How low is to low?

[Flex]

I'm in the middle of mounting my HDSI transducer to my tracker 175 txw but the step is pretty small and the hardware is large.

Is it bad to have the transducer hang about 1/2" below the boat?

I'm not worried about hitting anything since the areas I fish are very deep, no stumps or anything.

[Wayne P.]

I have an ONIX SI transducer attached to the underside of the step on a PT 170 TX using the Transducer Shield and Saver bracket. It is above the hull bottom about 2". I have it there so I can idle through stumps and without any issues.
I did have a HDSI there before that.

Just took a picture of it and will post it when Photobucket processes it.

You can do the same and have it farther from the keel to get lined up with the hull bottom.

[Wayne P.]

No it is not "bad" to have it that far below the hull except for extra drag.

[Flex]

Very nice, I just finished mine.






I never did post pics of how I had my 7 mounted, so here they are :) it came out very clean.

[Flex]

Super excited, I want to go now but I gotta wait for this caulking to dry :(

[joe3buck3]

Hi Flex.
I just installed my Humminbird transducer like yours. Please let us know if you are able to read depth when on plane. I have not been able to get on the lake to test mine.

[Flex]

Hi Flex.
I just installed my Humminbird transducer like yours. Please let us know if you are able to read depth when on plane. I have not been able to get on the lake to test mine.

Will do, I will do my best to get out Sunday if the weather cooperates

[Flex]

Do I leave the settings on the Helix 7 to compact transducer on the head unit?

[Wayne P.]

Do I leave the settings on the Helix 7 to compact transducer on the head unit?

Yes, you do not have a Hi-def Sidescan choice or 800 kHz capability.

[Flex]

Yes, you do not have a Hi-def Sidescan choice or 800 kHz capability.

Thanks again Wayne.

[Flex]

Hi Flex.
I just installed my Humminbird transducer like yours. Please let us know if you are able to read depth when on plane. I have not been able to get on the lake to test mine.

It does read depth while on plane, but the SI does not read which I expected.

I'm still am not getting the detailed SI I was was expecting, I messed with contrast and sensitivity, I got tired of messing with it after a while.
This is a rock pile going down the shoreline.

[

[Bob B]

It looks like you may have sharpness turned on in the SI enhance menu ..... that will make it a little more grainy but fish will show up better. You could turn the sensitivity down more to increase the differentiation between soft and hard bottom and also help see fish better.

[Flex]

It looks like you may have sharpness turned on in the SI enhance menu ..... that will make it a little more grainy but fish will show up better. You could turn the sensitivity down more to increase the differentiation between soft and hard bottom and also help see fish better.

After this screen shot I turned off sharpness and adjusted the sensitivity, it looks a little better.
Maybe I'm expecting to much? I just thought spending around $850 would make a pretty awesome unit.

What makes the larger units look so much better that have the same HDSI transducer?

[Bob B]

The smaller units don't have the processing power of the 9, 10, and 12......Won't get as good of imaging.

[Flex]

I wish I would have known that before buying the 7 and the HDSI transducer.

I would have saved and got a 10.

I had a helix 5 DI last year and really liked it, the down images looked pretty good, I guess the biggest problem I have is the simulation mode looks better then when its live...

[joe3buck3]

I have been slowly tweaking my transducer placement and have gotten it to read depth up to 40mph so far. Smooth water is the best with it losing depth/bottom after 35mph in choppy water.