HELP updating electronics and TM

[DeadCalm]

Since this is my first posting I should start by thanking everyone for their postings since I started following a couple of years ago. After a 20 year absence from fishing the Rock I retired and we moved Back to the area. Had it not been for your postings regarding baits, presentations, and location I would have struggled mightily to find and catch. THANKS FOR YOUR POSTINGS. I will be contributing in the future and can only hope to be of help to other anglers as you all have helped me. I am currently fishing out of Long Creek.

i’m running a Lund Impact 1875 with 150 Mercury four stroke. I have two humminbird 999 running si at the helm and di up front. I have I-pilot link with a MinnKota Terrova 80 tm. I am considering two Helix 10 with a new trolling motor w/built-in transducer. I wish I was more adept to this type of updating. Unfortunately i’m A danger with a wrench. Which brings me to my inquiry. What marine dealers or individuals would you trust to provide accurate information, do reliable work, and be able to answer questions? Since i’m Going to be spending 5k+ on this I want to be certain that everything is properly installed and operating as it should.

THANKS in advance for any direction you can provide.

TightLines

[Lake Lover]

I have used Ulrich Marine in the past for the install and work on my electronics.  Ask for Kyle as he is pretty knowledgeable about that stuff

[LD Fisher]

You won't be disappointed with the Helix!  I have the Helix with MDI on the bow through the TM and he Solix with Si at the console.  Had a 998 on the bow and a 1197 at the console and the G3 Helix is a huge step change in clarity!  Had the I-Link added to both heads so I can, if I choose, run the TM from either position or the remote.  I've heard good things about Ulrich, but I haven't used them, yet. I hope I don't need them, but it's where I would head if I had a problem. 

[Dutch]

Scott and Brad at Marine Repair Center in Springfield are quite good with installs as well as trolling motor repair.  That is not part of what they do but all that they do.  If they don’t have it in stock they can order anything you need.  I have been using that shop for over 30 years.  Last year I switched from Lowrance and Motorguide to Humminbird and Minn Kota.  I got all of my stuff from them and had them install it.  I don’t think you can go wrong with them.

[dblades]

3 hours ago, Dutch said:

Scott and Brad at Marine Repair Center in Springfield are quite good with installs as well as trolling motor repair.  That is not part of what they do but all that they do.  If they don’t have it in stock they can order anything you need.  I have been using that shop for over 30 years.  Last year I switched from Lowrance and Motorguide to Humminbird and Minn Kota.  I got all of my stuff from them and had them install it.  I don’t think you can go wrong with them.

Been going there for years and years...

[aarchdale@coresleep.com]

I say Garmin with Livescope all the way. The Helix's are great but they are going to show the same thing as your 999 just a lot more detailed and clear.  The livescope is a whole different ball game

 

I have a Humminbird 1197 at the console and am perfectly happy with the mapping, 2d, and sidescan.  Ive been around newer birds and they are awesome but they do the same thing mine does just with a lot more detail.  I kinda feel like if i see a blob down there its probably a brush pile and im going to fish it regardless if i can pick out the individual fish on the limbs or not.    Next thing i will be getting is Garmin with livescope up front, cant imagine how much it will help crappie fishing.  

 

I second the guys at Marine repair center, they helped me out last spring with some trouble shooting and wouldnt take a dime  

[Dutch]

Will the Garmin work with his built in transducer?

[aarchdale@coresleep.com]

Well the live scope is a seperate transducer all together. I perfer the external transducer anyways. I never got as good of a reading with built in transducer

 

Heck, with 5k he could get the new Garmin troller, or any of the new trollers and a unit with livescope pretty easy..  And i bet that I-Pilot he takes off will still be worth some dollars

[Dutch]

Dead. Calm on a different note you may have to consider a larger cranking battery.  These new electronics can be battery hogs, especially if you keep your current units and run them with the new Helix units along with Bluetooth sensor, heading sensor, and maybe an Ethernet hub and NMEA network.

i have gone to the North Star agm with large reserve capacity to keep my stuff going.

[Steve McBasser]

I like the guys at the Marine Repair Center too. George, the dad,  was awesome back in the day. Looks like he taught the boys right. They do great work and charge fair prices. I don't know what else you could ask from a repair shop.