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i just order a 997si, but after i did i found the yahoo group for side imaging. seems like a lot of people are having problems reading with them on a aluminum boat.does anyone have one and do you get good readings with them.can you read bottom at plane, and does anyone have them on a aluminum boat.
i would appreciate any help ,i hope i didnt make a big mistake
Got it on alum, reads fine, no issues. Mount your transducer on a wafer board in case you have to adjust it more than the mount will allow to get it right. Won't read bottom on plane if you go more than about 20-30 mph. You'll need a second transducer (high speed) and a switch for that.
thanks
We haven't had any problem with ours.
I have mine on a Fisher 1654AW and it works fine BUT i can tell you that you must find the sweet spot thus you may have to adjust a bit. Since jon boats do not have stepped hulls like a bass boat it can be a bit of an issue if you mount the ducer too high. I mounted mine flush with the bottom of the boat at first and had issues with catching too many air bubbles coming off the outer edges of the outside of the hull on both sides. This causes a "noodle" like return toward the outside of picture. I had to lower mine about a half inch below the bottom to eliminate this. The trade off to this is that I have to be careful because it is vulerable to hitting something in the water since its slightly below the hull now. Also...do not mount it over a strake. Mount it between strakes. Also if you mount it off center as the manual recommends you may have to tilt your motor up a notch so it doesnt catch a piece of the motor in the side beam. Here are 2 pics of what mine looks like and it works great. I do tilt my motor up one notch from where it is in the pic though. Also, just my 2 cents but these units are much better tools when slowing down in the 3-5 mph range. Not really a high speed tool in my opinion.
thanks carp poop those pictures help a lot i believe that will work good
Running a 2096 aluminum with 1197.. No issues..
Carp Poop nailed it. His advice is dead on!
I have a 997, I have used it on my 18' Lund and my 14' Crestliner.
On plane I don't get a good reading, But I haven't spent any time adjusting
the transducer to see If I could make it better either. I use mine for the SI
and depth finder at slow speeds.
I will tell you that like many others, I am not pleased to say the least with
the slow GPS issues and the way HB has beat around the bush about it.
Daniel
I have a 997 on a 1860 Alweld, and it works fine---only limited by the operators lack of ability to use it to its full potential.
I have mine on a 14' Alumacraft Crappie Jon and don't have any problems.
i dont think you will have much of a problem with having the SI unit on a Alum boat at all...what i would watch is mounting the transducer too low on the boat...reason being is its a expensive ducer...about $300 bones...if you mount it up higher it will still read ok as far as the SI part goes but most use the second transducer for high speed running...the ducer is a lot cheaper..bout $60 and you dont have to have a switch you can also get a "Y" cable that will plug into the back of the SI head and one end of the Y will go to the SI ducer and the other to the second high speed ducer...having it this way the SI ducer will only read water temp and SI...the high speed will be sonar only
the Switch they have was mainly designed for the older SI units like the 987s where the Y cable will not work with them for some reason
thank you