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If you don't think you need to wear a PFD, here's a challenge for you... Take a couple of buddies, go to the nearest lake when the water temps are around 50 degrees. That's the time many of us start Bass fishing around here. Put on a good PFD and jump right in. Stay there for a full 5 minutes and see if you can pull yourself out of the water. Then come back here and post what your thoughts are on wearing a PFD for all of us to read.

I think I have it figured out... There's a splitter cable in the line that shouldn't be there. I took it out and I'm off to the lake to test. To be continued...

Forgot to take my SD card so no screenshots... but... more clues... Took a separate battery to eliminate the low voltage and interference possibilities. Side and Down imaging was clear. But no depth readings and no switchfire regular sonar. Still heavy interference or garbled vertical lines on the screen. Then... I unplugged the transducer from the lead coming out of the head unit labeled "side imaging" and plugged it into the lead labeled "Dual Beam". Now switchfire sonar works with good depth readings but obviously no side or down imaging. I'm a puzzled Humminbird Side Imaging newbie!

This is what I pull my kids on using my bass boat. I go very slow (just fast enough to stay on plane). I stay far away from any traffic, and only go in calmer ends of the lake. My kids are all under 8 years old and they love it. I use this tow harness connected to the transom hold-down eyes. This setup works really good for me.

The Minn Kota chargers charge each battery independently regardless if they're wired in series, parallel, or a single battery. I have 3 TM batteries wired in series and one cranking battery and I have a MK440D four bank charger that handles them all. The big motor does charge the cranking battery, but if you make a lot of short runs or fish some electric only lakes, the cranking battery will not get charged properly. I would put the charger up with the TM batteries and run the extended leads to the cranking battery in the rear. It's a lot rougher ride up front but the MK chargers seem to be built pretty rugged. I think they can handle that.

Battery voltage with charger plugged in is as high as 14.5. Unplugged it drops to 12.0 within 5 minutes. Battery is getting replaced. Hope that fixes it.

I checked it out, great site... Thanks!

My Terrova was running the whole time... I have 3 TM batteries separate from the Cranking battery which powers the HB. Some have said to try a jumper from the cranking battery neutral to the neutral of the TM batteries. The HB voltage reading was at 12.0 to 12.1. I have an onboard charger that was just unplugged before the outing. I'm pretty sure the charger isn't the issue, Rhino, I might try a different battery. The voltage seems low for a fully charged cranking battery. Pics of the transducer...

I did shut the flasher off and it didn't change anything, but I was messing with the transducer so I may not have noticed. Pics coming soon...

Got my 1197 installed yesterday and went to the lake to shake out any bugs. I can't seem to find the sweetspot with the transducer to get any images in the screen. On the screen with side imaging, down imaging and switchfire I get static in the switchfire pane, garbled images in the downimaging pane, and some images in the side imaging pane but you can't really make out what you're looking at. I think it's the transducer angle. I nearly froze my arm off reaching down underwater to adjust the angle but could not find the sweetspot. I never got any accurate depth readings either. Most were readings around 1000 - 1500 ft. once in a while I'd get it down to 200 ft but still nothing accurate. I have a stepped hull and my transducer is mounted in the step with a clear view of the bottom and sides. No motor running. I had only my in-dash Zercom flasher running so I could see the actual depth. Anyone have any dialing-in tips that might help?

I was also looking to buy an 80lb TM for my 18' Cobra when a heckuva deal came by on a MK101 Terrova iPilot. I think it's a little overkill, but I also fish in heavy river current, and on a lot of electric only lakes. I may never need 101lbs of thrust, but, God forbid, if I ever do, I'm covered.

yup.. Fishing Rhino's your man. He's an 'ol salty dog lobsterman from way back...with a Z7.

I wish someone made the Mustang style vests in kid's sizes. My son would be MUCH more comfortable all day on the water. As you can see in my avatar pic, The vest fits him, but it is not nearly as comfortable as a mustang style.

I've been looking for that little plastic cover that you attach to your console that covers the hole that your HB wires go through. I think HB calls them "escutcheon" plates or covers. After PM'ing some members here looking for one, I finally just called Humminbird to try to find one. The CSR at Humminbird told me that they'll be sending me a hardware pack that includes one of those covers...AT NO CHARGE!!! They're also sending me a new 1198 manual...yep, you guessed it...AT NO CHARGE!!! All the software updates (and UPGRADES) are free too!! I wasn't ever looking for a freebie at any point. I think I just became a Humminbird user for life. Why would anyone ever buy anything else but Humminbird with customer service like that?!

LMAO!! Update complete. software v.4.070 updated to 5.430!! I CANNOT believe the difference!! This this is a totally new machine!!! I'm doing cartwheels!!

nevermind... I got it registered

how do I register my product? It won't take my serial number. I bought this thing used.

WOW. software version 4.070 !! I'm now looking up all the info to perform a much needed update.

I think I have an SD card somewhere. If I have time, (slim chance tonite), I'm gonna fire up the 1197 and check the software version. To be continued...

Add one vote for my backseater. I can't vote again.

I've done nothing yet Wayne. I just got it this past week. I don't really know if the previous owner did it either. Tomorrow I can connect it to a battery and run it in sim mode to check it. If it hasn't been updated, what's the easiest way to do the update? Do you need an SD card?

Wayne, You're my new best friend! Thanks! It's one thing to read the manual and try to apply it. It's totally another to be told by someone whose experienced with the technology.

What are the in's and out's of the SI Range settings on an 1197. They're the numbers at the top of the screen that say "125 left" and "125 right" when do I change them for what conditions?

I do almost everything after an outing, including wiping the boat down. (It's MUCH easier to get all the gunk off when it's wet, than waiting till it dries.) Back it in the garage, clean off trash, put all the lures away that got thrown on the bottom of the boat, plug in the charger and sit out there tinkering until my wife comes out and barks at me to come in the house. It usually takes me 20 minutes if I hurry, 2 hours if my wife's angry at me. ;D I like to get all the tackle ready in the garage on an evening before on outing. That's usually when I know the where and how for the next trip.

am I reading that right? It says 24' epe = 48 INCH error? I'm assuming you meant 48 FEET right? That's a lot of error. You'd be WAY off trying to find a laydown in deep water.