797c2si--I still need answers

[Stubby]

my boat is a Tracker Pan Fish 16 ft. stick steer-40HP mercury used
mostly on Kaw Lake Oklahoma -which is a relatively shallow lake with
some pretty good structure and channels.
I'm gonna buy a side image depth/structure locator without NAV. with
GPS. I am only looking at the Humminbird 797c2Si. I just can't justify the
additional money for the bigger unit and even this one is gonna cost me
a new fridge for the house. I'm gonna wire the transducer up to
operate off of the front of the boat on a bracket I made out of Square
tubing which is adjustable up & down so I'll have clear views off of both
sides and be able to raise it as needed. I had this bracket on my other
tracker and it works really good. This mounting also lets me get the
view/picture about 16 feet sooner than a transom mount.
First off--I can live with the smaller 5 inch view but will the 4000 watts
be enough for seeing fish on the bottom? and will I be able to see my
line or bait under the boat? Secondly--what benifit would I get from the
Quad transducer or is it associated with the side image at all. Is the gps
antenni built in on some models or are they all outside mounted. I'd
really like to hear from a couple of you guys that have used the 797 Si.
Are You happy with them or not? are they good units other than the fact
their being replaced by the larger screens with more power. also, are
the 797s still being made or they now selling off the excess stock? I
can't imagine that everyone can afford to go to the 997 or the 1097.
I also don't have room for the bigger units---Inquiring Minds wanna
know!!

[gearhead]

I think that they all are 4000 watts peak to peak .

[SkipEye]

The 797 has plenty of power to see what you need to see, and frankly, not sure without checking specs that the bigger models have any more than the 797 does.

Power is not an issue, only small screen size, and I own a 797.:big_smile: But is it worth the extra money for the bigger screen? I say yes, but I couldn't afford to upgrade any more either!

[Stubby]

Guys, I'm settin here looking at the specs and the 997 and up has double the power of the 797. they have 8000 watts. the X135 has 4000watts. I thought my 500c was good and found out it only has 1500watts. kinda glad it went titsup

[Stubby]

Skipeye does yours have the gps reciever built in or as a seperate mounting? by the way the X135 is the one Dearhunter wrote his article about. in a previous post.

[gearhead]

I just read the power peak to peak on both side imaging units is 8000 watts.

[Grimpuppy]

Is it worth it to spring for the NVB setup, with hot maps and navtronics gold? Or just stick with the built in unimap? How good is the built in unimap? I mainly fish only 1 lake. I might hit a couple others once a year but that's about it. One other thing, is the internal or external antenna the better way to go? I am really leaning towards purchasing one also but want the best bang for the buck. If I won't use 99.9% of the maps is it worth it?

[billcatfish]

I think that they all are 4000 watts peak to peak .


no there not all 4000 watts the 797 is the only one that is 4000 watts 997 is 8000 watts

an as for seeing your lines in the water with you moving it up front im going to say no your not going to be able to see them an can i ask why you would want to put it up front of the boat

[Stubby]

Bill ,sorry I did not come back sooner to answer you! I just got the darn computor out of the shop-had to reload everything. XP system all the programs and favorites..etc. Actually I had thought by mounting the transducer up front I'd get away from interference from the motor and the boat. I already have a bracket up front where I had a Eagle 500c mounted and it worked great, kinda like having a transducer mounted on the trolling motor except it is steadier. I had good luck with the Eagle mounted there. Now i've just about decided to go with the 787c2i and the Quad transducer. I haven't got anyone who is using the 797SI to tell me how the thing works in shallow water yet- I'm talking 3 to 10 feet deep. I fish mostly rivers and creeks and Kaw lake which is shallow compared to Keytone and Texhoma. And, then I go look some place like Sportsmans Whse and Gander Mountain and the salesmen all push the lowrance line. Total Confusion when it comes to making up my mind...as far as seeing the lines I don't really care about that. Just thinking about crappie jigs. The Eagle 500c was 1500Watts the 797 & 787 are 4000watts. got to be better.