HUMMINBIRD 785C2I PLOTTER/Navionics Gold maps

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Nov 28, 2008
26
Helms 24 Cedar Point
Even if you got the transom mount transducer you may want to try to mount it as an in-hull configuration. I purchased a Garmin 440s with a transom mount transducer and noticed that the manual "hinted" at being able to mount the ducer as an in-hull configuration.

I just cleaned the surface on the in-side of the hull with acetone and then used some silicone to prepare a mount. I had to make sure that all of the air bubbles were out of the silicone, but it worked great!!

You will also need to make sure that the hull is solid fiberglass, it won't work if there is a wood core.

Try it, worst thing that will happen is that you will have to peel off the silicone if it does not work. BTW, I also hear that you can use "Johnny Wax" (wax toilet gasket) to try it out to see if it will work.
 
Sep 25, 2008
2,288
C30 Event Horizon Port Aransas
I tried calling the gizmos for life store. A very nice lady got my message and called me back. I tried to see if she could look at the package to tell me what's in it, but it's a drop shipped item. It was shipped today. We'll find out what the deal is in a few days.

Since it works putting it on the inside of the hull, why do they tell you not to paint the depth sounder with bottom paint?
 
Sep 25, 2008
2,288
C30 Event Horizon Port Aransas
myerssl are you the guy that bought a diesel that was seized and was working on fixing it? If you are how'd that go?
 

RECESS

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Dec 20, 2003
1,505
Pearson 323 . St. Mary's Georgia
Savi from Gizmos for Life instructed me to refuse the package from UPS and call her so they can restock it and they will give me a full refund. The sonar aspect is imprtant to me. I do a lot of fishing and want the shallow water alarm along with a chartplotter. I will just keep looking.
 
Nov 28, 2008
26
Helms 24 Cedar Point
Hi Hermit,

Not the same guy. But . . . I'm working on a few projects for the boat, (just got it about 2 1/2 months ago and launched last month).

One lesson learned: Keep the ice chest full of libations and chilled to prevent unwanted smells:)
 
Sep 25, 2008
2,288
C30 Event Horizon Port Aransas
That is exciting. Can't wait to launch mine. I will live on it for the first week for sure. What projects do you have going?
 

RECESS

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Dec 20, 2003
1,505
Pearson 323 . St. Mary's Georgia
I spent much of last night and some of today researching a unit that has the combo GPS/Fishfinder. For a dual beam combo I would be lucky to find a quality unit for $400 and then I would need to spend $150-$250 to get the map sets that I would want to have. The GPs unit would not be the same level of quality as this Chartplotter though. After discussing it with the wife it seems we would be better off to keep this unit with the Gold map set of all North American coastal waters, lakes, and rivers. Then add a dedicated Fishfinder (sonar) that is not a combo.

I am leaning at this time towards the Garmin 340C fishfinder, it has a LOT of bang for about $200.
 
Sep 25, 2008
2,288
C30 Event Horizon Port Aransas
The gizmos for life company didn't place my order when I ordered it. They gave me an old ups tracking number and told me it was shipped. I tried checking the number the next day. It said it was already delivered last month. So I emailed then and told them. By the time they put my order in the warehouse was out of stock. I tried to order from another store, but called as soon as I placed my order, they said that it was out of stock and it is discontinued. So I won't be getting one. I'll have to wait.
 

RECESS

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Dec 20, 2003
1,505
Pearson 323 . St. Mary's Georgia
According to my Amazon account my package is on the way.

DateTimeLocationEvent Details
February 18, 200910:15:00 AM JACKSONVILLE FL USArrival Scan
February 17, 200901:16:00 AM SECAUCUS NJ USDeparture Scan
February 16, 200909:41:00 PM SECAUCUS NJ USArrival Scan
February 16, 200908:16:00 PM LAKEWOOD NJ USDeparture Scan
February 16, 200906:22:00 PM LAKEWOOD NJ USShipment received by carrier
February 16, 200905:00:11 PM USShipment has left seller facility and is in transit


Did you look at your Amazon account and track purchase?
 
Sep 25, 2008
2,288
C30 Event Horizon Port Aransas
Read the post just before your last. The Gizmos people didn't put my order in on time, they did it a day later. I won't be getting one. I was actually going to ask you to let me pay you some extra and have you send me yours since you weren't going to keep it.
I think what you are doing is a good choice. Sonar/fishfinders are relatively cheap compared to a good plotter. Plus you will have two devices at the helm causeing yuo to look extra important. lol
 

RECESS

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Dec 20, 2003
1,505
Pearson 323 . St. Mary's Georgia
I am not that sure that Gizmos for Life is completely on the ball. I would check my account and make sure it is not on order. If it is not you can go to google shopping and put in Humminbird 785c2i and there are outlets that have it for that price. After you do the search go to the bottom of the page and click 4 stars and above and you have the most reputable dealers.

Here is the first hit on google shopping

http://www.diguniverse.com/MARINE-AND-RECREATION-PRODUCTS/GPS-PLOTTERS/28284.html
 
Sep 25, 2008
2,288
C30 Event Horizon Port Aransas
The problem is all these people are drop shipping this product. They are trying to get it from the same warehouse and the warehouse has none. It's discontinued so there won't be any more made. It may be possible for someone to have it in their stock but very unlikely. Why would a dealer keep electronics in stock and run the risk of the value going down while they hold it on their shelves. Also some states tax inventory, so retail stores don't want to hold these thigns on their books. I checked that link you gave, they drop ship also. I think I will call around today and see what I may find. Thanks for trying for me though.
 

RECESS

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Dec 20, 2003
1,505
Pearson 323 . St. Mary's Georgia
I can understand how it may seem like they are pulling from the same place but that is not really how it works. Often if people that do have the inventory will make it available for other vendors to pull from their inventory at a set price. Even if the person you are buying from is drop shipping they can have an assurance from the person that has the actual inventory that the item is in fact ready to ship. Many of the people that are listed with google shopping with phone orders can tell you right away if they can put their hands on the item and make sure your order is secure. Most of these items do not come from a warehouse but are pulled from a retailer's inventory that have listed them at a certain price for others to pull.

My wife and I decided to take a rather hefty paycut to become teachers several years ago. She was a chemist and I was a purchasing agent. My title with the company was Director of Purchasing. I do have some experience in this matter. I often pulled product from retailer's inventory when it was listed at their price.

I think with enough calls you will have somebody put their hands on a unit. Good luck, I am hoping you nail one as you helped me find this one.
 
Sep 25, 2008
2,288
C30 Event Horizon Port Aransas
I tried calling alot of people, I am considering buying the unit with out the gold maps. They are $90. I can add them later. But the model I will be getting has an external antena. Not a big deal I guess. I can get that one for $230.
Everyone that had a low price, uinder $300 said it was a drop shipped item and out of stock. If you run across one though, please let me know.
I didn't know retailers would use other people's inventory, but that makes sense though.
 
Sep 25, 2008
2,288
C30 Event Horizon Port Aransas
I tried buying the 785c tonight. I was assured by the company that there were 85 available at their shipping ware house. Unless god absolutely does not want me to have this, I should have it by this weekend. The map that comes in this one is not as good as the navionics gold, but hoopefully I can live with it for a while. I plan on putting my boat in the water next month and I do not want to try to negotiate the ICW and the bay without any kind of chart. I'd would be hopeless with a paper chart.
Recess-you'll have to tell me if the gold maps are worth me buying.I think your's will have the unimap and the goldmaps.
 
Sep 29, 2008
1,936
Catalina 310 #185 Quantico
Get the hockey puck transducer for inside the hull

You can glass in a transducer in the water?
Scott, What he is referring to is that if your hull is solid you can epoxy the transducer to the inside of your hull and it will transmit and receive through the hull. I had a 100sx (very basic fishfinder) on my old boat for years and it worked great this way. Best way to check is to put the transducer in a baggie full of water and lay it against the hull - if you get a return you are golden. The 100sx, although basic, did provide a good enough return that I was able to pick out the conning tower of a sunken uboat in the Potomac in 100' of water. One other thing to remember is that if you are going to epoxy the xducer to the inside of the hull, you need to trade the one that comes with the unit for the hockey puck xducer from Humminbird. The hockey puck xducer is made for this - otherwise the original one (probably in the shape of a triangle) will burn out after a year.
 

RECESS

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Dec 20, 2003
1,505
Pearson 323 . St. Mary's Georgia
Now I see how these vendors are saying that it can be used as a fish finder and sonar. I received the chartplotter today and started reading the manual. The serial bus has a place to plug in the Wireless Sonar Link. I downloaded the WSL Manual to take a look. I lost interest in the first sentence of the explanation of how to rig the WSL. You take the remote sensor and attach it to a strong fishing line and cast it up to 100' from the boat....

Ummm NO, I am not buying any system that has the Wile E. Coyote system of deploying the sonar sensor. I will not have this up and running for maybe a month. I am in the middle of repainting my boat. It is really pretty though. :)
 
Sep 25, 2008
2,288
C30 Event Horizon Port Aransas
You could put the wireless sensor on a remote control boat and have your wife drive it in front of the sailboat in questionable waters. So that unit can be used as a sonar? Did it come with a transducer?
RPWILLIA- I will probably add a sonar later if this one does not have the capability. Does broadcasting through the hull degrade the signal at all?
 

RECESS

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Dec 20, 2003
1,505
Pearson 323 . St. Mary's Georgia
No transducer. Just the power cord and two mounting brackets. Not what the website said but exactly what Humminbird says comes in the 785c2i package. I am still happy with what I got for the money. I would not recomend Gizmos for Life to anyone. This Navionics gold software looks interesting - all of North America, Hawaii, Caribbean, Central America, and the northern coast of South America. If it is as detailed as what the manual shows, very nice.
 
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