Humminbird did figure it out and introduced the Humminbird SI (side-imaging) series, which put the company way ahead of the pack. Gibson credits Dave Betts as the driving force behind Humminbird's sonar. "He created [Humminbird's] dual-beam, tri-beam, 3D sonar, Smartcast and now side-imaging units," says Gibson. "And he was [already] working on the side scan from an R&D viewpoint when I told him what I'd seen."

Humminbird uses 262 and 455 kHz transducers for its side scans and the traditional 50/200s for the down-looking facet. These combination units (side and down imaging) run in the $2,000 range.

"The 997 will replace the 987," says Gibson. "This model will retail for $1,999, and it has several improvements over the 987. For instance, it will have both the 455 kHz side-imaging and a new higher-definition 600 kHz beam. The 600 kHz beam will create even more crisp and detailed      pictures than what you have seen before."

Sport Fishing editors have used these Humminbird side-scanning systems and rave about the almost video like presentations. "Compared to A-scope and other graphic sounder presentations, it takes almost no time at all to learn how to interpret these images," says executive editor Dean Travis Clarke.

According to Gibson, 2007 should see even more economical side-scan units from Humminbird, to the tune of under $1,000.

AT THE PLATE
Here's an update on what various marine-electronics manufacturers have just over the horizon:

"We did do a working prototype of a side-scan unit several years ago and got some pretty nice images," says Charles Hicks, president of Interphase. "But so far we haven't decided to go forward. Our main thrust at this point is to improve on our current technology. At the National Marine Electronics Association trade show or the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, we'll introduce a new 'black-box' approach that separates the display from the acoustics. We'll also probably move off of the 200 kHz frequency, as it's gotten much too crowded. And FLS is usually an accessory where the boat already has an existing fish finder or depth sounder (which almost always works on 200 kHz)."

As noted, Furuno has tested an FLS, but has not marketed it yet.

Although there hasn't been any direct buzz about side scan from other manufacturers, it's safe to expect others to avail themselves of the technology. Regardless, all three formats will undoubtedly be improved, but with Humminbird able to bring side scan to the larger market (price-point-wise), there should be more movement on that front than on any other.

"We truly believe that side imaging is the next revolution in fish finding, and it will be the technology of choice of serious anglers for many years to come," says Gibson. "We'll continue to create more innovative products around this technology."