DIY ice sonar shuttle ideas

[FlounderPounder]

Hello everyone

I recently purchased a Gelix 7 that I'm planning to convert to an ice unit. I've researched the major manufacturer shuttles, but can't swallow the price tags

I've made a portable shuttle for my Helix 5 with a humminbird flasher bag and some wood... works great, but the Helix 7 is much larger and won't fit in my current shuttle

I've watched videos of people using coolers, ammo boxes, and insulated boxes for DIY shuttles, but they all seem pretty bulky and awkward.

Just wondering what everyone else has done for their units.

Thanks

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[bradvtown]

I had the same thought of building my own using a knock off pelican case. Once I checked prices on an ice transducer, power cable, mount I was pretty close to the entire ice kit. Ended up just ordering that and saving myself some time. This was for a Garmin echomap.

[Elchinodiablo]

Basspro had a zip down front backpack style bag that worked for me. Used wood to build a slide out base for my Lowrance. Works great. Rubber bottom. Lots of pockets.

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[SamSteele]

I have a Helix 8 in my HB shuttle. I put a silicone screen cover on the screen and flip the bag flap over it without zipping. I think some of the new shuttles have a set mounting bracket, but in my case I was able to use the bracket from the Helix 8.




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[FlounderPounder]

Originally Posted by SamSteele

I have a Helix 8 in my HB shuttle. I put a silicone screen cover on the screen and flip the bag flap over it without zipping. I think some of the new shuttles have a set mounting bracket, but in my case I was able to use the bracket from the Helix 8.




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Yeah, that's the same bag I have for my helix 5. I never thought of just leaving it unzipped lol

Thanks for the info guys. Appreciate it

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[honker_clonker]

If you leave it unzipped thats probably the best. I had a helix 7 in a bag case (granted i think it was a vexilar case) and it would power on the unit when the bag was closed which wasn't ideal. When you lifted the bag when it was heavy enough it would pull in around the corner where the power button was and get it to the loading screen wasting battery.

I 3D printed one that works well enough for my 7. More like a vexilar style shuttle but it works good enough for me. And it cost about $17 in filament and 2-3 hours in design time.

[pikergolf]

1/4" plywood, I put a cloth bag over the screen for transport or take the screen off and put in the bag if I feel it might get damaged.



Filled out Watercraft commitment form-2 by Piker Golf, on Flickr

[kouleerunner]

I built a shuttle using a pelican knockoff from princess auto (they were on sale so I bought 2) and rigged my echomap 95 into the case. This is an old picture when i i
First built it on a trip to Cascade, this has the echomap hard mounted. I upgraded the mount to a ram mount to accommodate easier transition from boat to shuttle, over the units with milwaukee M18 8ah batteries. Ordered m18 mounts from Amazon. All in, total setup (already had the batteries, already had the ram mount) was the cost of the case of $60 and m18 mount for $10, $70 all in. The protection of the case for the livescope alone is worth every penny. I have upgraded the pole from PVC to aluminum, but that's not part of the shuttle.

Can email you better pictures if interested.

[jpohlic]

My cooler setup is not bulky or awkward at all.

I have a Garmin Striker 5 that I mounted to a 6 pack sized cooler which holds the battery. I cut a small slot in the lid for the cord to fit thru, wrap the cord around the unit and then the transducer fits in the cooler when not in use. The handle is great for hole hopping