Humminbird side scanning, as good as it looks?
Last week I mentioned (relatively) inexpensive side scanning sonar, and here’s what I’m talking about. This 7” diagonal Humminbird 981c, which retails at about $1,650, is a conventional 750 watt dual frequency (50/200kHz) fishfinder that’s also able to scan sideways about 240’ out and 100’ down at 262kHz. The image on the screen (bigger here) is the left side of a scan, showing a submerged barge (distorted by the scanning dynamics) and a pile of dumped logs. You can see from the numbers that the depth was only 11’ and the scan is only looking out 30’, but there are more screen shots on Humminbird’s side scan page that show pretty good detail at somewhat greater range. Of course, these are all company images; has anyone out there tried one of these?
I have used the Humminbird Side Imaging in shallow and deep water and the performance and images are just like the company images. Very detailed. Once you use one or see one work you will never want traditional 2D sonar! It’s well woth the cost.
I have seen them work in person and have one on my Christmas list. They made simple work of finding brush piles and other structure in water less than 20ft, my primary fishing depth here in Tx.