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
  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
  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

Simrad GO5 XSE Review

SimradGo5XSE

Vendor Price
Cabelas $469.99
WestMarine $489.99

The Simrad G05 XSE fish finder/chart plotter is perfectly suited to compact sports boats and coastal fishermen, delivering more for enjoying your day on the water. The 5″ color super-bright LCD display is flush, flat or bracket mountable to fit just about any compact day boat. Adjustable split-screen views make the GO5 XSE a full-featured yet simple to use chart plotter. The sleek standalone unit offers intuitive multi-touch controls like your smartphone and tablet, while screen icons are easy to recognize. You pinch to zoom, or drag to pan smoothly across charts, tap to set or select your waypoints. The simple home screen layouts and menu options give access to every function.

An internal high-speed 10 Hz GPS receiver and built-in Insight mapping for US Coastal and Lakes are at the heart of the GO5 XSE. The charts and latest updates are accessed through Wi-Fi. C-Map Max-N, Navionics, Insight, Insight Genesis, and NV Digital Charts are additionally available to meet your needs in microSD format.

A Cruise Charting page, unique to GO5 XSE, shows on a single page all the critical navigation charts and data. The new TripIntel trip computer provides fuel range information overlaid on charts, tide levels, and detailed history of past trips, routes and boat performance. It gathers all the information needed to plan a successful day on the water. Outboard and inboard engines, sensors for fuel flow, fluid level, speed, heading, and water temperature can all be connected to the Simrad GO5 XSE through the NMEA 2000 communications standard for autopilot integration control.

The Simrad Extended Sonar Edition features the latest built-in TotalScan™, StructureScan® HD, DownScan Imaging™ and ForwardScan™ Sonar technology. Connecting a suitable transducer such as the all-in-one transom-mount Mid/High 455/800 TotalScan transducer delivers accurate, real-time depth tracking and fish finding. The depth history view lets you scroll back and set waypoints for the best anchorage spots for fishing. The DownScan Imaging view shows you a picture-like view of fish-holding structures on the bottom on both sides of and beneath the boat with award-winning StructureScan HD technology. CHIRP (Compressed High Intensity Radar Pulse) Sonar will deliver enhanced target separation from concealing cover, an improved target identification at greater depths, and a clearer display with less clutter and interference. ForwardScan sonar technology, enabled with a separate compatible transducer, can provide 2-dimensional views of the bottom ahead of your boat that can keep you from running aground if waters are poorly charted.

For marine entertainment while on the water, the Simrad SonicHub 2 marine audio system is designed to work with the GO5 XSE display. You can listen to the built-in AM/FM radio, play MP3 files from a USB drive, or stream music from Bluetooth connected smartphones, tablets or other devices. In addition, the GoFree Controller app can tether the GO5 XSE to Android or iOS devices, providing complete control on iPad and mirroring the display on smartphones. The built-in GoFree cloud also allows you to update software and download wireless maps as well as apps anywhere you have a wireless connection.

Simrad’s tradition of innovative and cutting edge performance makes the compact GO5 XSE a perfect tool to enhance and simplify your fishing and boating time on the water at an unbeatable price. You can get a great deal on Simrad GO5 XSE here.

 
 
 Lowrance Elite 5 Ti Simrad GO5 XSEHumminbird Helix 5 SI GPS
lowrance_elite5tisimrad go5 xsehumminbirdHelix5
Screen Size5 in5 in5 in
Screen Resolution800 x 480800 x 480800 x 480 pixels
Display TypeWidescreen, 16:9 ; WVGA color TFT LCDWVGA Colour TFT LCD256 Color TFT
TouchscreenYesNoNo
Imaging2D and Down Imaging and Side Imaging2D, Down Imaging and Side Imaging2D, Down Imaging and Side Imaging
Transducer TypeTransom Mount/Trolling MotorTransom MountTransom Mount/Trolling Motor
Transmit Power500W RMS500 W (RMS)500W RMS, 4000W Peak to Peak
Sonar Frequency (50/200 or 83/200 kHz) + 455/800 kHzTraditional: 83/200 kHz
CHIRP (mid and high)
DownScan: 455/800 kHz
StructureScan: 455/800 kHz
200/83 kHz 2D
455 kHz Down Imaging and Side Imaging
Maximum Depth1000 ft1000 ft1500 ft 2D
100 ft Side Imaging
GPS Antenna Type10kHz Internal high-sensitivity WAAS/EGNOS/MSAS10 Hz GPS receiverInternal
Waypoint Storage300010,000 points total combined waypoints / route points2500
MSRP$549$469$499
ReviewsReviewsReviews

User Reviews

Posted by 25cobi

  • 2/5
2

This looks like a good unit but the looks are deceiving. It frequently loses depth and bottom, it’s unable to track bottom at medium and high speeds. The preloaded maps are useless.

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