Hummingbird 788ci

[bassinman#1]

Does anyone own a Hummingbird 788ci, I am thinking about buying one this spring. Do you like it and is it easy to operate?

[dartag]

I want one to Ben... Even thinking about skipping some tournys and using the money to buy one.  Kev or Brian have them i think.  we need to get him to give us a demo.   maybe we could supply the beverages for the lessons.

[mikesmiph]

Maybe we could get a group discount somewhere. I'm looking at the same unit too. Been doing a lot of research on it. Looks like the most bang for the buck.

[Bender]

I see it online for around $500, not sure if that includes the transducer though. The only place selling it for less does not include it. That's about half the price of a 798. I'm not really sure I need the side imaging up front but it sure would be nice to have networked GPS to share waypoints.

[fishon1219]

Benny,
I installed one on my boat that I bought off of Ebay for $740. It is very easy to operate. As far as how good it works I can't say as I installed it at the end of the season and only got to use it at the Niagara river, but it was pretty cool.
The hardest part was mounting the transducer so I would have a clear veiw on both sides as I do not have a jack plate to mount off of.

Brian has had his for most of last season and I do belive he now has every stump, twig, lawn chair and Ice fishing spud on kent lake GPS.

If you are going to buy one I would suggest ebay just to save you about $400.

[Bender]

Kev, this is the 788 he has listed without side imaging. I think the rest of the unit is the same as the 798si.

I agree that I'd be lost up here without SI, since on my local lakes the smallies are mostly on offshore structure.

[Waterfoul]

Those of you interested in purchasing one should contact Mikesmiph about a deal he was offered today on the 788ci

[mikesmiph]

Anyone know how much Navionics is?

[LipRip]

Whats the difference between the 788c and the 788ci?

[bassinman#1]

I think the c is that the antenna is mounted outside on the boat and the ci is that the antenna is internal, which is the one I am looking at.

[LGMOUTH]

The c is for color and the i is for internal antenna.

So the 788c is a color unit that has an external antenna.
the 788ci is a color unit that has the internal antenna.

[Big dreams]

Anyone know how much Navionics is?

Bass pro had Navionics on sale for our area (North) for $70.  I purchased it about a month ago.  At the time, it was the only area offered. 

[Dan]

I think we heard yesterday in the Humminbird seminar that you had to purchase the Humminbird Navionics or maybe it was the Lakemaster. The regular would not work in the Humminbird.  I'm not too up to snuff on this but they did talk about the cards yesterday and I remember hearing that it was a very specific card for the Humminbird.

[BryanP]

Any of Navionics cards will work in Humminbird.  For the greatest coverage, go with the Hot Maps Premium.  Usually they come out with a new version every other year, so sometimes you can pick up the previous version at a great deal.  Otherwise, the Premium charts are around $149.

If you want Lakemaster, you have to get the specific Humminbird chip.

[Dan]

Hey Bryan,
You and Mike did a great job yesterday down at D&R. I forgot my camera and had to borrow one and the friend I borrowed it from won't have the pictures to me until tomorrow. Got a little blurb up on my teardropbass.com daily blog today though.

[BryanP]

Thanks Dan.  It was nice meeting you!