Just bought a new Humminbird 597ci HD DI Combo. who is the best person to install it? I live in north Fort Worth.

Do it yourself and save a few hundred

By looking at your boat it would be easy to fish wire through it. Do it yourself and save money. If you don't feel comfortable doing it let me know and I can come over and help you. Do some research and you will see it is not hard at all.

Thanks MikeU. The boat has one already on it. It's a little one that came from the factory. Just wanted a real nice one for the new boat. If I can't figure it out I will let you know.

Transducer placement is kinda important sometimes....... http://www.sternmate.com/Where.html

You picked a great unit. Probably the most features for the least money out there. I really wanted that one, but academy put their hds5 on sale a couple weeks ago. So I got the lowrance. You shouldn't have much trouble doing it yourself. I'll be doing mine after I officially get it at Christmas.

Most boat-owners find that correct, damage-free transducer installation is paramount to maximum transducer sonar optimization. After all, it is the heartbeat of your marine electronics. SternMate™ provides the tools and the "Rules" to do it correctly the first time.

Thanks, looks like the one on the boat already is in the right place. It came from Cabela's already rigged. I am sure they researched the correct place to mount it. Thanks for the info D*C*M*

Down Scan units run two transducers? or is that only on SI?

watch several youtube videos then slap it on yo boat.....

I could be wrong, but I think the sonar/down scan combos only use 1 ducer.

and u gotta stay 2 inches from any ribs.......

Thanks again D*C*M*

Only has one transducer should not be to hard.

Only one transducer on the hummin bird. Two on the lowarnce.
Johnny

You got the big one Johnny. I got the small one. Hope to meet you one day,I fish EM alot. Being a Federal Agent I'm on the road alot. Just want to learn how to be a good fisherman.

Do a little research in the General Equip. section and that will go along way to mounting transducer. Manufacturers instructions are not perfect. I have mounted 2 now and I am getting good results with them. Let me know if you need a hand.

K MikeU sounds good.

Call Ernie Doka. He's Bertstomper on the forum.

I will call him thanks

Pat at AAA Marine in Grand Prairie installed my 798ci si and a new TM for $75 each

If you pay for install contact Ernie Doka.

Whether you do it yourself or have someone do it get a poly mounting board and do the mount that way, you will be glad you did later.

Transducer placement is the biggest key to getting the best picture with DI and SI.

Ernie number is 940-393-3031. It will be first rate and you will not beleive how good it will read. He knows what he is doing. Marine I have seen you on the lake ,Will holler next I see you.
Johnny

Thanks MR. Sand Johnny, would love to catch a few fish out there with you on EM.

I just installed the same unit in my boat a couple of weeks ago and it wasn't that bad to install on my own. Just read your instruction manual completly especially when you install the transducer it was confusing to me at first on the placement until I read it all the way through.

First off, Thank you for your service and public service. I mounted HB898 on my boat and it was not hard at all. There are many Youtube videos that will help greatly. MikeU is a sharp dude and will help you if you need it. Good luck and you can PM me if you have any questions should you do it on your own.

Thanks Timber Trout.

Thanks Timber Trout

Took the boat to Erie today. He his going to rig that boat boy like a pro !!!!! Pick it up Weds. Such a good rate, real nice guy.

Where's he at?

Got the poly mount. Then he rigged the old one to trolling motor at a heck of a good price. Pic it up thursday can't wait. He lives in BOYD Texas.

Cool.....

He will do you a bangup job. I have seen several of the marine dealers and they don't do so good. One guy I was helping set his depth finder up he had to take it back three times to get it right.
Johnny

Let me know if he actually figure out a way to get the transducer wire ran under the deck. I have done this twice on a Lowe Stinger (because Lowe ghastly to replace my boat under warranty) and I wasn't even able to pull the old transducer out. It is sandwiched in there pretty good. In the end I just cut the cord on the old cheapo transducer where it came out of the deck and ran the new around the edge of the deck with cable ties. It is an all aluminum boat and I am pretty sure the deck is riveted on. A couple of dollars of conduit would have worked wonders...and I have been told some aluminum boat makers do this...but not Lowe.

Also, that fish finder comes factory rigged. I tried to get them to send me a boat with no electronics installed but they were not running the line at time so they just pulled from inventory. That is one if the reasons I got a lowrance hds 5. I just used the existing lowrance transducer mount. Unfortunately, the cable is different I the baseline models.

I am really interested to see if he gets that cable through.

Will let you know. He is still working on it, pick it up tomorrow. The guy is high speed he will figure it out.

Ernie Doka is a great guy and will do a very proffesional job for you

Picked my boat up to today. He did a nice job. He hooked up my old fish finder to the trolling motor and put my new 597 hummingbird on the console. I will take pics tomorrow. Ernie knows what he is doing.

Pics?