Humminbird 788ci

[Huskie]

I picked up this new 'bird 788ci for a price that was in my budget. What are the pro's and con's of this unit. I noticed that it had some pre loaded maps, I fish Winnie and the surrounding lakes mostly, what other map chip should I pick up for it. Thanks much.

[reddog]

Whats in there is just a base map, I believe. You will want a navionics or Lakemaster for Humminbird chip to fully utilize its GPS capabilities.

I use mine exclusively for ice fishing, and it is great for that application also.

[Huskie]

Thanks Reddog, any stores or sites that have the best prices on either of the two map chips? Could anyone recommend one brand over the other for Winnie? I will just be using it for the spring, summer and fall fishing.

[Tator2k]

Humminbird (Johnson Companies, I believe) bought Lakemaster last year.

[reddog]

Retail price on chips is pretty much fixed. You could look for a used one on a-sales-site or classifieds. Not sure what would be yur best option for Winnie, but I woud guess for navionics, it would be the North Premium. Cant speak for lakeMaster.

Yes. Johnson outdoors did purchase LM.

[Huskie]

I did find the Lakemaster 2011 chip that works, still waitimg to compare the navionic before I pick one up. The prices do seem to be standard, might get a few bucks off on a HSOforum search. The only used ones I've seen are older and I'm not sure if they will work in the 788ci.

[remington 300]

huskie, i have the same unit,i've had it a few years and really like it,

i ended up getting a navionics chip for it, like was said ,premium north version, i also fish winnie and its shows great detail, the unit its self is real easy to use and adjust to your liking,my buddy has a lowrance unit in his boat,with a lakemaster chip and weve used it as well on winnie and maybe im just used to navionics or my bird, but i like what i see on my unit better,

anyway, theres a site sponser on here that i got mine from, profishing supply,dave over there can answer all your questions,

goodluck with the unit you will like it,

mike.

[Huskie]

Thanks Remington, I plan on moving my humminbird 385 to the bow and rigging the new 788ci on the dash of my Crestliner 1750 sportfish. Did you or anyone for that matter hook your 788 up yourself or did you have a shop do it? How much of a hassle is it to do? I would like to do it myself, but want it done right as well. Thanks again.

[reddog]

Thanks Remington, I plan on moving my humminbird 385 to the bow and rigging the new 788ci on the dash of my Crestliner 1750 sportfish. Did you or anyone for that matter hook your 788 up yourself or did you have a shop do it? How much of a hassle is it to do? I would like to do it myself, but want it done right as well. Thanks again.

Hooking up the new 788 shouldnt be any problem. There is no puck to mount as it is internal gps. Im betting that the power cord and transducer are the same as your 385, so its just a simple change out of the mounting bracket, and even that may be the same.

[remington 300]

huskie, installed it my self, was easy to do, running the transducer cable took sometime and mounting the transducer wasnt bad, instuctions are easy to follow, power was easy , i mounted mine on my drivers side console so my fuse panel is right underneath it, you should be able to do it in a hour or two,

on a side note i also got a second power cord and mounting bracket and now use it in my truck for ice fishing,(not this year yet) only for the GPS for now, will eventualy get a high speed tranducer for it so i have a second flasher for my wife or kids to use while with me,thats the reason i got the CI version,

anyway goodluck, have a good one,

mike.

[Huskie]

Pulled this old thread back for a question. I did find the new lakemaster chip to use with the 788ci and you are right, it's priced the same all over $125 or 129 if I remember correctly. Does anyone know of a HSOforum that would sell it without tax and free shipping? Trying to save a buck or two so I can afford some shiners on opener!!!!!

[Tator2k]

Best deal I found to save one of those, was L&M had them cheaper.

[PerchJerker]

They're a little cheaper here and shipping is free

Humminbird LakeMaster Cards

[Huskie]

On another thread they were talking about interference if you are running two units at the same time with both transducers at the back of the boat. Will I run into that problem with my two birds? If I run the front one on the bow mount troller motor, how d o you attach it to the motor?

[Fish Head]

I just purchased the same unit (788ciHD) for my bow. I just bought a 988si for the dash. I haven't had them installed yet. I'm excited to get the new birds on there.

My trolling motor has a built in transducer, however I've seen some guys attach it to the trolling motor with hose clamps. I haven't done that myself, but I'm sure it works.

[bopper4]

I ran my cable up the trolling motor shaft and secured it with zip ties. The transducer can be mounted with something like a rig rite mount. I'm not sure what model mine is but the transducer is attached to a bracket which is then attached to the trolling motor with a hose clamp.

[Jmnhunter]

you will love the Lakemaster chip, some sweet features that navionics doesnt have

[311Hemi]

What's the difference between the 788ci and the 597ci?

Pretty sure a different base map is included with the 788ci, but anything else?

[SpecialK]

The 788 has dual card slots and the 597 has 1. Not sure about the rest, that's all I could find with a quick glance.

[311Hemi]

Looks like the 788 also has ethernet and 3 quick select buttons for changing screens.

[Fish Head]

The 788 has the ability to network with the other units on the boat. The 597 does not. That's a big factor for me. When I drop a waypoint on one unit, I want it to show up on all the units.

[Huskie]

I was in Mankato yesterday at the GM store and they matched their on line price for the Navionics premium north sd card so I picked it up. Any tips on using it in my 788ci? Will be trying it out on a local lake a few times before I head to Winnie. Actually both sporting goods store i shopped at were pushing the lakemaster, but I opted for the hotmaps when they (GM) took 20 bucks off,

[reddog]

Get to know the shaded depth option.. its the second best option for me on now water, with Side Imaging being on top. (I know the 788 doesnt have SI, but it will have Shaded depth.)

[Huskie]

Thanks Reddog. By the way for those who have installed their fishfinder units themselves, what is the easiest way to "thread" the power cord and transducer cable to the battery and stern positions. Do you tape it to the old ones that you take out? 02 crestliner sportfish 1750, thanks.

[h8go4s]

Get to know the shaded depth option.. its the second best option for me on now water, with Side Imaging being on top. (I know the 788 doesnt have SI, but it will have Shaded depth.)

The shaded depth feature is great but I think exclusive to the Lakemaster and Humminbird combination. In other words, return that Navionics card and get a Lakemaster Minnesota card.

[BartmanMN]

Thanks Reddog. By the way for those who have installed their fishfinder units themselves, what is the easiest way to "thread" the power cord and transducer cable to the battery and stern positions. Do you tape it to the old ones that you take out? 02 crestliner sportfish 1750, thanks.

I have 04 sportfish. My power cord was connected to my switch panel, so I needed to remove that. As for the transducer cable, I attached a string to the old one and pulled that one through, then I tied the string to the new cable and pulled it back. Easy enough. After that I zip tied everything like it was previously and it is good to go.