acar555

check out Cabela's Recon fish app as well. lake and topo maps http://www.cabelas.com/browse.cmd?categoryId=157816980&WTz_l=RightRail

The hull weights between aluminum and fiberglass isn't that big of a difference anymore. The G3 boat is listed at 2000lb on their website. That is the package weight though. The Ranger hull weighs 1530, add about 500 lbs for a motor plus some gear and the fiberglass isn't that much more. Definately not a huge difference. I agree that a 24v trolling mould help a bunch but the glass boat will ride better and the fishability will be quite a bit better as well as the storage.

Be careful about the setting. AGM batteries are not GEL batteries. The GEL batteries are the one that require a different charging mode. AGM's charge like wet lead acid batteries. It could be the wrong battery mode that is the causing the issue.

To answer your questions. You will not need to remove the jumper wire when charging. It just connects the + of one battery to the - of the other so each battery is not affected when charging.

The Lakemaster chips for WI are excellent. I have used Navionics as well and they work fine but Lakemaster takes it to another level. The ability to adjust the contours to match the lake level on the Humminbird is really nice. Navionics does offer more coverage though. If you travel to other states Navionics might be a better choice. It would be best to compare them somewhere.

Dealer service is import in this decision. If you have a good Honda dealer close to you go for it. There are Mercury dealers virtually everywhere.

They use the same transducer as the older 798 and 797 with the single 455 khz frequency for SI/DI. The only difference is the ethernet port on the HD models.

What year is everything? Find that out, look it up on NADA and you will know.

The bass pro catalog has a typo on this unit. There are 2 new 788 models for 2011. 788ci HD and 788ci DI HD. The first is the same as yours with the addition of the ethernet network port and the second adds Down Imaging. Neither can do Side Imaging.

Since this is a bass fishing forum, I am assuming you want it for bass fishing. In that case you will hate it. I can't stand the one on my dads boat when I us it. It gets the job done but your are always fighting it. A good cable steer motor is the way to go like a Fortrex or Maxxum.

I have both units, HDS 8 and 997c, and like the Humminbird better. I don't feel that the Lowrance has a better image than the Humminbird. The Structure scan seems to be more downward focused and misses things higher in the water column over 60' away from the boat the Humminbird has no problem picking up.

Humminbird 788. 640x640 color screen, dual beam sonar, gps with mapping. $499 at Cabelas.

Alumacraft does make some welded boats. It's bass style line and the all welded jons. Lund is part of Brunswick and their jons are made Lowe with some being welded.

I would second that. He beats the hell out of his equipment.

Have it checked out. If it has lasted this long it is a good one. If it has the updates it will be fine.

The fuel economy will be easily 50% better than the carbeurated 2 strokes they replaced and is virtually identical to 4 strokes.

Does your Yamaha ask for 93 octane? Most only require 87. Higher octance fuel burns slower. Don't know if this is your problem or part of it, but running the correct octane fuel is important.

The Maxxum Pro 80s are not made anymore. They were replaced by the Fortrex models. You can get a Maxxum 70 still. If you want the universal sonar built in you will need to go with a Fortrex model as well.

The Edge has the same composite shaft as the Maxxum.

Get a stowmaster net. Fold up compact for storage and strong for larger fish. They are a little pricey though. http://www.stowmaster.net/

If it is a side imaging unit don't mount it on the floor of the canoe to shoot thru hull. It won't work correctly. The TM or one of these would be best. http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0000844010095a&type=product&cmCat=SEARCH_all&returnPage=search-results1.jsp&Ntk=Products&QueryText=transducer+mount&sort=all&N=0&Nty=1&hasJS=true&_dyncharset=ISO-8859-1&_DARGS=%2Fcabelas%2Fen%2Fcommon%2Fsearch%2Fsearch-box.jsp.form23

Getting good images with side imaging on a trolling motor can be tricky. Side imaging needs movement to create the image and speeds between 1-5 mph work really well. The straighter you go the clearer the images also. The rotation of the trolling motor will distort or streak side imaging. It can work great, just need to understand how it works.

Add enough water to the bilge to cover the transducer to see if it helps. If it gets better, then the transducer needs to be remounted or replaced. There is air in the epoxy that is causing it to not read.

I have great luck with them and would recommend them. I do find that they have a unique action and sound that other poppers dont. You can walk the dog with the pop max as well. Definately worth it to me at least. I have countless smallies on them when others just didn't produce.

Use a 2 part mix epoxy to attach the transducer. Get the slow cure kind for best results.