If you had $1,000...

[reerok]

If you had $1,000 to spend on a brand new side-imaging unit for the console of your boat, how would you spend it?

 

I fish a 9.9 HP limited hill-land reservoir (flood control but almost no current) with 1800 acres for LMB (no smallies in it).  It actually fishes fairly large (40+ miles of shoreline) since it's 9.9 HP only.  The lake has a max depth of around 30' but has little to no offshore river channels, humps, or other structure.  It's a bit of a bowl with dirty water (typical clarity is around 1').  So that means I'm looking to have some very good side imaging to find subtleties that might hold bass.

 

Any thoughts from you side-imaging and live-charting users?

 

Thanks in advance,

 

reerok

[iabass8]

get the largest screen you can afford for SI. You can find the elite9 ti in your range which is sonar chart live compatible 

[reerok]

Thanks for the input.  Do you recommend as large of a screen as possible specifically for SI purposes?  As in SI is easier to read on a larger screen?

 

Screen size is one thing but image quality is also important which is why I ask.

[iabass8]

39 minutes ago, reerok said:

Thanks for the input.  Do you recommend as large of a screen as possible specifically for SI purposes?  As in SI is easier to read on a larger screen?

 

Screen size is one thing but image quality is also important which is why I ask.

Yes. I've used SI on a 5, 7, and 9. SI is definitely easier to read on a larger screen. It's especially beneficial if you're running mapping and SI on the same screen. Elite 9TI has very good image quality. 

[reerok]

Thanks ia.  That's helpful perspective.  The Elite 9TI does look good.

 

The Humminbird 9 MEGA SI looks amazing but it is a few hundred over my original $1000 threshold.  Does anyone have any thoughts on biting the bullet and spending a few more bucks for the better imaging?

[iabass8]

I’m happy with the TI image quality but that mega imaging is pretty incredible stuff. If you arent brand loyal i would go with the mega imaging.

[WRB]

What boat do you with a 9.9hp with a console?

Do you have a bow mounted TM? 

How mant 12V marine deep cycle batteries? 

The reasons I ask are; you can pull start the 9.9 hp OB, so it doesn't need a battery,  the trolling does and should be separate from the sonar unit.

Side scanning sonar TD should, IMO, be mounted on the stern of the boat, not the TM. 

Do you prefer a specific brand of sonar?

Tom

[reerok]

18 minutes ago, WRB said:

What boat do you with a 9.9hp with a console?

Do you have a bow mounted TM? 

How mant 12V marine deep cycle batteries? 

The reasons I ask are; you can pull start the 9.9 hp OB, so it doesn't need a battery,  the trolling does and should be separate from the sonar unit.

Side scanning sonar TD should, IMO, be mounted on the stern of the boat, not the TM. 

Do you prefer a specific brand of sonar?

Tom

Hi Tom, 

Maybe console was the wrong term but I meant at the steering column. 

 

I have a '99 Tracker Pro Team 175. It's a big heavy boat for a 9.9 to push around but it's great to fish out of.  When I pack light and am alone I can get 11+ mph. But with a fishing partner it's usually 8-9.  

 

I currently have a Humminbird Helix 7 DI (gen 1) at the steering column. I plan to move that up front to the bow/TM. I want the SI at the steering column so whatever I get will be stern mounted. 

 

I have two 12v batteries. One for the starter and TM and one for electronics. 

 

I have no brand allegiance with sonar - just looking for the best value for my specific needs. 

 

Thanks Tom. 

 

[WRB]

4 minutes ago, reerok said:

Hi Tom, 

Maybe console was the wrong term but I meant at the steering column. 

 

I have a '99 Tracker Pro Team 175. It's a big heavy boat for a 9.9 to push around but it's great to fish out of.  When I pack light and am alone I can get 11+ mph. But with a fishing partner it's usually 8-9.  

 

I currently have a Humminbird Helix 7 DI (gen 1) at the steering column. I plan to move that up front to the bow/TM. I want the SI at the steering column so whatever I get will be stern mounted. 

 

I have two 12v batteries. One for the starter and TM and one for electronics. 

 

I have no brand allegiance with sonar - just looking for the best value for my specific needs. 

 

Thanks Tom. 

 

You don't want to mix sonar brands as they may interfere with each outer and can't net work them. There are good deals on Humming Bird side scan units, it's convient to have a wider screen 7" to 9" range. The reason I ask is power drain with HD scanning sonar is high and a dedicated battery or the cranking battery would be good. You don't want your electronics using TM batteries. Shop around for the best unit you can afford.

Tom

[RyneB]

You can find a Helix is 10SI for under your budget. that's the route I'm going  as we speak.

[reerok]

17 hours ago, RyneB said:

You can find a Helix is 10SI for under your budget. that's the route I'm going  as we speak.

True.  But not the MEGA imaging version, right?

[RyneB]

No, not MEGA. the Gen 1s

[JETSWU87]

Helix 10 si on clearance now for $850, they were as low as $825 a few weeks ago...not many left.

 

This unit has the HDSI transducer which is the step above what you have with your 7 DI.  It does have the auto mapping feature but has a limited trial run of it, you could purchase the auto chart live and still be in budget I believe.

 

https://www.mygreenoutdoors.com/humminbird-helix-10-si-gps-combo-409990-1/?gclid=CjwKCAiAhfzSBRBTEiwAN-ysWDaANFxJKQbNA5TDzRdlK-cQfONFHXV57RmzFw6OCmnsQXuvIPGDAxoCiLsQAvD_BwE

[fishnkamp]

iabass8 was dead on about screen size.  I originally put a HB 788 and 798 on my boat when I purchased it, due in part to the images I had seen in advertisements, you tube videos etc.  What I realized later is that they always show that stuff on 10 inch units (the biggest available at that time).  I was sorely disappointed at the results on the 5 inch screen.

Think about it this way. With side imaging you can choose to see both left and right or just one side and you get to go from roughly 30 feet to over 180 feet with many.  If you choose to only see the left hand side the graph will show you a minimum of 30 feet of water in a 5 inch diagonal screen. Imagine what a 6 inch fish sitting next to a 1 foot tall stump would look like 25 feet away from your boat.  There might be something on the screen, but I bet you could not be sure if it was there.  It was totally useless so I sold it and purchased an Elite7. I had no side imaging but I could use the extra space to display the down imaging, 2d sonar or map. My next unit will either be a 9TI or a 10 inch HB. Thst is my 2 cents.  If you have to wait and save a little e more money and get what you will really be happier with.

[Further North]

On 1/9/2018 at 2:24 PM, iabass8 said:

get the largest screen you can afford for SI.

I agree...after that, go play with demo units in the store, buy the one that has an interface you like.

 

There is no functional difference between the brands...some do this better, some do that better...but at the end of the day it comes down to what makes the most sense to guy running the thing for it to be successful...

 

I'm a Humminbird guy, I have good friends who are highly successful using Lowrance and Garmin...buy what you like, there is no "best".

[RHuff]

On 1/20/2018 at 10:02 PM, Further North said:

I agree...after that, go play with demo units in the store, buy the one that has an interface you like.

 

There is no functional difference between the brands...some do this better, some do that better...but at the end of the day it comes down to what makes the most sense to guy running the thing for it to be successful...

 

I'm a Humminbird guy, I have good friends who are highly successful using Lowrance and Garmin...buy what you like, there is no "best".

 

 

 This is fantastic advice for a noobie

[WRB]

To the best of my knowledge you can't network different brands, models of the same brand maybe possible depending on operating frequency.

Off topic; I put 9.9 hp decals on a 15 hp back in the day, same size engine and 2 cyl powerhead. You can also increase the hp easily by upgrading the ignition and a few 15 hp parts.

Tom