Digital depth, temperature, speed and coordinate readouts
Optional preloaded Navionics software bundle
Setting new standards for value, this professional-grade series has high-tech upgrades for greater clarity and fish- tracking performance. Its 5" TFT color LCD has vivid 640V x 640H resolution for brilliant clarity, even in direct sunlight. DualBeam PLUS™ sonar combines two selectable, fish- and structure-tracking beams for precision viewing at many depths. The narrow 20° beam provides excellent bottom detail and spots fish hidden in clutter. The wide-angle 60° beam scouts a large area for surveying fish in many directions and picking up large schools of fast-moving baitfish. A front-mounted internal GPS system allows for permanent in-dash mounting or use with the versatile quick-disconnect mount. Mark fishing hot spots, landmarks, routes and waypoints with this 16- channel WAAS-enabled receiver and view results on the sonar display. You can also choose a unit preloaded with Navionics® bundle and receive Gold and HotMaps™ Premium for Continental USA on built-in shock- resistant internal memory – Over $1,000 value. You can also increase your scan area by upgrading to a QuadraBeam unit with 20°, 60° and 90° coverage. This unit redefines the world beneath your hull for trophy-winning results you can bank on season after season. Available:
788ci DualBeam sonar/GPS combo without transom transducer
788ci DualBeam sonar/GPS combo and transom transducer
788ci QuadraBeam sonar/GPS combo and transom transducer
788ci DualBeam sonar/GPS combo, transom transducer and Navionics software
I have used this unit most of the summer. The thing I am most impressed with is the gps and how accurate the hot maps is. With the 1 ft increcments in depth contours you almost don't even need a depth finder. As far as the sonar is concerned I have also been fairly impressed. I got the quadbeam transducer which has the poor mans side imaging. It is pretty cool and have been able to pick up fish and balls of bait fish beside the boat I would not have known was there without it. Overall very good unit that has performed flawlessly so far. BTW the GPS position error is usaully around 7 to 10 ft.
I bought this 788ci for the bow of my boat along with a 365i for the dash. The sonar performance is very nice when you are deeper than 6ft (not good in shallow water). However the gps would not function well even when locked on to as many as 11 satellites. Accuracy never got into the single digits and for the most part jumped around between 25 and 40 feet. I pulled it out of the bow and set it on deck in different orientations with no difference. Speed showed between 1.5 to 3.5mph when sitting on the trailer in the yard. Calls to humminbird support were useless. The 365i mounted in the dash almost constantly shows 5ft accuracy and 0.0mph were sitting still as it should. Humminbird said yep that's normal, I asked why the 365i at less than half the price outperformed this unit and the response was it's newer. I am returning this for the 778, I will live without GPS in the bow unit. The 788ci is not worth the extra cash for the poor performing GPS section with "old" technology.
Great product! I have been fishing with several others and now have my own duck/fishing set up. I am very happy with all the features. Screen is clear bright in full sunlight. Base is solid. The area in Canada I fish/hunt does not have allot of lakes on the Navionics map chips. So I purchased the Navionics gold Marine and I am very glad I did. The detail of the area of the major river I hunt in is full of Islands and inner lakes and marshes. Going to the duck blind in the dark and fog will no longer be an issue. I spoke with Humminbird regarding the function of the quad transducer and I was miss informed. Although I have not used I would suggest you purchase the quad for the extra 25 dollars. Great product!
Great unit for the money, excellent clarity, base mount is rock solid even in very rough weather, came with the hard cover, but I bought a cabellas cover to engulf the whole unit and it fits great, removable from base in seconds, EASY EASY EASY to use. I started out reading the entire manual and was slightly aprehensive, then I hooked it up and once you fire it up you realize how user friendly this unit is. The gps is spot on, I like to zoom out and see where I am on the lake or river in relation to the highways and towns, I bought the Quadrabeam and it was worth the extra 25 bucks. I'd pay 25 bucks to find fish in a larger area any day! all the basic features can be used with out difficulty and pretty straightforward, the more advanced features can be used with a few minutes help from the manual. You can customize the configurations and put your favorite views on quick button so you dont have to sift through every frame. I didn't think I would use all the features this unit has, but I have been so pleasantly surprised with the operating features and ease of use I find myself using almost all of the features. My only complaint is that I enjoy using the unit so much and discovering new features I have been fishing less, but when I have fished this unit put me on the fish!