HB 798 or 858 at the bow

[Stymie]

New poster here, been lurking for several months.

The wife has agreed to let me update some of the electronics on my boat. I've pretty much decided with an 898 at the console.
I can get a 798 or an 858 for about the same price, was wondering if non-HD SI at the bow would be better or to go with the 858 and possibly add the quad transducer.

Any advice would be appreciated.

[Joby @ Humminbird]

New poster here, been lurking for several months.

The wife has agreed to let me update some of the electronics on my boat. I've pretty much decided with an 898 at the console.
I can get a 798 or an 858 for about the same price, was wondering if non-HD SI at the bow would be better or to go with the 858 and possibly add the quad transducer.

Any advice would be appreciated.

I would have to make my decision on (Do you have Side Imaging on your boat now?) If not it would have to be a 798 to get Side Imaging.

Just to give you a little information.

The 798 has a 5 inch display. Side Imaging, 2D and GPS
The 858 has a 7 inch display. 2D PLUS GPS

[mduncan62]

If the 898 is the limit, then go with that over the 798. The extra screen will be worth it. I think you'd regret it soon after buying the 798 because of the screen. If you ever plan to scan any depth of water in the 25ft range, the 798 will be almost worthless IMO. After having a 797, I'd never buy one again. It's similar to buying an LCD TV for your house. You could probably go with a 12" tv, but you'll like the 32" more the instant you turn it on.

[Stymie]

Thanks for your responses.

However, I must not have been clear.

I plan to get a SI unit for my console. Going with an 898 would leave enough in my budget to get an upgrade at the trolling motor.

My question really boils down to whether SI/DI on a smaller 798 screen have any advantages over an 858 with wider screen but no SI/DI?

[Jason Halfen #511]

I know that there are guys that run SI at the bow. I've tried it, and have decided to stick with a quality 2D unit up there. Keep in mind that clear Side Images require you to be moving in a relatively straight path at a relatively constant speed...and that does not describe how I fish when fishing from the bow.

I ran a 788 last year up front and will run an 858 this year, as soon as they are released.

Put that extra budget towards an Interlink and an i-Pilot!

[Stymie]

Thanks Jason,
Yes, the interlink is definitely part of this year's budget.

I-pilot will have to wait til next year although I see a lot of potential uses for it, but it would require a new TM for me. So that's a potential future upgrade.

I noticed that there is a rebate with the 858 where you get a "free" Ram mount and a "free" weather sense unit with the purchase.

Anybody use that weathersense unit?

Is it worth ticking off as a positive for going with the 858?

[Jason Halfen #511]

I forgot about that rebate program. In my mind, that's a BIG plus for the 858 or 958, even if it were just for the RAM mount!

I've used the weathersense and the XM weather receiver. The weathersense gives you a snapshot of what's happening in your location, right now (barometer and how it's changing). The XM helps you figure out what's going to happen an hour from now....where is that storm relative to my lake? When is the wind going to pick up or shift?

The weathersense data can be shared by interlink; XM weather data cannot.