Best place to mount Helix 7 on a kayak....

[I/MBasser]

Bought a Helix 7 over the black friday BPS sale.  Never used one before and can't wait to get on the water with it.  Starting to look at where to mount it on my Tarpon 100 and am hoping to get your guys experienced advice.  My two options:  1)  NDYakAngler style.  Front mount and I would use a transducer arm to the side of it.  This gives me more flexibility with my track system and seems like it would be out of the way when netting a fish.  Does the transducer being in front have much of an advantage?  2)  Greg Blanchard style.  Side mount with the transducer on the back track.  Wondering if this ever gets in the way.

 

Ayways, would love to hear your thoughts and experiences before I commit to a set up.  Just don't want to make a mistake with my set up.

 

Thank you!!!!

[J Francho]

I have no idea who either of those are, but I prefer the head unit on the starboard side, close enough to hit the buttons when seated, and the TD on an arm, close by as well, so I don't have to struggle to pull it/deploy it.  I put the battery wherever it fits, and where the cord won't get in the way.

[I/MBasser]

2 hours ago, J Francho said:

I have no idea who either of those are, but I prefer the head unit on the starboard side, close enough to hit the buttons when seated, and the TD on an arm, close by as well, so I don't have to struggle to pull it/deploy it.  I put the battery wherever it fits, and where the cord won't get in the way.

Thanks for info. Didn’t think about ease of using the unit.  Mounted in front might prove to be difficult changing the screen., etc... 

 

Those guys are my favorite YouTube follows.  Sorry for assuming everyone knows who they are. ?

[Brad Reid]

You might take a look here, see if it would fit your needs.  Brad

 

Liberator

[J Francho]

I have a Liberator arm, and while it works, and was easy to set up, it flexes and wanders back and forth under any kind of speed.  Without some modding, it flips up while paddling as well.  This affects the image quality when under way.  Not a big deal, since you're mostly looking at it while your fishing, unless you're side imaging or down imaging.  I now use the older Yakattack product with an aluminum arm.  I haven't installed it yet, but I have a newer Switchblade arm I'm looking forward to.  

[I/MBasser]

23 hours ago, Brad Reid said:

You might take a look here, see if it would fit your needs.  Brad

 

Liberator

Thanks for the link.  I already have most of what I need to mount it.  I'm more concerned with the best configuration.

[flyfisher]

The only way you will know what is the best configuration is to try to mount it and see what you think.  For me, I was not a fan at all of transducer arms, my last kayak purchase having an electronics pod was a huge consideration for me and I would have a tough time going back to any other way at this point.

[txchaser]

http://www.fishfindermounts.com

doesn't exactly answer your question, but you might get some ideas or see something you like that would offer another config. 

 

 

[kjfishman]

As long as you don't have side imaging you might consider mounting the transducer in the hull. Never have to worry about deploying it or it getting damaged by rocks if your in shallow.

 

[I/MBasser]

31 minutes ago, kjfishman said:

As long as you don't have side imaging you might consider mounting the transducer in the hull. Never have to worry about deploying it or it getting damaged by rocks if your in shallow.

 

I do have SI so i bought a Yak Attack Switchblade arm

[kayl.]

I previously had my transducer mounted on an arm and hated it. The drag to one side required constant correction and was unpleasant while paddling. I made a rear mount for my ducer and mounted it off of the rear of my kayak directly inline with the hull. No more drag to one side or another and great image quality. 

 

Now that I'm running a Hobie Outback, I don't have those issues. The Hobie Guardian plate is an awesome solution!