Humminbird 407860-1 HDR 650 In Dash Digital Depth Sounder

Installed last weekend. It took a few hours just because I wanted to make sure each step was done properly using wire ties and fishing the cable back through the gunwhale to my dash on a 34' boat. Had enough cable with a couple feet to spare for the cable to reach the dash, through the bilge, out the transom and down the stern to the waterline.As long as the transducer is in the water (while stationary, or up to about 10mph +/-), I get a good and accurate reading. When I'm up on plane running at high speed, I lose depth but this is due to how and where I installed the sender. I did not want the transducer exposed below the hull since hitting something in the water is what destroyed my original depth sounder. In the Chesapeake Bay, there is always debris, so I chose to put it even with the hull/keel, which comes out of the water when running at high speeds. If you want depth readings while on plane at speed, just follow the directions to the word and test, test, test.A through Hull installation may have been fine, but I chose to install the sender externally and reuse the hole already in the stern from the previous sounder.The gauge sits perfectly in the dash, and the bezel color choice ensured a general color match with the rest of my gauges. For the money this was a fairly good value.The only suggestion I would have for Humminbird would be to produce a Youtube video covering installation on the transom. The instruction book is very detailed, but sometimes confusing. A video would have cleared up a lot of the trial and error testing I did.

I just installed this on my 19 ft Hurricane Deck Boat and it works great. I first tested the location of the transducer by smearing petroleum jelly on the bottom of it and placing it down in the bilge near the center line, approximately 1 ft from rear of the boat. The petroleum jelly is gooey enough to hold the transducer in place for awhile. The depth finder worked great and gave me accurate readings both at idle speed and at full speed (>35 mph). So I knew I had a good location to mount it permanently, free from turbulence and hull interference. When I got home, I cleaned off the petroleum jelly and mounted it permanently with a LocTite's slow cure, two part marine epoxy. I tested it again after it cured and it works great. I also like the chrome bezel it comes with. The unit looks great with my other chrome gauges. Hopefully this Hummingbird will last the life of the boat.On my previous boat, I purchased the Norcross Hawkeye D10D Depth Sounder because it was a little less. Unfortunately, as many people similarly commented under their product review, my unit malfunctioned after several weeks due to a factory admitted manufacturing problem. I will say the company had outstanding customer service and replaced it right away but the second unit malfunctioned as well. It became a moot point, however, because I traded the boat in for my Hurricane boat. So, I went with the Hummingbird this time around because of the overwhelming positive reviews and because it came with a chrome bezel.

I installed this unit on my 27ft. pontoon boat, placing the transducer at the bottom of the right rear pontoon log.Pros:Instal of the display was fairly easy though tough to reach and splice wires in the cramped space I had to work with. I used a crimp-on "vampire" tap for the red wire and was able to get the black wire to the bus.Seems to read pretty accurately.Display is backlit so you can see it in the dark.Cons:Length of transucer cable just barely allowed me to get the cable run to my console at a little past mid ship.Unit does not seem to want to display at speeds over 30mph or so. Starts flashing and locks at one depth until you slow down. This may be due to placement of the transducer vs. water turbulence at the rear of the boat I'm not sure.Difficult to read the lcd display from different angles, you have to pretty much be right in front of it. This isnt a huge deal but still worth mentioning.Summary:Overall, this is a very good, basic depth sounder. I am happy with it so far.

followed the directions worked the first time but I did call the company and a human answered and told me I needed a different transducer and to build the area up a little more level with fiberglass resin. Much better product than the Hawkeye brand I bought first , I recomend this one if you have a boat with a dead rise of 23 deg. and stepped hull.

first attempt to install this item was hit and miss. 1st attempt was a through hull installation. Did as the manual instructed and placed on the hull, put some water in the hull and then placed a bag of rocks on top of the unit to test it while the boat is in operation. Unit worked great. Unfortunately after I glued the transducer to the hull the next time we took the boat out the sensor didn't work at all. After about 45 minutes with a hammer and screwdriver I was able to get it off the hull with out damaging the transducer too much. After that I tested the transducer thrown over the side of the boat. Seemed to still be functioning just fine. Just not through the hull any longer. went back to step one and tested the transducer through the hull with water and a bag of rocks and it didn't work like it did the first time. It would work for a second and then give a completely inaccurate reading. Ended up mounting it on the transom with the provided mounting hardware. One caution, the screws that come with the unit are cheap and if you use a bit too small for the pilot hole the heads of the screws will twist off in your thick fiberglass transom. Make sure to make large enough pilot holes. Tested the transducer mounted on the transom last weekend, Worked like a charm even at 30mph, always stayed locked on with an accurate depth. Giving 3 stars for cheap mounting hardware and inconsistent functionality with through hull installation. If you're wanting to do a through hull installation, consider a sounder that is specifically made for through hull installation. If you're fine with transom mounting the unit, this is a great unit for the price.

Bought as a gift for my son's birthdayHe lives them

Fast delivery and price was great

Bought this on back of customer reviews but was sceptical that it would perform very well especially at high speeds, but boy was I wrong, it works amazingly and is very accurate even at 55mph. Would definitely recommend.