Electronics

Top Fishing GPS

A gathering of the latest fishing GPS devices on the market

By Staff

Updated: February 25, 2015

Finding Fish

Technology evolves with each day. Moore’s Law (which suggests the number of transistors in a computing-hardware circuit doubles every two years) certainly covers marine electronics. Devices are rarely singular or stand-alone. They have become cross-platform, multifunctional and touch screen-capable. What anglers once used as a GPS/chart plotter to store waypoints and find new structure to fish has evolved into a GPS/chart plotter/sounder/audio player capable of showing video and overlaying radar, AIS, and weather; it even interacts with your smartphone and tablet. Here are some of today’s top GPS multitaskers and their accessories from a variety of manufacturers. Photo courtesy of Ross Early

Lowrance HDS Gen3

Lowrance’s new HDS Gen3 fish finder/chart plotter series combines a faster processor with an anti-reflective multitouch layer, full keypad, and a modified menu system. New features include scrolling menus, cursor assist, snap-to-setting markers, and preview panes with quick-touch slider bars, which Lowrance says make the Gen3 operate similar to a smartphone or tablet. The 7-, 9-, and 12-inch models all come standard with StructureScan HD, DownScan Imaging, and CHIRP Sonar. Gen3 comes with built-in wireless connectivity for mapping and software downloads as well as mobile-device interfacing. Prices range from $1,249 to $3,149.

Raymarine CP200

Raymarine has debuted its CHIRP-powered SideVision technology with the new CP200 network sonar module. The unit uses two independent CHIRP channels for its port- and starboard-facing transducer arrays, which deliver up to 600 feet of viewing on either side of the vessel. Those arrays can be manually adjusted for either shallow- or deep-water scanning. The wide SideVision beams complement the coverage of Raymarine’s CHIRP DownVision. The CP200 is compatible with the latest generation LightHouse II MFDs, including the new aSeries, cSeries, eSeries and gS Series. The module costs $609.99.

Garmin GSD 25 Fish Finder and GPS

The Garmin GSD 25 combines traditional sonar (supporting 50/200, 77/200, and 83/200 kHz frequencies), 1 kW CHIRP (40 to 250 kHz), CHIRP DownVü (260/455 kHz) and CHIRP SideVü (455/800 kHz) in one sonar module, which is compatible with the company’s brand-new GPSMAP 7400/7600 and GPSMAP 8000 Glass Helm Series multifunction displays. The GSD 25 — capable of reading depths to 5,000 feet — also pairs with Garmin’s newly announced line of scanning and CHIRP transducers. Available this quarter, the unit costs $899.99.

While Sport Fishing first told readers about Humminbird‘s new ONIX multifunction display in late 2013, the unit won ICAST 2014’s Best Electronics category. Available with an 8.4- or 10.4-inch display, ONIX comes with Cross Touch — multigesture touch-screen control — and a traditional touchpad. ONIX also accommodates add-ons such as 360 Imaging, radar, and i-Pilot Link. Available in models with or without side and down imaging, ONIX features TriFuel Cartography, meaning it can display charts made by Navionics, C-Map and Humminbird. (Note: NT — non-tactile/non-touch — models are also available.) Prices range from $1,999.99 to $3,199.99.

Simrad NSS evo2 MFD

Fully customizable, Simrad‘s NSS evo2 multifunction displays are available with 7-, 9-, 12- and 16-inch screens featuring TouchSensible multitouch control along with logical keypad input and a push-to-select rotary knob. Evo2 incorporates Simrad’s top fish-finding technologies, including BSM-1 Broadband sounder, BSM-2 CHIRP sounder and StructureScan HD, and is compatible with all performance modules such as Broadband 4G and 3G Radar, SonarHub, and GoFree Wireless Wifi-1. The units support a wide range of cartography and can display two distinct chart types simultaneously. Prices range from $1,529 to $5,699.

Furuno MU-T Marine Monitors

For anglers wanting large-screen, professional-grade electronics performance, Furuno has three MU-T multitouch marine monitors in 17-, 19- and 24-inch sizes. The monitors ideally pair with Furuno’s NavNet TZtouch Black Box system and offer edge-to-edge glass design. MU-Ts employ projected capacitive touch-screen technology for responsive sensitivity, and bright TFT active-matrix LCD and LED backlighting. The monitors maintain brilliance levels of 800 to 1,000 candelas but can be fully dimmed. They come with multiple inputs, dual-power capability, and adjustable picture-in-picture and split-screen modes. Prices are $8,595 (MU170T), $9,295 (MU190T) and $9,695 (MU240T). Call 360-834-9300 or visit furunousa.com.

Lowrance Outboard Autopilot and HDS MFD

Designed for single-outboard boats under 30 feet, Lowrance‘s Outboard Autopilot combines with the company’s HDS multifunction displays to provide fingertip steering and course planning without the need for a separate control head. The pilot steers to selected headings, waypoints or turn patterns; anglers can also create routes from saved trails. The SmartSteer interface in the HDS Gen2 and Gen2 Touch units can also control a MotorGuide Xi5 Pinpoint electric-steer trolling motor. Available for cable-steer or hydraulic installations, the pilot costs $999 to $1,499.

Raymarine 9- and 12-inch MFTD

Raymarine‘s a9 (9-inch) and a12 (12-inch) multitouch multifunction display units in its a-Series lineup allow pinch-to-zoom and come with a 10 Hz, 50-channel internal GPS; they’re also powered by the company’s latest Lighthouse II user interface (and include U.S. vector and raster charts). Designed for speed, the a9 and a12 employ a dual-core processor and a dedicated graphics processor, and can be controlled via Wi-Fi networking and Raymarine mobile apps. Anglers can also sync with Navionics mobile apps to immediately upload waypoints, routes and even charts. Available in three configurations — chart plotter only, plotter/sonar, and plotter/sonar with CHIRP/CHIRP DownVision — the units cost $1,899.99 to $2,999.99.

Garmin GPSMAP 800 and 1000 Plotters/Fish Finders

Garmin’s GPSMAP 800 and 1000 series of networkable chart plotters/fish finders with built-in scanning-sonar capability come with 8- or 10-inch screens, an intuitive keyed interface, 1 kW traditional sonar, built-in CHIRP, and DownVü (with support for SideVü with CHIRP). Available with a worldwide base map or preloaded with U.S. coastal BlueChart g2, the 820xs and 840xs units cost $1,499.99; the 1020xs and 1040xs units cost $1.999.99. Call 800-800-1020 or visit garmin.com/marine2014.

Humminbird Helix Compact-Format Fish Finders

The Humminbird Helix family of compact-format fish finders features widescreen color displays, similar to but smaller than the company’s 800 and 900 Series screens. The five models include a sonar-only unit, with 1,500-foot-depth capability, a sonar and Down-Imaging unit, a sonar/chart plotter, a sonar/chart plotter with Down Imaging, and the flagship — a sonar/chart plotter with Down- and Side-Imaging. All feature keypad control and an 800-by-480-pixel, 5-inch TFT display, and each is packaged with an appropriate transducer. Prices range from $199.99 to $499.99.

Simrad NSS8 Sport

Simrad NSS8 Sport (8-inch, includes plotter, internal antenna, broadband sounding): $1,299; P66 TD transom-mount transducer: $149.95; TOTAL: $1,448.95

Furuno GP 1870F

Furuno GP 1870F (7-inch wide-format, includes plotter, internal antenna): $995; 525-5PWD transom-mount transducer: $100; TOTAL: $1,095

Lowrance Elite-4/Mark-4 HDI Units

Lowrance’s Elite-4 and Mark-4 Hybrid Dual Imaging units combine Broadband Sounder and Downscan Imaging, and replaced previous Elite-4 and Mark-4 models. The larger, superbright 4.3-inch color (Elite) and grayscale (Mark) screens feature 70 percent more pixels and 36 percent more usable screen area. Plotter and combo models come with a built-in GPS antenna and high-definition mapping options. The Mark-4 HDI is available as a chart-plotter/fish-finder combo and starts at $179 (without a transducer). Elite units are available in fish-finder-only, chart-plotter-only (HD) and chart-plotter/fish-finder combos, with prices ranging from $149 to $469. Call 800-628-4487 or visit lowrance.com.

Raymarine completely redesigned its Lighthouse user interface to give owners a simpler experience with more features. The system starts at the new home screen with its icon choices presented in high-contrast color. The revamped menu system has been reorganized for quicker access to frequently used features and controls. Lighthouse II also features a new chart engine to support Raymarine-formatted Lighthouse Charts. Lighthouse II also supports Navionics vector charts. The new software and Lighthouse charts are available as a free download at raymarine.com. To see a video of the new interface, visit sportfishingmag.com/lighthouse2.

Humminbird 899ci HD SI

Humminbird 899ci HD SI (7-inch, includes transducer, plotter, side/down imaging, internal antenna): $999; XNT 9 SI 180 T transom-mount transducer: (included); TOTAL: $999

Garmin GPSMAP 741xs

Garmin GPSMAP 741xs (7-inch, includes plotter, charts, internal antenna, CHIRP/DownVu capable): $1,499.99; TM150M CHIRP transom-mount transducer: $299.99; TOTAL: $1,799.98

Raymarine a77

Raymarine a77 (7-inch, includes plotter, charts, internal antenna): $1,134.99; P58 transom-mount transducer: $99.99; TOTAL: $1,234.98

Si-Tex SVS-760F

Si-Tex SVS-760F (7.5-inch, fish finder only): $749; P66 transom-mount transducer: $150; TOTAL: $899

Standard Horizon CPF190iNC

Standard Horizon CPF190iNC (5-inch, includes plotter, internal antenna): $549.99; DST521 transom-mount transducer: $99.99; TOTAL: $649.98

Raymarine Dragonfly7 Sonar/GPS

A year after debuting its 5.7-inch CHIRP-powered Dragonfly Sonar/GPS Raymarine launched a 7-inch widescreen version. Dragonfly7 comes with two dedicated CHIRP sonar channels to provide greater target discrimination in traditional fish-finding and DownVision imaging modes. Dragonfly7 also offers a built-in GPS sensor, and supports Lighthouse U.S. vector and raster chart downloads and Navionics’ SonarChart display within its chart-plotter function. (Raymarine 4 and 5 models are available, starting at less than $200.) Dragonfly7 costs $899.99 and comes with a transom-mount transducer.

Si-Tex CVS-128

Si-Tex CVS-128 (8.4-inch, fish finder only): $1,499; Radarsonics 250C transom-mount transducer: $180; TOTAL: $1,679

Standard Horizon CPN1010i

Standard Horizon CPN1010i display w/ FF525 black-box fish finder (10.2-inch, includes plotter, charts, internal antenna): $1,999.99; DST520 through-hull transducer: $119.99; TOTAL: $2,119.98