Got 2 Lowrance 520c's right now linked together and so far so good I suppose.  I hear a lot about these new side imaging units but have not seen them in action.

They worth a serious look?  Do they require 2 transducers?  Can they be mounted through hull on a fiberglass bass boat or are they transom mount only?  Tell me what's good and not so good about them if you are using them or have actually used them on the water.  Thanks for the insight.

I've got a 797c2 mounted at the console on my '07 ZX225. I love this unit and my only regret is not getting the larger 997 (now they offer the 1197). It is truly unbelievable the cover/structure you will find that you never knew existed on your home lake. You can make a single pass in a creek and mark more fish holding spots than you probably could using a traditional 2d sonar all day long. My transducer is mounted on the jackplate and only allows the side imaging or 2d sonar to be used from idle speeds up to about 10mph. When I get on plane I lose the sonar, but the GPS function still works. You can purchase a seperate transducer that you can mount in-hull that will still give you 2d sonar while on plane, but not Side imaging. You would have to have a seperate transducer mounted outside the hull to use for side imaging and they sell a switch that allows you to switch from one transducer to the other.

The units are high priced, but well worth the money in my opinion. Search on here, there have been lots of posts about the SI units  

Almost like cheating  

I just took mine out for it's first spin today. Let me tell you it is wonderful. I spent a little time on a forum just for the side imaging sonars and I learned a lot about how to read them. It's a simple unit and most people shouldn't have a problem learning it. I installed it in a few hours with no problems. I have an aluminum boat so I won't be able to use it while on plane but the Navionics chip keeps me on the water and off the ground.

In only a few hours I found 6 roadbeds that aren't on the map. 15 or 20 brushpiles and some standing timber that's 12 feet deep at the top. I could see the fish hiding in the tree. I saw a log with a fish next to it in 12 ft of water.

I went over a few of my hotspots and found out why they always had fish on them. It cuts my search for fish and cover in half leaving me more time to catch.

There is no comparison to regual downlooking sonar, the side imaging is that much better. I have had a 997 for over a year and wouldn't be without side imaging ever again. You do not need 2 transducers. I have mine mounted on the bottom of my hull and have no problems. I even get high speed reading over 45 mph. You can't mount the side imaging transducer to shoot thru hull it must be in the water. I have found there is nothing I can do with my 997 sonar wise that I could with a Lowrance, but Lowrance can't touch side imaging. Get one you will not be dissapointed.

http://www.humminbird.com/SideImagingContest_JanuaryWinner.aspx

Bought a 997 yesterday. It is in the garage, but I am going to start the instalation today. Will let you know what I run into;.

Thanks for the feed back on this guys. I'm struggling with how it installs so the previous post should be helpful for that. I have my Lowrance units linked together on one tranducer that's through hull which I like for clean install purposes.

If I use a side imaging unit or two, are they;

1) "Networkable" with regard to GPS, waypoints, sonar, etc?

2) Working off of the same sonar transducer?

3) Seperate Side Imaging transducer right? Only one for 2 units or one for each??

4) Hard wire capable for integration into the TM? My MK Maxxum has a built in transducer that my Lowrance bow mount unit is tied into.

I'm really liking the sales pitch.  The video of it in action with Hank Parker on the sideimaging site is amazing when you actually see it in action.  Gotta dispell the bunk from reality though so you guys who know the good the bad and the ugly on these things please keep the information coming.  That's a lot of cash to lay down and be sorry for later.

Thanks again for the help

Thanks for the feed back on this guys. I'm struggling with how it installs so the previous post should be helpful for that. I have my Lowrance units linked together on one tranducer that's through hull which I like for clean install purposes.

If I use a side imaging unit or two, are they;

1) "Networkable" with regard to GPS, waypoints, sonar, etc?

2) Working off of the same sonar transducer?

3) Seperate Side Imaging transducer right? Only one for 2 units or one for each??

4) Hard wire capable for integration into the TM? My MK Maxxum has a built in transducer that my Lowrance bow mount unit is tied into.

I'm really liking the sales pitch. The video of it in action with Hank Parker on the sideimaging site is amazing when you actually see it in action. Gotta dispell the bunk from reality though so you guys who know the good the bad and the ugly on these things please keep the information coming. That's a lot of cash to lay down and be sorry for later.

Thanks again for the help

The last thing I was told was to wire it completely seperate with a inline fuse. that is what I intend to do. I am mounting mine on the console with a mount that will allow me to turn it toward the front of the boat. Will let you know what I run into this afternoon.

I'm a structure fisherman from way back when all I had was a Little Green Box which totally changed structure fishing.

Then along comes LCD's which in my option was huh can do with out it but still bought it.

Then along comes 3D and Color Imaging which resulted in another huh and I aint buying into this one.

The above three gives you the same information just in different formats oh I know some will argue it's all about details to which I say hog wash how much detail do you need to tell how deep it is. I can get the same information from the Little Green Box as most get from their high dollar LCD's.

Now with Side Imaging you have a whole new prospective of structure fishing and a different view of the structure.

I just drilled and mounted the side imaging transducer outside up under the boat on the step deck about 17" to the left of the motor. the manuel stressed that it should be mounted so that there would be no interference from anything. So that is where I mounted it. The manuel also says it will work best between 2-6 mph. Will finish it up today and I am going to intergrate it with other electronics at a later date. Want to run it and see how everything works before I start messing it up. Going to take it one step at a time and put it on the water before I start attaching other things. Will give everyone an update as I get to it. Will try to post pics and anything else that may help someone going through this.

I'm a structure fisherman from way back when all I had was a Little Green Box which totally changed structure fishing.

Then along comes LCD's which in my option was huh can do with out it but still bought it.

Then along comes 3D and Color Imaging which resulted in another huh and I aint buying into this one.

The above three gives you the same information just in different formats oh I know some will argue it's all about details to which I say hog wash how much detail do you need to tell how deep it is. I can get the same information from the Little Green Box as most get from their high dollar LCD's.

Now with Side Imaging you have a whole new prospective of structure fishing and a different view of the structure.

I agree with you Catt. Except the 997 I just purchased all of my electronics are grey scale including an old LMS 240 gps/sonar unit. It's what I am use to and I am not going out just to get color; except the new 997 LOL.

All I can say is that if you sink brushpiles or other things to attract fish, if a guy gets near it with a SI unit, he's going to know where your stuff is. No cover is safe anymore....thanks a lot Humminbird!     ;D

The Humminbird units are networkable with their Interlink accessory.  It will share gps, waypoints etc.  You can use 1 transducer for 2 units, you will need to run them through a switch and select which unit is using at a time.  You can use it with the universal sonar in your trolling motor as well, but it will only give you down looking sonar only. No side imaging in the univerasal sonar.

To add to the last post. I wouldn't put a SI unit on the trolling motor. You need to be going at least 3mph to get a good reading and as you swing the trolling motor around it will distort the image. The best setup that I have seen is the SI on the console and a 767 2D unit on the front.  The 767 has a great quad view feature that covers more of the bottom than any other transducer. The two units are interlinked and share GPS waypoints and information.

Well, I have my 997 mounted and ready to go. It was an easy instulation and took about an hour and a half. Have not had it in the water yet and due to this weekend being mother's day I won't have a chance until early next week. Anyone attempting to do this it is really pretty straight forward. Just follow the instructions as to the mounting of the transducer and the rest goes together just as you would a depthfinder. I did wire mine seperate from any other electronics and installed a seperate battery just for this unit. If I run into any issues after I get on the water I will post them for anyones future reference.

My dad is looking into getting one of these but it worried about drilling holes in a fiberglass boat, he really doesn't want to have to do that.  Is there any way to mount this inside the hull or on a separate part of the boat that you don't have to cut holes in the fiberglass?

You can not mount the side imaging transducer inside the hull and use the side imaging part of it. You could do it and use the regular 2d sonar but whats the point of paying for the side imaging. The only way you can use the side imaging part is to externally mount the transducer by either drilling holes in the transom or mounting it to the jackplate.

You can not mount the side imaging transducer inside the hull and use the side imaging part of it. You could do it and use the regular 2d sonar but whats the point of paying for the side imaging. The only way you can use the side imaging part is to externally mount the transducer by either drilling holes in the transom or mounting it to the jackplate.

Thanks alot.  We just bought a 787 for the front and we will be getting a SI unit, not sure which one yet, possibly at the end of this year.  I know he doesn't want to drill any holes so we'll probably just mount it to the jackplate then.  Do you know if there are instructions on ways of mounting it to the jackplate online that I could check out before buying it?