Humminbird 899 or 898?

[HNTNBUX]

I have read that the 898 will come with "better" external GPS puck and better transducer. The units are now similarly priced with perhaps easier connections on the 899. Which is the better unit and why? Also is side imaging worth the price and usable for finding bottom transitions?

[bassfshin24]

I don't think you could go wrong with either one. I have heard good things about the 99 (899, 999, 1199) units. SI is definitely worth the $$. It's unbelievable how easy it is to see bottom transitions (hard to soft). I bought my first SI unit last year and will never go without one again. I still have a lot to learn but excited to see what this year brings and how much more I learn from SI.

[RK]

Agree with the above. They're both excellent and it'd be hard to go wrong, but if the newer unit has features you think matter...go for it.

Bottom transitions are incredibly easy to see on SI. Really a remarkable part of the technology. Just as an isolated example, I found a gravel seam in the middle of a weedbed on a lake I fish frequently. Knew there was hard bottom there from seeing it on a 2D sonar but was hard to get the layout of the spot in my head. 2 or 3 passes with the SI and I had the whole thing mapped out with icons. It's a lot bigger and more complex than I thought it was, and it's a phenomenally productive bass spot.

I didn't fish walleyes a lot last fall (got my SI units mid-season) but I can only imagine how useful that aspect of SI would be if you're a walleye guy to any degree.

[thatoneguy]

I love my 898cSI only slightly less than my wife and kids. Seriously. It's that good. Side imaging will be a part of my fishing life forever.

[gixxer01]

Reports are that the 899 does not transmit 800 kHz like the 898 does. The 899 also ships with the xnt version ducer, not as good as the xhs version that comes with the 898.

Personally, I would skip the 899 and look for an 998HD if they can still be found.

[djt311]

The 899 does transmit the 800khz but you need the upgraded transducer, it comes with the XNT-9-SI-180-T compact transducer. you can swap this transducer through Humminbird's exchange program for the HDSI (XHS-9-HDSi-180-T) for $75.00. The HDSI will give it the 83/200/455/800khz frequencies. This is what I was told through humminbird. Has to be unused transducer from purchase, also the 899 has a faster processor. I was comparing the same exact units

[h8go4s]

I love my 898cSI only slightly less than my wife and kids. Seriously. It's that good. Side imaging will be a part of my fishing life forever.

+1

[ClownColor]

Found a rock pile the size of my boat on mille lacs with SI and have been pounding walleye ever since...get it!