Humminbird decisions

Wanting to get into the SI world. Cabelas has 999 on sale and also the 899 on sale. What to do or get the helix? Any reviews opinions on this? Thanks Matt

X2 I'm in the same non side-imaging boat.

Been doing the same research. To my knowledge the difference between those two are screen size. The helix series is newer supposed to have a clearer image the 899 &999 series will be discontinued in the near future but will still be supported. The 899 & 99 have more features than the helix series. This is what I was told when I called hummingbird. The lady told me her personal opinion the 899 was the better buy.

I have kinda gathered that to. As helix is well out of my price range. I could have two or three core models for those prices.

Cabela's 899ci hd si $650 clearance sale Still a little rich for my blood but I have a lead on a 1yr. old used at 450. About to pull trigger.

If memory serves the 899 doesn't come with a HD transducer. That's one of the reasons I went with the 999...
I would recommend calling HB and discuss swapping for one before you pull the trigger.

I would recommend going with the largest screen size you could afford.
I've seen many anglers purchase smaller screen units only to decide to upgrade to a larger one later on.
Perhaps it would be much cheaper in the long run to just purchased the bigger unit first go around.

Pantastic is on the money, get the biggest you can afford. Haven't heard anyone complain there FF is to big!!

redge and pantastic know what there talking about,get the biggest you can afford.I just upgraded to a lowrance hds 10 last year with the bigger screen and its easier to see structure when you find it.The last few trips out fishing scanning has turned bad days into good ones.

Well I bought an 899 for just shy of 600 dollars with the upgraded transducer. I appriciate all the info fellas. Now to get it mounted right when I receive it. Any tips? It will be going on a targa v18.

Congrats KC. Where did you get it? Thanks. Ice Did not know that. I'll have to ask. I know it's an HD unit but never considered that it wouldn't have an HD ducer.

Ebay

Your going to love it. I mounted mine high for my style of fishing which is rugged. I bass fish so I bulldoze, bang, scrape scratch and drag thru a lot of stuff. My 999's transducer is mounted high for protection but at high seed it will cut out because of turbulence. This is the price I pay to protect it. There are many tutorials online explaining mounting position's and their pros and cons.

Attachment 225848 I'm guessing I will need to place it where this one currently is. Thanks for the info.

If you don't want to go poking a bunch of new holes in your boat you can mount a thick plastic cutting board cut down to size one time and then you can just mount your transducer to that. That way, if you decide you want to move it around, you won't be poking more holes in the boat.

That's the plan. Sounds like they can be finicky. Cabelas has them for 20 bucks I think. It's never good when cabelas is 5 minutes away. Thanks will

Stump jumper is a great way to protect the ss transducer. Used them on Truman lake on lowrance and hummingbird. Works great for those underwater trees

i mounted the plastic mounting board to my boat with apoxy only. Never screwed/bolted it on. Has lasted 3 years so far. Highly recommend the plastic them as things change no more holes in boat.

Looking at at units remember cost of transducer. I need a new lowrance structures an transducer (mine has failed I think). New ones cost 300.

Biggest best unit you can almost afford is my advise also. Not any cheaper to upgrade later.