Side imaging on the bow

[shiltsy]

I know there are a bunch of threads on the side imaging (Lowrance vs. Bird) topic and I've read many of them. I'm about to drop about $2k on electronics and want to make sure I get it right!

Right now, I'm looking at a Bird 898C SI at the console and a 788CI on the bow with an Interlink between. I wasn't sure how useful SI would be at the bow because the trolling motor is constantly turning and I figured it would "smear" the image.

Can anyone who's running SI give me their "real world" view of this issue? If I can spend a couple hundred more to get SI at the bow and it WORKS, then I'll probably do it.

Finally, does anyone have the weathersense module and is it worth the $80 you spent?

Thanks all....

[Larson15]

I got the same identical setup on my my boat (898/console, 788ci bow.) I think that having SI at the bow is pointless plus you have to put that big transducer on your trolling motor. Having SI upfront might sound good but I dont think you would use it very much especially on a smaller screen like the 798. When you are operating the trolling motor and trying to look down at a 5" screen, you wont be able to see whats on there. I dont have experience with the weathersense module. I think its sort of dumb to pay for a monthly service for weather.

[Ham]

I have 797 on Minnkota when fishing rock I can see and tell its rock and keep boat on the spot! I think its worth it. I started with 797 in back then put 997 in back and 797 went to front.

[Larson15]

If you have them linked you can mark that spot and stay on it

[Comit 2]

I am very happy to see not one of the 250hp flippin Guru's have not signed in on this one. You know who I mean.

[Deitz Dittrich]

That aimed at me? yikes.. That will leave a mark.

I have an SI on my bow.. but dont even have an SI ducer hooked to it.. I use the Si for finding stuff, not for fishing. I'd rather have 2D to hold the bottom.the only reason I have SI on the bow was i got a killer deal on a used unit.. that would hold a chip.. my first unit did not hold a nav chip.

[olski]

IMO I would spend the extra $ somewhere else. To many variables. Speed being the biggest to get a clear picture you need to moving at a pretty good clip. If you learn to read your regular down view sonar you can easily tell rock from softer bottom.

As far as weather sense, that is pretty much changes in pressure not a subscription that is the XM weather. If you are a guy that pays attention to changes like that it is worth it for sure.

[olski]

P.S. Here come the 250hprs. LOL

[shiltsy]

Thanks guys - really appreciate all the great feedback! Time to get this stuff ordered up.

[whitebassman]

I too am having a similar set up, but minus the SI in the bow. But what if you use the bow SI strictly for down imaging? Wouldn't that be just as useful as traditional 2D? Now you can see exactly what is below you as you pass over it.

[shiltsy]

I didn't think there was any clarity benefit when running an SI unit in 2d mode. That is, I thought the 2D 898 picture would be the same as the 788 (with the 788 being a few hundred cheaper).

[olski]

The screen size is going to be the big difference between the 700 and the 800 serise units.

The down imaging still requires you to be moving kind of quickly to get a good picture.

[Cecil]

Can you get down imaging without the big xducer? That might be nice to have up front more so than the side imaging

[Larson15]

You need the big ducer for the down imaging as well, the down and the side imaging work together. I prefer looking down at the mapping screen with a chip.

[Pherris]

I am very happy to see not one of the 250hp flippin Guru's have not signed in on this one. You know who I mean.

Why is that?

Even though I have ran both HB SI and Lowrance SI on the bow I will refrain from posting my thoughts as not to upset you.

Good Fishing!!

[muskielaw]

Pherris despite someone's comment that did not even start this thread I (as well as Shiltsy the original poster I assume) are very interested on your experience with SI on the bow. I am about to pull the trigger on a new unit for the bow today and would greatly appreciate your opinion as to whether I would be better spending the money elsewhere. I already have a 997 on the dash and was thing just going with the 798 up front. Besides Comit was only talking about 250hp he probably thinks 225hper's are still cool Thanks.

Muskielaw

[shiltsy]

Pherris,

Definitely share your thoughts. It will be a good learning experience for everyone (even if I did just waste $500)! Did the side imaging on bow actually produce superior results over 2D sonar with a trolling motor 'ducer?

Don't know about you guys, but this spring weather has me going stir crazy in anticipation of that first buzzbait hitting the water!

[SStracker]

I have a 997 linked to a 787 on the bow. I like the setup a lot, but wish I had a larger screen on the bow some times when I am fishing 30 FOW with sonar/gps split screen. I don't think you need SI up front by any means. I only use mine when I am driving around looking for structure, weed edges, ect. Then I will mark them on my gps and use the regular sonar/gps to fish the way points. Interlink is a must with SI. I love it!

[muskielaw]

SStracker, if you were to do it over would you rather have a 858 or 958 up front with bigger screen and no SI or would you still go with the 787 on bow?

[cjac]

115HP tin boat mainly muskie but closet bass wannabe guy here, so I think I'm OK to reply......geepers, tough crowd. I sat in on a seminar from a Humminbird rep and this was one of the questions asked.

Cliff Notes recap:

SI is more of a "search" tool as Deitz said earlier. Optimal peformance is moving straight-line at 3.5 to 3.8mph. The straight line approach is needed to get a clear and balanced return from the SI cone reading from left to right. Cool part is you can ride across a point and see left to right the entire point, with pockets, inside turns, etc. Then you can mark all those "spots on the spot" with an icon, and when linked up, then see the icons on your bow unit. You're using the SI to find all the little turns and pockets and structure and sending those icons to the bow unit. Pretty amazing stuff really.

So, utilizing a SI unit on a bow mount you're most likely to be going far slower, and turning the motor head in most cases. That slow speed decreases the quality of signal return and the turning will distort your return image greatly. The application of the SI technology is greatly hampered on a bow mount.

Original question: If I was spending your money, I'd look at a SI unit for the console, and a standard 2D for the bow with the linking, with the idea of spending the money saved by not going SI on the bow being put into a bigger screen on the bow.

Hope that helps......

[whitebassman]

Another question. I am looking at having a 898 si on console and 788 on bow. The 788 can come as no gps or with. So far i have elected no gps with the bow unit. I am linking bow and console together. Can the bow (no gps) display the gps from the console graph or should i get the bow with gps to be able to read the marked waypoints?

[cjac]

$2.0K budget: 798sci and the 858c on the bow

$2.3K budget: 798sci and the 958c on the bow (bigger bow screen)

$2.8K budget: 898sci and the 958c on the bow (bigger console screen)

$3.5K budget: 898sci and the 1157c on the bow (bigger bow screen)

$4.0K budget: 998sci and the 1157c on the bow (bigger console & bow screen)

Beyond that, you must be a 250HP guy and I'd go with the 1100 series on both!

[cjac]

Another question. I am looking at having a 898 si on console and 788 on bow. The 788 can come as no gps or with. So far i have elected no gps with the bow unit. I am linking bow and console together. Can the bow (no gps) display the gps from the console graph or should i get the bow with gps to be able to read the marked waypoints?

Hey there,

You'll need the combo unit with GPS to read the icons on the 700 series bow unit.

[cjac]

One more thought, and I apologize for the barrage of posts, is you ideally want the bow reading off a bow mounted transducer. If not, you bow reading is coming from 18-20 feet behind you off the transom. Not terribly effective if you're fishing the "spot on the spot".

Deitz was talking about a 15x15 foot spot in another unrelated post, if his bow unit is reading off a transom mounted trandsucer it's showing a totally different picture (literally) than what he's sitting on top of drop-shotting.

Point is, if you're dropping a couple grand or more, make sure you do it right and maximize the technology and don't spend on features that won't be of use to you.

There, I'm done....I think! Hopefully this helps a bit....

Chris

[gunning]

If I was spending your money Shiltsy I would go 898 and 858 combo up front, I think the cost is about the same and you might like having the bigger screen up front. Have fun with the new boat by the way.