Dual glass cockpit question

[dsthomas]

On my 2022 R8S the the lighting, sound system, and zero off are all controlled from the garmen screens. Hard to see in this photo but all the zones and everything are easy adjusted on the fly.

[BRDad]

On my 18 R7S everything was controlled by manual controls. The RGB had a button to push and twist, the stereo had to be controlled by the head unit, the zero off was a separate control module, etc. All that is gone and everything is controlled via the glass making it much cleaner in my opinion.

As it should be. The panels can/could handle it. Boat manufacturers are as much system integrators as they are builders these days. This is perhaps my biggest complaint with my Cobalt. Probably because I know it wouldn't have been difficult or much more expensive to do it right.

Congrats on your new ride! I'd be remiss if I didn't say I'm starting to get the itch as well!

This is helpful. You mentioned that zero off is on the screen the main screens? Is that something you can take a pic of? On mine I have separate screen on the right of the steering wheels that seems seems to be the way to control zero off. Hopefully will get more time to play with it last this week.

[dsthomas]

Wow that is interesting.... Is yours a surf model?... So that's my only guess as to why the difference. Maybe the non-surf model if you purchase zero off as an option they use a separate screen. On my boat where your zereo off screen is located I have a little cubby. I'm at work now :0), so I can't sneak out and get a pic, but here is what it looks like...

[dsthomas]

So my zero off is located on the surf screen. This is how my other screen is set up with my gauges, I set it to have a bar across the top that will show whats playing on the stereo. If you touch that bar it takes you to the stereo screen where you can change volume on the zones etc... I've also hooked my phone to it so if i get a call or a text it''ll show whos calling or the text on the screen. I can't respond via the screen, but at least I know whom I'm ignoring while on the lake ha ha.

[BRDad]

Wow that is interesting.... Is yours a surf model?... So that's my only guess as to why the difference. Maybe the non-surf model if you purchase zero off as an option they use a separate screen. On my boat where your zereo off screen is located I have a little cubby. I'm at work now :0), so I can't sneak out and get a pic, but here is what it looks like...

Mine is a non surf model but I added the zero off as an option. So I’m assuming you are right as to the difference. Even you, you would still think it would integrate into to main screens. Will be interesting as I play with it more.

So my zero off is located on the surf screen. This is how my other screen is set up with my gauges, I set it to have a bar across the top that will show whats playing on the stereo. If you touch that bar it takes you to the stereo screen where you can change volume on the zones etc... I've also hooked my phone to it so if i get a call or a text it''ll show whos calling or the text on the screen. I can't respond via the screen, but at least I know whom I'm ignoring while on the lake ha ha.

I like how you set it up with the stereo. I didn’t know that he main screens actually integrate with the stereo. I’ll have to play around with that as well.

[dsthomas]

Wow that is interesting.... Is yours a surf model?... So that's my only guess as to why the difference. Maybe the non-surf model if you purchase zero off as an option they use a separate screen. On my boat where your zereo off screen is located I have a little cubby. I'm at work now :0), so I can't sneak out and get a pic, but here is what it looks like...

Mine is a non surf model but I added the zero off as an option. So I’m assuming you are right as to the difference. Even you, you would still think it would integrate into to main screens. Will be interesting as I play with it more.

So my zero off is located on the surf screen. This is how my other screen is set up with my gauges, I set it to have a bar across the top that will show whats playing on the stereo. If you touch that bar it takes you to the stereo screen where you can change volume on the zones etc... I've also hooked my phone to it so if i get a call or a text it''ll show whos calling or the text on the screen. I can't respond via the screen, but at least I know whom I'm ignoring while on the lake ha ha.

I like how you set it up with the stereo. I didn’t know that he main screens actually integrate with the stereo. I’ll have to play around with that as well.

Just from a money standpoint you'd think they'd integrate it into the Garmin screen as opposed to a whole separate screen.

[BRDad]

Wow that is interesting.... Is yours a surf model?... So that's my only guess as to why the difference. Maybe the non-surf model if you purchase zero off as an option they use a separate screen. On my boat where your zereo off screen is located I have a little cubby. I'm at work now :0), so I can't sneak out and get a pic, but here is what it looks like...

Mine is a non surf model but I added the zero off as an option. So I’m assuming you are right as to the difference. Even you, you would still think it would integrate into to main screens. Will be interesting as I play with it more.

So my zero off is located on the surf screen. This is how my other screen is set up with my gauges, I set it to have a bar across the top that will show whats playing on the stereo. If you touch that bar it takes you to the stereo screen where you can change volume on the zones etc... I've also hooked my phone to it so if i get a call or a text it''ll show whos calling or the text on the screen. I can't respond via the screen, but at least I know whom I'm ignoring while on the lake ha ha.

I like how you set it up with the stereo. I didn’t know that he main screens actually integrate with the stereo. I’ll have to play around with that as well.

Just from a money standpoint you'd think they'd integrate it into the Garmin screen as opposed to a whole separate screen.

Totally Agree. Must have something to do with the functionality of the “surf” part of the chip. Who knows. Once I play around more I’ll make sure to update.

[BRDad]

So my zero off is located on the surf screen. This is how my other screen is set up with my gauges, I set it to have a bar across the top that will show whats playing on the stereo. If you touch that bar it takes you to the stereo screen where you can change volume on the zones etc... I've also hooked my phone to it so if i get a call or a text it''ll show whos calling or the text on the screen. I can't respond via the screen, but at least I know whom I'm ignoring while on the lake ha ha.

I was able too play around with the boat a bit. Zero Off is not integrated into the Garmin's from what I can tell.

When I press the "media" button where I would expect to see the stereo show up like yours I get the attached screen. Any thoughts?

[dsthomas]

It looks like something may need to be plugged in as far as that goes but I don’t know for sure, just guessing. I took a pic of mine with the stereo off and it said this. It’s probably a very easy fix, something the dealer could do when you pick it up.

[BRDad]

It looks like something may need to be plugged in as far as that goes but I don’t know for sure, just guessing. I took a pic of mine with the stereo off and it said this. It’s probably a very easy fix, something the dealer could do when you pick it up.

Thanks...I'll let you know if I figure anything out. I asked my dealer to reach out to Cobalt.

[BRDad]

It looks like something may need to be plugged in as far as that goes but I don’t know for sure, just guessing. I took a pic of mine with the stereo off and it said this. It’s probably a very easy fix, something the dealer could do when you pick it up.

So I heard from the dealer today and cobalt confirmed with them that the stereo is NOT connected to the garmin’s from the factory.

“ To my knowledge we do not set this up from the factory as such. Is it possible I do believe it is possible using the current units that we do. But as it is we do not set it up. Sorry if I repeated myself”

@dsthomas if it’s not too much to ask…will you see if your dealer maybe did that connect themselves vs from the factory?

From what I’m reading it is just s sample NEMA 2000 connection between the Fusion and the Garmin’s.

Do you know if you can access the back or the stereo and the garmin’s from the bow seat storage area?

Thanks for the help

[dsthomas]

I’m happy to help you out. You need to call BS on your dealer. My dealer said that they didn’t have to “hook” anything up as far as the sound system goes. I ordered the Platinum sound package so I don’t know if you have that as well or if maybe that has something to do with it. But you just spent a boat load of money (excuse the pun) on your boat and their response should have been “let us take care of that for you”.

Soonerfan on here has the platinum as well and he switched out something on his unit so he’d be able to control more zones or something. I think you and him were talking about that on another thread? So he would be the guy to ask about how to hook it up. I’m no cobalt tech but I’m sure it’s pretty easy. The garmins are accessed below the helm as well as the remote head to the stereo (not sure if I’m using the right terminology). The storage area in front of the helm I see two large amplifiers I think pic attached.

Sorry your having trouble. But I’d call your dealer up and tell them you don’t care if it came from the factory like that or not it’s simple fix, they need to fix it. My dealer has been good to me and I trust what they say, not sure if it’s because I have a a different sound package but I’d call them on it.

[BRDad]

I’m happy to help you out. You need to call BS on your dealer. My dealer said that they didn’t have to “hook” anything up as far as the sound system goes. I ordered the Platinum sound package so I don’t know if you have that as well or if maybe that has something to do with it. But you just spent a boat load of money (excuse the pun) on your boat and their response should have been “let us take care of that for you”.

Soonerfan on here has the platinum as well and he switched out something on his unit so he’d be able to control more zones or something. I think you and him were talking about that on another thread? So he would be the guy to ask about how to hook it up. I’m no cobalt tech but I’m sure it’s pretty easy. The garmins are accessed below the helm as well as the remote head to the stereo (not sure if I’m using the right terminology). The storage area in front of the helm I see two large amplifiers I think pic attached.

Sorry your having trouble. But I’d call your dealer up and tell them you don’t care if it came from the factory like that or not it’s simple fix, they need to fix it. My dealer has been good to me and I trust what they say, not sure if it’s because I have a a different sound package but I’d call them on it.

Thank you.

My dealer has actually been fantastic. The response that I posted above was actually directly from cobalt… He forwarded me the message directly from them so it’s kind of odd. They are a relatively new cobalt dealer and since inventory has been so low I’m not sure they’ve had a ton of boats to even learn on.

So I have the premium sound… So I’m wondering because of that maybe there’s some wiring difference that they did that allows yours to work from the dealer.

From the research I’ve been doing it seems to be a very simple connection between the Garman and the fusion so I’m sure at some point when I have more time at the boat I can figure it out.

The other thing that strange is from what I read the “media “button only comes up once it’s connected to the stereo. So a bit strange that I’m actually seeing the media button but it’s not pulling up the fussion.

I’ll reach out to soonerfan and see what he thinks as well.

[dsthomas]

Glad to hear they are taking good care of you. I miss understood. Hope you get it figured out soon!

[BRDad]

Glad to hear they are taking good care of you. I miss understood. Hope you get it figured out soon!

Thanks. I was more surprised that Coblat corporate came back with that answers. To not wire it during building seems nuts.

Last question. I know you mentioned accesses behind the dash from under the helm. I know there is a panel there. Does it seem like it easily comes off?