Just wanted to get some pros and cons from those that have one. Everyone that I have seen that has one, really likes it. Have you had any problems with it?

I love mine...it just gives you that extra edge on those who dont have one...just got back from the PAA event at fork and almost all the pros had one...many guys had both lowrance and humminbird on their dash...the only problem i have had with mine was a pin broke off the plug that goes into the back of the unit...it will probably cost around 100 bucks to replace the receiver...

Are these things hard to learn to read?

It just takes time on the water... ive had mine for a few months and learn something new everytime i use it...

just have to spend time. i would highly suggest you becoming amember of yahoo.sideimaging group and then look at every picture on there and study each one. Most all of them already have identified the object(s) below the water because they new it was down there, saw it, or you can tell by the picture. Study and read before you buy, that way when you buy, you are ready to use.

I agree, I saw one on nearly every Pro's boat.

Hey CC look here.


http://texasfishingforum.com/forums/ubbt...797#Post2194797

http://texasfishingforum.com/forums/ubbt...434#Post2172434

We get awesome reports on them all the time at BPS. I have had numerous custmers come back and say they love it and can use it right out of the box.

one thing to note here is I bought a new 797si and they DO NOT read depth at speeds over 10mph...... so if your use to reading your lowrance while running across the lake to see what depth your running in you can not do this UNLESS you buy the y splitter and put another transducer in your hull. Then the unit will switch automaticly to the thu-hull one for speeds over 10mph. So basicly unless you ahve spent all that extra money to do this the item does NOTHING at speeds over 10.


Now I still like mine very much and humminbird has been the most helpful on the phone and also with installation. But I think this point should be noted for all the humminbrid Sideimagine pucks.

I did not know this and thought I had troubles till i learned it is just how it works, or maybe I should say don't work.

I have the 997 and my customer's kids (6 to 17 yrs old) tell me when they see fish.

It's that easy.

Go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sideimaging/ and register / become a memeber of that group. Tons of pictures and information.

they look amazing....i use a zercom flasher. that's it i have really wanted to step WAY up to a side-image finder but $$$

I got a question...these guys that are running both...How and where are they mounting the transducer? are the using upfront or in the dash??

i keep my side imaging unit on the console mounted with a ram mount. I can turn it around to see it from the front deck.

Be advised... My 797 transducer was mounted on my jackplate of my Ranger boat. This is at least six inches from the true bottom of the boat. I was on the lake two days after installing in fairly rough seas. The plastic mounting bracket broke and then unbeknown to me tangled in the prop and was gone. The first day things were good. I took my boat to Cabelas to let them see what had happened and they were also somewhat surprised. I was pissed. I ended up buying another transducer 200 dollars.(ouch) ended up mounting it about 2 inches higher and have not had another problem. I also called H bird. They were out of stock of the transducer's after seeing my picture's and receipt they shipped me a back ordered transducer. What I see with this unit is really cool. But yes there is a significant learning curve. Im not at all impressed with the hollow plastic mounting bracket or the bundled software option since it's based off 06 Navionics software instead of 08 software. That being said. The jury is still deliberating on my full opinnion of unit. Many people are in love with there units. Considering the money we have spent on these things I wouldnt expect anyone to honestly say it sucks. I wish I wouldnt have bought it and drilled holes in boat and all that [censored] ola of installing everything.

Any issues running these on an aluminum boat?

I have heard several people talk about transducer mounting issues. It seems likely that you could run into problems here. Personally I haven't had those problems. My tranducer is mounted on the transom step and is well foward of the motor so I don't have any turbulence problems and it works well at speed unless the water is really rough, but even my through hull tranducer on my other unit acts up then. But as far as the side imaging aspect goes, tranducer mounting is somewhat critical in order for it to work properly. So before you run out and buy one do some research and make sure there is a way to properly mount it on your hull to where its function won' be impeded

Can't wait.

anyone?

Should be no issues running one on an aluminum boat. The SI transducer must be transom or jackplate mounted and WILL NOT WORK in a "thru-hull" capcity, regardless of hull material. Since it is transom mounted, the hull material should have 0 impact on performance on the unit.

I am running a 797SI unit on my 2008 Tracker 175TX. It is great, but I am still trying to learn it. I got both in March and I am still new to owning a bass boat. I am having no issues with reading depth at speed. I use it as my only reader on the dash. I have the other mounted on the front. The SI only works at slow speeds, but the 2D and the depth are great at all speeds.

The only thing I can complain about is that I cannot always see to the left side of the boat. It might be where I mounted the transducer though.

If you join the yahoo group be prepared to filter through 99 messages about where to put the transducer to find one message with content about how to use the thing...

Seems that everyone that ever thought about buying it has joined that group to ask where to put the transducer...

You have your transducer in a location that's getting into the wash from the hull at speed. If that's your boat in the picture then the transducer is too high, it should ride below the hull slightly.

Mine reads depth easily at 30+ mph. The sonar image isn't so good at speed, but the depth is right on all the time.

ONCE YOU GET THEM DOWN THEY ARE GREAT . THE SIDE IMAGING IS A BONUS POINT . THE SONAR IS SOME OF THE BEST . I USED THE SIDE IMAGING TO SEE FISH (CATFISH) 45-90 POUNDER IN THE JAMES RIVER IN VIRGINIA UNDER SUPPORT BEAMS .. IT CAN BE A GREAT TOOL .

Michael. if the bassin guys run thier transducers so they stick out below the hull... there wont be a transducer. bass guys fish in stickups. I can see where running in the middle of the lake, it would be a great application- but fishing in trees wont cut it. It needs to be back between the motor and hull, under the jackplate. they are expensive to replace when broken off....