Do I need another depth finder?

When I purchased my 14 ft smokercraft the owner had a depth finder in the back and another up front on the TM. They were very old low grade h-birds,I replaced the rear with a HB 718. My question is about the front, I would like to have one in the front,but of course don't want to buy another system. Is it possible or make sense just to buy another transducer for the TM or share the rear transducer. Of course this would require splicing into the rear transducer? Any advice? Or should I just watch for a sale this week and buy another?

I started with HB788 & bought an extra mount and transducer so I could switch the unit from console to bow. This worked well for me.

Personally, I would just buy another unit if I could affort it. A lot can happen (under the boat) between the 2 transducers when fishing drop-offs and brush piles.

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Originally Posted by majflyboy

I started with HB788 & bought an extra mount and transducer so I could switch the unit from console to bow. This worked well for me.

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That's what I'm doing as well, same unit too. Works fine.

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Originally Posted by talltimber

That's what I'm doing as well, same unit too. Works fine.

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Me too!

If funds allowed, it'd be nicer with two units, but you could get by with one. You dont want to be splicing transducer cables though.

my votes for 2 units also....I can get a real good mark on structure and drop a marker right on it with the trolling motor transducer/ front unit....just got a new unit today for the front that has gps.....so now will have gps on the front and rear.....will be nice to motor close to a way point and be able to get on it a little more stealth with the trolling motor.....2 units works best for me......may not be the correct answer....but like I said thats what works for me.....

Check out e-bay and pick up another unit,good buys there at times.....i've been runnin a hb 565 up front and love the thing it has great pixel count and power for a small investment.

Get the bracket and transducer for the front if you really cant afford or decide on another finder. Unless you have someone in the back of the boat that's use to watching one as they fish, you wont be using the console anyway.

If you can afford a new unit,I think I saw a post somewhere HB798SI on sale at cabelas for $699

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Originally Posted by bugman

Check out e-bay and pick up another unit,good buys there at times.....i've been runnin a hb 565 up front and love the thing it has great pixel count and power for a small investment.

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I also have a 565 that began its time with me on a 16' stick steer boat that was a bit tight on space. I bought a puck TD and the HB switch to go from front to rear. Did the job very well for me and had a handheld GPS in a ram mount to take care of location. For the rig the setup was great. I then went to a 17'8" bass boat and took the unit with me to ride up front. Sold the switch(it was $75 new) and still have the skimmer TD just in case. I still like the unit and though I might change my Lowrance 527 for a 898 when my rich uncle gets out of the poor house, I have no plans for another unit up front til this one dies. 60 degree cone from the TD is a big difference over 20 degree which comes with the cheaper ones. I don't think that the 565 is still available but it was about $200 new. Money well spent.

I've got one of those too. It does a fine job. That's another reason I like the 788 and 565, same dual beam transducer. I swap the 788 when I'm fishing alone as I want the gps (ci unit) wherever I am. If someone in the back wants to watch one, or have to send the 788 in for service or something, just plug the 565 in and keep on rolling.

I tried this for a while and bought another unit after 3 trips. If you move around a lot, and use GPS on the unit, you may move the unit back and forth 10-20 times per trip. If you fish tournaments, this will cost you time also. I'd say buy the best unit you can afford and use both. If you have a problem with one of the units in the future, then you can always switch, but if you have a problem now, you'll be running blind.

It really depends on what you want to do?
I too want a bow mounted unit, although Im going to take my Humminbird P-Max dual cone 220 and move it up front and put the better unit in back. Saving the coin for a Humminbird Side Imaging unit. Granted that unit would be worth more than the rest of my boat. But if your serious about fishing, at least catching fish, you have to be where they are.

The disadvantage of using the same unit mounted in the back is will you be able to see it from the front?
Will you be able to navigate forward while looking backward?