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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Humminbird 788ci Review

The Humminbird 788ci is our first product review from this well-known marine electronics company. This one is a chartplotter fishfinder combo featuring a high-resolution 5-inch display screen, internal 50-channel GPS receiver, and a built-in 500-watt sounder.

All the other units in the 700-series lineup feature a 5-inch display screen. The sonar-only 718 and 728 use grayscale screens with the latter model having increased resolution. An optional GPS sensor turns either of this pair of fishfinders into chartplotter combo units.

Next up is the 788c, this sonar-only unit features a high-resolution color screen and will also interface with an optional external GPS sensor to make it a combo chartplotter fishfinder. Humminbird packages the 788c Combo with an external GPS sensor and markets it as a chartplotter fishfinder unit.

humminbird 788ci chartplotter fishfinder combo unit

Humminbird 788ci

Our internal GPS equipped 788ci is next in line. At the pinnacle of the 700-series group is the 798c SI, this one uses the same high-resolution screen as the 788, an external GPS sensor, and has side scanning sonar capability.

For my review I mounted the display unit using accompanying bracket. This bracket is designed to be quick-release so you can remove the display for safe storage off the boat with the push of a single button. It will also rotate and tilt to optimize the viewing angle. Flush mounting this display unit in a panel requires the purchase of an optional kit.

Basics

The Humminbird 788ci package ships with the display unit, a protective front panel cover, two-directional mounting bracket, power cable, operations manual, quick reference guide, installation instructions, and a dual frequency transom mount transducer.

The back panel of the display unit has four connectors, one for the transducer, another for the power cable, a third for an accessory bus designed to interface with an optional weather receiver or Smartcast sensor, the fourth connector will allow you to update the 788ci software using a PC. Interfacing the 788ci with an NMEA 0183 device requires the purchase of an optional cable.

The display has a front panel footprint that measures approximately 6.8-inches wide and 5.4-inches high. Overall depth is 3.8-inches. The two SD cards slots on the front panel are