Humminbird Helix 7 G3

[RRmaniac]

Looking at getting some electronics for the boat and have it narrowed down to the Helix 7 MEGA SI GPS G3. Can get it for a little over $600. Can get it with Navionics+ for $70 more. Is it worth it to go this route? What would be the best map chip for Devils Lake and some of the other small lakes in the area? Thanks in advance.

 

[AaronJ]

Navionics is the best chip for the Nirds.

If you have a little more coin I'd bump up to the Helix 8 G3N. It has better resolution screen and a slightly improved processor. The MEGA imagining will be improved over the 7.

 

[Joshua79]

I love my 7 however I am slapping my self for not going with a 9. Only for the reason of having 2 chip slots... I can't live with out a zero line card in mine. So I use the base maps and phone gps to get to spots then I map the depths my self. Takes a little extra time but worth it for up to date contours.

 

[RRmaniac]

I love my 7 however I am slapping my self for not going with a 9. Only for the reason of having 2 chip slots... I can't live with out a zero line card in mine. So I use the base maps and phone gps to get to spots then I map the depths my self. Takes a little extra time but worth it for up to date contours.

I hear you, but it was already a little bit of a stretch for me to go up to the 7. I wanted to just get the 5. I'm upgrading from a 1990s Eagle finder that pretty much can only show depth.

 

[gone_fishing]

I would say go for it as that seems like a fair price. Will be a heck of an upgrade over your old Eagle.

For mapping I would recommend the LakeMaster Dakota's card (especially if DL is your go to lake). This is what I have and found to be pretty accurate on DL. It's also a High Definition lake for LakeMaster which means 1 foot contours (Sakakawea was added a few years ago..1 foot contours to 40' deep). You can view the lake list for this card here: https://humminbird.johnsonoutdoors....tnb1/HUM_productmanual_600013-5_ll_dktnb1.pdf

I have no on the water experience with Navionics cards but if their cards are the same data as their website (https://webapp.navionics.com/) then I would say LakeMaster has the advantage. Navionics looks a little 'generic'. Again I'm basing that off their free web app program so maybe the chips are different.

 

[5575]

Lakemaster's Dakota's + Neb card in the birds blows the navionics out of the water.

 

[RRmaniac]

Thanks guys. I was able to buy it for 640 with navionics+ from Hodge's Marine, only $30 more than without. I will likely look at the lakemaster card as well.