HUMMINBIRD 785C2I PLOTTER/Navionics Gold maps

[RECESS]

I'm not sure if the 785 is a fishfinder or sonar or what. Were you able to confirm what each model does by the manual?

The 785c2 is a GPS/sonar combo The way I understand it, the system is ready to use a transducer. As long as you purchase a unit with a tranducer, you have complete sonar (fishfinding capabilities). The unit is preloaded with the software necessary to use the data from the transducer to show fishing icons and alarms. If you purchase without the transducer you just have chatplotting capability.

 

[Hermit Scott]

Also the manual is not available online right now. She offered to snail mail me the manual, but I told her I already bought the plotter and would receive a manual then.
She said they were working on their website and it won't download.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Sometimes, Hermit

1. I've hit enter instead of shift, and that'll send the message before you finish typing. The edit post works fine for fixing stuff, and sometimes I edit for typos.

2. The big box online stores don't have the info you really need to make a purchasing decision because they've cut & pasted form the manufacturer's own website for the product. I suggest going to the vendor's actual website to figure out exactly what you need, and only then use the big box stores for better prices.

 

[Hermit Scott]

The manual you downloaded is probably for the 787. I can't find any manuals for the 785. Look at humminbird.com under products then chartplotters. That's the only place it's listed on their website.
If it doesn't come with a transducer and 20' of cable gizmos for life has some explaining to do. I still want it at that price even if it's not a sonar, but it would sure be nice since my boat is out of the water now, I could install the transducer in front of the keel.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Ar you doing a thru hull or

just glassing it in? If the latter, doesn't matter if the boat's in or out of the water.

 

[Hermit Scott]

You can glass in a transducer in the water?

 

[RECESS]

Scott I am on hold with Humminbird technical support. If it does not have sonar capabilities then they need to change the Humminbird site. Under the 785c2i section they have specs about the temperature and sonar features along with several screen shots such as this one.

and this

 

[Hermit Scott]

You are absolutely right! I didn't see those. Let me know what they say.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Hermit, you install the transducer inside the hull with epoxy or toilet wax ring material. No hole through the hull. There've been many posts on how to do this.

 

[Hermit Scott]

It doesn't have to be in contact with the water? All the pictures of the transducers I was looking at had threads on them like through hulls.

 

[RECESS]

I got off the phone with humminbird and they said it can have a temperature probe and that is why they have the screen shots on their website. I asked them why it would show a sonar screen if it is not capable and was told they are only referencing the temp capabilities eventhough a sonar picture is shown in the background.

That is very misleading.

 

[Stu Jackson]

It depends on the transducer. Many, if not most, work right through the fiberglass. I'll do a search for you and see if I can find one of the old threads and give you a link to one of the finds.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Link for ya

Hermit, try this: http://catalina.sailboatowners.com/index.php?option=com_vbsearch&task=1&Itemid=245

Woops, that doesn't work, like many forums, the link to a search result does NOT work, you have to do it yourself.

Try a search on exact phrase for WAX RING. Lotsa discussion, do some reading, I know ya'll love it!

BTW, I love your new signature!

 

[Hermit Scott]

What is the signiture? the website or name of my boat?

 

[Stu Jackson]

Re: Link for ya

You may have noticed the Humminbird website says the unit is currently out of stock.

 

[Hermit Scott]

It said that when I went there on friday to take a look at it.
Recess- it also says it is compatiable with weather sense, a barometer that only goes on units that are fishfinders.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Re: Link for ya

Sorry, it was Dave's, still funny, though.

adventurer, ex-hippy, good timer, (crook? quite possibly), manic self-publicist, terribly bad at personal relationships, often thought to be completely out to lunch

Applies to many of us, I think!

 

[RECESS]

Sorry, it was Dave's, still funny, though.

adventurer, ex-hippy, good timer, (crook? quite possibly), manic self-publicist, terribly bad at personal relationships, often thought to be completely out to lunch

Applies to many of us, I think!

I stole it from Douglas Adams in his description of Zaphod Beeblebrox, you are correct it applies to many of us.

Scott, I asked her about the fact it says it is compatible with the Hummingbird's Wireless Sonar Link. She said Humminbird cannot assume responsibilty of what is written on a vendor's website. She danced all around it.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Wax ring search results

Hermit, here's a representative example of one of the search results on wax ring: http://forums.catalina.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?p=484992

 

[Hermit Scott]

That is true, we shouldn't hold them accountable for a vendor's website, but what about their website. Is the unit compatible with weather sense? The site says only fishfinders can have this option, but on their site for the 785 it says it's an option. And what about all the pictures they have of sonar on the description?
Anyway, it is what it is. I am happy with the chart plotting features that it has especially at that price. You can cancel your order with the vendor and upgrade to the 787. They may be rediculously priced also.