Im trying to figure out the best spot to mount the transducer for a Helix 10 Mega SI. Im thinking the outboard may be in the way...

I can text you photos of how mine is mounted if you'd like

It won’t effect anything but your side imaging. You can always trim your motor up while your idling using your side imaging. It doesn’t look like you will have to trim it up much

Pm sent

What about the intake filter? Is that going to be in the way of SI?

Mine is mounted in the same area. I have to trim my motor up to where its about level so its not in the way. I don't have an intake filter to worry about but I doubt yours will interfere with it. It looks like the transducer is far enough off the boat that the filter won't be in the way.

The filter causes lines to show up in the water column on mine. I'd center it up, left to right, between the strakes. Don't mount it too close to one or it will cause interference. In the pictures it looks like you are holding it closer to one on the left, than the one on the right. They really work best when mounted dangerously low below the hull. I have mine mounted where the line on the ducer, the one where the top and bottom half are joined, is level with the bottom of my hull. A buddy of mine has the exact same boat I do and his ducer is mounted in the same exact place that mine is, except his ducer sits about 1/4-3/8" lower than mine. His imaging is much better than mine.

I'm going to take my filter off and silicone a water hose screen, dimple side in, into the end of the livewell fitting where it comes out of the transom. I can't take credit for that idea. Got it from a guy on crappie.com

This is the screen I'm going to install:

https://www.amazon.com/Gilmour-Meta...NL&preST=_SX300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

That's how mine is mounted and my SI view has no interference from strake water. I do raise the motor some when idling along and looking to the left.

Don’t mount it where you have it in the first pic. That’s too low and you will probably hit it on stuff. Mine is in about that spot but probably 2 or 3 inches higher. I put a 4 inch setback jack plate on my motor for transducer clearance. It makes for a much clearer picture.

I took a couple pics for you but they aren’t wanting to post correctly and i post a lot of pics on here

Thanks for the responses guys. We hadnt really lined the transducer up for the pics, more of just a reference for the filter and motor. I'd love to put a jackplate on the motor but can't spend that money right now. I think we're going to center it up between the strakes there and try that.

Now I gotta figure out how to wire this thing. I have a terrova with ipilot link on the front and this is the only unit I will have for now.

Will I need the ethernet hub for the trolling motor to connect?

We have a fuse block under the console. I was thinking about running this through the fuse block to a switch on the switch panel. If I do this, what size fuse should I use?