HumminBird 700 series

[capt charlie's charters]

    Wouldn't buy another Bird, locking mechanism sucks, customer service sucks, depth indicator goes crazy when using either electric or gas motor.

Twice now I've attempted to contact Humminbird, both times I rec'd an email acknowledgement "message rec'd", then the standard "do not respond to this email, a representative will contact you within 24hours....24 hours from when, its been over 1 year the first time and 4 months the second time.  Basically $1800.00 in electronics that you have to make up a tether rig to keep it on your boat and then fight with the push button release to get it off the mount.

[thedude]

call them. i always get through.  probably need an interference kit

[Cy]

The best to get the answers you need is to call them.  Email doesn't work very good.

[HBirdDeborahCRC]

   Wouldn't buy another Bird, locking mechanism sucks, customer service sucks, depth indicator goes crazy when using either electric or gas motor.

Twice now I've attempted to contact Humminbird, both times I rec'd an email acknowledgement "message rec'd", then the standard "do not respond to this email, a representative will contact you within 24hours....24 hours from when, its been over 1 year the first time and 4 months the second time.  Basically $1800.00 in electronics that you have to make up a tether rig to keep it on your boat and then fight with the push button release to get it off the mount.

Capt. Charlie,

I am very sorry to hear you have had problems with your Humminbird unit and the quick release mounting system. 

I will be happy to assist you regarding the issue you are having.   I would need to know more details relative to the unit and the exact problem regarding the mount.

To remove a unit that has the quick disconnect mounting base should only have to press the release latch on the back of the unit and while holding in the release pull up on the unit to slide the unit off from the mounting base.

Please note that our response time to emails during peak season months can take
between three and five business days not 24 hours.  In addition, we respond to emails in the order they are received.

Thank you,

Deborah @ Humminbird

[djkimmel]

Thanks for checking in and responding. Can he email you directly through your email address on here?

[Waterfoul]

Not sure why you would have an issue with the quick release.  I've never had an issue with mine, nor have any of my friends/customers that have the same units (and I'm talking dozens and dozens of people here).  It sounds to me like you may just have a bum mount... it happens in the plastic mold industry (an industry I spent many years in by the way)... nature of the material I'm afraid.

Humminbird (or the retailer you bought it from) WILL make it right with you.

As for the interference... it could be any number of things but the interference kit usually takes care of it.  I may be telling you things you already know but the unit should NOT be on an ignition circuit... it should be on it's own dedicated, direct to the battery circuit.

[thedude]

i run mine on the ignition. they work fine. interference is usually from trolling motors with variable speed controls ( 1-100% not 5 set speeds). Doesn't matter if they are on a different circuit.

[Waterfoul]

Well Huumminbird has told me that if you just can't figure anything else out... dedicated circuits are your best shot at eliminating any interference from any other electronics onboard (motor ignition, gauges, etc....) so that's how I wire all of mine.

[capt charlie's charters]

thanks for all the feedback and pleasant surprise that HBird visited GLB, I will be getting in contact with the rep tomorrow.  Little back ground first, electronics were installed by none other then the master, Seth Valetine, who goes above and beyond when doing so.  Dedicated line, filters in place, whatever it takes to do the job right so I know its not the installation or lack of.

if some of you may recall I fell victim last year to the faulty latch mechanism when my month old 798 got knocked off by a St Clair wave..bye bye.  Got it replaced, Seth found a website where others had the same issue and one posted a "tether" system that he made up.  Installed the 788 on the bow this past spring and what a surprise...not....even after hearing it click and pulling on it, hit a little rough water and it popped right off, fortunately sliding down the deck toward me and not off into st clair.  Both units now have tethers, contact me if your interested, but of course trying to release the 788 by hand is difficult to put it mildly.

As for plastics, having worked in the Auto industry for 30 years, parts & service, I know all about plastic issues.

Note rec'd from Service Humminbird, July 11,2011 9:33am.  You will be contacted in 3 - 5 business days, in the order your email was rec'd...IT IS NOW AUG 28TH 1:21PM...so it took a negative posting to get a response.

[djkimmel]

I would have called them. That's what most people on here who have been helped well have done. Too often, email ends up in spam folders or deleted completely by spam filters. Best to call if the option is available and you need the help. Rather then a negative posting a company may or may not ever see, when you need help, find and use another contact method first if email fails. Email is not the most foolproof method of communication. I try to force myself to give the benefit of the doubt when it comes to email.

I keep telling everyone that people from within the industry read on here fairly often. Doesn't mean they'll always personally respond but they do read things. I sometimes get comments and feedback from them.

I used to always have knobs working lose on my old units from the other brands. Since I put my Humminbird up front with the snap on bracket I've been lucky. Mine hasn't come loose though I've tried a few times on the big water. I once drove across several miles of St. Clair after forgetting to snap it down all the way and still didn't lose it. Have to remember those details!

[Waterfoul]

Although I've never had a problem with my 797 coming lose off the mount on the bow... I do like the idea of a tether.  Would be interested in what some of you are doing to add that little bit of safety.

I also have to wonder if the fact that my 797 is mounted on a RAM mount up front... if that doesnt' absorb a lot of the shock of the bow slapping and bouncing in rougher water.  I have to believe it does.

[djkimmel]

I would think that it does.

[capt charlie's charters]

ram mount ?  thats a thought worth considering, sounds like me and  waterfowl  need to hook up and compare mountings.

I'm out of Plymouth and fish all over, possibly st clair this saturday.

[fasttrack]

My 700 is on a Ram on the bow and my 900 is on a Ram on the dash. Both have worked perfect/flawless. Basically same set up as Waterfoul (we fish together). Only real difference is his 900 is on the super heavy duty mount and mine is not. I'll have my boat out tomorrow during the day and we will be fishing a tournament from his boat in the evening. Maybe we can snap a few pictures and send them to you.

[bigjc]

Has anyone Dash mounted these units?

[capt charlie's charters]

heh fastrak / waterfowl...tenative plans to hit st clair tomorrow ( weather depending ), ya heading that way ?

capt

[Waterfoul]

Can't speak for fastrack (well, yes I can...) but I'm pre-fishing for a Labor Day tournament tomorrow.  I know Marc has family plans.  Thanks for the invite though... another time I hope!!

[Firefighter Jeff]

Has anyone Dash mounted these units?

   I flush mounted a 788 in the bow.

[bigjc]

Did you order the kit from Hummingbird?

[Firefighter Jeff]

  Yes, and it was a pain in the _ss to mount because I could barely squeeze my hand and arm through the other small openings for switches in the bow to reach the mounting nuts.  In the dash would be much easier since it is open underneath.  But I got er done.