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  • #1

    Digital or Command Link Gauges

    Hello all. I've got a F225TXR (Serial 69JX1028639) on a 2007 Model Bay Boat and am contemplating replacing the analog speedo and tach with digital or Command Link gauges. My dilemma is deciding how much effort / money I want to commit to a 9 year old boat / motor.

    I've already connected my Garmin 740s to the engine via the NMEA connection, but would rather have the gauges separate from the Garmin display. My thoughts are that since the engine is NMEA compatible, I should just install the command link gauges. How difficult / expensive will it be?

    Thanks for any input.
    Tags: None
  • #2
    How expensive depends upon what all you want to do.

    Which Command Link gauges? Tachometer, speedometer, fuel management meter? Just one of the three, two of the three or all of the three?

    Round or square gauges?

    In either case it is not difficult IMO. Hardest part will be getting a command link harness out of the motor and through the rigging tube.

    Go here and see what is available and decide what you want. Get the part numbers/kits numbers and plug them into this website to see what the prices are.

    2014 Yamaha MRP Catalog

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    • #3
      Originally posted by boscoe99 View Post
      Hardest part will be getting a command link harness out of the motor and through the rigging tube.
      interesting.

      Cap'nCrunch says he already has the engine data on his Garmin, so -presumably- he has run "the Lowrance cable" -or its equivalent from the engine "Command Link" plug to a N2K backbone.

      Would he now be able to simply run another "Lowrance cable" from a tee on his N2K backbone to a Command Link instrument?

      (I assume the Command Link connectors are the same? except for gender)

      god only knows what the N2K "LEN" is for the Command Link instruments...

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      • #4
        Correct fairdeal. I've already ran the Lowrance cable and it was fairly simple.

        Looking at the catalog, looks like Page 20 is the correct diagram for me.

        Part No 6Y8-0E83R-91-00 looks like the ticket, along with the 10 pin main harness. Are there any instructions for the install available?

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        • #5
          Originally posted by CapnCrunch View Post
          Correct fairdeal. I've already ran the Lowrance cable and it was fairly simple.

          Looking at the catalog, looks like Page 20 is the correct diagram for me.

          Part No 6Y8-0E83R-91-00 looks like the ticket, along with the 10 pin main harness. Are there any instructions for the install available?
          I don't think so. If you want to continue to get engine data to your chart plotter.

          You will need to run a Yamaha pigtail bus harness from the motor to a Yamaha hub. The hub provides data and electrical power to the Yamaha Command Link gauges via other pigtail harnesses. The hub requires electrical power from your key switch. You will now plug your Lowrance harness into the hub at one end and to your NMEA 2000 network at the other end.

          Comment

          • #6
            Originally posted by CapnCrunch View Post
            Correct fairdeal. I've already ran the Lowrance cable and it was fairly simple.

            Looking at the catalog, looks like Page 20 is the correct diagram for me.

            Part No 6Y8-0E83R-91-00 looks like the ticket, along with the 10 pin main harness. Are there any instructions for the install available?

            From Yamaha?

            Funniest thing I have heard all day.

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            • #7
              of course the Command Link hub/wiring is just Yamaha's proprietary N2K hardware;

              but CapnCrunch already has a powered backbone, with his engine connected into it.

              He just needs to connect a Command Link gauge into his backbone - question is, the easiest way.

              Another tee on his backbone, and an adapter cable to go to the gauge, would do it.

              Am I mistaken?

              btw, I was intrigued by that graphic on another thread, of the simplified command link network: the "orange main bus" and "inline hubs"

              Comment

              • #8
                Originally posted by fairdeal View Post
                of course the Command Link hub/wiring is just Yamaha's proprietary N2K hardware;

                but CapnCrunch already has a powered backbone, with his engine connected into it.

                He just needs to connect a Command Link gauge into his backbone - question is, the easiest way.

                Another tee on his backbone, and an adapter cable to go to the gauge, would do it.

                Am I mistaken?

                btw, I was intrigued by that graphic on another thread, of the simplified command link network: the "orange main bus" and "inline hubs"
                I suppose that a Lowrance cable could be used to provide power and data from an NEMA 2000 network to a Command Link gauge.

                There are many many ways to skin the cat. I don't really know what the cat looks like or how he is to be skinned.

                A cheap screw can be implemented but oft times it precludes the possibility of adding stuff later on down the line. Then too when the boat gets sold the next owner is screwed since he has no idea as to what has been done.

                The OP asks about instructions. There are nil instructions for doing it the Yamaha way. If and when doing it the non-Yamaha way who knows.

                I come from an aviation back ground. The right way is the only way. People get hurt and/or die when it is not done the right way. Equipment can become damaged. The right way being the manufacturer's way. Mechanics who don't do it the right way can go to jail. Or pay fines. Or have deep regrets about having done something that contributed to the harm of someone else. In the grand scheme of things I find it so much simpler to do it the right way, even if I know of other ways.
                Last edited by boscoe99; 02-10-2016, 01:08 PM.

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                • #9
                  Thanks for all the input. I'm definitely all about doing things the right way. I'm the second owner of the boat and between the manufacturer and the previous owner, there was lot done the wrong way that I could spend weeks correcting. I cringe every time I open the console door at see the mess behind the instrument panel.

                  It looks like I may be pushing $1K on parts and I'm not sure it's worth it. I might be better off to just buy a new boat.

                  Comment

                  • #10
                    I absolutely respect Boscoe's points.

                    although Yamaha makes it pricey to do everything "right" (their way).

                    I suppose that's just typical B.O.A.T.



                    For under $1000 you could get another 740 just to display the engine gauges -

                    and have a redundant GPS to boot.


                    But I'm personally not a fan of the Command Link instruments...

                    Comment

                    • #11
                      Originally posted by fairdeal View Post
                      I absolutely respect Boscoe's points.

                      although Yamaha makes it pricey to do everything "right" (their way).

                      I suppose that's just typical B.O.A.T.

                      For under $1000 you could get another 740 just to display the engine gauges -

                      and have a redundant GPS to boot.

                      But I'm personally not a fan of the Command Link instruments...
                      Not a bad way to go. Probably what I would do.

                      Have great color instead of dingy black and grey.

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