Humminbird 998c SI Question

[co7rescuediver]

I am a Captain of an underwater search and recovery team and am looking for Side Imaging Sonar for our dive boat. I am looking at the Humminbird 998c SI unit, and am wondering if anyone has any experience with it. I am specifically looking for a side imaging unit that will give me good views of the bottom of the lake that may be able to pinpoint targets such as sunken boats, vehicles that have gone off the end of a boat launch, and bodies.

If you think this unit would work, are there any specific settings that you would recommend? We operate on Lake Raystown, in central Pennsylvania, which has depths between 0 - 140'.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance for reading/replying to this post!

Rob

 

[jmj120]

Re: Humminbird 998c SI Question

I have one. While they are an amazing piece of equipment, it takes some time to know what you're looking at. My main complaint is the poor display during sunny conditions. I can barely see the side imaging. That aside, I love it. I sometimes ride for hours just scanning the bottom, looking, and marking spots I think will hold fish. Once you get the hang of it, I'm pretty confident it would serve your purpose. Looking at some of the Humminbird forums, it seems the display is a frustration for many. Good luck to you. By the way, I found mine on Ebay, and got a great deal. I love the GPS, but I have found the internal maps that come with the unit to be off. In other words, going down the lake, sometimes the map shows you are on land, ect. I have not tried a map card yet. In foggy conditions, or night, you can follow your track easily. One area I fish, you have to dodge big rocks. Once I got a route down that was free from rocks, I saved it. Now everytime I go there, I can follow that route. It's probably paid for itself in saved props.

 

[co7rescuediver]

Re: Humminbird 998c SI Question

Thanks for the reply! Some good things to know. Is the visibility on the screen a problem because of sunlight glare, and would a shade over the top of the unit help? At what speed does the unit seem to work best?

Thanks again!

 

[John_S]

Re: Humminbird 998c SI Question

I have the smaller brother 798. I get good detail in the 3-8mph range. I have seen reports of many S&R squads using HB SI. If not the 900 series, the larger 1100 series. It does take allot more time to learn than any 2D sonar.

 

[jmj120]

Re: Humminbird 998c SI Question

I would agree with the 3-8 mph statement. I try to keep it around 6 MPH. A glare screen might help. It's not as bad when cloudy. I built a brushpile in 20 feet of water, and I can find it no problem. It's amazing

 

[co7rescuediver]

Re: Humminbird 998c SI Question

Thanks for the insight... I'm headed to one of the "big box stores" to check it out first hand.

I appreciate the input!

Rob

 

[seabob4]

Re: Humminbird 998c SI Question

Just FYI, we install 998SCI's on the Donzi 290 CCFs we build for the Wisconsin DNR...they like them.

But we also install these...

They like them too...