www.iFourWinns.com

Hi All: I love my 288. Only thing I wonder about in a minor tweak-has anyone replaced the factory throttles on a 288 or similar boat with electronic controls. Is this possible? If so, any idea of the cost?
Regards,
Mike

good question Mike, I have mercruisers with mechanical controls, works well but I suspect electronic controls would be a lot smoother.Maybe Im wrong, but would like to hear opinions on pros and cons/costs etc.
Robbi

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2008 V288 with twin 5 litre Seacores
http://www.galwayhouse.com.au

Hey guys,

Not a minor tweak!

I looked into it as I have twin 5.0 MPI's on my 06 318 and there is no "retro fit" kit from Mecruiser to change over from "analog" to DTS .

You would need to change the PCM,change the engine wire harness, add actuators and servo's as well as brackets and cables as well as other sensors and what not.

Now if you know a really really good Merc mechanic that has worked on these allot, and knows the ins and outs of the electronics of the system you may be able to piece it together, but I would imagine it would cost a boat load of money to do in both parts and labour.

I looked into it because of the Axius system. I thought if I could convert to DTS now, and then in a couple of years add on the Axius system, that would be awesome. But it appears (for now) to be just a pipe dream.

Senol

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"Kokomo"
2006 Four Winns Vista 318

If you were repowering then it might be worth considering. But, as has been pointed out, you'd have to replace a lot of components, at considerable expense. I have no idea how 'compatible' the various systems are for boats. I can't imagine they are. I've never seen one but I'd guess an 'upgrade' to axius would be more of a complete replacement. The integration of throttle AND steering would make for a whole bunch of things getting changed. It quite likely would also require replacing the entire outdrive setup too. I'd be hard-pressed to imagine many situations that would make it cost effective. Unless you're talking about 38ft and up boats, by the time you spend THAT much money, on a 'not new' boat, you'd probably be over the cost of an actual new boat already equipped with it.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

Mike and Kinkster,

It is possible to add electronic throttle and shift controls if (and it is a big "IF") your engines are Mercruisers that are DTS equipped. It will say so in big letters on the engine shroud if they are. If so, the electronic throttle and shifting is a drop in replacement. When I ordered my boat, I tried to do the same thing and found that the Mercruiser engines that FW were using at the time were Smartcraft equipeed, but not DTS. Mercury Marine sold them both with and without DTS then. I don't know what FW is installing now.

An aftermarket option is a system by Glendinning that allows you to retrofit electronic engine controls to any engine. It is not a true electronic system in that it requires a series of servos and cables at the engine operated from an electronic control box. The helm control, though, is electronic. It wouldn't work if your ultimate goal is to put in an Axxius sysem.

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Jerry
2004 378 Vista "Escapade", T-Mercruiser 8.1 SHO
2003 Maxum 3300SE
1987 Wellcraft San Tropez
1991 Chaparral 2550SX
1987 Bayliner 2150
!967 Caravelle 1751

Thanks All for the thorough responses. I have 5.0 l GXi Volvo's. No intention to repower in the near future.
I think I am just going to leave it--sounds too risky--probably end up with a less reliable system. Main
think I wanted to do is to have better "feeling" controls.

Regards,
Mike

Ditto That, I think I'll leave it the way it is. Maybe get the DTS in the next boat, although the way the economy is, not anytime soon.

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2008 V288 with twin 5 litre Seacores
http://www.galwayhouse.com.au