All In One Screen

[srock]

If you have seen my posts I am a fan of simple, independent control systems and I hate to be negative but it has to be said. At my annual labor day party, 2 friends and 30 year ski boat owners say they are done with their boats due to continued electrical and controls failures associated with the all in 1 Linc systems. They arrived with no boats as they are in the shop and a lot of complaining which has spilled over to their kids. They are quick to note that they never have engine, transmission or hull/interior issues but their boats are constantly having unresolved error messages. My salt water friend says something goes wrong almost every time out. They were both eyeing my "new" low hour 2009 230 I had found with envy. I hear from them what I hear from Mercedes owners - Once the warranty is up its time to trade.

[surroundsound64]

We are in an awkward time in the universe. We can make things work mechanically but maybe we aren't quite there digitally yet...

[charlesml3]

They are quick to note that they never have engine, transmission or hull/interior issues but their boats are constantly having unresolved error messages. My salt water friend says something goes wrong almost every time out.

I don't really know what to tell you here. I watch this forum as close as anyone and there really aren't very many LINC failures. Very few, actually.

Your report of these guys really sounds to me like the crowed that's never owned one but is just doing the "we don't need no stinkin' digital displays" without any real experience with them. It really doesn't matter. Nobody is going back to analog gauges. With all of the systems these boats have (NSS, NCRS, stereo, heater, lights, engine, etc) there just isn't enough real estate on the dash to do that analog. Digital displays are much more space efficient.

Your guys can sit there and complain or get with the times. Analog gauges are in the past. Trying to say that analog gauges are better because they don't fail as often makes about as much sense as saying horses are better than cars because they don't get flat tires.

-Charles

[WakeDad]

Your guys can sit there and complain or get with the times. Analog gauges are in the past. Trying to say that analog gauges are better because they don't fail as often makes about as much sense as saying horses are better than cars because they don't get flat tires.

-Charles

The funny thing to me over the last few years has been the marketing/sales pitch as it relates to screens. Malibu screens were the best thing ever.......if you were at the Malibu dealer. Of course they completely sucked and would leave you stranded and ruin your entire summer if you happened to be discussing them while talking to the Supra dealer. Mastercraft talked up the beauty of redundancy as well. That is until they came out with the dual screen setup which I would guess 90% + of their X and probably XT as well boats are ordered with now. Though to their credit they do have some redundant switches. And guess what. Anyone seen a 2019 Supra SL?????? That’s right, not an analog gauge to be found. So the only reason screens sucked is because that manufacturer didn’t happen to have them yet. The reality is, you want all this cool stuff on your boat, then the only way to control it all is through a screen. Unless of course you want your helm to look like an airplane cockpit. Besides, who’s worried about screen failure when my whole **** prop may fall off!!!

[surroundsound64]

And I’ll add that I’ve had screen overheating issues.

[lucky7t]

Only issue I’ve had is having to reset the battery due to Linc freeze


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[srock]

Your report of these guys really sounds to me like the crowed that's never owned one but is just doing the "we don't need no stinkin' digital displays" without any real experience with them. It really doesn't matter. Nobody is going back to analog gauges. With all of the systems these boats have (NSS, NCRS, stereo, heater, lights, engine, etc) there just isn't enough real estate on the dash to do that analog. Digital displays are much more space efficient.

Your guys can sit there and complain or get with the times. Analog gauges are in the past. Trying to say that analog gauges are better because they don't fail as often makes about as much sense as saying horses are better than cars because they don't get flat tires.

-Charles

Heck Charles you are more upset than those with issues... and my statements are fact. When driving unfamiliar boats I personally spend so much time messing/figuring out screens that I noticed my eyes were not on channel markers and other boats but the screen. Sure I would get better but some of my occasional drivers...maybe not.

The failures are not necessarily the screen itself but the error codes as a component attached to the system. This could be stereo, NSS, ballast, engine... Yes its obvious the future is digital.

[swc5150]

My bro's 200 was delivered in Oct 2012, and the Linc has performed flawlessly. My Prostar screen has also been flawless. I wouldn't go back to analog.

[charlesml3]

Heck Charles you are more upset than those with issues... and my statements are fact. When driving unfamiliar boats I personally spend so much time messing/figuring out screens that I noticed my eyes were not on channel markers and other boats but the screen. Sure I would get better but some of my occasional drivers...maybe not.

The failures are not necessarily the screen itself but the error codes as a component attached to the system. This could be stereo, NSS, ballast, engine... Yes its obvious the future is digital.

Well I'm not upset at all. I have no idea what you're talking about with me being "more upset than those with issues."

If you're unfamiliar with the display system on a given boat, you should familiarize yourself with all of that while you're sitting at the dock instead of when you're already out on the water. If you're distracted by lack of knowledge about the display, that's on you, not the boat.

-Charles

[j2nh]

I find the Linc much easier to use for controlling Zero Off than non-Link operation. Visual options allow me to change settings for skiers quicker.

Engine management is easier with the Linc system. Everything on one screen keeps my eyes for the most part on driving.

I do not like screen management for things like the seat heater, heater, interior lighting or underwater lights. Just because they could put it into the Linc system does not mean they should have. From a driver's standpoint it is so much easier to push one button than to toggle screens and then push a button. Why? Not even my Mercedes AMG goes to that extreme. Individual controls for items not related to driving is far easier and in my opinion safer by allowing the driver to focus on more important things. Near impossible for a new or part time driver to manage.

I have had one screen issues since new, it did resolve itself after a reset but had it not the day would have been done.

[charlesml3]

I do not like screen management for things like the seat heater, heater, interior lighting or underwater lights. Just because they could put it into the Linc system does not mean they should have. From a driver's standpoint it is so much easier to push one button than to toggle screens and then push a button. Why? Not even my Mercedes AMG goes to that extreme. Individual controls for items not related to driving is far easier and in my opinion safer by allowing the driver to focus on more important things. Near impossible for a new or part time driver to manage.

Agreed. This was one of the problems with LINC 2. The interface was kinda clunky and there were WAY too many button presses to get to some things. Starting with the LINC Panoray, this is pretty much resolved. The touchscreen along with the wheel makes this much, much easier.

-Charles

[scottb7]

Lots of stuff going on within this thread::

"unresolved error messages" : I am not saying linc is great, but sometimes this is like shooting the messenger in that the linc reports what it shows. I kept having message for a couple things (to not be negative I won't say what) but it was the linc reporting what it was it wasn't the linc itself.

as far as when the warranty is up it is time to trade: good luck...these beasts depreciate so much per year in first 5 years (and then depreciation goes down a lot) it is still way cheaper to spend the $$$ to buy a new linc then trade in. but hey good excuse to keep a newer boat...

awkward time in the universe : it does seem like things are rushed to market before the kinks are worked out. super frustrating on many items these days as i get less patience...

yeah it is all marketing b/s if everyone wanted gauges then the dealers with gauges would say linc sucks or the opposite...

like charles i am on here a lot and the linc failure rate seems reasonable...it is made by a super reputable company fw murphy https://www.fwmurphy.com/about/history, and unlike the whole prop shaft issue which is completely on nautique back, fw murphy properly engineers their systems

as far as becoming familiar with a boat systems before driving i think charles comment was a bit harsh. but yeah probably got to just take a couple minutes to get speed control and radio volume...cause the throttle is still the same...well at least for a little longer, right.

and as far as him taking a shot at my 2014 g21's linc2....i got no complaint. works good for me...he complain about too many buttons to press. charles probably trying to save pixels when taking a camera picture, and thumb strokes when texting. i am on the boat i got time to press a couple buttons...but his point is fair linc - like everything else - continues to evolve...

[charlesml3]

and as far as him taking a shot at my 2014 g21's linc2....i got no complaint. works good for me...he complain about too many buttons to press. charles probably trying to save pixels when taking a camera picture, and thumb strokes when texting. i am on the boat i got time to press a couple buttons...but his point is fair linc - like everything else - continues to evolve...

I "took a shot at [your] LINC 2?" If anything, I'm taking a shot at my LINC 2 in MY BOAT. My 2017 SANTE 230 has the same one as your 2014, so yea, I can say it's clunky. I have no idea what you mean by "save pixels" or "thumb strokes." What in the world are you talking about? Texting from what?

-Charles

[neirbot]

Voice control would be ideal, and probably not too far off.

"Alexa, drain the port by a third and turn on the navigation lights"



Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

[functionoverfashion]

I'm less concerned with user experiences with these devices when they're relatively new... what about 10-15 years from now? I know that's not exactly a problem Nautique is obligated to solve for, but just look at the effort it took to get a working ECU solution for the now-discontinued GT-40 engine. If there's no direct OEM replacement for a LINC system in the future, what's it going to take to get a boat working again when one fails?

I guess my hope is that Nautique will continue to work with their suppliers to make replacement parts available for as long as it's reasonably possible. As it stands, you can still get a keypad for a boat of my era (or even earlier) - which I'm sure was a huge concern when they first came out. Sure, $300 isn't a $30 ignition switch, but it can be done.

Part of the reason I bought a Nautique is knowing the support that's available - both from the factory, and communities like this, and the OEM suppliers, not to mention places like Discount Inboard Marine or NautiqueParts, to name a few.

A few years back we had a SeaRay come in with a broken keypad - much like the one in my '03 - and the boat was only 5 years old at the time, yet the part was NLA. NO REPLACEMENT AVAILABLE for a 5 year old boat. Let's hope that doesn't happen to Nautique owners just a few years from now.