Gee, this forum really generated a flood of questions for me. I'll mark the basic questions with a Q: so they don't get lost

I would like to get better charts for my Humminbird 997c.

Q: I am looking at the Navionics Platinum Plus for the West Gulf (when fishing in my bay boat), but would like opinions and maybe alternatives.

Q: Can someone recommend a good book on interpreting the side and down images? After looking through this forum, I feel like I have missed a lot by not being able to interpret the images. Changing the settings for optimizing images would be nice to know also.

I will be spending some time looking at the websites mentioned in the Hummingbird forum. I learned a lot just looking through the posts.

Q: Can someone recommend a kayak ready side/down imaging capable transducer for the 996C? I would want one that is made to go through a scupper hole and hugs the bottom of the kayak. I fish a lot in creeks in my kayak and think I'd learn a lot just studying that very busy bottom environment.

Q: Finally, can you add a second transducer that gives real-time depth readings at plane speeds? I know that the side imaging transducer won't. This is one of the reasons I want better charts, because I hate running aground in my bay boat.

Whew! All done!

Q 1--can't help with that

Q 2--there is no book for that other than the manual, but a start is here:
http://www.bbcboards.net/zeroforum?id=280

Q 3--There is none small enough for what you want for kayak applications. The smallest SI trasducer is the standard one for the 798 Side Imaging units. XNT 9 SI 180 T

Q 4--Yes, IF you have a suitable hull for a shoot-thru transducer XP 9 20 transducer. Thin single layer fiberglass.

1) You have a choice with LakeMaster Maps too. They have Coastal Coverage for Texas: http://www.lakemap.com/gulfcoverage.aspx
Plus they have Exclusive customization features for Humminbird:
http://www.724outdoors.com/Fishing/article_detail.asp?iArticleID=8120

2) Check out my YouTube Videos: http://www.youtube.com/user/imonbass?feature=mhee
and Humminbird's: http://www.youtube.com/user/HumminbirdTV

3) You could use the ThruHull Transdcuer (Drill hole thru bottom) Style transducer to get all sonar readings:
http://store.humminbird.com/products/314032/XPTH_9_HDSI_180_T

4) You can add the XP 9 20 to shoot thru Fiberglass boat hulls and the AS SI DB Y Cable to provide All Speed 2D readings.

Great information! Thanks to all.

I think I could get the ThruHull Transducer to work through my scupper holes - 1 1/4 diameter.

Lake Master - Gulf coverage on Texas Chip