Last reviewed: 2026-05-09 > Quick answer: SmartCraft Connect Mobile is a small under-cowl module that streams engine data to the Mercury Marine app on your phone. It is not in the box with a new motor. It works on Mercury 4-strokes from model year 2004 forward, 40 HP and up...
Last reviewed: 2026-05-09
Quick answer: SmartCraft Connect Mobile is a small under-cowl module that streams engine data to the Mercury Marine app on your phone. It is not in the box with a new motor. It works on Mercury 4-strokes from model year 2004 forward, 40 HP and up (25/30 HP only on 2022+). Sub-25 HP motors are not compatible. Module part 8M0173128 (single) or 8M0173129 (multi). Install at HBW.
If you've read the spec sheet on a new Mercury and seen "SmartCraft compatible," you might think the phone-app feature ships with the motor. It doesn't. SmartCraft Connect Mobile is a separately purchased module that adds wireless connectivity to a Mercury that already has the SmartCraft data network on board. This post is what we wish every customer knew before they ask "where's the app?"
We sell SmartCraft Connect modules at HBW. We install them. We've seen which motors are compatible and which ones aren't. Here's the honest version.
What SmartCraft Connect Mobile Actually Is
It's a small module that plugs into the SmartCraft network already built into compatible Mercury motors. The module pairs with your phone over Bluetooth and Wi-Fi and streams real-time engine data into the Mercury Marine app (free, iOS and Android).
What you see on the phone:
- Engine RPM
- Fuel rate (gallons per hour) and total fuel used per session
- Engine temperature and coolant pressure
- Battery voltage
- Engine hours (lifetime and trip)
- Fault codes when they occur, with plain-English explanations
- Boost upgrade eligibility (for compatible models)
- Maintenance reminders
What it is not:
- A chartplotter replacement (it doesn't do navigation)
- A SmartCraft Gauge (the in-dash digital tachometer, separate product)
- VesselView Mobile (older, similar product, being superseded)
- A Boost upgrade itself (it lets you check eligibility, not buy it)
The module is roughly the size of a deck of cards and lives under the cowl on a single-engine boat, or under the helm on a multi-engine boat. You will not see it from the helm. You will see its output in the app on your phone.
Compatibility: Who Can Add SmartCraft Connect Mobile
This is the section that gets misunderstood most often. The Mercury spec is precise.
| Motor class |
Compatible? |
| Mercury FourStroke 40 HP+ (model year 2004 onward) |
Yes, most common installation |
| Mercury Pro XS 115 HP+ (model year 2004 onward) |
Yes |
| Mercury Verado (any year currently in service) |
Yes |
| Mercury SeaPro 40 HP+ (model year 2004 onward) |
Yes |
| Mercury 25 HP and 30 HP |
Only on model year 2022 and newer |
| Mercury Avator electric |
Yes (different module integration, ask) |
| Mercury 9.9-20 HP small portables |
No, not SmartCraft-equipped |
| Pre-2004 Mercury 4-strokes |
No |
| Mercury 2-strokes |
No |
| Mercury Optimax (older 2-stroke) |
No (uses different protocol) |
The most common mistake: assuming a new portable kicker (like a 9.9 MH) supports the app. It doesn't. There's no SmartCraft network on those motors to plug into.
If you're not sure about your motor, the cleanest check is your serial number. Email it to info@harrisboatworks.ca and we'll confirm in one reply.
Module Part Numbers
There are two variants. Pick the one that matches your boat:
| Part number |
Description |
Best for |
| 8M0173128 |
Under-cowl single-engine module |
One Mercury outboard |
| 8M0173129 |
Under-helm 1-to-4 engine module |
Multi-engine setups (twins, triples, quads) |
Either way, the module is purchased separately from the motor. New Mercury buyers often expect the connectivity to be built in. It's not. Plan to add the module if you want phone-app data.
Pricing is set by Mercury Canada and updates annually. Build a current quote with module included at mercuryrepower.ca/quote/motor-selection or call us.
How It Compares to VesselView Mobile and SmartCraft Gauges
Three Mercury connectivity products, often confused.
SmartCraft Connect Mobile (this product)
Module + Mercury Marine app on your phone. Phone is the display. Newest, currently active product line.
VesselView Mobile (older sibling)
Earlier-generation Mercury phone-app product, similar in function. Mercury is gradually transitioning to SmartCraft Connect Mobile, but VesselView Mobile still works on older installs. Don't buy a new VesselView Mobile in 2026 if you have the option of SmartCraft Connect.
SmartCraft Gauges / VesselView dash displays
Hardwired in-dash digital gauges that show the same data plus more. These are separate hardware (not the module) and serve customers who want a permanent dashboard display rather than relying on a phone. Pair well with SmartCraft Connect for a belt-and-suspenders setup.
If you want one sentence: SmartCraft Connect = phone display. VesselView dash = built-in display. They aren't either-or.
How It Integrates with Garmin, Humminbird, and Other Chartplotters
Most modern chartplotters from Garmin and Humminbird can read Mercury engine data over the NMEA 2000 network (the standard marine data protocol). SmartCraft Connect Mobile is an addition to that, not a replacement.
Two integration paths:
Path A: via NMEA 2000. If you have a NMEA 2000 backbone on your boat with a Mercury SmartCraft-to-NMEA gateway, your chartplotter already shows engine data on the navigation screen. SmartCraft Connect Mobile adds the phone-app layer on top, useful for guests, for tracking trips, and for fault diagnostics off the boat.
Path B: SmartCraft Connect alone. No chartplotter, no NMEA 2000. The phone is the display. Cleanest setup for small fishing boats, kicker-rigged hulls, and budget-conscious customers who don't want to invest in a Garmin until later.
For most Ontario freshwater boaters with a Mercury 60-115 HP and a basic Lowrance or Humminbird, Path A is overkill and SmartCraft Connect Mobile alone is the right answer.
Install: DIY vs HBW
The module installs in roughly 30 minutes on a single-engine boat. It plugs into the SmartCraft network harness, gets a 12V power tap, and lives under the cowl. Mercury markets it as a customer-installable item.
In practice:
DIY-friendly if: you've done basic electrical work on your boat, you're comfortable removing the cowl, and you know which connector on your motor's harness is the SmartCraft service port.
Bring it to HBW if: you've never opened the cowl, you want the module integrated cleanly with no loose wiring, you want app pairing tested and confirmed before you leave, or you want it on the warranty / service log for the rest of the motor's life.
Our install fee is set up-front (call for current rate) and includes the module, the install, app pairing, and a brief on-boat walkthrough. We've done dozens of these. The most common DIY mistake is missing the SmartCraft service connector and instead splicing into the analog tach signal, which doesn't work and creates a confusing failure mode.
What the Mercury Marine App Looks Like in Practice
Once paired, the app has three main views:
- Live engine view: RPM, speed, fuel rate, battery, temp, hours. Updates every second.
- Trip log: start/stop a trip, see distance, fuel used, average speed. Useful for season-end fuel cost reckoning.
- Health and faults: current fault codes (if any), maintenance schedule, hour-based reminders.
The app also stores trip history and surfaces proactive maintenance alerts. For example, when the motor crosses 100 hours since the last logged service, it nudges you to book annual service. Customers who use the app actually keep up with maintenance better than customers who don't, which means fewer mid-season breakdowns and longer motor life.
Boost Upgrade Eligibility (for compatible Mercury models)
Mercury Boost is a paid software upgrade that bumps horsepower on certain models without changing the physical hardware. SmartCraft Connect lets you check eligibility for Boost from the app, see the price, and (on supported models) purchase and apply the upgrade through the dealer network.
Currently Boost-eligible (as of 2026): select Mercury 150 HP FourStroke models, with potential expansion to other classes. Eligibility is motor-by-motor, depends on serial number and current calibration. The app gives you a definitive answer in seconds. We've also written a Mercury Boost upgrade analysis for pontoon owners.
You don't need SmartCraft Connect Mobile to buy Boost. You can also walk into HBW and we'll check eligibility from our diagnostic tools. The app just makes it self-serve.
Why Rice Lake and the Kawarthas Find SmartCraft Connect Useful
This is local but real: a lot of our customers have multiple boats and one phone. A summer aluminum on Rice Lake, a kicker-rigged Lund at the cottage on Stoney, maybe a pontoon on Pigeon. The same phone, the same Mercury app, can pair with whichever motor you're on at the moment.
For boaters who lock through the Trent-Severn, the trip-log feature is a small joy. You finish a Rice-to-Peterborough run, the app shows you exactly how much fuel and how many hours, and you have a record. For Trent-Severn 2026 trip planning, this kind of accurate data is genuinely useful.
For Rice Lake ProKicker setups, the engine-hour tracking on the kicker is the killer feature. Trolling hours otherwise vanish into "I think we've done about 50 hours this season." The app says 47.3.
What HBW Brings Specifically
We've been on Rice Lake since 1947 and a Mercury dealer since 1965. SmartCraft Connect Mobile is one of the easier Mercury add-ons we sell, and we install it at every repower where the customer wants it.
- We stock both module variants (8M0173128 and 8M0173129).
- We install during repower so the customer drives away with the app already paired and tested.
- We confirm compatibility against your motor's serial number before you commit, so nobody gets sold a module that won't work on a sub-25 HP kicker.
- We answer Mercury app setup questions for the life of the motor, not just at sale.
If you're repowering, building a quote at mercuryrepower.ca lets you add the module to the line item and we install it as part of rigging.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my new Mercury come with SmartCraft Connect Mobile?
No. New Mercury motors are SmartCraft-network-equipped (on most 40 HP and larger models from 2004 onward, and on 25-30 HP from 2022 onward), but the SmartCraft Connect module that talks to your phone is sold separately. It's part number 8M0173128 (single-engine) or 8M0173129 (1-4 engines). Plan to buy and install it if you want app data.
My Mercury is 9.9 HP. Can I add SmartCraft Connect?
No. Mercury outboards under 25 HP are not SmartCraft-equipped. There's no internal data network for the module to plug into. Sub-25 HP motors are mechanical and analog by design.
My Mercury is a 30 HP from 2018. Is it compatible?
No. The 25 HP and 30 HP class only became SmartCraft-compatible on model year 2022 and newer. A 2018 30 HP doesn't have the network onboard. Confirm with your serial number at HBW if unsure.
Does the Mercury Marine app cost anything?
The app itself is free on iOS and Android. The module (8M0173128 or 8M0173129) is the paid component. There's no subscription fee.
Can I install the module myself?
Yes, if you're comfortable working under the cowl and identifying the SmartCraft service connector. Most owners can do it in 30 minutes with basic hand tools. If you're not sure, we'll install it at HBW for a fixed fee.
Will SmartCraft Connect work with my Garmin chartplotter?
The module talks to your phone, not directly to a chartplotter. For chartplotter integration, you need a separate NMEA 2000 gateway that takes Mercury SmartCraft data and converts it to NMEA 2000. Most modern Mercury 4-strokes have this connection available; ask us before you buy a gateway.
What's the difference between SmartCraft Connect and VesselView Mobile?
Same idea, different generations. VesselView Mobile is the older Mercury phone-app product. SmartCraft Connect Mobile is the current product line. New installs in 2026 should use SmartCraft Connect. If you have an old VesselView Mobile install that still works, you don't need to upgrade unless you want the newer features.
How do I check if my motor is Boost-eligible?
The Mercury Marine app shows Boost eligibility once SmartCraft Connect is paired with your motor. As of 2026, Boost is available on select Mercury 150 HP FourStroke models with more rolling out. We can also check eligibility at HBW from our diagnostic tools, just give us your serial number. See our Mercury Boost upgrade analysis for details on whether the upgrade makes sense for your boat.
Ready to Add SmartCraft Connect to Your Motor?
Two paths.
- Repower customers: add the module to your quote at mercuryrepower.ca/quote/motor-selection and we install it during rigging. Most customers add it at the same time as the new motor.
- Existing motor owners: call us with your serial number and we'll confirm compatibility, quote the module, and book an install slot. About 30 minutes in the shop.
Phone: 905-342-2153
Email: info@harrisboatworks.ca
Configurator: mercuryrepower.ca/quote/motor-selection
Address: 5369 Harris Boat Works Rd, Gores Landing, ON, K0K 2E0
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