Vessel View Link setup

[Palomar22]

2004 Mercury 250 XS - serial # OT652421

Recently purchased a Vessel View Link kit - part # 8M0110639 as well as a NMEA 2000 starter kit ( boat currently does not have an NMEA network installed ).

Looking to network Vessel View Link info onto Lowrance Elite 9ti2 unit at the console.

By the looks of the short cable that ties into the Smartcraft connector, Im thinking that Ill need a cable extension. Also wondering what other possible parts I may need. I found multiple wiring diagrams but they all look different. Just looking to clear the waters a bit so I know exactly what I need. TIA!

[EuropeanAM]

"Short cable that ties into the Smartcraft Connector"... can you identify this?

Where did you obtain the Vessel View Link?

[Palomar22]

Don, it looks like its labeled as the " Vessel View Harness " on a few of the diagrams Ive found online. I was under the assumption that it was the cable that connects to the smart craft plug on my motor, but I could be wrong. It has 3 plug ends on it, and its about 2 feet long.

I bought it from PartsVu....

[EuropeanAM]

Vessel View Link (with your engine) will require:

-A complete Smartcraft NETWORK (engine to console with terminating resistors and J-Box or Junction Adapter)

-Vessel View LINK Kit

-NMEA-2000 Network.

Additionally, your functionality will be limited on the Ti2 units, unless Lowrance has recently changed their updates to include Vessel View functionality (meaning you may only be able to see/utilize the NMEA-2000 engine data on screens such as the dashboard screen).

[Palomar22]

Don, with that being said, I am considering selling the Link system and looking into Vessel View mobile as well. It will obviously be much easier setting it up, but it states on the Mercury website that it supports 2004 and newer engines. Mine is " technically " an '03, but it was installed on an '04 boat. Is that something to be concerned about? And will I be limited in my capabilities if I go that route? Also, without installing the NMEA 2000 am I selling myself short on taking advantage of everything my electronics can offer? I know my units can be wirelessly linked, so im not sure what the NMEA network does beyond that.

[Bryanmc57]

It's strange... Everything Mercury parts goes by engine serial number, but everywhere I look at VVM on Mercury's website says "2004 and later engines". To answer your question though, the year of the boat wouldn't have anything to do with it. Don will have an answer.

[Palomar22]

According to Mercury's website, everything after serial number OT148500 and up ( I believe ) is compatible. Mine is above that number.

[Bryanmc57]

According to Mercury's website, everything after serial number OT148500 and up ( I believe ) is compatible. Mine is above that number.

Then you should be golden. I must not have looked in the right place, everything I found said "2004". good on you for finding the starting serial #

[EuropeanAM]

According to Mercury's website, everything after serial number OT148500 and up ( I believe ) is compatible. Mine is above that number.

Since consumers normally don't have a means of referencing the serial numbers, that's pretty common. Not sure where you got that above info, but it's not accurate. Many, many engines built after 0T148500 (And I'll add that since that serial number was built in December of 1999, Smartcraft wasn't even released yet).

Your engine was built in 11/2002.

[Palomar22]

Don, Should mine be Smartcraft compatible then?

[EuropeanAM]

Smartcraft Compatible engine, and definitely will work with systems up through Version-4.

Should work in this case.

[egammon]

Don, it looks like its labeled as the " Vessel View Harness " on a few of the diagrams Ive found online. I was under the assumption that it was the cable that connects to the smart craft plug on my motor, but I could be wrong. It has 3 plug ends on it, and its about 2 feet long.

I bought it from PartsVu....

I no longer buy anything from PartsVu. Their "return policy" is that if you open the box you have violated their "original packaging" policy and the item is not returnable.

It only cost me $400 to learn this lesson.

[mactlman]

I no longer buy anything from PartsVu. Their "return policy" is that if you open the box you have violated their "original packaging" policy and the item is not returnable.

It only cost me $400 to learn this lesson.

list on here in sale area--re-coop some of it

[06 SB]

This is the reason to buy from Don. It will be complete, up to date, compatible with your motor and fully supported.

[SilverFox579]

This is the reason to buy from Don. It will be complete, up to date, compatible with your motor and fully supported.

AMEN!!!!