I went and did it! Bought the humminbird 898!

[eyedabassman]

I was back and forth with this one! Do I really need it? And I am going to retire end of May so I bought myself a gift!  But the BAD news comes when my wife see's the bill!

[Aluma-Bass]

Nice!!!!!! 8-) ive been shopping them for months now...still havent been able to commit on buying one yet ..but i think im bout ready as im going to get!   

[Wayne P.]

Now your next statements will be "why did I wait so long" and "I want another one with a bigger screen"

[GrundleLove]

those things cost as much as i just paid for my new boat. insane

[Fishing Rhino]

those things cost as much as i just paid for my new boat. insane

Not really insane.  Electronics are the number one priority.  A boat is nothing more than a platform on the water to get you where the fish are, hopefully.

Fishing without electronics is like fishing blind.  You won't know anything more about the bottom in a 50K bass boat, than in a 500 dollar canoe.

Electronics go where your eyes cannot, and shows you fish, or fish holding bottom you cannot see from above the surface of the water.

The more info you can get about the bottom the better, regardless of the type or size of the boat.

A regular sounder shows you only what is directly under the boat, and while that is significant, when you can also see, in great detail a couple of hundred feet each side of the boat,  you cover a wide swath of bottom, not just a circle of the bottom beneath the boat.

[eyedabassman]

Now I will need all the help that I can get! Like mounting the transducer and were. I have a 04 Trition Tr 186 with no jack plate.

Dan

[Fishing Rhino]

Quote

Now I will need all the help that I can get! Like mounting the transducer and were. I have a 04 Trition Tr 186 with no jack plate.

Dan

Do you have a step in the hull forward of the transom? I had the same problem with my Z7.

I mounted it on the step, just to the right of the through hull fittings.

I made one modification to the transducer mount so it could swing up and unfold if it struck something.

I replaced the two metal star washers that lock the transducer in place to the bracket, with rubber washers. I got them at an Ace hardware store. They come in those little containers with the drawers that pull out.

It allows the transducer to "unfold" from the bracket that trips up when a submerged object is struck. The step is not high enough to let the transducer swing up and out of the way since it will hit the hull. The rubber washers, if tightened enough will hold the unit firmly in place, but will allow the transducer to swivel in the bracket when necessary.

The transducer must be mounted level front to back, and side to side, in order to provide an accurate image. There were instructions with the unit that showed where to place it in relation to the deadrise of the hull.

The bracket is slotted for vertical adjustment. Position it as accurately as possible according to the instructions then mark for drilling at the center of the adjustment slots.  This will allow for nearly half inch up or down, which should be plenty for fine tuning.

[eyedabassman]

Quote

Quote

Now I will need all the help that I can get! Like mounting the transducer and were. I have a 04 Trition Tr 186 with no jack plate.

Dan

Do you have a step in the hull forward of the transom? I had the same problem with my Z7.

I mounted it on the step, just to the right of the through hull fittings.

I made one modification to the transducer mount so it could swing up and unfold if it struck something.

I replaced the two metal star washers that lock the transducer in place to the bracket, with rubber washers. I got them at an Ace hardware store. They come in those little containers with the drawers that pull out.

It allows the transducer to "unfold" from the bracket that trips up when a submerged object is struck. The step is not high enough to let the transducer swing up and out of the way since it will hit the hull. The rubber washers, if tightened enough will hold the unit firmly in place, but will allow the transducer to swivel in the bracket when necessary.

The transducer must be mounted level front to back, and side to side, in order to provide an accurate image. There were instructions with the unit that showed where to place it in relation to the deadrise of the hull.

The bracket is slotted for vertical adjustment. Position it as accurately as possible according to the instructions then mark for drilling at the center of the adjustment slots. This will allow for nearly half inch up or down, which should be plenty for fine tuning.

Yes my Triton has that step under the transom. Were the live well and the drain plug are. I did check around and the best price that I could get for a install is $ 200.

[Fishing Rhino]

The transducer mount is probably the easiest part of the install. Running the wires, and making a neat job of it is not quite as straightforward.

This is what mine looks like. All the parts and pieces came with the unit. I opted for the antenna on a short mast with a lay down mount. The mast maximizes the reception. Nothing on the boat blocks its "view" of the sky, and it's out of the way, not where it can get stepped on.

For the display, I used the largest Ram mount available, about a hundred dollars. But it articulates in every direction.

[Wayne P.]

Your best setup for on-plane depth readings is with a shoot-thru transducer epoxied in the hull and mount the SI transducer above the hull bottom next to the motor mount. Getting satisfactory depth at speed is difficult with a Hummibird Side Imaging transom transducer with your boat hull type.

Do it right the first time and you won't have to redo it.

[eyedabassman]

Your best setup for on-plane depth readings is with a shoot-thru transducer epoxied in the hull and mount the SI transducer above the hull bottom next to the motor mount. Getting satisfactory depth at speed is difficult with a Hummibird Side Imaging transom transducer with your boat hull type.

Do it right the first time and you won't have to redo it.

I was going to use the unit that is in my dash for high speed and save some money and not have to get another transducer. Si I am better off putting the SI transducer on the flat part of the transom next to the motor and not under the hull on the step by the drain plug?

[Fishing Rhino]

Mine gives accurate depth readings up to the point where air starts passing beneath the hull along with the water, somewhere around 45mph.  The depth jives with the built in Lowrance with the through hull transducer.

It did take a bit of adjusting to do it however.

Lest I give the wrong impression, the antenna mast, fold down mount, and the Ram mount did not come with the unit.  The parts and pieces to which I was referring were for the wiring where it comes out the side of the console.

[Wayne P.]

eyedabassman, using your present unit for on-plane is a good plan IF you turn it off when off-plane so the two units don't cross-talk on the 2D frequencies.

I think we have discussed your mount options before, and you have it covered. Good luck.

Rhinio, your GPS antenna mount is way overkill for reception. You could have just put the antenna on the hull and not used the pole. Some even put the antenna under the deck of fiberglass boats where the batteries are so it is closer to the transducer for a more accurate waypoint saving. Some guys don't like to drill holes in their "baby".

[GrundleLove]

Sigh...Rhino...your boat is so d**n sexy.

[Fishing Rhino]

eyedabassman, using your present unit for on-plane is a good plan IF you turn it off when off-plane so the two units don't cross-talk on the 2D frequencies.

I think we have discussed your mount options before, and you have it covered. Good luck.

Rhinio, your GPS antenna mount is way overkill for reception. You could have just put the antenna on the hull and not used the pole. Some even put the antenna under the deck of fiberglass boats where the batteries are so it is closer to the transducer for a more accurate waypoint saving. Some guys don't like to drill holes in their "baby".

I dont' mind drilling holes, unless I drill them in the wrong place.  Been there, done that.  As for the antenna on the mast, I have no doubt you are correct, but, I did it that way because of things I read.  Some locate them at the stern, others at the bow, or beside the console.  I don't like the bow or stern, because I can be a clumsy oaf, and I'd be likely to step on it, or trip over it.

I also read that a unit with its antenna having an open view of the sky will acquire the signal faster.  How much faster?  I have no idea.  Probably an insignificant difference.

Would that impact my use of the unit.  Again, I'd say not likely.  It's just that it seemed to be the ideal setup, and yes more likely than not, overkill.

When I don't do something to the best for things like this, I have this little nagging voice in the back of my head that says, "You're gonna regret that."  It's just me.

[Wayne P.]

I have seen some boat's rigging of GPS units with the GPS antenna hanging under the console with a plastic wire tie on the antenna cable to the boat wiring harness. Whatever works for you is all that is important.

[eyedabassman]

When I put the transducer on the transom, how far from the motor should I be?

Dan

[Wayne P.]

Some guys mount the transducer between the motor and transom if there is space (like with a jackplate). If not it is mounted beside the motor mount.

Your particular needs depends on your boat hull type and construction as well as its speed capability. There is no one size fits all with the SI technology.

I don't remember if we discussed your boat before when you were deciding on getting the unit.

Send me a picture of your transom looking from behind the motor slightly off center and from one side of the transom across the transom at the bottom level so I can suggest a mount location.

purdum43@aol.com

[eyedabassman]

Wayne, I can't get to my boat yet as it is still in storage. Maybe someone can show a picture of the transom of a 04 Triton Tr 186?

[Wayne P.]

I'm familiar with your hull. If you have the 150 HP motor and USE it. There is no place on the transom to get satisfactory on plane depth readings. That means you will need to add another transducer as a shoot-thru or use the one you have now for on-plane depth readings.

Then mount the SI transducer next to the right side of the motor mount with the bottom of the transducer even with the hull step. It will be out of the water when your are on the hull pad WOT.

The SI/DI will work great at the appropriate idle speed for scanning.

Something like this---------

[eyedabassman]

Thanks Wayne that did help alot! And were should I put the GPS puck?

[birdman78]

Well after all the advice and information what did you do eyedabassman?  And how do u like the bird?  I am going back and forth myself 898----998 no go ahead and speed it all 1198!! I don't know I am leaning toward the 998 just me a middle of the road guy. Ha

[Wayne P.]

The logical location of the GPS antenna is near the transducer. That way when you want to save a waypoint of something you found with sonar, the waypoint will be exactly where that something is.

If you are hesitant about drilling more holes in your hull to mount the antenna. try putting it under the deck in the rear compartment next to the transom. You can also just use silicone to glue it to the hull.

If you want to put it under the deck, test the reception buy hooking up the antenna and looking at the GPS Diagnostic View with it above and below the deck to see if there is much signal loss.

Compare the HDOP and Est Pos Error numbers at each position.

[eyedabassman]

Well after all the advice and information what did you do eyedabassman? And how do u like the bird? I am going back and forth myself 898----998 no go ahead and speed it all 1198!! I don't know I am leaning toward the 998 just me a middle of the road guy. Ha

Birdman, I went with the HB 898, and it just came by Fed X on Wed. so I was looking at it last night. My boat is in storage so I will have it installed in April sometime. The  898 has a nice size screen and for me I could not see spending bigger money to get the bigger unit. I started out wanting the 788 and then moved up to the 7 in. screen because I am getting old and my eye's need that screen.I know I will love this unit, it is just all the other cost that gets to ya, the ram mount,the cost of the install,the map chip,memory chip. The screen on 898 is big! I hope that I did help? But I know I will be a Bird man from now on!

[scrutch]

Reading very intently.  My 1197 should arrive middle of next week.  Going to do the install (my first ever attempt) on Friday the 25th.  Feel free to post or pm me with any other suggestions.  I wanna do this one time and do it right.  I'm all eyes and ears!

Rhino, you'll get to critique my work at the roadtrip.