kayak electronics

[thunderblack]

Hey guys, maybe this has been posted before but looking to add a fish finder to my 11' pescador kayak. Looking to see if anyone wants to post their set up or what they recommend. Just looking for something simple for lake or pond hoping. Mostly curious how you attached everything and what you guys found that works well or doesn't. TY!

[casts_by_fly]

I run a Helix 7 MSI GPS in my autopilot.  I use it for side imaging, down/2D imaging, and lake bottom mapping.  Its a great unit (I've used it for 18 months now).  Image clarity is fantastic once you dial it in.  Its unobtrusive in size for a 12' kayak.  Touch screen would be nice, but once you are used to the button interface its just fine.  I would like a little bigger and with 360/live capability for the future which nominally means a Helix 9 in my future.  The 7 is fine for single screen.  If I want to split screen I can make it work by adjusting the splits, but another 2" would be better.

 

The autopilot has a transducer mount built in and either molded gaps or through hull grommets for running wires.  Its a very clean install and everything is hidden except for the last 12" of wire.  I have a yak attack mount for mine on the rail.

[Choporoz]

Setting up will be the easy part.  First you will have to navigate a lot of questions and decisions....

-budget?  

-GPS?

-Side scan?

-Garmin, HB, Lowrance?

-Minimum screen size?

-Transducer through hull or external arm?

 

I used simple 4 and 5 inch screen downscan for a few years and it was ok.  GPS became a 'must have' for me and I upgraded and wouldn't be without it in the future.  Through-hull transducer is what I will recommend unless you want sidescan.  

 

[Darth-Baiter]

^^^^ i'm with this guy.  i think the first question is:  does your kayak have a dedicated tranducer mounting point?

[thunderblack]

It does not have a transducer mounting point.  I could buy an extensions or something for having it off the side. No need for side scan, budget under $500, not too picky just something that works. Thanks for the pictures Casts!

[FryDog62]

1 hour ago, casts_by_fly said:

I run a Helix 7 MSI GPS in my autopilot.  I use it for side imaging, down/2D imaging, and lake bottom mapping.  Its a great unit (I've used it for 18 months now).  Image clarity is fantastic once you dial it in.  Its unobtrusive in size for a 12' kayak.  Touch screen would be nice, but once you are used to the button interface its just fine.  I would like a little bigger and with 360/live capability for the future which nominally means a Helix 9 in my future.  The 7 is fine for single screen.  If I want to split screen I can make it work by adjusting the splits, but another 2" would be better.

 

The autopilot has a transducer mount built in and either molded gaps or through hull grommets for running wires.  Its a very clean install and everything is hidden except for the last 12" of wire.  I have a yak attack mount for mine on the rail.

I have the same kayak and Helix 7. Unless you have a need for 360 Imaging or Live the H7 is all you need. 

 

[Fishingmickey]

I'm running a Garmin 93SV UHD, with live scope.  I'm using Ram mounts for both the unit and tranducers. Both transducers are on the right side. Head unit is on the left side. Batteries are a 23AH Dakota lithium for the live scope black box and a FPV 17ah for the 93SV.
FM

[txchaser]

4 hours ago, Fishingmickey said:

I'm running a Garmin 93SV UHD, with live scope.  I'm using Ram mounts for both the unit and tranducers. Both transducers are on the right side. Head unit is on the left side. Batteries are a 23AH Dakota lithium for the live scope black box and a FPV 17ah for the 93SV.
FM

How's LS been on the Kayak? I've been dangerously close to pulling the trigger for a while. 

Do you ever use perspective mode for shallow water?

 

To the original question, I have a helix 7 MSI, and I like it. Mapping is great, imaging is great. Two complaints 1) it isn't 8' or 9' - split screen is a little small even though it is in my face 2) the bigger models have hotkeys for remembering a few views. But it's been a good unit. You can probably get the gen 3 at a really good price now that g4's are out.

[casts_by_fly]

5 hours ago, FryDog62 said:

I have the same kayak and Helix 7. Unless you have a need for 360 Imaging or Live the H7 is all you need. 

 

that was my logic as well.  Live wasn’t part of humminbird when I got mine and garmin/lowrance were out of the price range.  360 was fairly new and high price. I figured I’d never need or use them. Now, I would like to upgrade to 360 but can’t. That’s why I always advise if someone thinks they might want it in the future, get a unit that can handle it now. 

[Koz]

I have a Humminbird Helix 7 DI SI and utilize the YakAttack CellBlok and the YakAttack transducer arm attached to the CellBlok. I love this setup.

 

If you’re interested, I have a Lowrance 5” Tripleshot (has side scan and down imaging) for sale. The only reason I switched was because my old eyes preferred a larger screen. DM me for more info.

[Fishingmickey]

11 hours ago, txchaser said:

How's LS been on the Kayak? I've been dangerously close to pulling the trigger for a while. 

Do you ever use perspective mode for shallow water?

 

Howdy TXchaser,

     I've had live scope for a couple of years now. I do like it quite a bit. I really need to use (and learn how to use) the perspective mode more then I do.

     It's a challenge to use live scope on the kayak especially if it is windy.  Keeping the kayak/scope pointed right so your bait stays on the screen.  But it is really neat for watching how fish react to your bait and seeing it happen in real time. Seeing them eat it, run away or just flat ignore your offering.

     One of the other things to note is screen fixation can be an issue. You can see the fish and they follow the bait.  Sometimes it keeps you fishing for fish that aren't feeding or may not be bass for way too long.  Watching a bait ball of shad split in two when your lure goes through it is super cool. Being able to see fish under a dock, on submerged timber, finding that outside edge of a weed line in 10-15' of water, Isolated clumps of weeds, etc. etc.

     Right now I am debating if I want to get the upgraded live scope transducer. From what I've seen in the on-line reviews is it does a better job in cleaning up some of the clutter (ghost tree is less) and just debris/interference in the water.  Supposedly you can see your baits further out. It is a 1.2K+ cost for just the transducer and I'm having a hard time justifying it.

 

Fsihingmickey

One more thing to add is the LS transducer is big and bulky. It doesn't like moving in the water much above a mile an hour or two.

FM