Gauge Choices

[Locke N Load]

Hey all. Winter time is my obsess over options time regarding my Seafari rebuild. What I am anxious about is wiring since I have never done it before and am working from scratch. I am reading books and researching and the options for electronics and displays and gauges is on my mind lately.

My original plan was a Simrad Go9 for the MFD and analog gauges from Faria for speed, RPM, fuel and engine status. The more I have looked into it the more I realize I want all the data the Merc 150 4S can provide. I looked into adding one additional Smartcraft gauge to get that data and especially alarms. I also considered getting the data to the Go9. The newest option is ditching the analog gauges and adding another screen, a VesselView, that will have the RPM and speed I will always want to see as well as all the other data points to be monitored like engine temp, oil pressure, etc.

I have a few major considerations. First is having all the most important information I need easily viewable and then the additional data accessible. Second is ease of installation so I don't screw it up and end up banging my head off a gunnel. Third is cost.

From what I have been able to figure out there are different backbones and connections needed to get info from the motor to the helm. Some are plug and play and others are not.

What are people's thoughts when it come to the helm on a Seafari 20? I have a large blank slate to work with right now since it is all custom. There is plenty of room for the Go9 and another screen or analog gauges and a digital gauge. Is it simpler and more cost effective to go with my original plan of analog gauges and add a Smartcraft monitor for the alarms and additional data? Should I add the NMEA 2000 backbone to get motor data to the Go9? If I would go through all that would it make more sense to just add a Vesselview 502 instead for gauges and data? I assume I will still need some sort of backbone and connectors to get both screens and motor to work together. Would it be silly to have no analog gauges on a 1971 boat or is that all personal preference and do what I like?

Please feel free to note any benefits or disadvantages I have not thought of. Thanks all.