I’ve got a fancy new graph but have no clue how to mount it. I’ve got a newer Alumacraft boat and the graph that came with the package new, is just a plane Jane helix 5 sonar. Anyone done a G3 MSi install on an Alumacraft this year yet and want to give me some direction ? The new graph is a helix 7 G3 MSi/MDi w navionics .
The first thing you need to do is install a transducer mounting board so you can adjust the transducer position without drilling extra holes in your transom. I use marine goop to seal the holes holding the board to the transom. Another option is 3M 5200. You don’t want a leak there. Your Helix manual should have directions for transducer placement, but you will probably have to spend some time test on the water to see how well the ducer works and adjusting location.
Other than that, you need a 3-amp fuse as close as practical to the + battery terminal, run the wires and tie-wrap them down so they don’t wear against any sharp edges. If you’re routing through holes in aluminum, sleeve the wires. Wire direct to the battery, not to a fuse panel to avoid voltage drop. Sonar needs to run off your starter battery, not the trolling motor battery.
I would find someone that knows what they are doing to install your new sonar for you. Drilling holes in your new boat is scary, and if not properly installed will give you problems and a headaches for years to come.
1) read manual
2) read manual again to answer your questions.
3) ask questions here if any remain.
4) install
5) fish
I have always done my own. But that being said sometimes it’s better to have someone with expertise to do the install. Look at you tube for pointers there is a lot that can be learned there.
I have always done my own. But that being said sometimes it’s better to have someone with expertise to do the install. Look at you tube for pointers there is a lot that can be learned there.
My Dad and I just installed this same unit on his older aluminum boat. Working really slick when idling but cannot get it to hold bottom past 12-15 mph. Thinking it is a head unit issue though, since the head unit cant keep the bottom signal even when connected to an old humminbird transducer that was already on the boat. The old unit has no issues with keeping the bottom signal so it must be something with the helix 7 head unit.
Just make sure you get the boat in the water and use a level and some coins to find where the “level” point is when you are in the water going 3-5 mph. Then go home and jack it up at the tongue with the level and the same stack of change until you get the bubble between the lines. Then mount your transducer level and parallel to the ground. The back side of the transducer will end up higher than the leading side.
@pfunk The side imagining transducer does not work well at speed.
There’s a guy on this forum and others who goes by “reddog” and has posted clear Humminbird SI shots at up to 40 mph. I get good Si readings at 28, which is my max speed. So it can be done. You just have to have the patience to get your ducer positioned properly.
Can you list of pic of your transducer mount position ?
Probably won’t help much because all boats are different, but here are pix. Bird 898 mounted on the left, Helix 10 and Pirhana mounted on right side. Boards are scraps of solid composite deck board painted black with Lexan splash shields.
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@pfunk are you sure the old transducer is compatible? I needed to use a second ‘speed’ transducer with a Y connection on a recently installed Helix 9 SI. The side imagining transducer does not work well at speed.
Yeah it is definitely compatible. The transducer works fine when hooked up to the new Helix and moving slowly, it just loses the bottom reading when the throttle is wide open.
What everyone said above, but first and foremost, go to the back of your boat and look at the positioning of any strakes, rivets, or anything else that will disrupt the water coming off the hull. Or, put it in the water at full speed and look at the water coming off the hull. select the smoothest water there is.
You want to avoid those strake/rivet areas. Every one of my single xducer installs in on the right hand side of the motor, approx 15 inches, unless I have twins (SI)to mount, then one goes left and one right about 15 inches.
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