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
  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
  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
  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
  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

Magellan Triton 2000 Review

I bought a Magellan Triton 2000 as a refurbished unit for 300 dollars. Unfortunately, it did not work correctly and by the time I discovered it had a serious problem, it was out of the warranty period.

Magellan Triton 2000

Magellan Triton 2000

I called Magellan support to find out where I could send it for repair. To my surprise, I was told that they do not repair these units, but instead I could buy another model for a discounted price. I was prepared to pay to have the unit fixed but ready to throw away 300 dollars.  Next, I contacted the Better Business Bureau to find out if I had any recourse but quickly learned there were already a number of complaints against Magellan that were not satisfied. So not much help there.

After some research, I found a third party company that would repair the unit for 100 dollars, add an SD card with emergency repair/reboot capability, and some detailed maps of Mexico and the World. Finally, my repaired Magellan Triton 2000 worked properly.

However, because of my experience with this manufacturer, I will never buy a Magellan product again.

Editor’s Note – This post was provided by Bob Wilson of Vancouver BC

Rating
starstarstarstarstar
Garmin GPSMAP 76
by: D Bell
I live in Florida and kayak twice a week. I have a navigation program on my computer which uses free NOAA charts downloaded from a government web site. I construct a route through islands and streams on my laptop and then download these into my Garmin 76. If I paddle a new area I save the track before leaving the launch site then when I get home I download the new track from my Garmin into my laptop. Using the navigation software I convert the new downloaded track to a named route which I can use the next time I kayak that same area. The Garmin GPSMAP 76 is the best unit for on the water use. You can buy one on Ebay for less than $30.00 if you are patient.