Hummingbird Helix 5 SI Feedback

I have a flat bottom boat that can fish limited waters but thinking of getting this system for imaging. I have lake master chip to work with it as well. Anyone have any feedback on this have you ever used it? Anything else in this price range that you think I should look into.

Thanks in advance…

I have had my Helix 5 SI out only once, so am not any kind of expert, but here are some things I found:
Because of the small screen size (five inch) the side scan is difficult to see details if you try to run combination screens. (GPS, sonar, DI). At least with my aging eyes.
I was running side scan only at 120’ each side and found it easy to find structure, but not fish. About mid day I dialed down to 100’ and it helped, but I believe I may have to dial it down to 75 feet for fine detail. I’ll know more after my next trip.
On overcast days I found a lot of screen glare, but not excessive.
I had so much fun with my Helix SI that I almost forgot to fish. I was fishing a reservoir and found lots of fallen timber and stumps which I was unaware of before. It makes structure easy to find. There are lots of functions which I have not explored yet, but for now, I have zero regrets about spending the extra money for the SI unit. If I could afford a larger screen unit I would recommend it.

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I think the helix is a great price to get someone started on a GPS/SI unit, but dang that screen is small. Expect to have your nose touching the screen to try to ID fish.

Pretend you have your SI set to 100 feet.
That’s each side of the boat BTW, so you have 200 Feet of lake on your depthfinder’s screen. Plus, the center of that screen is showing water column.
Now, imagine your trying to find a walleye (Let’s call it an 18″ eater) on that screen.
Start doing the math.
5″ screen showing 200 feet of detail. Your looking for that 1.5′ long fish. That fish is no more than a pixel or three on your screen.

My point here, reduce your scan size to 2x water depth to find fish on a small head unit. Your cramming in a lot of data in a tiny screen and everything is shrunk to perspective.

Bigger the screen, more water you can cover and still identify fish, not just structure.

Iv had mine out 8 or 9 times now. On a flat bottom boat also. At first it worked great then the last few times out started acting up. Gps is and always was in accurate like off up to 1000 feet! And the depth reading is wacky, shows up to 20ft on the side bar and im in 3ft on the dI view. The si is cool but small screen is a pain. I’ve been looking on the net and seems like a lot of different si birds have the depth reading issues and some with the gps issues. My Lowrance never did that crap. You shouldn’t hafta use your lower unit to find bottom after buying a DEPTH finder.

How did you mount the transducer? On trolling motor or on back of boat.

I have a small gas engine that I worry will interfere with side imaging.

Mounting:
http://www.humminbird.com/Category/Support/FAQ/SI_Transducer/#

http://www.sternmate.com/Where.html

lrott, you wrote you have a Lakemaster card “to work with it”. If it’s an older card, probably not. I think the Helix takes the mini SD cards, but you need to confirm that yourself.

thanks for your feedback I did purchase the helix 5 and am mounting to boat now. do you use this for ice fishing in some fashion as well? is there another transducer you buy for that.

I will let you know what I think once I have had it in water but from the looks of it I think I will be happy.

my goal is a new unit for the console in the next few months.

my decision is between the helix 5 si or finding a used 899ci si. I’ve seen them used going for about 600-700 bucks and think the larger screen might be worth it. However, I would also like to make the unit portable so the Helix is pretty attractive as well.

I’m 34 with pretty good vision and I’m not relying on the SI to necessarily find fish but find structure and beds which I believe I’ll be able to do with that unit.

I may pick up a helix and eventually move it to the bow and pick up that 899 down the road for the console.