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.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

  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
    Check Price
  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
    Check Price
  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
    Check Price
  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
    Check Price
  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
    Check Price

Garmin 178C Review

The compact Garmin 178C we tested was equipped with an internal GPS antenna, an integral sounder, and a dual-frequency transducer. Other models of this Garmin chartplotter are available with an external GPS antenna and single frequency transducer.

The unit contains an internal world map and uses Garmin BlueChart cartography to enhance map details in the specific area covered by the card you choose.

garmin 178c

Garmin 178C

The case is just over 6-inches wide and a tad under 5-inches high with a depth less than 3-inches.

All wiring for power, interface, and transducer leads connect to the back of the unit through a single multi-pin twist-lock connector. The transducer branch connects to the transducer with another twist-lock connector.

For us, wiring the Garmin 178C was simply a matter of connecting the power wires to the source and installing and connecting the transducer.

If you were planning to interface the 178C to another NMEA capable unit like an autopilot you’d have to make several connections with some very small wires. Overall installation of the 178C was easy.

Screen Size and Viewability

The Garmin 178C screen has equal height and width measurements of 3.3-inches equating to a diagonal measurement of 4.5-inches. It carries a resolution of 320 x 320 pixels. Thirteen levels of control are available for screen brightness and contrast. We found the brightness control range to be adequate and the contrast control effective. Two color palettes, sun or dark, can be selected from the map tab on the main menu.

In daylight conditions, we found the 178C easy to see, though some reflectivity was noted. It showed almost no screen darkening when the tester wore polarized sunglasses. Overall we’d rate the screen good for daytime and nighttime viewability. Pushbuttons and the cursor pad are backlit.

Noted Screen Issue

The screen does have an occasional problem with overheating when it is exposed to long periods of direct sunlight. Once the overheating starts the screen begins to lighten and finally blank. Cooling the unit off by putting it in the shade resolves the issue.

Operation

Most functions on the 178C are manipulated through multi-layered menus. Hitting the menu key twice brings up the main menu with a long list of items in tabular format on the left side of the screen, selecting a tab opens another menu page where you can make and execute selections.

Waypoints

Waypoints can