HB 798 Ice Conversion

[eagle_3464]

For those thinking of converting your summer units for ice, here is the finished product of a HB 798. IMO, the soft fully enclosed case is well worth the $65 online purchase. You get everything you need other than the ducer (another $64) and the ducer arm.

Ducer arm folded ready for zipped storage.

Ducer arm swings out to any position, 180°+ from pivot point.

Fully set and ready for an ice hole. Very nice 6 color ice mode flasher.

And the best feature, GPS and mapping. I can sit on my couch to study a map and adjust depth highlighting to get specific structural elements to "pop" out. I can save these specific spots in the comfort of home and on a later date use GPS to go right to them. I'll deffinately be trying out this spot (the area with the small (red) hump with adjacent steep breaks and deep water with the saddle between).

[dunnym]

nice looking setup. What HSOforum you get it from? The cheapest I found the soft pack was around $100. Does it come with the ducer arm? I rigged up my 597 in a lunch cooler the other day. LOL.

[eagle_3464]

Thanks,

Normally list price is about $95 each for the soft case and ducer. I purchased online through Am_zon at $128 for both, plus got an additional $30 off for signing up for credit. HB does not offer a ducer arm so I made one myself that works just like the Marcum units.

[Mike Wallace]

Eagle and dunnym,

You inspired me to put this together for my 788ci HD:

Found a small tackle box that would store the battery, ice ducer, and unit in the top section and the front opens up with two small boxes for my ice stuff. Now to attach rod holders...

[eagle_3464]

Good way to be creative guys. All that matters is that it does what you want it to do.

[Mike Wallace]

Yep! The fun is in the over-engineering.

Do you use the flasher mode or the graph mode the most? I tend to like the graph more and more.

[eagle_3464]

I have used the conversion just twice now and both time in the flasher mode. So far I really like it except I wish I could turn the sensitivity down more. I have it all the way to 1 and yet me jigs and/or split shots are returning more signal than what I like. I would like to get it so that my bait just flickers a bit. Using a buckshot jigging spoon, it will show separation between the body and the minnow head. It has showed fish that are realtively tight to the bottom. I'll be looking to fine tune some more but so far very nice the way it is. I will have to give the graph mode a try.

[Gardiner14]

Just did the same thing to my 788. Only complaint i have is its difficult to get to the battery for charging and power conection. Any one else have this problem or just me?

Where did u get the transducer swing arm?

[eagle_3464]

The battery is difficult but manageable. They should have made the rear battery flap a bit taller and the upper rear storage smaller. I like all the storage built into the bag and the fact that it still fits into the pail. The case is also nice to keep your electronics fully protected.

I made the swing arm myself. We had some scrap UHMW plastic at work so I cut strips 5/16" thick, 1-1/4" wide and 6" long. Drilled 3/16" holes in 3 of the ends and a 3/8" hole in the last end. Mounted 1 arm to base with a 10-24 x 3/4" screw and flat washer. The two arms fastened together with a 10-24 x 1" screw with a flat washer on each side and retaining nut on the bottom. Otherwise, I believe the swing arm available for the Marcum units will work on the HB.