I have a question about Helm displays

[h20winterpark]

I recently moved back to Central FL and I am looking into getting a ski boat for my family. I’ve done a little research and I’m trying to systematically determine what features I really want. Nautiques have won hands down until now.

My question is: How important are digital helm displays. From what I can see Nautiques don’t offer these and they seem more practical to me. Am I wrong? Do they offer them? What is the true difference?

Thanks for your help!!

[j2nh]

Just an opinion but I am glad they don't offer the digital display like Mcraft and Malibu. What you have to consider is that the gauges need to be readable in direct sunlight which is difficult with an LCD screen. One of my biggest complaints about the early Perfect Pass displays was just that. Also very hard to read if you wear polarized sunglasses.
Nautiques do have the digital displays that can be scrolled through at the bottom of the gauge face. Truth, other than depth I rarely use them and rely more on the larger analog type gauge.
To each his own.

[AuMDLST]

The Faria gauges are analog and digital - THe same info available on the analog readout can be brought up on the digital display as well - I run with the digital depth showing - also use digital water and air temp. Perfect pass shows speed as well as the Faria speedometer.

[GoBig]

2000 to 2002 model Nautiques offered digital tach and speedo gauges. They were horrible. Most used Nautiques from these years have had the gauges swapped for analog Faria gauges. Analog are much better. However, if you prefer a digital readout, PerfectPass displays the digital info as well...

[Red57Bird]

I wouldn't base the purchase of a boat purely on the type of displays they have. Build quality, ride, wake quality, serviceability, resale value, etc. are far more important. I look at the new displays on the Malibus with all the fancy screens, and my first reaction is "How long with those last, and how much will it cost to replace after the warranty period?" With the pounding that some of these boats take (i.e. double ups), that can't be good for the LCD type displays. I guess time will tell how well they hold up.

[h20winterpark]

Thanks for all of your advice! Of course this isn't the ONLY thing I'm considering but before I get my heart set on something... I like to know that it has everything I want.

[DanielC]

My opinions will come out here. You have been warned.
I want to be able to get information from my gauges as quickly as is possible. Give me a white gauge, with black numbers, with maybe an orange pointer. You can read it from any angle, in any light, with any sunglasses on.
The reason that many boat companies are going to digital multifunction displays is BECAUSE THEY ARE CHEAPER TO MANUFACTURE. Add in a little hype, or spin from the salesman, and you, the consumer think they are better.
I wish getting analogue Airguides was still an option.
When I first saw the dashboard mock up of the year 2000 Correct Craft boats at a boat show, the salesman told how wonderful the new and improved digital gauges were. My first comment, "They are hard to read", Time proved them unreliable as well.
My 1997 Ski Nautique has analogue gauges that still work great. the Hour meter still mechanically tracks the hours, all 2075 of them. The display has not "blanked out" on my gauges.
It seems to me that some boat companies are more interested in hype and shiny things, and promotion of their boat than they are in actual build quality. I think the "our new and improved DIGITAL multifunction display" is evidence of this.

[N2Orbit]

My digital gauges on my 2001 Super Air were replaced within the first year back in 2002. The replacement digital gauges have been trouble free, for six years now. Either I am lucky or the factory replacement gauges were improved. My old 2000 Air Nautique went through three sets of those gauges within the first year.