humminbird helix bow unit: has water inside

coldfront · April 16, 2022, 11:49:59 PM

well, just a few hours into being a first-time Humminbird user/owner... and now my large-screen unit at the bow is not working properly. power button won't work (turn off, turn to stand-by mode). pulled unit to get SN for trouble-shooting with the Johnson folks and that's when I noticed the 'sloshing sound'.

doesn't seem like that's a 'good idea' with electronics.

just got the boat back from the dealer and it's 20-hour outboard service... it was stored outside from Monday until I picked it up Thursday. It rained in nashville.

hear good things about Humminbird customer service. Looks like I'm going to get a first-hand account/experience.

just aggravating. but had a similar issue years ago with a lowrance bow unit as well...

Capt. BassinLou · April 17, 2022, 05:56:09 AM

Quote from: coldfront on April 16, 2022, 11:49:59 PM
well, just a few hours into being a first-time Humminbird user/owner... and now my large-screen unit at the bow is not working properly. power button won't work (turn off, turn to stand-by mode). pulled unit to get SN for trouble-shooting with the Johnson folks and that's when I noticed the 'sloshing sound'.

doesn't seem like that's a 'good idea' with electronics.

just got the boat back from the dealer and it's 20-hour outboard service... it was stored outside from Monday until I picked it up Thursday. It rained in nashville.

hear good things about Humminbird customer service. Looks like I'm going to get a first-hand account/experience.

just aggravating. but had a similar issue years ago with a lowrance bow unit as well...

Sadly my bow unit is the same way. Water has gotten into the unit, and it acts the same way you described yours Coldfront. I need to ship it to HB, but I haven't gotten around to it. You can tell I don't use electronics much.

Smallie_Stalker · April 17, 2022, 12:18:57 PM

In simpler times we took the graphs off the boat when towing and stowing. Probably next to impossible nowadays though.

Hope they can get both you guys fixed up pretty quick.

Sent from my Pixel 6 Pro using Tapatalk

Princeton_Man · April 17, 2022, 03:53:12 PM

Quote from: Smallie_Stalker on April 17, 2022, 12:18:57 PM
In simpler times we took the graphs off the boat when towing and stowing. Probably next to impossible nowadays though.

Hope they can get both you guys fixed up pretty quick.

Sent from my Pixel 6 Pro using Tapatalk

I always pull and stow my graphs when I'm off the water. Always keep the covers on them when not using them also.

coldfront · April 17, 2022, 04:37:45 PM

Quote from: Princeton_Man on April 17, 2022, 03:53:12 PM
I always pull and stow my graphs when I'm off the water. Always keep the covers on them when not using them also.

might start thinking that way. I just haven't because when the boat is not being towed to/from the lake, or on the water, it's inside my attached garage. still, if a hard rain can do this... that's 'going to happen' out on the lake.

am betting it's just an issue that HB will take care of. reading the 'guarantees', theoretically I could drop it overboard in 10 feet of water and let it sit for a bit and it's still supposed to work.

FD · April 17, 2022, 07:59:42 PM

On the Helix units the buttons are covered in one big rubber pad. If there is a nick in it, that's where the water is getting through.

I've had no real problems with minn kota/humminbird warrantees.

Sent from the very edge of civilization...where I belong

coldfront · April 18, 2022, 06:06:24 AM

Quote from: FD on April 17, 2022, 07:59:42 PM
On the Helix units the buttons are covered in one big rubber pad. If there is a nick in it, that's where the water is getting through.

I've had no real problems with minn kota/humminbird warrantees.

Sent from the very edge of civilization...where I belong

sounds like keeping the covers on is a very good idea? anyone have experience 'traveling/trailering' with those covers on? not having them blow off?

Oldfart9999 · April 18, 2022, 07:22:07 AM

When not in use covers are good protection, when off the water I pull mine just to keep them out of any crap that comes from the wheels or rain.
Rodney

coldfront · April 18, 2022, 08:00:28 AM

update: monday april 18. called Humminbird at 8:02 AM EST. waited a few minutes in 'the lobby' before was given option to select 1 for a call-back in the next two hours.
Sonya called back in about 15 minutes. described for her what I was dealing with. she is sending me a UPS ticket/shipping info via email. should have the unit in the mail before noon and off to Eufala. expecting a 2-3 day turn-around.

so far, so good. very pleased with my first HB customer service experience...

Donald Garner · April 18, 2022, 09:34:02 AM

If I'm not traveling longer than 30minutes to the lake I'll leave my electronics mounted and covered. While its store outside next to my garage I'll take them off and store them in the rod box with the covers on them.

Princeton_Man · April 18, 2022, 09:47:01 AM

Quote from: coldfront on April 18, 2022, 06:06:24 AM
Quote from: FD on April 17, 2022, 07:59:42 PM
On the Helix units the buttons are covered in one big rubber pad. If there is a nick in it, that's where the water is getting through.

I've had no real problems with minn kota/humminbird warrantees.

Sent from the very edge of civilization...where I belong

sounds like keeping the covers on is a very good idea? anyone have experience 'traveling/trailering' with those covers on? not having them blow off?

I've lost one cover trailering, that was from one of my Garmins. At $40 a pop to replace, that's when I decided to remove and stow them before trailering. The Garmins have a quick detach mount that makes attaching and removal a snap.

I've lost a HB hard cover was when I left my 859's cover laying on the front deck while taking off. It gave me a well deserved smack in the face before plummeting to the bottom.

Pipepro · April 18, 2022, 10:01:55 AM

I have been leaving my covers on while trailering close to home. I picked up some of these Velcro elastic straps to make sure I don't lose one on the road

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk

FD · April 18, 2022, 10:19:20 AM

Quote from: Pipepro on April 18, 2022, 10:01:55 AM
I have been leaving my covers on while trailering close to home. I picked up some of these Velcro elastic straps to make sure I don't lose one on the road

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk

I do the same and those are exactly what I was looking for. Thanks.

apenland01 · April 18, 2022, 10:41:18 AM

The units definitely have a problem, since they should be completely waterproof. Using a cover only protects the screen and most damage to electronics is on the back of the unit from rocks being thrown while trailering down the road.

Since I got my new Lowrance units, I take them off and put them in the truck before trailering. Only takes a few minutes to put back on.

Good luck guys, it sounds like Humminbird is taking care of you!

coldfront · April 18, 2022, 10:44:52 AM

Quote from: apenland01 on April 18, 2022, 10:41:18 AM
The units definitely have a problem, since they should be completely waterproof. Using a cover only protects the screen and most damage to electronics is on the back of the unit from rocks being thrown while trailering down the road.

Since I got my new Lowrance units, I take them off and put them in the truck before trailering. Only takes a few minutes to put back on.

Good luck guys, it sounds like Humminbird is taking care of you!

in a world where units of any can be tough to come by, HB indicated it might be back to me this week.
I was sure to thank them for their help and CARE.

FD · April 18, 2022, 11:11:07 AM

I got my 360 back in a week a couple of months ago. I was completely surprised.

mygreenihc · April 22, 2022, 07:43:32 AM

I bought a set of the BoatEFX Cover Traps and they work out nicely.