Am I an Idiot???

[bigjc]

Ok gentlemen, I am asking you to let me have it.  Tell me if you think I made a mistake; if I was a complete idiot; or just a chump;  So here is what I did...I have been wanting to upgrade my old monochrome Garmin unit on my Legend for several years now with Humminbird, but I simply have not had the cash.  Now I have tucked away a couple hundo thinking that maybe over the winter, I could come up with some extra cash.  Well, on Friday I went with my brother in law to Cabbellas.  While in there I see that one of the Black Friday deals is the Humminbird 597 ci HD DI combo, four a cool four hundred.  Now that is not the unit that I really wanted, but it is what I could afford.  So, a bird in hand or two in the bush? 

If I would have waited until Spring, maybe I could have come up with the cash for a 798 with Side finder technology, or maybe I would be stuck another season with my crappy Garmin junk.  Or I drop the four hundo now (birthday and Christmas money) and settle for 597 with Down imaging only. 

Let me know what you think.  Don't hold back.  This is one of those conversations that it is healthy for us to have over the winter, and maybe it will help someone else debating the same thing.  In my defense, I recently fished out of my buddies boat with the 597 and I found it to be pretty functional.

Merry Christmas Friends!

[gmetime24]

I have that exact unit on my boat and love it. I bought it when it was new on the market for $800 about 3 years back so that's a good price you got. I had an old black ad white unit with just sonar so this was a good upgrade for me. I have found some good fishing spots with this unit and the GPS marking helps me out big time. With just the DI you do need to spend a little more time scouting for areas compared to a SI unit to find offshore cover but it works.  One day I will get a SI unit with a bigger screen but I still have much to learn about this finder. You saved some money and made an upgrade I say nice purchase!

[Redbone]

I really like mine and that is a good price!

[motocross269]

As long as your happy with your purchase that is what really matters......

You can always consider used units...Some guys have to have the latest and greatest every cycle so you can get some great prices on just like new used units...

[TimH]

If you like what you purchased and you found it to be pretty functional when you used it before, than I say it was a good purchase.  I am a fan of Humminbird products in general, so I'd say I'm biased.  I'm going to be upgrading this year (hopefully) and I honestly haven't even been looking at any of the side imaging units.  Just getting an updated unit with down imaging will be a significant upgrade for me, so I just can't justify the extra cash.  Plus, I realize that I still have a lot to learn with properly reading my electronics and down imaging, so until I feel 100% comfortable with that, I don't want to add side imaging into the mix.

[Waterfoul]

That is a great unit at a great price.  Hope you pulled the trigger, you will not be dissapointed.

[bigjc]

You all are too kind.  I was expecting to here from everyone with the 10 inch side imaging units, telling me what a mistake it was not to take the plunge and get SI.

Oh well, for now it is a good upgrade for my 8 year old rig.

[Got Fish??]

 That is a vary nice unit. Dose the unit help you find fish? Is the screen big and clear? Was it at the right price? Would the more expensive one , make fishing more fun? Usually your first choice is the right choice.

[capt charlie's charters]

would've held out for the 798 ( which I did ) so you could interlink with a 788 on the bow.  though after the first season (2012) it worked great, at the beginning of 2013 I'm having problems with both units and their only one season old.

won't interlink, 798 will freeze in horizontal lines when restarting the big motor, I actually have to turn off the boat's power switch in order to turn off the 798 and the 788 is picking up disturbance from the Minn Kota, which it didn't before.

capt

[bigjc]

Well, when I first started debating this issue in my mind, I was going back and forth on the 798 vs. the larger 898.  I felt that the 798 was a bit small.  But since putting a 4.5 inch humminbird color combo at the bow, a couple of years age, I have decided that I can live with the smaller unit for now.

[djkimmel]

You're way ahead of me. I'm jealous.

Does that make you feel better?

[Skulley]

bigjc, if I worried about every deal I passed up because I had my heart set on something else, I think I'd drive myself out of my mind. I say go with what you really want and try to find it for the best price you can get it for. You can't go wrong that way.



BD.                     

[bigjc]

The other piece of the equation is that I have to answer to my wife...

[Skulley]

I got one of those. I feel your pain. But I'd still get what I want......eventually. Begging helps.


BD.                   

[bigjc]

I usually do too.  Marriage is teaching me patience.

[Skulley]

Wait until you have some kids!! That's a real lesson in patience.



BD.                         

[bigjc]

Check my photos again, bro...I have four of them! 

[djkimmel]

You've got that covered pretty well!

[t-bone]

I had a friend that would never by a new PC because he was always waiting for the next generation. Thus, he never bought a new PC. I agree that you should just pull the trigger and get what you can afford.

bigjc, if I worried about every deal I passed up because I had my heart set on something else, I think I'd drive myself out of my mind. I say go with what you really want and try to find it for the best price you can get it for. You can't go wrong that way.



BD.                     

[Rangerman]

You will love your Bird, smooth operating and the price you got was a deal deal if any of you other guys are looking for Bird's of any size an are members of TBF you can purchase thru them at a great price, also MK Trolling Motors. Rigging a new boat soon I hope and price was unbeatable.