Top 5 Editorial Picks

Five current fishfinders chosen for distinct buyer needs—from compact value to a premium expandable system. These are editorial selections, not Amazon or reader ratings.

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  1. 1
    Garmin Striker Vivid 4cv Fishfinder with Transducer - 4-inch LCD Display - Easy-to-Use Scanning Sonar - Color Palettes, 11.2 Ounces (010-02550-00) 4 Inch STRIKER Vivid 4cv Transducer

    Best Compact Value

    Garmin STRIKER Vivid 4cv

    A straightforward sonar and GPS unit for kayaks, jon boats, and small boats.

    • CHIRP and ClearVü scanning sonar in a compact package
    • A sensible pick when you do not need a chartplotter or SideVü
    • Best fit for budget-conscious small-boat anglers
  2. 2
    Garmin Striker Vivid 7sv, Easy-to-Use 7-inch Color Fishfinder and Sonar Transducer, Vivid Scanning Sonar Color Palettes (010-02553-00) 7 Inch STRIKER Vivid 7sv Transducer

    Best All-Around 7-Inch Fishfinder

    Garmin STRIKER Vivid 7sv

    A capable sonar-first choice for anglers who want a useful 7-inch display without moving into a full chartplotter system.

    • CHIRP, ClearVü, and SideVü sonar for fish and structure
    • Simple setup with a practical 7-inch screen
    • Strong value for most general boat anglers
  3. 3
    Garmin ECHOMAP UHD2 73sv with GT54 Transducer, 7” Touchscreen Chartplotter, Garmin Navionics+ U.S. Inland 7' Garmin Navionics+ U.S. Inland with GT54 Transducer

    Best GPS & Chartplotter Upgrade

    Garmin ECHOMAP UHD2 73sv

    The mapping step-up for buyers who need confident navigation as well as high-quality scanning sonar.

    • Garmin Navionics+ U.S. Inland mapping and touchscreen control
    • Ultra High-Definition ClearVü and SideVü sonar
    • A better fit than STRIKER when charts matter
  4. 4
    Humminbird XPLORE Series GPS Fish Finder MEGA Side Imaging+ & HD Touchscreen Display Transducer Included) 9-Inch Display

    Best Side-Imaging Upgrade

    Humminbird XPLORE 9

    A current 9-inch imaging platform for anglers ready to build around serious side imaging and boat integration.

    • MEGA Side Imaging+ and MEGA Down Imaging+
    • 9-inch display with touchscreen and keypad control
    • Recommended configuration: 9-inch, transducer included
  5. 5
    Lowrance HDS PRO Fishfinder/Chartplotter with Smartphone Integration and Preloaded C-MAP U.S. & Canada Charts 10 Inch ActiveImaging HD 3-in-1

    Best Premium Expandable System

    Lowrance HDS PRO 10

    A larger-boat platform for buyers who want premium sonar, mapping, networking, and a serious expansion path.

    • Active Imaging HD and C-MAP charting
    • Wide networking support for integrated electronics
    • Ready to expand with ActiveTarget 2 and the Lowrance ecosystem

Raymarine VHFs

Raymarine VHF radios are an integral part of the long line of marine electronics products produced by UK-based Raymarine. The list includes chartplotters, marine radar, marine AIS, fishfinders, and more.

The basic entry level marine VHF radio is priced above a number of other manufacturer’s entry level units. However, this marine VHF has recently been redesigned to incorporate a number of features not normally found an entry level marine radio.

The Raymarine 49 has several scanning modes, local/distance selection, class D capabilities, and a top notch waterproof rating.

Mid-Priced VHFs

Raymarine has a pair of mid-grade marine VHF radios available on the market today. The older unit is the Raymarine 54 which features a number of dedicated pushbuttons for easy operation and a highly rated display screen.

The newer Raymarine 55 features a dual channel display able to show the active and standby channels simultaneously. It also is class D equipped and has high level waterproofing.

Top-of-the-Line and Remote Mount VHF Radios

There are currently two marine VHF radios that sit at the pinnacle of Raymarine lineup. The newest is the compact Raymarine 218. It has a built-in speaker microphone, class D DSC capability, and a hailer. This unit can also use the RayMic for remote operations.

Raymarine also markets a modular marine VHF radio that comes with three components. The Raymarine 240 ships with a black box transceiver, and remote handset with full controls, and a remote mount speaker.

Before the Ray 218 was released the Raymarine 215 stood at the top of this radio makers marine VHF lineup.