Let's see your DIY Helix Shuttle!!!

Another shuttle. This is my third time trying to post. If it works, I’ll reply with more text and more pics.

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Seems like there is still some interest in Helix shuttles. I’ve been inspired by all of the posts on this thread, and I’ve got a few tweaks that others might find helpful. The transducer cup shown in the last post is a 2″ copper sweat-on end cap – perfect fit for a XI-9-20 transducer. I drilled drain holes and mounted it with acorn nuts so the ducer won’t freeze in the cup.

Still having trouble posting. If it works, attached is one picture of a DIY power cord.

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Here’s another pic of the cord. Just a couple of short pieces of 1/16 brass rod, spade fittings, soldered and shrink wrapped.

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Sorry for the drawn-out description! I guess I tried to attach too many pictures to my original post. The only other thing I wanted to note was that the whole thing is built on 1/4 inch plywood to save weight, glued to a circle of extruded EPS foam to keep it off the ice. I used a little bracket (shown in the pic attached to this post) to fasten one end of the mini-shock cords that hold down the battery at the base of the ball mount. I hope I’ve shown a couple of tweaks to the good designs in this thread!

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Scored a Vexilar shuttle from a buddy that didn’t need it. The Helix 7 is a little big for it but works (doesn’t zip fully in front). This is a DI G2 GPS unit with the Ice transducer. Any idea if this same transducer will work with my Helix 7 G1 SI GPS unit? This past weekend was the first time I tried the Helix on the ice, and I was amazed! I used/tried a Vexilar FLx-28 (same buddy above) a week or so ago and I’ll take the Helix over it based on my experience. I’d still like to develop a shuttle that protects the Helix a bit better, whether it’s in a pail, bag or an ammo can with the battery but for now, I have ordered a “foam hat” screen protector for it for use during transport. I may convert the Gen1 to Ice to have another unit, I also have an older 3 color SiTex FL-5 set up for the ice (Using a Vexilar Transducer) that works well too.

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I did the simple lunch cooler. Small, light, and easy. No battery, but my sled has connections to hook up to 12v, and this is my backup for the wife and/or kid.

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That is a great idea! Looks good and probably pretty reasonably priced and well protected.

LM

What a great idea SnakeShaker.

I did one kind of similar with a Pelican case, it was super protected, but it sucked for hole hopping.

It’s that time of year again! Let’s see those DIY Helix Shuttles! I see this question a lot on Facebook and other places, so share the knowledge and share the link to this thread. Your buddies will appreciate it!

Here’s my shuttle I just made for a helix 7 and a garmin echomap 73sv. Made with PVC to avoid cracking and warping.

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Wow, Dave! That looks incredible!! Good work!

Well here is my go at an ice fishing shuttle for my newly purchased helix 7. I spent way to much time making it as I designed, machined all of the parts and built an electrical box with usb ports, cigarette outlet, and voltage readout to monitor the battery. I couldn’t help but man toy it up using diamond plate for the electrical box, base and brackets. I finished it up with a charge port on the side of the box. I still need to figure out the transponder holder but I think it’s coming together and should be about bullet proof and it fits nicely in a 5 gallon bucket.

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Very cool! You will love it! Nice work!

Dave this is great! Whats the total weight?

@kjholman

We have a winner! That thing looks awesome. Might want to silicone the seams so ya don’t get water inside. You must be a metal fabricator. That looks way to clean for a random guy. Nice work!

Eyeguy,

Thanks for the feedback. I’m planning on sealing the seams, I was just making sure I had finished up the electrical work first. I’m not a fabricator by trade but I know my way around the shop. The toughest part was that I didn’t have a break to bend the diamond plate but I got it done. Used it for the first time on Wednesday worked great, and with the lithium battery it weights about the same as my old hummingbird 35 ice flasher.

One more time…

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John Zuleger wrote:

One more time…

first time we’ve seen this approach. Looks awesome!!!

Material is 3/4″ palight plastic board.

Base is 11″ in diameter.

Handle is 18″ tall.

Battery nests under the handle and is ‘pocketed’ by two layers of cresent shaped cut outs.

Standard two prong battery tender plug in powers the head and 12v phone charger. Unplug and plug battery to charger.

Spare phone holder

Multiple shelves on the back for small tackle boxes and transducer

The 5 gallon pail has since been painted red to cover the ace logo. When it is slid down all the way around the base it forms a very tight seal. The sides JUST press the sides of the head.

Thanks! Lots of out of the box thinking. I wanted a hard case and a pail was what I had. I knew it fit going in the top of the pail so I decided to make the top of the pail the bottom. I haven’t used it yet, heading to Ashland tomorrow to chase trout for it’s maiden voyage. I had a friend suggest mounting the head higher up on something you can pivot 90° so during stow and go it is vertical and not pressing against the sides.

Very nice work Kjholman.

Love the creativity guys! These are some really cool builds!

I may have gone a little overboard…

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You have got to love the ingenuity of ice fisherman.

Good work everyone.

Greg Krull wrote:

I may have gone a little overboard…

I laughed my butt off when I read this!! LOL
Looks great. Really nice work. And I love that it fits in a bucket. So easy and convenient, keeps it protected. Atta boy!

John Zuleger wrote:

One more time…

This one is pretty awesome too!! Love it Very creative and practical!

And they say you can’t get a 8,9, or 10 in a bucket… Just tell an ice fisherman it couldn’t be done. Rotates, telescopes, and tilts. Ready for a field test this weekend. Happy Friday everyone!

Greg Krull wrote:

And they say you can’t get a 8,9, or 10 in a bucket… Just tell an ice fisherman it couldn’t be done. Rotates, telescopes, and tilts. Ready for a field test this weekend. Happy Friday everyone!

Very cool. How is the HB attached to the shuttle?