Hi

I recently installed a Bird 798C Si with NVB and I am looking for advice on what is the best setup a bow mounted unit. My boat is a 17' walk through with an open bow with seat and trolling motor. It seems like using the InterLink setup would be nice but is it necessary to share between the two units...... would a regular sonar work just as good? Just curious as to what everyone else uses. Thanks

-Fishbones

Interlink is really only useful if you want to mark GPS waypoints on one sonar and see them on the other. The main idea is that you can drive around and mark structure at the console using side imaging and the go back and sneak up on the points from the bow.

If you spend most of you time fishing structure this might be worth it, but you'll need the interlink and another 700 or higher series fishfinder.

I decided I wouldn't use the interlink much so I went with a Humminbird 565 and use the built-in transducer on the bowmount trolling motor. The grayscale is easier to see in the bright sun and the vertical resolution is as good as my 798 (good enough I can see easily see my jig at 150 feet). The best thing is it only costs $180 so I can really use and abuse it.

I used spare plastic and some "rod-saver" velcro to make a quick mount for my bow rail. Its not as rigid as a RAM mount but it was a hole lot cheaper and its much easier to move around. I like being able to move it from one side of the boat to the other to avoid sun glare during different times of the day.

bvs has some good info about the usefullness of Interlink. I agree with his point, if you want to see your waypoints in the bow get a unit you can Interlink to your 798c ---- otherwise HB has a lot of lower priced sonar units that work great if all you're looking for is a depthfinder. Personally I really like having a color unit and map chip at the bow, but it's all about what you like, how you fish, and what you want to spend. Hope that helps a bit.

I went with a color screen gps with mapping model on the bow. I am on the bow fishing so it was important to have a good unit up there. I have SI on the console and want the waypoints to show on the bow so I interlinked also.

My searching is done using my LCD graph on the console. When fishing a spot with my electric troller, I use the same Vexilar flasher I use for ice fishing. I bought a transducer that straps to the trolling motor. Flashers have advantages when I don't need a mapping function.

Interlink is really only useful if you want to mark GPS waypoints on one sonar and see them on the other. The main idea is that you can drive around and mark structure at the console using side imaging and the go back and sneak up on the points from the bow.

If you spend most of you time fishing structure this might be worth it, but you'll need the interlink and another 700 or higher series fishfinder.

I decided I wouldn't use the interlink much so I went with a Humminbird 565 and use the built-in transducer on the bowmount trolling motor. The grayscale is easier to see in the bright sun and the vertical resolution is as good as my 798 (good enough I can see easily see my jig at 150 feet). The best thing is it only costs $180 so I can really use and abuse it.

I used spare plastic and some "rod-saver" velcro to make a quick mount for my bow rail. Its not as rigid as a RAM mount but it was a hole lot cheaper and its much easier to move around. I like being able to move it from one side of the boat to the other to avoid sun glare during different times of the day.

Thanks for the great tips from all. I like your idea of moving it from one side to the other as I have experienced the same issues with the sun. I think I will go with an interlinked mapping solution like the 917.

My searching is done using my LCD graph on the console. When fishing a spot with my electric troller, I use the same Vexilar flasher I use for ice fishing. I bought a transducer that straps to the trolling motor. Flashers have advantages when I don't need a mapping function.

I have a very old Lowrance flasher (2160A) that I really like also, but the transducer just went out and I cannot locate a replacement. The original part number is a TPD-1192-20 and if anyone has any ideas please let me know.