I have one and love it. I haven't had any issues with it, but haven't had it long. I don't like the "donut", as canepole calls it, a directional arrow at lower speeds would be helpful. I am saving for a 998 at the console also.
Likes: 0
Thanks: 0
HaHa: 0
Thinking about buying a HB 788 for the bow of the boat and a 998 for the console. Need to hear from others who own a HB 788 as to the positives and negatives of the unit. How accurate is the GPS when returning to waypoints? Does the unit have issues as the 997 has when returning to waypoints. All comments good and bad will be appreciated and will be considered when the final decision is made.
I have one and love it. I haven't had any issues with it, but haven't had it long. I don't like the "donut", as canepole calls it, a directional arrow at lower speeds would be helpful. I am saving for a 998 at the console also.
Carl's Guide Service
Sardis Lake
Enid Lake
Grenada Lake
901-734-7536
i think the new software they released helps the waypoint issue
Donut sucks, but since this is my first gps/ff I'm pretty excited about it. Works great for following channels in low water conditions and 1' contour lines are pretty neat too. I fish a lake that has several hills around, so my gps comes and goes occasionally-I'm in the way(internal ant.), hills in the way. I've got a few spots marked and have got back over one of them again, but I haven't done it enough with this unit to have any good feedback on that aspect of it yet. I like the side beams(quadrabeam xducer) but need more time with it to really be able to know what I'm seeing.
Just an FYI: the most recent software update allows for a faster GPS refresh rate which helps in traveling back to a waypoint. The “donut” that CP and others refer to is our way of showing that the GPS Receiver does not detect any movement which will happen at very, very low speeds.
www.podunkideas.com <--Click here
------------
https://www.crappie-gills-n-more.com/
https://cornfieldfishinggear.com/
------------------------>> Pro Staff Sonar Advisor
Quote (At .5mph or less....which is exactly the speed range of spider riggin...)
Beats me why you would need and arrow to tell you which way the boat is heading when spider rigging. If you are following a ledge, creek bed (etc) the picture on DF shows that. What did you do before you had a gps on a DF. I always just looked up ever once in a while and could tell I was going (North, East, West, or South). How does an arrow instead of a donut make a difference. Flows right over my head but then I am kinda dense sometimes. Here's a good thing to use if you need an arrow to use that you can get real cheap.
![]()
Be as smart as you can, but it is always better to be wise than to be smart.
Would like to thank everyone for their comments. I bit the bullet and bought the 788 and the 998. They have been delivered and on the boat thanks to a good friend and co worker. Tested them today for about an hour on an area lake. Will know more next week when I take a weeks vacation and put them and myself in the serious mode.
Mr Row. Just go back and use the Sears catalog and give up your Charmin.
We all ain't as good as you claim to be at this. Now what about the river currents and flats and wind and etc. Yep. Tell me all about it.
Member BS Pro-Staff and Billbob Pro-Staff
Proud Member of Team Geezer... authorized by: billbob and "G"