Hummingbird 698ci SI/DI GPS - $147.48

Saw this deal and thought I would share... Still thinking I may pick one up for myself, but I need to to read up more on the "uni-maps" and the ability to do the SI/DI through hull or if I'd need to mount the transducer outside the kayak.

http://www.gandermountain.com/modperl/product/details.cgi?pdesc=Humminbird-698ci-HD-SI-Chartplotter/Fishfinder-Combo&i=770809

Use code: MAR15 for 15% off then there's $150 in rebates as well.

I saw this on youtube Matt. I have no personal experience with side scan or this modified mounting option. Hope it helps.

I saw this on youtube Matt. I have no personal experience with side scan or this modified mounting option. Hope it helps.

Thanks Brit! Unfortunately I have an older boat that doesn't have the transducer pocket so it currently mounts in hull.

I wasn’t sure what year your Hobie was Matt. I have heard that mounting side scan in hull is not the perfect option as the transponder signal is almost 180 deg sideways from the molding line on the side of the transducer and as such if there are any areas in the hull bellow that line that are not under water then the signal will be degraded. As I said in the previous post I have no personal experience with this although I’m sure you will get more experienced answers. Good luck with it and I hope you find a solution.

I used the 798 ci (predecesor of the 698 ci) for a few years and generally liked it. I hated the transducer and power connections for it though. I felt like that was it's substantial weak spot.  While using my older Revo I used a RAM transducer arm to get the transducer below the waterline of the kayak so the side scan would work. If you mount the transducer in the hull you'll still get regular sonar and down imaging, but your side scan will suck. 

I used the 798 ci (predecesor of the 698 ci) for a few years and generally liked it. I hated the transducer and power connections for it though. I felt like that was it's substantial weak spot.  While using my older Revo I used a RAM transducer arm to get the transducer below the waterline of the kayak so the side scan would work. If you mount the transducer in the hull you'll still get regular sonar and down imaging, but your side scan will suck. 

Thanks for the first hand account Jeff, did you have a Navionics chip or use the built in maps?

I used the 798 ci (predecesor of the 698 ci) for a few years and generally liked it. I hated the transducer and power connections for it though. I felt like that was it's substantial weak spot.  While using my older Revo I used a RAM transducer arm to get the transducer below the waterline of the kayak so the side scan would work. If you mount the transducer in the hull you'll still get regular sonar and down imaging, but your side scan will suck. 

Thanks for the first hand account Jeff, did you have a Navionics chip or use the built in maps?

The built-in maps are actually pretty good. I didn't use Navionics. The nice thing about the 798 compared to the 698 was that the 798 had two SD card slots(I think the 698 only has one?), so you could run Navionics in one and have another for expanded memory for tracks and waypoints.

I used the 798 ci (predecesor of the 698 ci) for a few years and generally liked it. I hated the transducer and power connections for it though. I felt like that was it's substantial weak spot.  While using my older Revo I used a RAM transducer arm to get the transducer below the waterline of the kayak so the side scan would work. If you mount the transducer in the hull you'll still get regular sonar and down imaging, but your side scan will suck. 

Thanks for the first hand account Jeff, did you have a Navionics chip or use the built in maps?

The built-in maps are actually pretty good. I didn't use Navionics. The nice thing about the 798 compared to the 698 was that the 798 had two SD card slots(I think the 698 only has one?), so you could run Navionics in one and have another for expanded memory for tracks and waypoints.

Good to know! Thanks!