Thread: Need Help (Electronic)

I have been on the board for a while and am impressed with the amount of knowledge of the group and their willingness to share. I want to set up a 20' pontoon boat to be a fishing machine and I am completely lost when it comes to these new Sonar/GPS units. I was going to ask if one of you experts could show me your set up and give me some idea of what I need and how it works.


Thanks, Steve

While I know nothing of the new units I would like to offer words of encouragement as I would like to setup a pontoon one day as well. I think those things can be a floating fishing paradise if done correct. Good luck getting help with this and in setting it up, it will be worth the effort I am sure. I recommend going with a grill on there as well. Mmmmmm, fresh grilled fish...

Tight lines,
Brian

Hey, ya wanna buy a pontoon boat? Wink, Wink. I have it set up to run my Humminbird 997 on mine. It works well. What are you looking to spend. There is a lot of differences in $300, $800 and $1800. If you don't want "side imagine" you can save some money. Both Humminbird and Lowrance make great units. If I could swing it, I would try to at least get one with "Down Imaging". Your question is a hard one to answer.

Sorry Ranger, but I have already purchased the pontoon boat. It is one of the 20' Bass Buggys. It has little to no electronics on it. But you have touched on one of my important questions, how valuable is side imaging, I get the impression that some people think it is very valuable. I have decided on a Riptide ST 80 w/I Pilot for the trolling motor. I am not made of money,as I am retired, but I don't want to buy a sounder unit and wish I had spent a few dollars more and I would have gotten what I need. I also have that male disease that lets me understand things better when I can see them, than when I read about them. I am not new to fishing, but have grown more interested in crappie fishing and would like to take advantage of the many methods that are available.


Thanks, Steve

Originally Posted by Snafu

Riptide ST 80 w/I Pilot

The Riptide (or Terrova) w/ iP is a good choice, but will an 80# motor hold a 20' toon in a strong tide or wind? Did you rule out a 101 because you thought it's too much motor?

I took this screen shot in the James. it is in the main channel.

Here is how Down Imagining can help. I does give another view of what is down there.

Depending on your pocketbook, go for the max. Sonar is one of the key factors for locating, and catching, crappie. Down imaging is a must, side imaging expands your ability to locate fish and structure that you would go right by and never know it was there, and 360 degree imaging is the ultimate for knowing what is going on around you under the water.

How to use your sonar is the tough part; what you see on the display must be interpreted correctly. There are many videos available on YouTube, and elsewhere, and these help, but they don't replace first hand experience. Using your sonar in a familiar area, with known objects under the water will get your knowledge base off to a good start. The rest will develop as you use the sonar. Wish I could tell you more, but time on the water will best develop your ability to bring home the groceries.

B-

Side imaging is worth every penny. Get the biggest screen You can afford. The bigger the screen, the more detail and I mean a marked difference in detail between sizes.CF

If you have never seen a good example of side imaging, don't ! It will make you spend more money.

Expect some issues with transducer placement on a pontoon boat. The bracket that is on the back of most, does not allow the transducer to get steady stream of clean water. To work well, you need a bubble-free stream of water. The combination of pontoon shape and bracket height can give a challenge. Thankfully, pontoons are generally slow, and that helps with less turbulance. Plus, if you do go with side imaging, the outboard motor can show up in the beam and give some interferance on the screem. You may be able to trim it out of the way, but it is something to think about.