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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Garmin VHF 100 Review

The Garmin VHF 100 is one of three marine vhf radios in the marine electronics giants communications stable. This one is marketed as a sophisticated entry level unit and is priced accordingly.

The VHF 100 ships with the radio, front panel bezels that match the current Garmin chartplotter line, plastic tilt bracket, fused power cable, flush mounting hardware including screws and gasket, owner’s manual, and installation instructions.

garmin vhf100 marine vhf radio

Garmin VHF 100

The VHF 100 will interface with a marine GPS chartplotter via the NMEA0183 protocols and can both receive position data and transmit DSC call log information to the plotter.

This radio has output for an external speaker that had no problem driving a PA horn I hooked up to test and verify the output.

The large radio face measures 7.2-inches wide by 4-inches high. The case extends back about 5-inches from the front panel back and just under 6-inches wide and 2.3-inches deep. This leaves a substantial step for the flush mount gasket to keep water out from behind a flush mounted radio, a nice feature in my opinion.

VHF Operation

The front panel features three rotating knobs, one for channel selection, one for volume, and one for squelch adjustment. The channel selector also serves as a pushbutton enter key. One-button control exists for on/off, quick selection of channel 16 or 9, high/low transmitter power, DSC, menu, and clear. The unit also has three soft keys located just below the large display screen. A distress call button is located on the lower left corner under a protective door.

Other functions less used functions like the screen backlight and contrast adjustments, key beep, navigation data configuration, channel group selection, and modifying channel names are handled through the main and system menus. The menu button and large channel knob manipulate and select menu items. All menu function names are clearly spelled out and easy to read and use.

Buy this Garmin marine VHF radio here

The VHF 100 is rated waterproof to IPX7 standards which means the radio could be submerged to a depth of one meter for 30 minutes without sustaining damage.