Yamaha guages connected to NMEA question.

[TunaJoe]

I know some guys have there guages interfaced with GPS. What is the advantage to doing this as opposed to how it is rigged from the factory?
More accurate MPH/knots? Will it affect the accuracy of the fuel management information?
Any info on this would be most appreciated

 

[rloomis]

Without GPS you can only get speed through water (STW) measured using a small pitot hole at the front near the bottom of your lower unit. It's not too accurate and often won't read out at all when that hole gets clogged with debris. With GPS connected, you have the option to program the Yamaha gauges to show speed over ground (SOG) measured from your GPS. This is a lot more accurate and useful for reckoning. Another nice feature you'll get from connecting GPS is it can feed time of day clock to your display too. It definitely worth the investment of hooking up a few wires!

 

[TheOtherLine]

With GPS connected, you have the option to program the Yamaha gauges to show speed over ground (SOG) measured from your GPS.

Maybe I'm missing something. Don't all GPS's give you that info anyway?

 

[TunaJoe]

I'd like to hook it up to my GPS because as rloomis stated, the hole in my outdrive does get plugged frequently with the kelp we have out here.

If I do hook up to the GPS, does this in any way affect the fuel management system?

Thanks!

 

[TopShot25]

For my two cents, I’d like to say that out west I don’t think current is a big issue with Fuel management. I think it would be different if I were running in situations like inlets or other places with moving water.

I just hooked my GPS up with my Yamaha FM system. I have not tried it yet so I don’t know, but I’m hoping that with the GPS I can average the speed, which “I think” will help me get a more accurate reading of MPG. I think with the ability to change the speed averaging I will get it where I want it. It’s still one of those, “looks good on paper things” though. I will have to see how it works out.

 

[Brian S]

Does someone have a walkthrough on how to do this? I have the raymarine c80, I know it';s capable but raymarine does not provide the information on doing this (from my own research).

 

[TopShot25]

Brian, here is the link that I used to hook mine up. You will still need to find the nmea out in your system. If you have any questions Andy at SIM has always been very helpful.

http://www.thehulltruth.com/forums/thre ... 98&posts=5

 

[TunaJoe]

For my two cents, I’d like to say that out west I don’t think current is a big issue with Fuel management. I think it would be different if I were running in situations like inlets or other places with moving water.

.

Exactly! Here in SO Cal, we dont have the current issue. However, I wonder how swell would affect things? Lots of ups and downs going in and out of the troughs?
I still think I'm going to hook it up.
The main thing I'm concerned with is total gallons used for each trip. I'd like that number to be as accurate as possible for fuel sharing costs with my buddies.
This past weekend I filled up the boat and then we ran to the Islands and around, used 53 gallons according to the fuel management gauge, yet when I filled the boat back up, it took 64 gallons! :shock:
So something was off a bit. With gas below $2, not that big of deal. But if it shoots back up this summer, it adds up....

 

[TunaJoe]

Thank you!