I would strongly recommend a Garmin Map CSX as a handheld. I have this unit and it is very easy to use. You can buy map chips for it for more detail. I use it for everything outdoors.

We have a cause for the powerhead failure. Apparently there is an air compressor that pushes the oil through the lines into the engine. the air compressor wasn’t working. Everything will be covered under warranty, but it will be 2 weeks before I get the boat back.

As best as I can remember I had always let it warm up some before moving, and especially before WOT. But how would you know if it was up to temp. I do not recall seeing a temp guage.

Maybe found out the problem. The Powerhead is scratched up and one piston is completely pouched. The dealership ordered a new powerhead from Mercury. Maybe the fuel wasn’t burning clean and complicated the problem.

I sent an e-mail to Humminbird this is what they said

Please note you may also the Windex Multi Task with Vinegar in the spray bottle. Do not use the Windex wipes on the unit. This would be the other recommendation other than the mild, soapy water. Please note the prolonged use of Dawn (liquid dish soap) would not be recommended but for non-frequent application that should be sufficient.

The motor was running fine. I was downriggin for salmon and pretty much ran it at 1,000 rpm most of the day. Did a short 5500 RPM run to the dock at the end of the day. Nothing out of the ordinary. It seemed fine. So when the shop said there was a problem with it I was really surprised.

Kinda got some good news, Merc told the dealership to order up a new power head, so they didn’t see anything wrong with the engine report. Bad news is I won’t have the boat for at least a week. Guess I’ll have to get Ricky to take me fishin.

I have transducer mounted directly to the boat, ie no transducer board, For travelling what are people doing to protect the transducer from rocks etc. I do travel quite aways on gravel roads when I am going fishing for eyes. I rigged up a little protection from an old Hot Shots neoprene ice fishing glove that I had laying around. I checked Humminbird’s website and could not find an accessory for this purpose. Just thought I would check here to see if something has been perfected for this purpose. Thanks

From the post above
The 2 main things you gain with a SS prop is durability and bite. An SS prop can take hits that will destroy an aluminum prop. Bite is the ability for the prop to hold in turns and take off. A prop that loses bite blows out in turns or when you are trying to get on plane
So take into consderation, if you do hit something with a SS prop, it does not give, the force is absorbed throughout the lower end, ie twisting prop shafts, breaking gears etc which could end up costing a whole lot more to repair than an alluminum prop. Something else to consider.

Maybe this is a job for my Sham wow.

Thanks Guys for all your input. I purchase the bird 997cSI last nite. I could not find a transducer board in Thunder Bay, so I will be mounting directly to the transom. Hope I get it right the first try. Also, the bird site says the control head has a swivel mount. It does not. The mount is a tilting mount not a swivel, so back to town I go to get a RAM mount. I have various 1″ RAM options “in stock” ut I think with the weight of this unit I need a bigger one.

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I’m thinking of the open air gap below the “door” in the windshield … perhaps you could either open or close (with a piece of snap-in vinyl or something similar) that space to change the airflow?

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That gap has always been open, I figured that it would put airflow through the boat and thus not create a vacuum. Perhaps my tinking is flawed. I will close it off next time.