THE small boat Humminbird Side Imaging Sonar, which has just won the Technical Innovation of the Year award from our sister newspaper Fishing News, costs less than other side scan units.

This set is claimed to be versatile and use “unique revolutionary” side imaging technology specially developed for these units.

The sonar can view beneath the boat, also scan and survey up to 240 ft. either side of it and produce detailed high quality images of the seabed.

Units also have full GPS and chartplotting capabilities and a split screen facility. This enables the user to view navigation charts and sonar side imaging pictures at the same time.

UK distributor Johnson Outdoors, which accepted the Fishing News award, says: “They are an all-in-one navigation station for above and below the water.”

Prices start at £999.99 ($1500) for a unit with a display size of 5 in. even though they are professional grade sonars used by fishermen.

Johnson Outdoors says the side imaging units were introduced last year and were intended for the leisure sector, but their potential has quickly been seen by a much wider audience.

Andrew Dron of Johnson Outdoors says: “They are becoming increasingly popular with fishermen because, even those who are adept at reading conventional sonar displays, can have difficulty interpreting a standard sonar.

“With side imaging capability the scans are far easier to interpret, and fish and bottom structure are much easier to identify. They also save time and fuel because these units can scan in minutes what used to take hours.”

“We have had a great deal of interest in the equipment and a lot of positive feedback from those who have used it.”

“There’s nothing else quite like this available and sonar units offering high quality picture-like images usually cost thousands [of pounds] more. This is the most sophisticated, affordable sonar available for everyday use and it is particularly suited to coastal and inshore work.”

Side imaging sonar works in water up to 150ft deep; units can also be used as conventional sounders to 1500 ft. or with a deepwater transducer to 3000 ft.

In the side imaging range, units with colour display sizes of 5 in., 7 in., 8 in. and 10.4 in. are available, all with sunlight viewable screens. Models also allow high definition live images to be relayed to a flat screen television using the video output link.

Navigational data and sonar images can be recorded as screen snap shots using the SD memory card and analysed later on a PC.

In addition to being simple to mount on any craft, side imaging units are claimed to be user friendly. The menu includes a freeze frame facility and Mark button to create waypoints back to areas requiring further investigation. The View button allows scrolling between screens and the display can be customised.

Because side imaging sonar scans to the sides of the boat, the images are turned 90° on screen. Sonar returns coming from the port and starboard side of the boat are shown either side of a boat icon at the top of the display. Strong sonar returns appear as bright images and weaker sonar returns appear darker.

For example, lighter shades of blue typically represent terrain rising from the bottom and hard bottoms appear as a whiter shade. Neutral shades of blue represent flatter terrain and dark shades of blue a descending terrain.

Objects standing off-bottom typically appear as a clearly defined bright shape with an adjacent dark sonar ‘shadow.’

All Humminbird units are waterproof and mounting options are available, including portable models with quick release clips. Units can be gimbal or flush mounted. transom mounted or through-hull transducers are available.

Humminbird brand sets are manufactured by the Marine Electronics Group of Johnson Outdoors in Eufaula, Alabama.

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Side scan sonar for small boats