Trojan Boat Forum

Researching engine monitoring systems. Would appreciate your opinions on the Borel raw water alarm and the Blue Sea 1800 VSM 422. Thanks

The Borel temp monitors are pretty good units. It's a good concept and the best way to alert of a raw water failure IMO. There are a couple of other brands out there that do the same thing/same concept. It's on my bucket list for engines and generator.

The Blue Sea unit is nice however unless the design has changed recently, I don't think it monitors any engine functions. Blue Sea is a good brand so I'd be pretty confident in the quality.

one option without adding another system, on my boat i have a lowrance nmea 2000 network and just added temperature sensors to the exhaust manifolds and set a alarm trigger a bit above my normal operating temp. on my display i can watch the numerical temps and any rise in temp above my setpoint will alarm and alert me to a issue with cooling. i dont know what electronics you have but any brand nmea 2000 network or similiar will work, this is very easy to do.

g36 wrote:....just added temperature sensors to the exhaust manifolds...

Which ones did you go with for NMEA 2000?

this is what i am using i have them in place with a large spring around the metal exhaust

http://www.lowrance.com/en-US/Products/ ... en-us.aspx

Thanks. I will check it out. I have a 1974 Searaider. Dual 318's

Just spoke to Lowrance concerning the NMEA 2000. They said I would need a Chrysler interface, whatever that is, for it to work.
???????

All you need is an analog to NMEA 2000 converter like this http://www.actisense.com/products/nmea-2000/emu-1/emu-1
probably others out there as well.

Thanks

what are you trying to monitor beside exhaust temp? i was thinking that was what you originally asked about. you dont need a engine interface to use the lowrance sensor shown you need a nmea2000 network for them which is nothing really special. something like this could work

http://www.lowrance.com/en-US/Products/ ... en-us.aspx

if you read the full description this could display many things depending on various sensors added. a analog to nmea inferface will allow other options from your engines of course if thats what you are going for. do you have any electronics on your boat now? i posted the lowrance because it represents a option to incorporate sensors beside purchasing a exhaust only monitor and thats what i am using and allows for more expansion into other things. i do have their hds system on my boat with gps chart,stereo,fuel level, radar,depth, and various nmea sensors. garmin and others out there have much the same stuff.
to save money you could also just make a temp alarm with a snap type thermostat to light a light when the high exhaust temp trips the thermostat trigger point