HB 700 or 800 series

[ClownColor]

I've been researching this for about two years and I keep switching back and forth. I'm buying either the 798 or 898. I primarily fish walleyes lindy style but getting into jigging. Second is trolling for northerns. Those two scenerios make up 99% of my fishing with.

This is what I want. I know what everyone is going to say right off the bat...Bigger is better and I know that, I'm just having a hard time justifing that at 1.5 x the cost. To be honest, summer fishing is getting less and less with higher gas prices and higher work volume. I try to venture north twice a month (some for extended time) but mostly just 2-3 day wknds of fishing. Other times I'm stuck metro fishing in a small boat where this fish finder won't be!

So for anyone who ones a 798, would you purchase again? Do you regret the purchase? This will be at the consule so I'll be close to it. Screen size sucks, ok, perfectly fine, or great? I know I know, if I can offered the 898 go with it...and I can (well, I will-and the wifes okay with it), I just hate spend "THAT MUCH MONEY" on a peice of fishing equipment. But if it last 10 years...I'b buy it now.

Long story...anyways-any help in the "horrible" dilemma would be appreciated.

p.s What screens shots do most use will difting for lindy? is SI mode going to slow or will DI pick up at that slow speed?

[Nick Kuhn]

I have a 798 and I do not regret the purchase at all. In terms of total pixel count the 798 actually has a higher resolution than an 898 (albeit by a very slight margin). It has no problem displaying the same amount of information as an 898, the only question is are your eyes good enough to see it. Since I can read ridiculously small font, it doesn't bother me at all. However, if you are the sort of guy who has trouble reading the newspaper you may want to step up to an 898.

And SI doesn't work well while drifting, everything is kind of blurry and distorted. You will still be able to pick up hard objects, you just won't be able to identify what they are (just that they are hard). You can run a 2D sonar/DI split, which works quite well. With the shortcut view buttons you can flip between GPS and that screen in a flash.

[MN Mike]

I have a 798 and I do not regret the purchase at all. In terms of total pixel count the 798 actually has a higher resolution than an 898 (albeit by a very slight margin). It has no problem displaying the same amount of information as an 898, the only question is are your eyes good enough to see it. Since I can read ridiculously small font, it doesn't bother me at all. However, if you are the sort of guy who has trouble reading the newspaper you may want to step up to an 898.

And SI doesn't work well while drifting, everything is kind of blurry and distorted. You will still be able to pick up hard objects, you just won't be able to identify what they are (just that they are hard). You can run a 2D sonar/DI split, which works quite well. With the shortcut view buttons you can flip between GPS and that screen in a flash.

Same here..... I don't regret my purchase at all, I am very content with my 798.

Reeds was just blowing out the rest of the non HD 798's for $699 at a sports show I was at but they might be gone now, that was a great deal on a new SI unit.

Mike

[ClownColor]

I know...During black friday days they had them in the $500 price range! At that time I just purchased a HUGE TV. I was ready to hit the "buy" button when the wife walked in...no way was that happeneing!

[JohnMickish]

I have a 798 (soon to be replaced with 1198). The only thing I don't like about it is the screen size. If I where purchasing a new entry level unit I would have to go with the 800 series just because of the screen size. I am a firm believer that you will see more with a bigger screen, and your eyes will love you for it.

[harvey lee]

I have a 798csi and an 1198sci.

The 798 is on the trolling motor up front and works well.

I believe this unit is a bit on the smaller side as I normally use the larger unit on the console.

yes, the 798 works but when using the split screen, it is somewhat jam packed.

[PerchJerker]

I agree, a 5 inch screen is doable for SI, and if that's what your budget limits you too then that's what I'd go with. But if the larger unit is in play for you then I think it'd be worth it if you use SI. You mentioned trolling .... I do a fair amount of trolling and I am ALWAYS running SI when trolling ..... and sometimes when I am looking for new spots I troll to cover water and watch my SI constantly.

[TruthWalleyes]

I went with the 898 and couldn't see myself ever going smaller.

[BartmanMN]

Do most people rig these theirselves or bring them into a shop to do it? How difficult is it on a scale of 1-10?

For people that paid a shop to do it, what's an average price to pay?

[TruthWalleyes]

Took me 30 minutes to install mine. Made 1 adjustment to the transducer after first trip on the water.

[PerchJerker]

Do most people rig these theirselves or bring them into a shop to do it? How difficult is it on a scale of 1-10?

Difficulty really depends on the boat and the ease of access ...... aluminum boat with easy access and open gunnels, not that tough ...... fiberglass boat where everything is enclosed, gets a lot tougher ...... open console with easy access above and below, not that tough ....... crowded console and not much room to work, gets a lot tougher. You have to be willing to drill some holes in your boat to get everything mounted.

A lot of guys like to rig this stuff themselves.

[BartmanMN]

ok thanks. I have a 1850 Crestliner Sportfish. There is already a unit on there, so I figure I can chase those wires to the back of the boat.

[yoppdk]

I just went with the 798 ... my justification for a smaller display was the cost of the larger units, plus I have a RAM mount on my snowmobile for using the 798 GPS and lakemaps on the ice so I get to use it during open water and ice seasons. Wouldn't want to mount a larger unit on the sled ... just too bulky.

[MrBig]

I bought the 798 last year and it's great. I didn't think I had room on the dash for anything bigger, but at times you wish the screen was bigger.

I also have a 1850 Crestliner Sportfish. Just tie a sting on the old transducer line, remove that from the back, then tie the sting on to the new transducer line and pull it back through to the front. No big deal with mounting the unit yourself.

[Northlander]

The hardest thing is getting the transducer in the right spot and getting a good read.