Wayne P.

I'll send you a link to the comparison test I did

For the best hookups and more hangups, perpendicular is best. I rig like my avatar to have less hangups and use worms that are soft enough that hookups are not affected very much. I catch thousands of bass that way.

For the core and Helix models there are two sizes of Humminbird Side Imaging transducers: Compact SI that is 4" long and HDSI that is 6" long. The Compact SI transducer is standard for all SI models with 5" or less displays. It is also standard for the Helix 5, Helix 7, Helix 9, and 899 The HDSI transducer is standard for all the larger display models and both 898's. It is tuned for both 455 kHz and 800 kHz Imaging. The transom version is the XHS 9 HDSI 180 T and the trolling motor version is the XTM 9 HDSI 180 T. They are the same, just the included mount is different. There is also a thru-hull version XPTH 9 HDSI 180 T. There are two versions of the Compact SI transducer. One is the transom mount XNT 9 SI 180 T and the other is a trolling motor PUCK XTM 9 SI 180 T. The PUCK has extra internal shielding for trolling motor use Both transducers have the same number is sonar crystals and the same number of electrical circuits. Both will "work" with any core or Helix Side Imaging unit. Most knowledgeable owners exchange the Compact SI transducer for the HDSI to get shaper images no matter which model comes with the Compact SI transducer. Side Imaging works the same no matter where the transducer is located. I use a Side Imaging transducer on my bow trolling motor and have done so since I got the first Side Imaging unit. If you want to degrade the performance of your 898c SI, you can use the Compact SI transducer.

I fish in less than 6' and see fish and stuff out to the SI range I have set. That is usually 50' left and right or 30'-60' radius using the 360. There is a bass at the lower left of the display that I caught after watching it being recorded, I was in less than 4'. That fish was about 75' from the boat when it was recorded. I watched this bass moving in this laydown and cast where I was and caught it. It was in less than 4' also. This is another bass that was a the laydown at about 3' depth:

You don't need a bass boat to use high quality electronics. The ONIX is the top of the line model in a single cabinet. The Helix models are the current generation of the core units and have replaced all the models with number names. If you want share data between units, the Helix 7 models and Helix 5 models cannot do that. It takes the Helix 9, 10, or 12 series The Helix 12 has built-in 2D CHIRP and the ONIX models just got a software update to add built-in CHIRP. The Helix 9, 10, 12, ONIX and ION models have built-in live contour mapping (Auto Chart Live). The ONIX has more adjustability and capabilities and is available in a cross-touch version (buttons and touch screen--CT) and a button-only version (NT). It has a higher quality display than the Helix series. I like the features of both. I have an ONIX 10 SI NT and Helix 12 CHIRP SI GPS as well as a couple of number series 10" SI units.

I use Humminbird Side Imaging at the console and bow. Either place is good. "down the road" for a 800 or 900 series will have to be a used unit. All the number series models are discontinued and have been replaced by the Helix series. I watch my sonar screens all the time.

Seafoam does the same with ethanol fuels. Read the label. It decarbons also. Read the label.

I use Seafoam all the time. Don't need any extra stuff anytime.

A lot of times I cannot keep the number caught during the day in my head, just too many. So I use a mechanical counter to record each as I catch them. April 18, 2013 I caught 184 bass. April 26, 2013 I caught 173 bass at the same lake. With those two days and two other days, the first four trips to that lake that year, I caught 604 bass.

I have been recording numbers for over 30 years. Just daily total numbers and some notes for larger bass. Just started using a digital spread sheet about 8 years ago. Before it was in notebooks.

Strike King Diamond Shads were available in Chartreuse with blue back and black back. There are some on Ebay.

That length about 6# https://tpwd.texas.gov/fishboat/fish/recreational/catchrelease/bass_length_weight.phtml

I was catching them in less than 2' depths yesterday in downwind areas with a Chatterbait. Dragging 5#-7# bass over laydowns wore my wrist out. Taking the day off today to rest up. Being old is a b%#&* 55 degree water in those areas.

I did not make a mistake in my post. It will read ANY maps on ANY card, that includes the Sonar Charts map layer if you add that when you update a card that. Just will not read the extra features that the Hotmaps Platinum card has. What you may want to do with the 16GB version of Navionics+ is delete all the maps on the card and only load the locations you need. That would be for high speed navigation since the Helix 5 processor is sort of slow to handle all that data. Lowrance Elite owners do the same.

The imaging technology will give you a picture-like image of what is below IF operated properly. This is a combo view of a brush/log pile with 2D sonar and Humminbird Down Imaging from a SI unit: Side Imaging is much more useful, but any Imaging is better than no Imaging.

The current Navionics maps can be viewed on the Navionics website's Web App. The App is updated daily. A new purchase includes a year of Freshest Data Updates. If you purchase a map card and update it, it will have the exact same maps as the Web App for that day.

Caught this one today on my avatar presentation as well has a few others. My arm wasn't long enough to get the right prespective:

Pretty good for Humminbird Side Imaging:

The same reason you would purchase a paper contour map of a body of water. To help choose what locations to look for fish. With digital map software you get hundreds of bodies of water with contours.

It seems your issue is more about YOUR installation than the units. If you "hold" the wires and it works, that means you have crappy connections.

Humminbird does not have a CHIRP transducer in their inventory. The CHIRP capable units chirp the standard transducer (cheap CHIRP). The Helix 12 models where the only ones that have built-in CHIRP until this week. The ONIX got software to add built-in CHIRP. Previously to have CHIRP with the ONIX or ION models it took an extra accessory and third party transducer to do CHIRP--a few more thousand in cost. I have only been on the water twice using the Helix CHIRP and the location and depths used, I see no benefit with CHIRP other than an adjustable frequency range to prevent cross-talk with other units. I tested with lots of fish present using 200 kHz and its CHIRP range, 83 kHz and its CHIRP range, and the combo 83/200 kHz and its CHIRP range. To get the full benefit of CHIRP, it takes a low Q transducer designed for CHIRP.

Some Humminbird Pro Staff are. I would have no use for it. The Helix 9, 10, and 12 models will be getting a software update this month to support that product. The ONIX is already compatible.

The list will be posted when the cards are available. Same as previous years.

Can't help you with Lowrance stuff, don't use them.