Helix G2N on Hobie Pro Angler

[scotty918]

I've been shopping for my first fish finder, ever.  I finally decided on the Hummingbird Helix 10 Mega SI G2N.  Berley Pro will have a mount at some point that will allow me to put the transducer in the Lowrance Ready cavity on the bottom of the kayak (Hobie Pro Angler 14).  However, it isn't available at this time.  I think my next best option will be to use an arm deployment off the side of the kayak for the transducer.  Are there any special considerations when mounting this way or any reasons why I shouldn't use this method?

[Wayne P.]

The MEGA SI transducer is way larger than what is typically used with a kayak.

It is 7" long and 3" wide. "Lowrance Ready" is not even close.

 

To get full use of Side Imaging, the transducer has to be lower than the bottom of the hull so plan you mount arm length accordingly.

[Darren.]

Welcome aboard! Pro Angler, eh! Sweet ride.

A side-arm mount is not really a big deal, at

least not to me. I've used one on my Native 

Ultimate with no issues.

 

Is there any way you can DIY a way to mount

it in the Lowrance Ready port?

[scotty918]

44 minutes ago, Darren. said:

Welcome aboard! Pro Angler, eh! Sweet ride.

A side-arm mount is not really a big deal, at

least not to me. I've used one on my Native 

Ultimate with no issues.

 

Is there any way you can DIY a way to mount

it in the Lowrance Ready port?

Thanks! ... I probably could DIY-it, but I think if I wait, Berley Pro will have a functional mount that will work (and will likely be a cleaner install).  They have one for Lowrance's TotalScan transducer. Most folks give it (the mount) a favorable review.  I was very close to purchasing one of Lowrance's Elite units and then Hummingbird released the Helix G2N's... As long as I'm behind the mirage drive (pedal drive), I shouldn't have to mount the transducer lower than the fins on the pedals right?  Just lower than the hull?

[Darren.]

1 minute ago, scotty918 said:

Thanks! ... I probably could DIY-it, but I think if I wait, Berley Pro will have a functional mount that will work (and will likely be a cleaner install).  They have one for Lowrance's TotalScan transducer. Most folks give it a favorable review.  I was very close to purchasing one of Lowrance's Elite units and then Hummingbird released the Helix G2N's... As long as I'm behind the mirage drive (pedal drive), I shouldn't have to mount the transducer lower than the fins on the pedals right?  Just lower than the hull?

 

I looked at the waterline on my yak before I made

my arm mount. I put it a few inches below that.

 

But you may need it lower to take advantage of the

side scan and so on. @Wayne P. would know.

 

[Wayne P.]

17 minutes ago, Darren. said:

 

I looked at the waterline on my yak before I made

my arm mount. I put it a few inches below that.

 

But you may need it lower to take advantage of the

side scan and so on. @Wayne P. would know.

 

 

As long as the fins are not left or right of the side imaging pulses and the transducer face is below the level of the hull bottom, you will be OK.

 

BTW if a Total Scan will work with the system, the MEGA SI will also except the mount itself will be different.

[J Francho]

I prefer a deployment arm, using SI with a kayak because you can swing the TD out of harms way when necessary.  Like when launching and landing.  As Wayne side, make sure it has an unobstructed "view" from side to side.  I have several kayaks, and this also allows me to switch units from boat to boat. 

 

Good info in here....might be rolling in a Hobie this year.  We'll see.

[scotty918]

I need to rethink my battery ideas.  I was thinking a 12 volt 9ah battery would work fine.  I just read the Helix 10 G2N Mega draws 2.7 amps!

[Angry John]

 I was looking at a helix 7 and was considering batteries in the 30 amp range.  The u-1 was what i am currently thinking of using.  The deep cycle batteries have less life cycles depending on how far down you drain them.  

https://www.batterystuff.com/batteries/rv-marine/agm/8AU1H.html

This is the battery i was considering.  You make be able to track one down cheaper i have not dont my low price scrub search yet.  

https://www.batterystuff.com/files/8au1h-deka.pdf

This sheet shows the discharge table and how much life you will get depending on depletion rate.  I would like to stay in the 60-70 percent range to get a little better life.  Your draw seems to be a lot higher than the helix 7 di gps.  The life of a gel cell seems to be a lot higher but they require a special charger which may turn you off.  Let me know what you figure out as i am currently working a very similar plan.

[scotty918]

1 minute ago, Angry John said:

 I was looking at a helix 7 and was considering batteries in the 30 amp range.  The u-1 was what i am currently thinking of using.  The deep cycle batteries have less life cycles depending on how far down you drain them.  

https://www.batterystuff.com/batteries/rv-marine/agm/8AU1H.html

This is the battery i was considering.  You make be able to track one down cheaper i have not dont my low price scrub search yet.  

https://www.batterystuff.com/files/8au1h-deka.pdf

This sheet shows the discharge table and how much life you will get depending on depletion rate.  I would like to stay in the 60-70 percent range to get a little better life.  Your draw seems to be a lot higher than the helix 7 di gps.  The life of a gel cell seems to be a lot higher but they require a special charger which may turn you off.  Let me know what you figure out as i am currently working a very similar plan.

Will do, thanks for the links.

[Angry John]

https://www.batterystuff.com/kb/tools/calculator-sizing-a-battery-to-a-load.html

You may find this helpful when choosing the size of battery for your project

[scotty918]

Thanks.  To be honest, this kind of has me rethinking a lot of things.  I need to do my homework and figure out the various ways to store a bigger battery on this kayak.  Weight won't be the issue, but space comes at a premium.

[Goose52]

On 2/3/2017 at 6:29 PM, scotty918 said:

Thanks.  To be honest, this kind of has me rethinking a lot of things.  I need to do my homework and figure out the various ways to store a bigger battery on this kayak.  Weight won't be the issue, but space comes at a premium.

 

I don't have a kayak, but I can speak to issues related to using a Helix 10 on a small watercraft.

 

You mentioned space, in relationship to placement of a battery for the sonar. BUT, if you haven't yet, you might want to make up a cardboard mockup of the form factor of the Helix 10 to determine how and where to mount it in your boat.  I did that to see how it would fit on my canoe before I purchased the unit. Even then, I was surprised when I received the unit at how BIG it is - it dwarfs the HB 798 SI that it replaced.

 

On weight - sure, probably not a problem for the battery on that big a boat, but going back to the sonar - jut FYI it weighs 6 pounds for the head unit alone (not counting the stock mounting bracket). Something else to take into consideration when determining how to mount the unit (especially if considering the various RAM-mount based solutions.

 

On current draw - that is indeed something to think about. I run my Helix 10 off the Group 24 that also powers my TM (and yes, I am getting RFI from the TM) and I notice on longer days that I'm down on power compared to when I was running the HB 798. I may have to eventually consider getting a separate battery for the sonar but if you plan long days then you have to look at around a 25 AH (absolute minimum) or bigger battery. I have plenty of space for a U1 (in addition to the Group 24) and I will probably go in that direction (plus I can use the juice left in the U1 as a limp-home  power source in the event I drain my Group 24).

 

Finally, on transducer mountings, I use a deployment arm. As John said above, this is VERY handy when launching/landing the boat, and for me it also comes into play when I go into a bunch of slop and I can raise the transducer to keep it from fouling with a bunch of pond weed.

 

Otherwise, the Helix 10 is a fantastic unit and I'm glad I got it. I stand the entire time I'm fishing and that big screen is MUCH easier to see than my old 5" HB 798.

 

 

 

[scotty918]

The Helix 10 G2N is going to be more difficult to install on the Hobie.  I'll need a bigger battery than I thought because of the 2.7 amp draw.  It's not a touch screen.  I'll need a transducer arm since the cavity on the bottom of the Hobie supports the Lowrance Totalscan transducer and not the Hummingbird Mega transducer.  The problem is this, even with all of that, those Mega images I'm seeing look outstanding.  They look head and shoulders better than the Lowrance structure scan shots I've seen.  I wonder if the Mega side imaging shots are that much better, or, is it clever marketing?  If the shots are truly as good as I've seen, then I still think the Hummingbird is worth it.  I'm not trying to start a brand war, I'm just trying to figure out the right unit for me so I can get it right the first time.

[Goose52]

My Helix 10 is the 1st gen unit so I can't offer any personal experience with the imaging that you get from the latest units.  I don't know if anyone on the board has yet reported buying the latest and greatest Helix 10 either so personal reports might be limited at this point.

 

Wayne P. might chime in on this as he keeps VERY current on the HB offerings...

 

 

[Wayne P.]

24 minutes ago, scotty918 said:

The Helix 10 G2N is going to be more difficult to install on the Hobie.  I'll need a bigger battery than I thought because of the 2.7 amp draw.  It's not a touch screen.  I'll need a transducer arm since the cavity on the bottom of the Hobie supports the Lowrance Totalscan transducer and not the Hummingbird Mega transducer.  The problem is this, even with all of that, those Mega images I'm seeing look outstanding.  They look head and shoulders better than the Lowrance structure scan shots I've seen.  I wonder if the Mega side imaging shots are that much better, or, is it clever marketing?  If the shots are truly as good as I've seen, then I still think the Hummingbird is worth it.  I'm not trying to start a brand war, I'm just trying to figure out the right unit for me so I can get it right the first time.

 

Yes the MEGA imaging frequency is the real deal -- 1.2 mKz or 1200 kHz. The MEGA SI units are very recent releases so the general public use of them is limited. What I have seen posted is equal what the Humminbird employees and pro staff are getting.

[scotty918]

Thanks fellas. 

[scotty918]

Well, I finished installation of the Humminbird Helix 10 Mega on Friday.  Yesterday, the weather was perfect, so, I tested it out on Skiatook Lake in Oklahoma.

 

The Good:  This technology absolutely knocked my socks off.  One caveat, this is my first fish finder and so it's probably easy to impress me.  I literally couldn't believe the unit could deliver such good imaging, so, I drove over the boat ramp at Black Dog park to prove it to myself.  Also, I'm glad I didn't go any smaller than a 10 inch screen.  Size matters A LOT with side imaging.  I'm already devising ways to mount the head unit closer to my face.  Finally, I was worried I wouldn't be able to go fast enough for the side imaging to be effective.  It turns out, I was getting fantastic shots at speeds as slow as 1mph.

 

The Bad:  I mounted the transducer below the kayak just aft of the center.  While this produced good shots, I was VERY uneasy about hitting something with the transducer.  Forgive the crudeness of the mount itself (see picture), this was just something quick I threw together.  I'm still working on a more permanent mounting solution.  I'm brain storming ways to mount it off the back of the kayak so it's not at the lowest overall point on the yak.

 

Anyway, thanks for the input along the way.  Here are some screenshots I took.

 

 

 

[Goose52]

WOW - those are GREAT side images!  They look quite a bit better than I'm getting with my 1st gen Helix 10.

 

AND, that certainly is a MASSIVE transducer !

[Tech11165]

Has anyone flipped their kayak with this helix? I am about to buy the mega unit and the fear of flipping with an expensive unit gives me reservations