Side Scan Running speed

[Palerider77]

I am looking into adding a Humminbird side scan to my boat, does anyone know how fast you can be moving and get a good picture of the structure below? Real world experience please.

[PerchJerker]

I usually go 2-4 mph, maybe 5 mph, when using my side scan. I can get a picture of the bottom at higher speeds than that, but when you're going faster you don't get a very clear image of all the small details and it's hard to know exactly what you're looking at.

[Nick Kuhn]

Some people can get the settings tweaked and get a picture up to 7 or 8, but for the most part you are looking at speeds you would troll at. Once on plane the picture isn't very good and you are better suited using the GPS/2d sonar.

[Deitz Dittrich]

2-5mph works for me.. 3 seems to give me the best pict.

[Palerider77]

Very good thanks! Second question, I currently have a Humminbird 917c on the console, and was going to install either a 998 or a 1197 and network the two, does any one have a set up like this? Can the two units share a lakemaster card or will I need one for each?

[PerchJerker]

They will not be able to share a LM card, you need to have a card in each unit that you want to see the maps on.

[Deitz Dittrich]

I have two 997 with a net work.. as PJ says, they will not share a card.. really the only thing they do share is coordinates.

[harvey lee]

I have the same set up as Dietz and he is spot on. I ordered one with the mapping in it and the other I have the cards for.

As far as the speed for the side scan, I can get 3 mph pretty good and if I played with it a bit more, I believe 4 mph might be workable.

[John Mickish]

Like everyone has said, about 3-5MPH works for me. If you want to network just data (depth, speed and weighpoints) your 917 should work, but if you want to network things like sonar, mapping and images you will need to move up to the 2010 and newer models that have an ethernet.

[Palerider77]

Cool, mainly I just wanted to have waypoints shared between the two units. I was going to use the us2 on my trolling motor for the front sonar and have the side imaging for scouting purposes.