Humminbird Helix 7 Marine GPS Review

If you’re like most anglers, then you know that having a fish finder on your boat can make your life so much easier. Rather than relying on intuition and experience, you can locate your next catch with precision and reliability.

The Humminbird Helix 7 Marine GPS Review

Although there are a lot of different fish finders on the market, most of them are either too expensive to be worthwhile, or too shoddy to allow you to see what you’re looking for. Thankfully, the Humminbird Helix 7 is a high-end model that isn’t too pricey.

With advanced sonar and a brilliant screen, you can do a lot with this device. Let’s see how it can help you with your next catch.

Seven-Inch HD Screen

One issue that fish finders used to have is that you couldn’t really see anything on the screen. They were too small, and they broadcast in black and white, so it was challenging to differentiate between fish and other obstacles.

In this case, seven inches is perfect because it allows you to see more, as well as look at two different screens simultaneously. This way, you can monitor your position on the GPS while also looking at the fish swimming below you.

Also, the screen is backlit, and in high-definition, so you can read it clearly in almost any light and without any distortion.

SmartStrike Locator

Wouldn’t it be great if you could know where the fish are before passing over them in your boat? With the SmartStrike system from Humminbird, now you can see where your next catch is most likely going to be before you ever get there.

Using local data, including seasonal information and water temperature, the system will analyze your waterway and tell you where the fish should be concentrated. Although it’s not always 100% accurate, it does save you a lot of time since you can check these spots first and then fan out from there.

SmartStrike locations are marked on the map, so you can simply navigate by sight, rather than having to orient yourself on the water first.

Also Read: Best Fishfinder GPS Combos under $1000

Side and Down Imaging

With most fish finders, you can only see what’s happening directly beneath your boat. Even increasing the power level to get a wider angle can just do so much. Fortunately, with the 7si model, you can also see to the sides of your craft. Since you want the fish to come to the surface, it’s helpful to know where they are in relation to the boat, not just where they hang out on the bottom.

With the transducer that comes with this device, you can see up to 1500 feet below. This is perfect for most lakes and rivers, although it may have trouble on the open ocean.

Built-In GPS

These days, most fish finders have GPS included, but this one is a bit more special. Although it does come with a lot of preloaded maps, you can sometimes find yourself in uncharted waters. When that happens, the Autochart function activates, and you’ll start building a map from scratch. This chart also includes water levels and contours, meaning that you’re creating something almost as good as the ones you can find online.

Not only that, but you can chart your progress and set waypoints, and then save them for future trips.

Pros

• Durable construction
• Easy to install
• Seven-inch high-definition screen
• Full-color imaging for clearer definition
• Down and side imaging for convenience
• SmartStrike locator finds fish faster
• Max depth 1500 feet
• Transducer included
• CHIRP Sonar for better imaging
• Autochart makes maps from scratch
• Dual beam sonar ensures better accuracy
• SD card compatible to save data
• Upgradeable software and components
• Preloaded with maps
• Chartplotting with waypoints

Cons

• Not ideal for deeper water
• In rare cases, you may get the di model, which doesn’t have side imaging

FAQs

• Does this model come with a transducer?
• Yes, it does. Also, the one that is supplied is quite good for the price, so you shouldn’t have to upgrade for any reason.
• Is this fish finder compatible with i-Pilot?
• No, it doesn’t have an ethernet connection, so you can’t hook it up to i-Pilot. Humminbird does offer other models that do, though.
• Can I mount the transducer on a kayak or other similar sized boat?
• It’s kind of large, so you might not want to do that. It’s not designed for shallow water, so if you do mount it to a kayak, just be sure to stay out where it’s deep, and avoid scraping the bottom.

Final Verdict

Overall, when compared to other fish finders, it’s easy to see why the Helix 7si is such a popular model. It offers a lot of high-end features without the inflated price tag, and it comes with everything you need to get started.

Whether you’re a pro or just starting your fishing career, you will love everything that the Helix 7si has to offer.

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