Is the SI worth the extra bucks??? And how do u like your bird plus minuses ???

I want to pull the trigger on one so bad I can taste it but dang, I just put $184 in gas in the truck and boat, and you know what? That will be gone tomorrow evening :boohoo:
The bad thing is I'll do the same thing next weekend, unless it calls me during the week:banghead:
Its madness I tell you :grin:

I had one and miss it sometimes. Its A very nice unit but it really depends on if you fish much structure or not, I dont. I am an open water Great Lakes fisherman

I ended up selling it and getting another Lowrance, I puit the fuel flow meter on it (Humminbrd does not have that capacity) and use that all the time.

So I feel I traded one feature for another, and I am happy

all depends on what you want. The Bird is a real nice unit and works great in all respects.

1st one 897 SI
2nd 997 SI
now yes 1197 SI

Still have my Lowrance too.

But with the software issues on the Lowrance, I am depending on the SI more & more.

Go to and join Yahoo Group SideImage and look at the pictures thats what sold me on it.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sideimaging/

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SaltwaterSideImagingScaningSonarSystems/


Good luck

I have 997 and if you fish structure and you aren't which depth the fish are holding on a point you make a pass and if you see larger white marks (fish) off to a side shallow or deep you simply set a way point remotely (not actually over the fish) on the fish and make another pass over the way point. What I don't like about it is the size of the transducer it's like haveing a trim tab whick sprays a rooster tail up in the air and in heavy waves it will flip while running from spot to spot. I have a Lowrance 28 and all I use that for is the GPS.

Deshka........if you haven't fixed your rooster tail spray yet, try this..........wrap electrical tape 2-3x around the ducer bracket opening.........you'll be pleased with the result.