Wayne P.

The Elite CHIRP models are the current models. The Elite HDI is discontinued. CHIRP Is the new "thing" and buzzword. Your choice is old stuff vs. new stuff.

All the SI units do the same thing the same way. The larger displays just display stuff larger using the same settings. The Helix 5 SI GPS has a better SI display than the 500, 600, and 700 series 5" screens due to width. Screen width is the most important feature for the side looking technology. That is because the image size is based on the Range setting, not the depth. Since the Range is adjustable, you choose how much coverage to display and the size. You can also choose to only view one side of the Side Imaging, that will display stuff twice as large. This is a comparison of the 5" screen units:

Touch the screen location where you want to save. When the + comes up with the ?, touch the ?. Choose Add to Favorites. You can edit the name and Set at Current GPS Position or ADD if you have the + away from your position.

There is a trolling motor adaptor made for the HDI transducer and you can form the transom bracket to use a hose clamp through it for trolling motor mounting. The problem with either of those is the fragile mount. Transducer Shield and Saver has an aluminum mount that encloses the HDI transducer to protect it: http://www.transducershieldandsaver.com/home/transducers?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=58&category_id=5

There are several bass beds in this screen shot:

This is spawning shellcrackers in very muddy water:

No so in all cases. It depends on the soil type. The photo I posted was taken on May 11, 2014 after the first bass spawn. Two weeks earlier there was no sign of them, not even with Imaging.

The "Chatterbait" is the original bladed jig. All the others are knockoffs of some sort. Zman just owns the patent for it now. It was RAD Lures when originally mass produced. A true Chatterbait has the blade attached directly to the hook eye and the blade is coffin shaped--both of those are patented. That is why the copies have other shaped blades and split rings attaching the blade to the hook eye.

Good setup. It finds fish too:

No you cannot connect the 160 display to the Fishin Buddy. The Fishin Buddy is a self contained sonar unit with display and transducer together. The 160 display is separate from a transducer and they mount in two different places. The trolling motor has the same thrust regardless of the battery size connected to it. Is the battery fully charged???? That will determine if you have full power available.

Mount a receptacle at the bow with wire to the battery location. Attach a matching plug to the trolling motor cable to plug into the receptacle. That is the way bass boats are setup. You can get the receptacle and plug at Walmart. Just need some marine grade wire of 8 or 6 guage between the receptacle and battery.

The extra darker areas are Sonar Charts Live overlayed on Sonar Charts.

The SI version has DI and 2D sonar too. YES it is worth the extra cost for the extra coverage it has. I have four Humminbird SI units.

Yes

Disagree, Side Imaging shows a lot more than Down Imaging including fish. Side Imaging shows the water column and to the sides. It is way more useful than 2D or Down Imaging in shallow water due to the coverage. I would rather see dozens of feet away from under the boat than a few inches under it. I rarely use Down Imaging at all. Since I got the 360 (rotating Side Imaging), I use Side Imaging less. I saw and caught the bass that is at the lower left of this screen shot. Note the depth and the Side Imaging range setting:

I don't catch any more as a result of using Imaging, but I waste less time doing so since it shows me where the fish are and I am always fishing for the fish instead of just fishing.

You are getting input voltage/amps confused with output voltage/amps. There are NOT the same. His charger OUTPUTS 45 total amps (15A per bank) at about 14V. The Dual Pro chargers are separate chargers in a single cabinet. My three bank Dual Pro does 10A per bank or a total of 30A I have a booster 12V charger that outputs 60A on the high setting. These are examples of a multi-purpose chargers--no special circuit needed to use them; http://www.walmart.com/ip/Diehard-80-20-10-2-Amp-Fully-Automatic-Battery-Charger-with-Emergency-Engine-Start/15140190 http://www.walmart.com/ip/Schumacher-SE-4020-200-100-40-10-Amp-Manual-Starter-and-Charger/15160138 This is the Dual Pro website. http://www.dualpro.com/project/professional-series/ I guess the 4 bank 60A total version that boaters with 4 batteries use is way beyond your comprehension.

Don't know about the old HDS-5 but the Humminbird has the LED backlighting and will be as bright as you will find in the industry. All the current HDS models have the bright screens. If your issue is when wearing polarized sunglasses, both units will look dark if you tilt your head to the right. That is because of the way the screen is made. Both will look brighter if you tilt your head to the left. It more aligns your sunglasses polarization with the screen pixels.

Sears Platinum Diehard PM-1 size 31.

Been there done that. It is the same as tennis elbow. Do web search for that. There are exercises to deduce the effect and rest is the only way to fix it.

There is a product that will give you trolling puck type attachment and protection from impact damage. Check out Transducer Shield and Saver for the type that fits your transducer.

A FULLY charged battery is 12.6-12.7 volts or 2.1V per cell AFTER it cools down/stabilizes from charging. A battery charger outputs over 14 V depending on the charger.