Lowrance 38c or Humminbird 797c

Narcdogk9 · Post by **Narcdogk9** » Wed Oct 15, 2008 11:19 am

OK I can get either a Lowrance 38c HD NVB (pre loaded with Navionics maps) or the Humminbird 797c2 SI side scan with the navioncs chip this is about $1050. The Lowrance is new in the box for $1200. Which would you get. I know the Humminbird has a 5" screen and the Lowrance has 8.4" screen. But is the side scan a better deal? I'm local and fish Delta, Clear Lake, berryessa etc. Thanks for you opinion...

Rod

tunaman · Post by **tunaman** » Wed Oct 15, 2008 11:39 am

Where are you mounting it? That is the main criteria, IMHO. If at the console, you'll need to get the 797 as close to eye level as possible, to be truly useful (again IMHO). SI is an incredible advantage (once more IMHO), but you have to be able to read it to gain the value. The 797 is a pretty small screen for SI, but passable for navigation and sonar purposes.

OTOH, the 38C is an extremely readable screen... I have one mounted at my bow and it is an excellent unit.

Good luck,
Roger

StogieMan · Post by **StogieMan** » Wed Oct 15, 2008 12:34 pm

I dont own a Hummingbird, nor do I know anyone who does. I too have read all about the side imaging. As great as it is supposed to be; Two things always get metioned: 1) You can't use the side image above fast idle. 2) The transducer is external and running at speed gives a marginal reading.

Regarding the x38HD, I have one and think it's pretty awesome. Real easy to see (obviously) paints a great picture, has every lake pre-loaded and even gives me tidal info while in the Delta.

tunaman · Post by **tunaman** » Wed Oct 15, 2008 12:44 pm

I had the 797 in my dash, and now run the 1197 on a RAM mount on the console.

The SI will actually come in better than most realize at higher speeds, especially if it isn't scanning the full 720' (360' each side). It is plenty fast enough to give good readings and allow covering a sizable area in a short amount of time.

That is my experience with them.
Roger

Denny Welch · Post by **Denny Welch** » Wed Oct 15, 2008 1:11 pm

I have the Humminbird 797C2SI mounted in the console and I love it. The screen is small and takes some getting used to, but I think it opens up a whole new realm of fishing opportunities. With practice you can identify fish under docks. It takes a lot of the guess work away. It identifies structure from over 200 feet away and then takes you there with a couple key strokes. I like that unit so much I just had a 787 installed in the bow.

I'm sure the Lowrance unit is good, especially with the larger screen. Personally, I can't imagine not having the side imaging capabilities. To me, the trade off in screen size versus side imaging is worth it.

Just my opinion.

StogieMan · Post by **StogieMan** » Wed Oct 15, 2008 2:22 pm

Good information, AND no one blasted anyone else.
Go figure

schreecher2 · Post by **schreecher2** » Wed Oct 15, 2008 7:35 pm

I won a Hummingbird 797c2SI in a contest, and absolutely can't believe the unit. We were fishing this lake that had underwater roadbeds, and I could drive the boat with the roadbed showing on one side, and then I found the bridge that was there, and could see the creekchannel that was under the bridge. Schwing! Just simply amazing! You can spend hours on the water searching for underwater stuff, instead of days. As far as seeing fish, it is a bit tough if there is a ton of stump and logs, at least for me.