Getting new rig what should go on the bow HB 898SI on console

[Further North]

agree, get the biggest you can afford.. think about it, you are looking at that one 95% of the time, it should be your better one. I dont get all the guys that put nice big ones at the drivers console and then small cheaper units up front.

In my case the 997 (9" screen) is at my feet and easy to see, I'm often quite a ways from the 1198 and can still see it.

Also, the 1198's primary function is to find structure and identify it, I'd rather have the big screen for that. It's way easier to tell if you're looking at a fish crib or a rock pile or a dead tree on the bigger screen.

[Further North]

On the bow, SI is money ill spent IMO. You need to be going 3-4mph to get an accurate read, and when are you doing that speed on the bow? Next to never as a bass guy. SI is a "search" tool, best applied when scouting at the wheel running the main motor. So I went with a 958 for the extra screen size.

Correct on SI being a search tool...but you can get a great read if you slow the graph speed down to match the speed you're moving at - set at "1", you can use your SI quite effectively on the bow and keep looking a long way out to the side...

Here's a couple pics from my bowmount 997:

In the upper right, you'll see a boat sitting on the bottom, you can see that it's cot a closed in bow and you can see the seats...all the other things are fish cribs.

That's a weedline, and you can see the pockets in the weeds clear as a bell.

Pretty useful as far as I'm concerned.

...Also, and this takes some practice, you can use the SI to scan ahead of you by stopping and turning the motor back and forth - think of it as a searchlight beam, but even more narrow and focused. Your picture is not going to be as easy to interpret as it is when moving forward, but a little practice will get you to the point where you can spot things you want to go check out without having to actually go there, and to scan structure ahead of you without having to spook fish by running over them or along side them.

On the HB vs. Lowrance thing: Both are great units, period. Neither is better than the other. I'd go try them both and get the one where the operation of the unit makes the most sense to you.

[katoguy]

The 1197 and 788 will interlink with the use of the interlink box. I used to have a similar set up in my last boat. The interlink box is necessary for the setup of these 2 units as they do not accept the newer style ethernet connection for linking.

Since he has a 700 HD series the ethernet will work with his 1197/788HD. He does not have to go the interlink route.

I am pulling out my interlink from my Skeeter (today) and putting it in my bass tracker. I am putting in ethernet in the Skeeter between my 998 (console), 798 (console), 998 (bow), and 788 (bow). But the 5-port ethernet switch is on backorder for a couple months. (The Skeeter came with the 5" screens in-dash at the console and bow, but I added the 8" screens.) I use the 5" screen at the console for dedicated GPS. It is a great setup for this purpose. The 5" screen at the bow will be dedicated for conventional downviewing. The 8" bow screen will be used for mapping (lakemaster chips) and for viewing the SI data from the transom SI ducer. The downfall with the interlink is that it only allowed for connection between 2 units.

My tin boat has a 788 at the bow, and I pull one of the 998s off the Skeeter for use at the console which will be interlinked together now.

I am lucky to have the luxury to spend money on this passion without going into debt. Is winter over yet??? Oh wait, the ice 55 may get used a few times. I also set up the 788 to be used as a portable so I can use my lakemaster maps and waypoints on the ice.

[Further North]

I also set up the 788 to be used as a portable so I can use my lakemaster maps and waypoints on the ice.

That's a great idea because the structure those waypoints marked don't move just cuz there's ice over 'em....

I love the flasher screen on the 7 series HB units - it's incredibly useful for sitting over a school of walleyes.

Credit to the original poster

Some people don't realize that the far right of the 800 and 900 series screens can be used as a vertical flasher:

It's a lot of fun - and really effective - to watch a fish come up off the bottom and smack a jig...

[mwal]

I ended up purchasing 2 HDS 7 at Cabelas. Couln,t pass up the price. Roger Cabelas $799 ea and a $200 rebate ea from Lowrance. Final cost $599 ea.

Mwal

[Shawn Kellett]

I'm running a 898 on the helm and a 858 on the bow. The bow is fine (mounted on the floor) but I wish I would have gone with the 998 on the helm. If you use the SI a lot (everyone should be if they have it, it's cheating) then the bigger the screen the better.

I also LOVE the gps and the ability to shade different depths on the bird. I set mine at 15' on tonka so you can drive straight to the weedlines every time.