Topic: Settings

[fish225]

I got the 898 back from HB, all seems good with the keypad. 

I'm ready to install the transducer this weekend.
Can someone give me the basic settings I need to see a good bottom picture.
I'm using a sternmate transducer mount system and attached a pic of my boat transom and where I thought would be a good spot.
I have a Skeeter SS90, if anyone has any suggestions on which mount is better, please let me know.
My plan is to temporarely mount the xducer and see which gives the better screen shot.

[ITGEEK]

For Side-Imaging, there can't be anything blocking the transducer to the
left or right.
Your upper left mounting location looks like the motor mount will block
the left side.
The lower right location looks better to me.

You're smart to do a temporary transducer install and check it on
the water.  You may have to move it a few times to get it the
way you want it before permanently bolting it on.

The only setting that is extremely important is the Maximum depth setting
on your Sonar menu.  Too shallow and you won't see bottom.
Too deep, and your unit won't be working as fast as it could be.
You want this set slightly deeper (say 10 feet), than the water you are
currently fishing.

There are no overall best settings.  Water depth, clarity, salinity, temperature,
wind/waves, boat speed, transducer location, transducer depth, transducer
mounting angle (front to back, and side to side), your boat's attitude in the water,
and your boat's hull configuration will all make a difference.  You'll have to
adjust most settings while on the water.  Like all of us, it will take you a little
time and tinkering to get the very best images out of your unit.

I hope you have some fun with it.

[Moose1am]

Very good advice.  Check to see if there are any air bubbles in the water streaming under your boat.  Air bubbles are caused by turbulence between your hull and the water's surface.  You want an area with clean LAMINAR water flow by the transducer.
 
You may mount the SI type transducer on the lower part of the hull and then add a second transducer for high speed 2D sonar and connect the two to the control head of the 898 C si with an adaptor  from Humminbird.   This way you can mount the SI type transducer to get the best SI readings which may not be the best location for high speed running operations.  Thus the need for the second though the hull transducer for high speed 2d or regular sonar operations.

[NickO]

Option 1 looks too high and too close to the motor mount.
Option 2 looks to be nearly directly over the lift strake. That is going to cause turbulence and interfere with the SI signal.
I'd look at mounting it just outboard of option 2.

Been there done that. I used some double sided marine/exterior tape to test the placement of my SI transducer. For testing purposes you don't have to go fast, 4-5 mph should tell you what you need to know.