BrianMRetter Posted February 28, 2016 Posted February 28, 2016 In a few days I'll be pulling out my wallet to get my first fishfinder. I've decided (99%) on a Humminbird Helix 5 SI/GPS. Does anyone know if this is compatible with the Navionics Plus Card? I'm referring to the card that I select exactly which lakes I want online, then load them to my card, not the pre-downloaded regions. I'm a bit confused with all of Navionics different offerings. What I'm mainly after is their Sonar Charts, because they have the best coverage of the small bodies of water that I fish. If anyone has any experience or could let me know I would greatly appreciate it! Quote
Super User gulfcaptain Posted February 28, 2016 Super User Posted February 28, 2016 Not knocking your choice, but you may want to move up to the 7" unit. Start running different views that 5" gets really small. And I believe they are. Quote
BrianMRetter Posted February 28, 2016 Author Posted February 28, 2016 Oh, I forgot to mention it's for a kayak :b Quote
Super User Wayne P. Posted February 28, 2016 Super User Posted February 28, 2016 The unit will read the maps on any Navionics card. The card you mentioned is discontinued and has been for over six months, but some dealers may still have some. The Navionics+ Preloaded is the current version and is 16GB with all the Navionics Nautical Charts for the US and Canada already on it. If the Preloaded is all that is available and you don't want all that data, you can delete all on the card and only load what you want. That much data will slow the unit down for high speed travel--kayak is not an issue though. All the Navionics+ versions can have the Sonar Charts map layer added when updated. 2 Quote
carlm01 Posted March 5, 2016 Posted March 5, 2016 I had the Helix 5 Si/Gps and it was a great little unit ,It will serve you well on a kayak, I used it on an inflatable , All portable too.... 3 Quote
AEWblackeagle8 Posted March 7, 2016 Posted March 7, 2016 I am having the same thoughts with myself but for the same price I could get the Garmin Striker 7 SV with a 7" screen but it has no maps just waypoint markers. I fish from a kayak as well, what is the benefit you get from having the maps? Quote
Super User Wayne P. Posted March 8, 2016 Super User Posted March 8, 2016 13 hours ago, AEWblackeagle8 said: I am having the same thoughts with myself but for the same price I could get the Garmin Striker 7 SV with a 7" screen but it has no maps just waypoint markers. I fish from a kayak as well, what is the benefit you get from having the maps? The same reason you would purchase a paper contour map of a body of water. To help choose what locations to look for fish. With digital map software you get hundreds of bodies of water with contours. Quote
AEWblackeagle8 Posted March 9, 2016 Posted March 9, 2016 I see what you're saying there but are some of the small lakes I fish most going to be on there? How can I find out which lakes will be on the software? Quote
Super User Wayne P. Posted March 10, 2016 Super User Posted March 10, 2016 20 hours ago, AEWblackeagle8 said: I see what you're saying there but are some of the small lakes I fish most going to be on there? How can I find out which lakes will be on the software? The current Navionics maps can be viewed on the Navionics website's Web App. The App is updated daily. A new purchase includes a year of Freshest Data Updates. If you purchase a map card and update it, it will have the exact same maps as the Web App for that day. Quote
BrianMRetter Posted March 10, 2016 Author Posted March 10, 2016 On 2/28/2016 at 6:47 AM, Wayne P. said: The unit will read the maps on any Navionics card. I'm kind of confused. Maybe their website is outdated, but when I go to purchase Navionics+ from their website, it asks for the make/model of my unit...then it tells me it is incompatible :/ Quote
Super User Wayne P. Posted March 10, 2016 Super User Posted March 10, 2016 12 hours ago, BrianMRetter said: I'm kind of confused. Maybe their website is outdated, but when I go to purchase Navionics+ from their website, it asks for the make/model of my unit...then it tells me it is incompatible :/ I did not make a mistake in my post. It will read ANY maps on ANY card, that includes the Sonar Charts map layer if you add that when you update a card that. Just will not read the extra features that the Hotmaps Platinum card has. What you may want to do with the 16GB version of Navionics+ is delete all the maps on the card and only load the locations you need. That would be for high speed navigation since the Helix 5 processor is sort of slow to handle all that data. Lowrance Elite owners do the same. 2 Quote
bbaaaasssss Posted March 10, 2016 Posted March 10, 2016 i went with the garmin striker 7sv for my kayak had to many issues with the lowrance elite 7 ti. I dont need the maps, i fish the same 8 bodies of water over and over and if i cant figure out what is where there is a problem. I have a cell phone to tell me new bodies of water to . But i can still map way points and have a tracking option to get back to where I staretd which is great.. and to save 300 $ off the next comparable unit is a no brainer 1 Quote
carlm01 Posted March 11, 2016 Posted March 11, 2016 On March 7, 2016 at 9:10 AM, AEWblackeagle8 said: I am having the same thoughts with myself but for the same price I could get the Garmin Striker 7 SV with a 7" screen but it has no maps just waypoint markers. I fish from a kayak as well, what is the benefit you get from having the maps? I had both the Helix 5 and 7 I think for a kayak the 5 is perfect ... the 7 is great too just a little big imo... I run a Helix 10 on my new boat and love it ... 1 Quote
BrianMRetter Posted March 11, 2016 Author Posted March 11, 2016 I'm pretty excited, I scored the Helix 5 SI/GPS for $430, and a Wilderness Systems Tarpon 120 Angler for $830 @ Field & Stream 1 Quote
AEWblackeagle8 Posted March 15, 2016 Posted March 15, 2016 Where did you find it at that price if you don't mind me asking? The humminbird that is. Plus let me know how it works on the yak. Quote
BrianMRetter Posted March 15, 2016 Author Posted March 15, 2016 Field & Stream. $470, with a mail-in-rebate for a $40 MasterCard gift card http://www.fieldandstreamshop.com/p/humminbird-helix-5-si-gps/15hmbuhlx5sgpsxxxfel Quote
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