Boat dash upgrade to electronic display.

[gmanz14]

I am upgrading the display on my old boat. And I am wondering what I need to do to make the engine compatible with the new digital display.
thanks!

 

[roscoe]

What engine make, model, year, and hp ?

 

[GA_Boater]

All that Roscoe asked plus what display?

Welcome aboard.

 

[Scott Danforth]

first, we need to know what you are working on. a description of "old boat" could be a 150 year old row boat, or a 1000 year old canoe, or a 10 year old tug boat.

then we need to know if your gauges are currently NMEA 2000 or CAN, what your new "display" is

then we need to know if your engine is compatible, or do you need to add a gateway

 

[gmanz14]

So the boat is a 17ft 1970s reinell
engine is a 165 hp, murcruiser.
and im not sure what display im going to use, I'm open to suggestions.
thanks!

 

[GA_Boater]

Don't take this the wrong way, but adding an electronic display for a 470 isn't worth the time, effort or expense. My opinion for what it's worth.

 

[gmanz14]

Ok thanks!
I'm fixing most of the boat anyway so figured I'd check out how much it would be for an electronic display.

 

[dingbat]

Ok thanks!
I'm fixing most of the boat anyway so figured I'd check out how much it would be for an electronic display.

The display is the cheap part....

Your motor doesn’t have a digital interface to supply data to the display computer. You would have to convert the analog (relay) signals (over heated, no oil pressure, etc.) to digital with a third party box.

Even then, the best you could hope for are digital idiot lights.....no temp, rpm or speed sensor outputs from motor

 

[gmanz14]

Dang it! Ok that's what I was worried about.
what year of motor would I have to get that would have a digital interface?

 

[dingbat]

Dang it! Ok that's what I was worried about.
what year of motor would I have to get that would have a digital interface?

Varies by manufacturer but generally speaking you need to get into the 21st century

 

[Scott Danforth]

Assume 2010 and newer for NMEA 2000 compliant backbone

For your 50 year old boat, i suggest either use your existing gauges, or get another set of gauges