MacP Posted March 1, 2014 Posted March 1, 2014 I sold my smaller boat last weekend and I'm going to use that money to spruce up my other boat. I found, on a local website, a Hummingbird 598ci HD SI for $350. It was out of the box, but never used. It's brand new. I'm stoked to get such a nice graph! I'm planning on putting this unit at the console as I don't see much use for the SI at the bow. I wish I had the ethernet capable unit so I could connect the two units, but I can't complain with the unit at the price I got it for. Would I be better served getting a trolling motor transducer and mount then using this unit at the bow as well as the console? I'm not sure of the transducer cost versus getting a sonar/DS unit at the bow separately. I realize the trouble of switch isn't likely worth it, so I'm leaning towards just getting a new unit. I've also thought of just getting a double hinged RAM mount to turn the console unit around to the bow while fishing. Quote
Super User Wayne P. Posted March 1, 2014 Super User Posted March 1, 2014 Yes it is a good deal. Yes you will want SI at the bow once you learn how to use it. You can get another mount base, power cord, and transducer (XTM 9 SI 180 T) to use it at either location. 1 Quote
MacP Posted March 1, 2014 Author Posted March 1, 2014 Thanks Wayne. That's what I'm going to do. Transducer at Amazon for 120, PC11 for 15, Mount for another 15. So, for $150 I can have it up front. I thought the cost would be greater. How low speed will the SI and Down Scan work. I was under the impression you'd have to be moving for them to work properly. Quote
Super User Wayne P. Posted March 1, 2014 Super User Posted March 1, 2014 Thanks Wayne. That's what I'm going to do. Transducer at Amazon for 120, PC11 for 15, Mount for another 15. So, for $150 I can have it up front. I thought the cost would be greater. How low speed will the SI and Down Scan work. I was under the impression you'd have to be moving for them to work properly. Zero speed works fine once you learn how to use it. Yes it does take movement for the SI pulses to scan, but scan can be very slow or just turning the trolling motor while sitting still. This is a screen shot of a school of shad I passed over while fishing a roadway rip-rap with a jig. Note the blazing speed. You can see they changed direction in the Down Imaging view when I turned the trolling motor on for an instant. Quote
jhoffman Posted March 1, 2014 Posted March 1, 2014 With spotlight scan available now, no way id put si at the tm. Quote
dfris Posted March 2, 2014 Posted March 2, 2014 Iv got the same unit. here's what I did. I put the original transducer and depth finder mounting on the boat at the steering wheel area. Then I purchased another SI transducer, and mount and installed that at the bow, and mounted the transducer on the trolling motor. I purchased one of those tall brackets to help me see it better when up front fishing. When I'm looking for a place to fish with the big motor, I can scan, and then just pop the head off and place it on the bow. Also I would recommend buying one of those transducer shields for the trolling motor. I have had mine up on rocks plenty of times. With out it, those 200 plus dollar transducers would been broke. These are really a good unit. NO networking, and you can use an ipilot with them, but for a basic SI unit, they work great. Quote
MacP Posted March 2, 2014 Author Posted March 2, 2014 With spotlight scan available now, no way id put si at the tm. That's worlds difference in price. Quote
Super User Wayne P. Posted March 2, 2014 Super User Posted March 2, 2014 With spotlight scan available now, no way id put si at the tm. Post how well the Spotlight Scan works with screen shots. Quote
jhoffman Posted March 2, 2014 Posted March 2, 2014 Dont own one, would cost more than my boat youre absolutely right. You saying it doesnt work? Honestly wayne, outside of the images ive seen you post I wouldnt ever choose a hummbird SI either. Everyone I have ever seen in person looked terrible, I was not in control of said unit so I can only base what I have seen first hand no operating one. I dont know at this point if I could be convinced to buy another humminbird with how good lowrance looks if money is not an issue. Ive got a unit from both companies. If money is an issue than I definitely wouldnt be considering a second SI at the front, id go for a DI and have the best of both worlds. Quote
Super User slonezp Posted March 2, 2014 Super User Posted March 2, 2014 Dont own one, would cost more than my boat youre absolutely right. You saying it doesnt work? Honestly wayne, outside of the images ive seen you post I wouldnt ever choose a hummbird SI either. Everyone I have ever seen in person looked terrible, I was not in control of said unit so I can only base what I have seen first hand no operating one. I dont know at this point if I could be convinced to buy another humminbird with how good lowrance looks if money is not an issue. Ive got a unit from both companies. If money is an issue than I definitely wouldnt be considering a second SI at the front, id go for a DI and have the best of both worlds. All I need is to be able to identify what I'm looking at. If I wanted pretty pictures, I'd hire a photographer. Doesn't matter which brand, being able to tune the units in, and understand what you are seeing, is what matters most. I find the technology invaluable on the console and have purchased a SI unit for the bow 1 Quote
Super User Wayne P. Posted March 2, 2014 Super User Posted March 2, 2014 Dont own one, would cost more than my boat youre absolutely right. You saying it doesnt work? Honestly wayne, outside of the images ive seen you post I wouldnt ever choose a hummbird SI either. Everyone I have ever seen in person looked terrible, I was not in control of said unit so I can only base what I have seen first hand no operating one. I dont know at this point if I could be convinced to buy another humminbird with how good lowrance looks if money is not an issue. Ive got a unit from both companies. If money is an issue than I definitely wouldnt be considering a second SI at the front, id go for a DI and have the best of both worlds. I have no idea how well Spotlight Scan works. I want to see some images of it in use rather than the cartoon advertizment. I may be interested. I am not married to any brand. I want the best technology for my fishing. I saw on another forum that three guys just got the Spotlight, they haven't had it on the water yet. So far Humminbird Side Imaging is the best for FISHING. I am not the only one that knows how to operate the Humminbird units. There are some web sites dedicated just to Humminbird Side Imaging. Quote
MacP Posted March 9, 2014 Author Posted March 9, 2014 Thanks for the help, Wayne. I got a Ram Mount, Extra Ball, Power Cord and TM Transducer. I should have it all this week. Oh, and I got a Transducer Plate to mount it too - cleaning up the old holes as well. Next question is where should I mount the Transducer? My boat is getting some more TLC done, otherwise I'd take it's picture. My boat is identical to this save I've got a beige boat and white motor. The current trandsucer location is the same where this guy had his. To the right of the motor roughly 17" between the strakes. Does this look correct? Quote
Super User Wayne P. Posted March 9, 2014 Super User Posted March 9, 2014 Thanks for the help, Wayne. I got a Ram Mount, Extra Ball, Power Cord and TM Transducer. I should have it all this week. Oh, and I got a Transducer Plate to mount it too - cleanign up the old holes as well. Next question is where should I mount the Transducer? My boat is getting some more TLC done, otherwise I'd take it's picture. My boat is identical to this save I've got a beige boat and white motor. The current trandsucer location is the same where this guy had his. To the right of the motor roughly 17" between the strakes. Does this look correct? Yes, that is where it should be attached. The strakes cause cavitation and add air bubbles to the water stream coming off the hull. The best you can allow for that is centered between them. You can also put it to the left of the trailer bunk/strake, centered between the hull center line and the strake. It depends on how well you get high speed depth readings with the present location. You may have too many hull fittings in that area for the mount to fit. Quote
MacP Posted March 9, 2014 Author Posted March 9, 2014 Thanks so much! I'm hoping to have enough money to get a new trolling motor at the same time. I've got a 15 year old MG 43lb thrust that's just mediocre - doesn't pull the boat around very fast. Quote
Super User Wayne P. Posted April 5, 2014 Super User Posted April 5, 2014 Installed: Good job, I use the covers on my quick disconnect mounts too. LOL, hiding your location, huh? Quote
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