Their transducers are junk. I've burned up two and I know someone else local that has had same issues. I lose bottom all the time randomly. In under 50feet of water it is fine. After that I will lose bottom at random for however long til it decides to work again. First transducer shorted out and was shocking me when I'd touch it. Less than 50 hours on the unit and a complete waste of money.
I have the 997 on my rib...the actual fishfinder is pretty good and the sidescan works well upto about 35m but only at trolling speed...Any faster than that and it just loses signal in the wake
Had a few Humminbirds over the last thirty years. I found that correct mounting of the transducer on these units is critical, aft air bubbles running cross the transducer belly being the main culprit for cut-outs.
Red Mist
