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
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  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
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  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
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  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
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  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
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Marine Bilge Pumps Rated Under 400 GPH

Bilge pumps from three makers, Rule, Whale, and Shurflo each have a pump fitting this flow category; all are rated at less than 400 GPH.

Both the Shurflo Piranha 380 and Rule 360, model 24 have vertically orientated motors and snap-on bases designed to mount on a horizontal surface.

shurflo 380 bilge pump

Shurflo Piranha 380 Bilge Pump

The base on each unit acts as a debris screen to keep any foreign objects in the bilge water from entering the pump inlet and jamming the motor. The Shurflo 380 also has a swivel base and a screw-in motor cartridge, the latter feature makes debris removal easy.

Whale’s Supersub SS3612 pump is fitted with a horizontally mounted motor, this arrangement yields a very low profile. The base is designed for either vertical or horizontal mounting. The motor on the Whale pump can be snapped out for easy debris removal. All three pumps possess the same standard ¾-inch outlet.

Bilge Pump Performance

All did well in performance testing, with the Whale shining brightest. First off, they all passed our grueling 9-hour dry run test. In pump testing the Rule 360 managed an average flow rate of 290 GPH. The Shurflo did a bit better averaging 312 GPH. The Whale did the best with a flow rate average of 335 GPH.

All three pumps are equipped with AWG 16 tinned copper wire; Rule and Shurflo have the highest temperature and voltage rating on the wire insulation. Wire lengths run from 25 inches on the Whale, to 29 inches on the Rule, to a whopping 69 inches on the Shurflo. The Rule 24 is available with 6-foot leads as the model 24-6 adding about $2 to the cost.

whale supersub ss3612 bilge pump

Whale Supersub SS3612 Bilge Pump

Both the Rule and Shurflo pumps require a 2.5 amp fuse while the Whale uses a 3 amp. During our testing the Rule drew 2.2 amps, the Whale 2.5 amps, and the Shurflo only 1.9 amps.

Street prices in this pump size range from $15 for the Rule 24 to $17 for a Shurflo 380. The Whale SS3612 is a bit more money at $25.

We like the Shurflo Piranha 380 in this group; it topples the Whale with its longer warranty and lower price. It barely edged the Rule on performance.

Compare Best Prices on Bilge Pumps Here.

Final Thoughts

If you must have a low profile unit due to bilge space constraints try the Whale, it is a top performer though a little more expensive.