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) | Transducer, 4-inch LCD Display, Easy-to-Use Scanning Sonar, Color Palettes, 11.2 Ounces 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) | Easy-to-Use 7-inch Color Fishfinder, 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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Flush Mount Marine Gear

Here’s how to flush mount marine electronics with the new panel mounted on the outside of the console or dashboard.

Flush mounting electronics not only looks good, it increase the value of your boat, and keeps everything on the same plane for easy viewing and switch handling.

flush mounted marine electronics

An example of flush mount marine electronics on our Contender with 8-inch and 10-inch Northstar 6000i displays and a Standard Horizon VHF. The 3/4-inch thick Starboard panel is fastened to the console with screws placed around the perimeter. Underneath the panel all the console fiberglass has been cut away leaving one large opening.

You’ll Need Five Things

    • Build a panel or use an existing panel
    • Fit the built panel to the opening it will cover
    • Properly arrange and layout each piece of gear
    • Mark the panel and make the cutouts for each piece
    • Install the electronics and the panel

Get Started

Any do-it-yourselfer can accomplish a professional looking job with a few simple tools and the proper techniques.

Since each installation is unique, some minor adjustment to the following methods and examples may be necessary for your particular setup.

All marine electronics, whether flush mount or bail mounted, will require power hook ups and connections to things like an antenna or transducer.

Our goal here is to give you the knowledge and ideas needed to do a flush mount installation of any type of electronics or electrical gear. We’ll use instructions and examples.

Make The Panel

If you’re mounting in an existing panel skip to Arrange the Electronics. Several panel materials will do the job, fiberglass, Plexiglas (acrylic plastic), Starboard (polyethylene plastic), or even wood.

We’ve used Starboard in three-quarter inch thickness on previous installs. This material is readily available in several colors and is very easy to cut, shape and drill. Next, the panel needs to be cut to the proper size to fit the opening.

Fit The Panel

To flush mount marine electronics in an outside the console panel like the one in the photo you should size the panel an inch or two larger than the opening it will cover to allow for attaching screws.

Once the panel is sized to the opening rounding over the outside edge with a router adds a nice touch. Mounting screw holes should be drilled and countersunk now. Then test fit and mount the p