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Finally made a decision on a Sonar

Model70Man

Model70Man

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Finally, after much research and asking questions on numerous forums, I decided on the Humminbird 899. I was going to go with the Lowrance HDS8 Gen 2 with the LSS2, but went with the Humminbird because it's a single unit and the Customer support. I called both companies and Lowrance didn't educate me on anything and pretty much told me if you buy it, it has a warranty for a year and after that you are on your own. Humminbird took time to educate me and give me the pro's and con's for each unit. They also said if I ever needed support to just call, even if it's out of warranty. I also got an unbelievable deal from a forum sponsor that sealed the deal with the 899. You can't find a lower price, even on ebay for a used unit. Their units are not refurbished either. Anyways, I can't wait for if to get here and get it installed.

Does anyone know where I can get it installed at a reasonable price in a timely manner in the Knoxville area?
 
Congrats. I don't know anyone who does it commercially besides the boat dealers. What kind of boat? They are not hard to install. The main parts are getting it level when the boat is in the water and making sure your view to the sides is not obstructed. Mine mounts to my jackplate for the SI head and the 2D is on a y cable that mounts inside the hull.
 
I have a G3 1860 CCT Deluxe with the sponsons (flotation pods) on the back to lift the motor out of the water. I hope they don't get in the way of the side imaging. I guess I can try to install it myself, but I don't have many tools on hand to efficiently do the job. I will have to snake a wire from the stern thru a small tube with other wires in it, to the center console. I can use the existing transducer location and see how it works out.
 
Most SI transducers are mounted where they are out of the water when on plane... this is to keep them from getting knocked off when hitting sticks and other object. They are also bigger and will cause a lot of drag which could affect the positioning if they move any from water flow at higher speeds. They are expensive to replace if you break them also.

Since your boat is aluminum, the 2D transducer mounted inside the hull on the Y cable will not work. If you already have a working depth finder, consider leaving it in place since if you mount the new transducer where it's out of the water when on plane, you're going to lose all depth readings. No water, No readings.

If things don't work out with the back of your boat and the floats, you can always mount the new transducer on a moving mount... one you can raise and lower as you need to. It would be a pain but it would keep you from breaking off the transducer and you could lower it enough to clear any obstructions.

Being level with the transducer when the boat is floating and clear paths to the left and right are the biggest concerns. Being level front to back and left to right at idle speeds are what you're looking for.
 
Rick-

PM JRE on here. His name is Jeff and he's a wiz on boating electronics. He's a very good friend of mine.

Should you need help, I have plenty of tools to make it work.

-Judd
 
I appreciate that Judd. I have some tools, but not the right ones. Snaking wires from the stern to the console and from the console to the bow would be a chore in my center console.

I actually have to send my transducer back to humminbird in the original unopened packaging to get the HD transducer. I would have thought they would sent one with it but they didn't. They say the turn around is approx 10 days.
 

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