Need a little advice

I am getting ready to purchase a new boat.(targa 18) I was wanting your opinions on the Minkota ulterra with the I-Link and the humming bird 859 or 899 si
I am not a computer guy but I can run an I-Pad haha. I want it for the auto stow and deploy and like the idea of the spot lock and following a course. Do you all use the side scan a lot? Or is it just something neat to have.
Also once I get it all who wants to show me how to use it all . I will buy dinner :cheers2:cheers2:cheers2

Also where is a good place to purchase at, I really don't want to go to bass pro in st Charles I had a horrible time there today.

Cant help you with the Ulterra (it's on my wishlist!) Wish I could fill you in on it.

I just purchased a HB 999ci HD si from David @ Shut up and Fish, super nice guy and couldnt find anyone to beat his price.

Good luck with the purchase and the new rig!

You need to post some of your questions on the electronics forum. First, you want to find out if the Ulterra is similar to the Terrova. By that I mean: can a transducer cable be attached without causing problems. Both TM's slide up and down on the shaft when deployed, so any cables have to be routed with this in mind. On the Terrova there is a groove running the whole length of the shaft, and a H'bird cable will fit. If there is no groove, you may have to use the US2 transducer, and that has no DI/SI capability. There are alternate mounts, but it is another item to attach to the front of the boat.

If you decide to go with the 899 up front, I would definitely not install on trolling motor, because it is important to go pretty straight and all of the little adjustments we make with the TM really mess up the picture on SI. DI will work much better on the TM tho. My set up is 899 at the console with transducer on the transom, and an 859 at the bow with the transducer on the TM and the two are linked with ethernet to share waypoints.

Take you time in order to get this right. I thought I had everything I wanted, but my dealer still made a lot of errors that I will have to fix at my own expense. There are HD transducers for each of these, and if you exchange the originals with H'bird, the cost is minimal. But if your dealer installs the originals, you are stuck with them.

I have a terrova, 999, and 1198. and 360. All networked together. I used a 958 up front for years. I think your list makes perfect sense. Works like a charm for me. Spotlock is really nice along with follow the contour. If you can't get both a DI and an SI, I would definitely get the SI over the DI. As Rickie said once, with DI I had hundred if waypoints, with SI I now have thousands.

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Originally Posted by vic n

You need to post some of your questions on the electronics forum. First, you want to find out if the Ulterra is similar to the Terrova. By that I mean: can a transducer cable be attached without causing problems. Both TM's slide up and down on the shaft when deployed, so any cables have to be routed with this in mind. On the Terrova there is a groove running the whole length of the shaft, and a H'bird cable will fit. If there is no groove, you may have to use the US2 transducer, and that has no DI/SI capability. There are alternate mounts, but it is another item to attach to the front of the boat.

If you decide to go with the 899 up front, I would definitely not install on trolling motor, because it is important to go pretty straight and all of the little adjustments we make with the TM really mess up the picture on SI. DI will work much better on the TM tho. My set up is 899 at the console with transducer on the transom, and an 859 at the bow with the transducer on the TM and the two are linked with ethernet to share waypoints.

Take you time in order to get this right. I thought I had everything I wanted, but my dealer still made a lot of errors that I will have to fix at my own expense. There are HD transducers for each of these, and if you exchange the originals with H'bird, the cost is minimal. But if your dealer installs the originals, you are stuck with them.

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Heed his advice! Its all good! I do have an ulterra and I love it! But... I'm not able to even use my HD transducer on my 859. Leaving me stuck with using the US2 and getting 2d sonar only. Thats all good. But I have the cost of an 859, but the parts im using with it, I could have gotten a much cheaper unit. Love the 859 but will HAVE to use US2 transducer only. So... if the auto stow and deploy is NOT a "make or break deal" I would go with Terrova. I have a wife that doesnt run a boat and a 2 year old so..... ulterra made things easier on me in that aspect. Thats why I went with it.

Oh almost forgot, call BBG marine and ask for his price on any of the items you mentioned!! BBG does a great job!!

i have both the 859 and 1199. i love side image. you will really use it a lot.

as far as learning the unit you have to put the time in and its fun...it took me a 1/2 day just to start to realize how it worked...and many more after that.
Douh Vahrenburg on You tube has about 150 tips n tricks tutorials and does them on Truman. this really helped me a lot

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YV-Rh8wXTY0