Merc Vessel View Mobile?

bmajvi · #1 11-13-2018, 03:25 PM

I decided to follow Bigshrimpin's lead and repower my 23' Sceptre with a Merc 150 four stroke. I understand from Mercury that the Vessel View Mobile app can display the same data on your phone that a wired Smartcraft gauge does, and some folks (mostly smaller motors, but some larger) are choosing to use mobile only. Anyone here have any experience/know somebody using the mobile app? Pros/Cons?

Intended use of the boat is mostly a 5NM run to a sand bar kinda deal, and nearby snorkeling. If the weather's nice and a good Mahi/Wahoo bite is on, probably a little nearby trolling. My goals are simple, reliable, cost effective, and easy to maintain.

Bigshrimpin · #2 11-18-2018, 05:54 PM

I have one. I can loan it to you if you want to try it out. My experience was a little mixed. It was great when it worked, but the app kept crashing my android. I had dreams of running a Furuno DRS4W 1st Watch Wireless Radar and Vessel View mobile from a pair of IPADS in Armor-X cases.

bmajvi · #3 11-19-2018, 06:13 AM

Thanks for the offer! Did you mount the mobile sending unit under the cowl, or at the helm? I have an iPhone, which may be what the app was targeted/written for. My son runs iNavX on an iPad and loves it (although to me in bright sun the screen washes out pretty badly compared to a chartplotter). I need to order a harness and various bits and pieces today. The motor won't arrive for another couple weeks, but I've pulled all the old Yamaha wiring, gauges, oil reservoir, etc., out, and yanked the gas tank out for some inspection, cleaning and bilge housekeeping.

Bigshrimpin · #4 11-19-2018, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmajvi

Thanks for the offer! Did you mount the mobile sending unit under the cowl, or at the helm? I have an iPhone, which may be what the app was targeted/written for. My son runs iNavX on an iPad and loves it (although to me in bright sun the screen washes out pretty badly compared to a chartplotter). I need to order a harness and various bits and pieces today. The motor won't arrive for another couple weeks, but I've pulled all the old Yamaha wiring, gauges, oil reservoir, etc., out, and yanked the gas tank out for some inspection, cleaning and bilge housekeeping.

I ran the Vessel View in both locations at different times. I keep waiting for a waterproof E Ink Android Tablet with Bluetooth. If you could display the vessel view mobile output on the new Amazon Paperwhite It'd make a kick ass gauge panel.

Vessel View Mobile is a piece of cake to install.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJ5Jj7XAxic

bmajvi · #5 11-19-2018, 08:31 PM

Agreed, the Paperwhite has a great display for day or night B&W text, I'm on my second one! Thanks for the video link, that installation looks about as easy as it gets. I found some pits on the bottom of my aluminum gas tank, where some water got in between the tank and foam and sat. Gonna take it to the on-island tank guru tomorrow and see what he says.