As an engine manufacturer, Mercury Marine develops a range of instrumentation for its engines. To be even more attentive to its users, it offers Vessel View instruments that look more like electronic consoles than simple tachometers.
These products are developed in partnership with Navico (Simrad, Lowrance and B&G). That is to say that they include all the functions found on multifunction screens, i.e. a touch interface with access to cartography, depth sounder and above all an instrumentation page. For the engines, Mercury has developed its own functions accessible via a proprietary Smart Craft protocol.
With the Smart Craft protocol, Mercury can both receive and display information from the engine(s) (up to 4 engines), but more importantly can also send settings to the engine. Thus the pilot can choose the operating mode of the outboard: economy, trolling, water-skiing... For each of these modes, the engine is reprogrammed to be as efficient as possible.
The water-ski mode, for example, affects rpm and acceleration capacity. You enter a profile of the skier (weight, level, experience ...) and the engine modifies its electronics to ensure the déjaugeage in a timely manner.
On the information side, the engine sends fuel consumption, trim status, sensors and even fault codes to the Vessel View screens. In this way, the pilot is always aware of the status of his engine. Whichever window is selected on the screen, for example the chart, he always has direct access to the engine information page on the side of the screen.
The Vessel View range is composed of 2 screens 502 and 702 (one 5 and one 7 inches). Both are touch-sensitive, but the 7-inch also has a keypad for easy handling in rough seas.
In addition, Mercury has just released a Vessel View Mobile module. This is a small black box that plugs into the engine harness and sends engine data via Bluetooth to a smartphone or tablet. No more need for a screen, everything happens on the phone! In addition to a display, the Vessel View Mobile also allows you to transfer engine data to a server that stores it. This way, the dealer in charge of maintenance will be able to access the engine's history without even having to go on board. This will enable him to plan overhauls or warn of misuse. This box, which can be installed on engines from 40 hp, will also provide a speedometer that is too often missing on small pleasure boats.
The application available for all smartphones also has information pages with checklists. For example the winterization, or a list before departure..
Vessel View 502 : from 1386 euros
Vessel View 702 : from 2500 euros
Vessel View Mobile : 320 euros
Installed on all Mercury engines over 75 hp since 2003, on 40 to 60 hp engines since 2017.
