Does Humminbird side imaging work? - The Hull Truth

17scoutguy · 05-28-2009, 05:32 PM

Anyone have experience with this system? The images on the website look amazing. I'd be interested in using this near shore for bottom fishing reefs. Is this the appropriate application? How is the GPS and mapping?

Thanks

UaVaj · 05-28-2009, 05:53 PM

This feature has always intrigue me. Love to hear the real world review too.

pastaman1234 · 05-28-2009, 06:37 PM

The side imaging sonar works good but it takes getting used to. The standard 2d downward looking sonar works really well also. It is meant for near shore and shallower water so you have the right idea. The chartplotter is fine in my opinion. Do a search here and you will see that most are pleased with the product including me. Yahoo formus have more info with actual humminbird techs replying to peoples questions.

XV2PS · 05-28-2009, 07:27 PM

Hi All

and sorry Scoutguy to come over your thread, but we share the same wonders so I would like to add 2 questions, and you may also benefit the replies.

1. This technology is already some years old. Is it constantly updated/imporved?

2. Lowrance HDS range is supposed to come with a similar concept. Would you wait (and how long) knowing Lowrance usually has some teething issues?

Thanks

Pierre

blackfootcharters · 05-28-2009, 07:29 PM

The side scan works great. Image of boat sunk in 79' of water in Moriches, NY
http://www.blackfootcharters.com/S00003.jpg
In shallow water it is not as clear, but my transducer location is not the best

pastaman1234 · 05-28-2009, 07:41 PM

Great shot blackfoot. Here are a few taken from my unit when the old owner still had my boat. He was also a guide.

Piraya33 · 05-28-2009, 07:58 PM

I just got out on the water with my new 997c si. I have to say that I am pretty impressed with this unit. I only got to the local freshwater lake but I went around to all of the fish attractors and took a look at what exactly I would be fishing on. I was amazed that it showed me exactly where all the structure was and showed the fish on it too. I was only using it in 20ft so the detail wasn't the greatest in the world. I tried messing around with all of the settings, but there are so many of them I had no idea what I was doing. I do have a little darkness on my right side but I think I can get rid of it by moving the transducer down a little. I think the more I mess around with the unit, I will be able to dial in all the right settings for me.

I do have a question for some of the other owners though:

Why is there a setting for the chart speed? I thought the side imaging went as fast as your boat is going. How does it work if it is set to a slower speed than your boat?

Overall, I am very happy with the purchase and I have been in contact with Humminbird customer service and I have to say that I am really impressed with the level of support as well. If you are worried about the chart detail, you can use Navionics Platinum Plus chips in this unit to get the 3-D views. I have the Navionics Hotmaps Platinum for all the freshwater lakes in my area and they are great. I will be getting the Platinum Plus chip for Florida coasts pretty soon.

Sorry for the lengthy reply, but I figured I would try to hit on everything I could.

pastaman1234 · 05-28-2009, 08:08 PM

I am not positive but I think with a faster chart speed you will pick up more but might not be as detailed is if the screen is moving slower. I keep mine set in the middle and only mess with the chart speed in 2d mode. Mine is the first year 2006 model and i dont think i can raise or lower the chart speed in SI mode.

Barefoots · 05-29-2009, 08:51 AM

My Humminbird side imaging is the best thing I have put on the boat. If you do any fishing of structure you can't beat it.I have the first model that came out and it is a little hard to see in the daylight. They fixed this problem in the later models. I will be buying a new one as soon as I can

UaVaj · 05-29-2009, 11:23 AM

Is it worth it to add it my pair of E120?

I was thinking of getting a thru hull underwater camera (~$600-$800)

This might be a good alternative. I want to use it to search structures in very shallow water. ~30'

slapshotjh · 05-29-2009, 12:14 PM

I have fished with Blaine (the guy that sold his boat to Pastaman). We drift for stripers over structure. I have seen Blaine watch the sidescan and use the cursor to mark structure to the side of the drift that looks good. Come back on the next drift and hit that boulder or whatever and catch fish. Its a pretty cool piece of equipment, and I wish I had it.

Lowrance is supposed to be coming out with it this year as well. Combined with their HDS sonar and the ability to overlay radar on the GPS, that should be a pretty sweer machine (probably really expensive too).

pastaman1234 · 05-29-2009, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slapshotjh

I have fished with Blaine (the guy that sold his boat to Pastaman). We drift for stripers over structure. I have seen Blaine watch the sidescan and use the cursor to mark structure to the side of the drift that looks good. Come back on the next drift and hit that boulder or whatever and catch fish. Its a pretty cool piece of equipment, and I wish I had it.

Lowrance is supposed to be coming out with it this year as well. Combined with their HDS sonar and the ability to overlay radar on the GPS, that should be a pretty sweer machine (probably really expensive too).

I was fishing on Lake Ontario for smallmouth a few years ago. The water depth fluctuated form 20-40 feet deep. The terrrain was flat with scatttered boulders about 15 to 20 feet apart. I was able to mark a spot with the cursor on some of the boulders and then go back and connect the dots with my drift. It was more effective than just drifting aimlessly hopeing to drift over a boulder.

17scoutguy · 05-29-2009, 05:02 PM

Thank you all for the replies this is great info! Pastaman those are some very cool images. Does the lowrance HDs offer the same "picture like" images? Does the side imaging work while on Plane?

Also would be interested in knowing more about Humminbird quality and support. I had a lowrance finder and found it to be just OK.

17scoutguy · 05-29-2009, 05:05 PM

One more question....are there any issues installing the transducer that would be different than a normal fishfinder? Thanks

looneytunes · 05-29-2009, 05:27 PM

Jeff,

I am a Moriches guy too and you know my wife and don't even know it. Hint, Music. I picked off your picture at the elementary school. We've all fish next to eachother a couple times a season. I do a lot of breaker fishing, thanx to Gil the aquaholic. Gil actually taught me how to throw the cast net. Paul (Mama Mia) is in the inlet all the time.

In any case, I noticed your picture showed 4 mph. Does the image stay clear at speeds up to 25 mph?

ThanX,

Looneytunes
Dave

LooneyTunes
Dave

pastaman1234 · 05-29-2009, 05:40 PM

Looney,

I dont know who Jan is but i can answer your question.

Both the 2d and SI will only work till about 6 mph then it loses signal. That is one of the draw backs. If you notice one of my pics getting a good read at 60 mph is because I also have a 1000 watt shoot thru with a toggle switch on the dash that i can scroll back and forth with. Its a pretty good set up for deep and shallow water.

17scout,

I am a lowrance fan also and i think their product will be pretty good but if you are keeping up with any or the lowrance threads they are down and out right now. Lots of bugs in there new products which is to be expected with new technology but they have no customer service to back it up. Lots of complaints. I doubt the new lowrance side imaging will work on plane but thats just a guess. I heard it will be more than side imaging. I think the ducer will spin or gyrate giving you a 360 degree view. It wont be out till Q3. Thats the gossip on it anyway.

Humminbird's service is great. You wont wait on the phone more than 2-3 minutes.

If i needed new electronics today it would be a tough decision!!

17scoutguy · 05-29-2009, 06:49 PM

Pastaman,

So you don't have any bottom image above 6mph? I know on my old lowrance if I crossed a bait ball I would get hits on the sounder while running. No the same on the Humminbird?

Do you still get depth readings?

pastaman1234 · 05-29-2009, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 17scoutguy

Pastaman,

So you don't have any bottom image above 6mph? I know on my old lowrance if I crossed a bait ball I would get hits on the sounder while running. No the same on the Humminbird?

Do you still get depth readings?

Nope not with the SI tarnsom mount ducer. On my shoot thru i get readings at all speeds and pick up the same bait clouds that you are talking about. On the transom mount about 6 mph is the cut off. Its normal i guess cause SI can not pick up the signal accuratly at higher speeds due to it shooting outwards. I have read numerous threads on this unit and everyons says the same.

looneytunes · 05-30-2009, 07:54 AM

Pastaman,

I have an opportunity to put a through hull transducer because my engine is being pulled.

So, are you saying with the through hull I can get clear images at cruising speeds (25 -33mph)?

ThanX for any info you can provide.

LooneyTunes
Dave

slapshotjh · 05-30-2009, 08:43 AM

Sidescan imaging only works at slow speeds. They switch over to a regular downward pointing transducer when they get above speeds of 6mph or so. In the harbor its used to find bait, and on the drift it is used to find structure that isn't directly under the boat.