am, edited 1 time in total.
I looked at motor performance charts and it seems the best mpg is in the 4500 to 5000 rpm range. Yours show that also, you get better mpg going 57-59 than at 35 with trim set the same.Since BCs seem to work on trim as much as throttle, I have always wondered what the difference in mpg is when Im using the same amount of throttle but different trim. For example; if I have the throttle half open but trimmed down my rpm is 3000. But when I trim up while leaving the throttle half open my rpm increase to 4500. Of course speed increases also. Am I getting the same mpg? Your data suggest that I would get better mpg even though my rpm is higher.
IMO I can feel the boat lift at higher speeds for less drag and I do think that accounts for the same to slightly better MPG. There are many positives moving to digital engine data from outboard motors CPUs.
Fly, that is a great post! Very informative. Im just wondering what it would take for me to link up to my Pro XS. I do not have smartcraft gauges, having kept the old BP superdash as long as I can.That is a great read! Enjoy……96 Eyra/12 Mercury 175 Pro XS with 2015 single axle trailer2017 Victory Gunner
Here is the diagram If you have Lowrance HDS and Merc. I am sure this will work with Humminbirds too once they get their NMEA2000 Bridge board out.
It does require adding a monitor gauge. You can not simply wire direct as the monitor gauge provides the conversion and output from SC system protocol to NMEA 2000 protocol.
Here you go. Ill attempt describe my gauges. Top Smaller Gauges going Left to Right: 1. Trim2. Clock set to local time3. Alternator Charger 4. Vsup: Actual Battery Charge level (I think thats it).5. Altitude in top right hand corner for water levels on the lake.Three Larger Gauges1. RPMs2. Fuel flow set to MPG (no display since motor is not on).3. Dual Gauge: Fuel leve and Egine TempSide Bars in Blue.Trim level in percentageFuel: Gallons RemainingDigital Read outs1. Water Temp2. SOG/MPH not display not GPS signal. Correction, GPS signal finally came through in my Garage.3. Engin HoursI can add overlay Fuel Flow MPG and it will display in digital format in any Page. Havent had time to do that yet.There are lots more Dash board display options for personal setup. Here are the other two Dashboard display options.I default to Vesel.There is Navigation and Angler Displays too. If you notice the scroll arrows in upper left and right corners you can scroll to those displays with arrow pad.Navigation Display:Angler DisplayLast edited by Flyswatter on September 3rd, 2012, 4:50 pm, edited 1 time in total.
I need help… I have a 2012 PII with 200 Mercury ProXS and Humminbird 788c HD Combo and just the base analog gauges. I know I will need the Merc Monitor, but unsure about what else I will need. Is there a wiring harness that I will need to run from the Optimax to the Merc Monitor or is that already there. Also what other cables will I need for the Humminbird? Thanks,Pete
pascatII wrote:I need help… I have a 2012 PII with 200 Mercury ProXS and Humminbird 788c HD Combo and just the base analog gauges. I know I will need the Merc Monitor, but unsure about what else I will need. Is there a wiring harness that I will need to run from the Optimax to the Merc Monitor or is that already there. Also what other cables will I need for the Humminbird? Thanks,PetePasCatII. Humminbirds setup with N2k bridge and screen display is something Im not familiar with. I was real close going that route but got tired of waiting. I think its now available. Im not sure how it will work with your setup. I do think that potential is there though. Id call Humminbird directily on this one. They have top notch customer support people that can direct you.Here is Humminbirds screen display in contrast to what HDS units are offering for N2k engine/gauge display.
Pete, this is the merc monitor youll need. It has the gateway to your units the data it needs.http://www.mercurymarine.com/gauges-and … rcmonitor/
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