Is this as good as GPS????

[hotdaddy27]

I called Checkmate about my boat (currently being built), becuase I was concerned about getting a Speedo that was "GPS".

I was told that the Eddie Marine(?) gauge that CM uses has some sort of digital pickup that when tested was within tenths of a handheld GPS.

Do any of you guys have experience with these guages?

At high speeds will this set-up still be accurate?

Would I be wasting my money on a GPS Speedo/Setup?

I am sure you dealers have some info on this.

Your help would be appreciated, I have gotten carried away on this boat already, and wouldn't want to spend hundreds more for no reason.

Thanks Much.

 

[JW]

I've never found a non-gps boat speedo to be very accurate over 60 mph. Ask them the question: Is your 2.4 Merc LU going to supply water pressure to a digital sensor that will feed the speedo? Or does the speedo have a paddle wheel sensor that will be screwed into the transom ? Or is it a standard speedo where you'll have a water line all the way up to the back of the speedo? I can't count how many times I've had to re-do that speedo connection because it would blow off the back of my Pulsare speedo above 65 mph. We'd have to know how this system works.

I've come to the concusion that if I'm ever fortunate enough to custom order a boat I'll leave out the speedo. Save me a 4" hole in the dash, save me water lines, save me future hassle. I can suction cup my Garmin to the dash or windshield and get accurate readings at all speeds at all times.

See if you can find out exactly how this speedo gets it's speed info.

 

[smallblockford]

You can just replace the speedo with an eddies marine gps speedo the have gps also. I dont know anything about the eddies digital sender. eddies does make a gps speedo and a water speedo.

I do know eddies stuff that i got my paws on was good stuff!!!

but i dont know much about the speedo setup they are talking about i will dig around in some of my books and see what i can findout

 

[hotdaddy27]

I've never found a non-gps boat speedo to be very accurate over 60 mph. Ask them the question: Is your 2.4 Merc LU going to supply water pressure to a digital sensor that will feed the speedo? Or does the speedo have a paddle wheel sensor that will be screwed into the transom ? Or is it a standard speedo where you'll have a water line all the way up to the back of the speedo? I can't count how many times I've had to re-do that speedo connection because it would blow off the back of my Pulsare speedo above 65 mph. We'd have to know how this system works.

I've come to the concusion that if I'm ever fortunate enough to custom order a boat I'll leave out the speedo. Save me a 4" hole in the dash, save me water lines, save me future hassle. I can suction cup my Garmin to the dash or windshield and get accurate readings at all speeds at all times.

See if you can find out exactly how this speedo gets it's speed info.

I have contacted Checkmate and they are getting me some information. I figured that no matter what response I get from them, it would be good to get some feedback from guys that use them on a continuous basis.

I too have never been a fan of mechanical pickups. They are inaccurate and work when they want too.

I may have made a mistake on the description of the guage. The gauge itself is digital (as apposed to annalog), but where it gets its input from (mechanical wheel, pickup, sensor, etc.) I don't know. That was my question for Checkmate.

Let me know if anyone else has experience with these guages or if you find anything Small Block.

Thanks

 

[smallblockford]

here is what i found in my powerboat magazine jan. 2008 and i will quote it word for word

the elite series line of instruments from eddie marine is something to keep an eye on. The new digital gauges are smartcraft, nema 2000, j1939 and analog capable all in one. talk about inovation, all the software is stored in a "master" gauge(tach) that has an lcd screen to provide acess to the settings. the remainein monitoring gauges are actually slave gauges daisy channed with a sinple jumper harness to eliminate unnecessary wiring. available in 3 face colors white,carbon fiber, and platinum. with crome or custom rims, the gauges are built ot military specs, sealed to prevent fogging with a 3 yr warrenty

 

[smallblockford]

pretty neet setup for a new boat

 

[hotdaddy27]

That is cool....think the speedo is as accurate as GPS?

Thanks for doing the research SBF!

HD

 

[bigsbetter]

It's probably not the same brand as you're asking about, but my Uncle has a digital gauge on his Princecraft and it's run by a wheel in the back that hits the water and spins. The digital LCD screen can show engine hours, rpm,depth finder ,mph and all the other gauges also. His speedo, said he was doing 81mph. We read the directions and it has to be calibrated, so we used my handheld GPS and did a steady speed, at 30mph gps, and then set the Digital LCD thingy to read 30mph also. So now instead of an 81mph v-6 boat he has a 41 mph v-6 boat.

 

[smallblockford]

it is the brand you are talking about eddie marine, they are known for really good products i do not no much about this it is brand new and i am digging up as much as i can no one has really touched em around here yet they are brand new, i am wandering if they are gps capable to . they sound really versatile

 

[smallblockford]

hotdaddy the phone # for eddie is 1 800 901 2830 and the web site is www.eddiemarine.com

 

[hotdaddy27]

Thanks SBF,

Full of info as usual!!!

I will call them and inform you of my findings.

 

[Craig]

I have the new Eddie Elite series gauges in my 230…I was one of the first guys to have them from Checkmate, and I had to kind of troubleshoot them….They are really nice. The Speedo is almost dead on with GPS…at any speed. Only varies by maybe 1/10 mph. The speedo may read 58.7 and my GPS is reading 58.6, of course my GPS only regens every 2 seconds, so they are probably closer than I think. The gauges have both analog and digital capability. I have a 496Mag HO and that motor basically has both digital and analog senders for many of the gauges…So my speedo, although activated by water pressure, is a digital reading. Like I said almost right on with GPS.

The main gauge will display all info of the other gauges if you scroll thru, and more. These gauges have so many additional options over standard gauges, very cool. Trip meter, fuel used, range/fuel remaining, water temp, exhaust manifold temp, water pressure, many more!

They are SmartCraft compatible and can read/display all the signals from your Merc SmartCraft motor.

I was very surprised that I got them, when I ordered my boat, I just ordered Regular Merc gauges, which are good quality, and I’ve always had good luck with them. Well Checkmate decided to make these Elite gauges standard in the I/O’s!!!

Like I said I went thur and found some bugs that were easy to fix. Get a manual, which I didn’t have at first…it’s real easy to set-up/calibrate if you have the manual.

-Craig

 

[smallblockford]

hey craig not to get off the subject 2 much but how do you like your new 230?


you say 496 ho whats she run 80?

I know diamond sold that 30ft custom so checkmate is building a 230 zt with a 496 ho for powerboat magazine shootout which outa be interesting you will get to see specs and stuff on a boat similar to yours

 

[hotdaddy27]

Craig-

That is the info I was looking to hear.

Thanks.

Would you reccomend getting the GPS anyway???

 

[claupie]

hey craig not to get off the subject 2 much but how do you like your new 230?


you say 496 ho whats she run 80?

I know diamond sold that 30ft custom so checkmate is building a 230 zt with a 496 ho for powerboat magazine shootout which outa be interesting you will get to see specs and stuff on a boat similar to yours

i would say 82 -85 mph w/ 496 ho...










3

 

[smallblockford]

hot daddy got my 08 catalogs from doug smith today in person talked to him asked about your boat he said it was done with the tapeing for custom graphics and after they got back they were going to get done to it. sounds like it was going to be one badd as_ one off gel work. just wanted to tell ya
also heard that diamond sold your trade in.

it is always great to talk to doug.

 

[hotdaddy27]

Yeah I heard they sold it too...

I f'd up, I could have sold it myself for big $$$$, but I am an impulse buyer and wanted to get on the list at Checkmate ASAP..

Oh well .... hope they made money!!! I enjoy helping the economy go round LOL

 

[smallblockford]

some reason i like makin the economy go round 2. i will try to find out any info on your boat i can and send it back . i know you have a one off guys on this forum outa watch out this thing is gonna be a boat of the month soon. you gott me wanting to sell my stv without the moter which solves one problem i am afraid to give it to someone the way it can run, and build a demo boat for my self with a 21 i told u i liked that 21 hull that is how much i like it, i just want to be able to hit the big lakes a little harder but hmmn. that 21 is a killer cant wait to meet you justin we gotta hit a poker run or got to the lakes like cumberland and have some fun look out can you her checkmeet in cumberland just a thought or maybe dalehollow, or lake, well just wanna let ya know i am going to keep in touch and we will hook up on a fun trip one of these days

 

[Craig]

i would say 82 -85 mph w/ 496 ho...

Claupie,

I really like the 230, and so does the wife. Really takes the rough stuff nice, great for trips, and still small enough for water sports. I ran it all of September and October, so got some good good seat time in it. 77-78 on GPS is what I got out of it....in good conditions. Running a 27" Mirage plus. Maybe it will loosen up some more next spring? This is the first small I/O Checkmate I have owned, and it runs very similar to the outboards I've had in the fact that it runs WOT with very little hull in the water.....I am happy with what it's running. 80 is going to be tough. I'm sure on a standard speedo it would be showing low 80's, but these Elite gauges do not lie. The Pulsare I had earlier this summer ran 90 on GPS and the speedo would peg at 100!

-Craig

 

[hotdaddy27]

Let me know James....I'm In!!!!!!!:cheers