Fish finder / hummingbird Q - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

cowboybill · 07-15-2010, 07:21 AM

I am looking at upgrading FF...

Hummingbird seems to have the right combo of power, screen clarity, dual freq, etc, for the money in my price range.

But one thing I dont like is; Hummingbird uses a plug system that allows for expansion to add more gadgets (nice), but from what I see, if you dont add the gadgets, the connectors are left exposed to corrosion...

The guy at West Marine pointed this out and said some guys are smothering dialectric grease (mess) or silicone (tough to clean later)..

Have any of you with hummingbirds had a problem with this??

Thanks
Cowboybill

buttchaser · 07-15-2010, 07:33 AM

I've been using the Humminbird For about 5 years, The connectors do get corroded ... I usually splash the FF with fresh water after each trip Dry it off and apply the dialectric grease to the connectors and the expansion slots ...

With that being said if your going to purchase humminbird for $400 or less , Purchase it at west marine and get the insurance on it........

StinkyMatt · 07-15-2010, 08:13 AM

I just purchased a Hummingbird 718 and am thinking about the same issue. I am trying to figure out some kind of a rubber like plug tu put on or in the connectors. Have not made anything yet. Keep us posted if you figure it out, I'll do the same.

dsafety · 07-15-2010, 10:15 AM

Hummingbird has plastic plugs for all your unused connectors. They will send them to you for free if you ask. A little dialetric grease on the unused plugs and a piece of Gorilla Tape would probably work just as well.

Bob

cowboybill · 07-15-2010, 11:05 AM

That seems easy enough! Nobody at the shops even mentioned rubber plugs (I was thinking...why dont they make rubber plugs to cover that!?!?)

Thanks for the input!

cowboybill

Deamon · 07-18-2010, 03:49 PM

My Hummingbird's got only a straight dark thin line running down the middle of the screen after it's been powered up. The things brand new and only lightly salt sprayed. It's hooked up to AA battery's. Any ideas? Does anyone bench test locally?

steveooo · 07-18-2010, 05:11 PM

I have a Garmin that has an extra plug in the back that I figured I would never use, so i filled the whole thing with goop. No corrosion, no worries, no chance of me ever being able to use an external antenna if i ever did want to

07-15-2010, 07:21 AM	#1
cowboybill Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Santee, CA Posts: 103	Fish finder / hummingbird Q I am looking at upgrading FF... Hummingbird seems to have the right combo of power, screen clarity, dual freq, etc, for the money in my price range. But one thing I dont like is; Hummingbird uses a plug system that allows for expansion to add more gadgets (nice), but from what I see, if you dont add the gadgets, the connectors are left exposed to corrosion... The guy at West Marine pointed this out and said some guys are smothering dialectric grease (mess) or silicone (tough to clean later).. *Have any of you with hummingbirds had a problem with this??* Thanks Cowboybill

07-15-2010, 07:33 AM	#2
buttchaser Float Tuber Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 243	I've been using the Humminbird For about 5 years, The connectors do get corroded ... I usually splash the FF with fresh water after each trip Dry it off and apply the dialectric grease to the connectors and the expansion slots ... With that being said if your going to purchase humminbird for $400 or less , Purchase it at west marine and get the insurance on it........ Last edited by buttchaser; 07-15-2010 at 07:54 AM.

07-15-2010, 08:13 AM	#3
StinkyMatt Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Under a bridge Posts: 2,169	Put on a rubber I just purchased a Hummingbird 718 and am thinking about the same issue. I am trying to figure out some kind of a rubber like plug tu put on or in the connectors. Have not made anything yet. Keep us posted if you figure it out, I'll do the same.

07-15-2010, 11:05 AM	#5
cowboybill Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Santee, CA Posts: 103	That makes it easy! That seems easy enough! Nobody at the shops even mentioned rubber plugs (I was thinking...why dont they make rubber plugs to cover that!?!?) Thanks for the input! cowboybill

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07-15-2010, 10:15 AM	#4
dsafety Olivenhain Bob Join Date: May 2008 Location: Olivenhain, CA Posts: 1,121	Hummingbird has plastic plugs for all your unused connectors. They will send them to you for free if you ask. A little dialetric grease on the unused plugs and a piece of Gorilla Tape would probably work just as well. Bob

07-18-2010, 03:49 PM	#6
Deamon Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 1,972	My Hummingbird's got only a straight dark thin line running down the middle of the screen after it's been powered up. The things brand new and only lightly salt sprayed. It's hooked up to AA battery's. Any ideas? Does anyone bench test locally?

07-18-2010, 05:11 PM	#7
steveooo Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 1,921	I have a Garmin that has an extra plug in the back that I figured I would never use, so i filled the whole thing with goop. No corrosion, no worries, no chance of me ever being able to use an external antenna if i ever did want to