Request for feedback on bow electronics

I am currently upgrading my front hummingbird unit to a bigger screen DI unit. I decided not to go with side imaging on the front because I have it on my smaller unit on the transom and dash. How many of you feel side imaging is necessary
for the bow. Is it worth the cost difference if SI is already on the boat? I cannot link my two units together until I upgrade the back unit and I am unsure if I upgrade will my way points set from side imaging show on my front unit. Any way what I am trying to decide is do I go ahead and upgrade the front with SI now or wait till I upgrade my back unit and link them thru intanet? Your thoughts would be appreciated.

I spend more time up front than I do at the wheel. I sold what I had, and got SI on both. I Had to get the cheapest SI they make, but I have it. I don't need to link them, IMHO. But I do want SI, DI, and Sonar......and am learning that more info is better than less info.

I want SI on both units. We do a lot of cranking in the summer and having SI on the front allows me to mark structure while we are cranking from the front. I don't thinks its necessary but if your budget allows I would put a SI unit in both positions.

I search for fishing spots with my back unit but use my front unit for fishing. The majority of the time is spent up front fishing so I want side imaging up front. I have a transducer on my trolling motor and a transducer on the transom. I like the transducer on the trolling motor when fishing because the images that I see are to my right or left not 20' behind me. My units are linked together through an Ethernet port so I can switch between transducers with either unit.

The good thing about SI upfront is that you can scan a wide area in shallow water (as little amount as 4 to 5 FOW). The cone on DI in shallow water is so small it really doesn't cover much area under your boat.

I also have 360 which lets me see what's in front of my boat and adjust the course to fish over the object or cast to it which is nice but that is a totally different conversation. It will also work in 2 to 3 FOW.

Still trying to justify the cost my self. I really want a big side image just sticker shock and fear the time needed to learn how to use it. We have some electronic gurus that should help you decide.

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Originally Posted by Superslabslayer

I am currently upgrading my front hummingbird unit to a bigger screen DI unit. I decided not to go with side imaging on the front because I have it on my smaller unit on the transom and dash. How many of you feel side imaging is necessary
for the bow. Is it worth the cost difference if SI is already on the boat? I cannot link my two units together until I upgrade the back unit and I am unsure if I upgrade will my way points set from side imaging show on my front unit. Any way what I am trying to decide is do I go ahead and upgrade the front with SI now or wait till I upgrade my back unit and link them thru intanet? Your thoughts would be appreciated.

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what are you upgrading from? i may need it!!! :biggrin