Melted Helix

Yep, just as dumb as it sounds

Yesterday afternoon I wanted to take the FW out ice fishing for the first time. I was a little stressed making sure everything was perfectly set up for her to enjoy the afternoon with the hopes of many more trips out after this one. After getting all set up I put the Helix in the middle of the shack so we could both use it. Unfortunately, thats where I also had the heater sitting. While packing up shop later that afternoon I realized what I had done. Melted the corner of my helix to the point where you could see some wires and screws that you normally cannot see Oops!

The Helix still works without any issues, but that obviously wont last long if it gets wet at all. I use this rig almost weekly year round. Its Gen 1, so definitely older, but still looking for the best way to patch it up to get another year or two of use out of it. What do you think? Super glue and some camo duct tape?

Attachments:

1. 

   file.jpeg
   

Maybe try a good Silicone sealant, like the type that is used on a boat transom to seal up around transducers / screws.
I think Ripjiggen and I were typing at the same time.

Dang! Tbro, that is something I could see myself doing also. Sucks man. Hope some silicone as others have mentioned helps. Do you only use it on the ice or is it a boat sonar for you as well? Hopefully just ice.

Bummer man, glad it still works.

I’d get a tube of Marine Goop and go to town. Then a strip of black Gorilla tape or some liquid electrical tape to make it black if you’d like.

Flex-Seal tape

You might even get some marketing cred if it works

Try using Flex seal

Damn near anybody can catch fish with a intact locator. It takes skills unknown to mortal humans to use that locator.

Some silicone and a embellished story to go along with it and you will be good to go.

Stuff happens, grin and make the best of it.

SHOE GOOP put it on with a putty knife.

maddogg wrote:

SHOE GOOP put it on with a putty knife.

My thoughts as well.

Most silicon has vinegar in it and is bad for electrical components and will corrode it found that out when I was a cnc repair technician for 12 year’s
Fyi

https://krayden.com/buy/dow-corning-748-non-corrosive-sealant-off-white-300ml-cartridge.html

Troy beat me to it.No silicone.

This sounds exactly like the boneheaded type of thing I’d do.

I was gonna suggest marine goop as well, interesting to learn that about silicone and electronics.

Best way to patch it up…..wrap in plastic garbage bag….throw in trash….buy panoptix ice bundle.

Merry Christmas to you.

Sounds like a good excuse to upgrade to the new G3. Yeah that falls under the category of sh$t happens. I can see myself doing that too but after a few beers first. That would bug me to no end looking at that not to mention constantly wondering when it’s going to die on me. I’d send it in and let Humminbird make it look like new if a new upgrade isn’t in the cards for you.

Matt Moen wrote:

Best way to patch it up…..wrap in plastic garbage bag….throw in trash….buy panoptix ice bundle.

Merry Christmas to you.

Merry Christmas to me was an entire new ice fishing set up besides the helix lol. Milwaukee drill, lite flite auger, clam shack (two of them actually), rod/reel combo, ifishpro, new heater… you name it. I bought it.

Unfortunately I do use this rig year round. Maybe I can spin this into a positive and buy the Helix 9 g3n for the open water season? Theres got to be some positivity with this…

Appreciate all of the responses though. I’ll probably play with a few different things before I throw something on. Back to ML next weekend, will have to get something figured out soon! Thank you!

Ice Cap wrote:

Sounds like a good excuse to upgrade to the new G3

Great minds think alike, Ice cap. I like the way you think

Surprised it didn’t yell at you and shut itself down being too hot.

I’d probably just get some 5 minute epoxy and build up a few layers to fully seal it. Run it till it dies. Jb Weld has metal fillers in it that may wreak havoc with the electronics if it touches anything.

Dutchboy wrote:

a embellished story to go along with it and you will be good to go.

Well, in my defense it wasn’t the most interesting thing that happened that afternoon. About 5 minutes after I realized what a mistake I had just made my girlfriend sent her ENTIRE LEG down an ice hole I had just drilled. Literally up to her butt cheek in water, filled her knee high boot. Went from being pissed off at myself to wondering how I can get the freezing, wounded (most ego) girl off the ice and to the truck in timely fashion. Has me wondering how lucky she was to not snap a bone a half mile out on the ice w/ no snowmobile to rush her away.

Safe to say our first ice fishing outing together could have gone a bit better lol.

Hows that for a story dutchy?

I did the same thing first time out a couple weeks ago. I was out by myself. The wind kicked up and I was struggling with getting the flip over put away. Stepped right in one of my fishing holes up to the knee. Didn’t get over the boot. I always snap the gaiters tight around the ankle to help prevent water from getting inside and it payed off.

Of course my first reaction was to look around and see if anyone was watching. No one was so my secret was safe.

In your OP you said you were with your FW.I see your last post says your GF fell in the hole.If you have that much time and energy to get both of them out on the same day,i salute you.

chuck100 wrote:

In your OP you said you were with your FW.I see your last post says your GF fell in the hole.If you have that much time and energy to get both of them out on the same day,i salute you.

Hey, man. When the fish are bitin… the fish are bitin

I got a little ahead of myself with the IDO lingo. My bad. Guess I should still consider her my “FGF” for now lol

OK.. here is something to try and get you through till spring or maybe beyond.
If you were to locate a tire company that recaps tractor-trailer tires. they use a rubber compound that is layered in between the new tire tread material and the surface of the shaved tire.It is a sticky back tape that fuses the surfaces together with heat. My buddy used to recap tires all the time and I would gather the remnants of that unused compound, they would roll up the unused rubber compound into rolls that looked like a roll of electric tape.

Best emergency waterproof material around, IMHO.

That can be fixed I would get some JB Weld but in the stick form ( where you knead it together to activate ) once I had that ready I would clean the area thoroughly with alcohol. Find a small desiccant bag to get it inside the depth finder to control any moisture or put in an oven 100 degrees or so to make sure it is dry inside. Then take the JB cut off some knead it together and press in to the burnt areas forming to the case as you go. This stuff dries incredibly hard much more so then JB in the tubes. Once filled and hardened then sand off to shape and paint if so desired.

If anybody cares, I ended up patching it up with a sturdy layer of JB steel stick and then covered the edges of it with JB marine weld. I may have overdone it, and it surely wont win any beauty contests, but the Mille lacs walleyes sure didnt seem to mind it over the weekend

Thank you for all the help!

Now to patch up the clam after burning a nice hole in one of the sides

Heater- 2
Travis- 0

Attachments:

1. 

   helix-2.jpg