2019 Fishing Electronics Guide

2019 Electronics Guide

Looking for the best fishfinder for your boat? Need a radar that can spot birds and boats? If you haven’t upgraded your fishing and marine electronics in a few years, you’ll be blown away by the incredible technology that can be purchased today for a fraction of what it used to cost to consumers. Take advantage of these technological advances and make the most of your limited time on the water by making it safer and more productive with modern marine electronics. We’ve rounded up some of the newest fishfinders, chartplotters, and radars for fishermen. Read the overviews of each company, then click through to the manufacturer’s sites to see their full lineup of products.

 

Simrad

boat running with Simrad electronics
Simrad’s modular technology lets you create a sportfishing system that incorporates multifunction displays, CHIRP sounders, StructureScan 3D sonar, broadband and HALO radar, SonicHub audio, VHF radio, and autopilot. Simrad’s NSO evo3 glass bridge systems are suited to larger sportfishing vessels, while the NSS evo3 multifunction displays are at the center of sportfishing systems designed for 20- to 40-foot center consoles. The affordable GO lineup’s multi-touch chartplotters are suited for smaller center consoles and bay boats.

HALO24
$2,699 simrad-yachting.com
The Simrad HALO24 dome radar combines the performance and reliability of Simrad radar with the advantages of cutting-edge technology, a new profile, and lightweight design. Boasting 60rpm high-speed rotation at distances up to 2 nautical miles, it allows for increased safety and improved performance. The extremely fast refresh rate is excellent for high speed and short-range tracking. Simrad VelocityTrack Doppler technology provides instant visual feedback on the motion of radar targets in relation to the boat — color-coding approaching vessels for high visibility while de-emphasizing diverging targets. Easy to use, the radar can optimize up to 18 different parameters for each pre-defined mode (including harbor, offshore, weather, and bird), ensuring the ultimate view.

Simrad_NSO_EVO3
$6,999-$10,999 simrad-yachting.com
New in 2018, the Simrad NSO evo3 is a premier customizable display solution for larger sportfishing boats. It includes a true high-definition multi-touch display that can be viewed from any angle, even when wearing polarized sunglasses. Powered by a high-performance processor for super-fast responsiveness, the NSO evo3 connects to smartphones with integrated wireless connectivity and features advanced networking. It is available in 16-, 19- and 24-inch integrated displays.

SIMRAD GO7 XSR
$799 simrad-yachting.com
The Simrad GO7 XSR chartplotter navigation display is a great way to add GPS navigation, sonar, and even radar to your center console. Wireless connectivity to smartphones and tablets keeps you in control from anywhere on board, almost like a second display. GO units are now available with the Active Imaging 3-in-1 transducer that combines scanning sonar with a traditional medium/high CHIRP sonar element for easy single-transducer installation. Enjoy advanced scanning-sonar technology that provides incredibly detailed, high-resolution imaging without sacrificing range.

 

LOWRANCE

Lowrance has been a leader in marine electronics since it invented the first consumer sonar device in 1957, the famous “Little Green Box.” In the years since, Lowrance has created innovative solutions targeted toward inland and coastal fishermen. Their flagship HDS LIVE series offers premium performance for serious freshwater and saltwater anglers. The Elite Ti2 series of mid-range, easy-to-use touchscreen products are perfect for both inland and coastal fishing enthusiasts. The Hook2 series is focused on providing easy-to-use fishfinders at great prices.

Lowrance HDS LIVE
$949 to $4,499 lowrance.com
The new high-performance Lowrance HDS LIVE line of fishfinder/chartplotters delivers powerful real-time sonar, charting and connectivity features including: Active Imaging, which offers industry-leading clarity without sacrificing range; LiveSight, sonar that delivers detailed views of fish, down to every turn and tail flip as they swim in and around cover; Genesis Live charting, which uses digital depth to create depth-contour overlays on charts; and LiveCast smartphone integration, so you can receive important fishing information and entertainment from your smartphone on the display while your phone is safely stowed. HDS LIVE features a stunning new low-profile design with edge-to-edge glass and is available in 7-, 9-, 12- and 16-inch display sizes.

lowrance_elite_7_ti2
$649 to $2,069; lowrance.com
Powerful, yet affordable, the Lowrance Elite Ti2 gives anglers access to features previously reserved for Lowrance’s premium HDS family of displays. A 3-in-1 sonar solution, Active Imaging combines Lowrance CHIRP sonar with Side and DownScan Imaging, allowing anglers to quickly search fish-holding structure. Wireless networking delivers full connectivity without the hassle of cable installation – connect to your smartphone with Bluetooth calling and text notifications. Lowrance Elite Ti2 is available in 7-, 9-, and 12-inch display sizes, and various charting and transducer bundles.

Lowrance-HOOK2-12
$99 to $1,499; lowrance.com
The Lowrance Hook2 series of fishfinders and fishfinder/chartplotter combos boasts easy-to-use features found on high-end fish-finding gear, all at affordable prices. Auto-tuning sonar that corrects settings for the clearest view and a wide-angle broadband sounder more than doubles the sonar coverage of other models. It is available in 12-, 9-, 7-, 5- and 4-inch displays.

 

HUMMINBIRD

Humminbird side imaging
With a history of over 40 years of innovation, Humminbird brings fishfinders, GPS systems, radar, and autopilot to anglers. They offer solutions for all types of freshwater and saltwater anglers with the powerful SOLIX series of 15.4-, 12.1-, and 10.1-inch displays, and the HELIX series of 5- to 12.1-inch chartplotters, now with new Dual Spectrum CHIRP sonar and MEGA Imaging+.

Humminbird_HELIX_G3
$499-$2,499; humminbird.com
The new Humminbird HELIX G3/G3N units feature MEGA Imaging+, which gives anglers the ability to see out 200 feet to each side and 200 feet below the boat, with 20 percent more detail than MEGA Imaging. These new fishfinders also come equipped with Dual Spectrum CHIRP sonar, designed to help you see individual fish, clearly identify bait and structure, and reach greater depths and range. Humminbird Basemap comes standard on all new units, which are also equipped with AutoChart Live, allowing anglers to easily create fishing maps in real time. Anglers can also employ the One-Boat Network when they have a Minn Kota trolling motor equipped with i-Pilot Link. The HELIX G3/G3N family consists of five screen sizes (7-inch, new 8-inch, 9-inch, 10-inch and 12-inch).

Humminbird_SOLIX_G2
$2,199-$3,699; humminbird.com
With the inclusion of brand-new technologies like MEGA Imaging+ and Dual Spectrum CHIRP sonar, the new Humminbird SOLIX G2 Series (second generation) units extend imaging and sonar capabilities to help anglers see farther out to the sides of their boats, clearly identify bait, structure, and individual fish, and reach greater depths. These technologies are packaged in an easy-to-use interface that anglers can operate via touchscreen or keypad, all while customizing the screen with up to four independent viewing panes. Units also come equipped with AutoChart Live technology that creates and saves structure maps on any body of water, and they are pre-loaded with Humminbird Basemap, which includes contour maps for more than 10,000 U.S. lakes. AutoChart Live can be used in conjunction with i-Pilot Link from Minn Kota, allowing anglers to tell the Minn Kota trolling motor to “follow” a specific AutoChart Live contour at a set speed. Bluetooth is built into every unit, allowing an angler to sync a smartphone. The SOLIX series offers 15.4-, 12.1-, and 10.1-inch displays.

 

Airmar

Airmar is a family owned and operated manufacturing company in Milford, New Hampshire. More than 30 years ago, they introduced their first product, a transom-mounted transducer for fishfinders. Today, Airmar develops and manufactures transducers for a diverse range of applications, including air-ranging industrial transducers, underwater scientific and survey transducers, weather sensing instruments and an extensive line of fish-finding transducers.

Airmar Wide Beam CHIRP-ready Transducer
$1,953; airmar.com
With a high frequency range of 150-250 kHz and a constant 25-degree beam width across the entire frequency band, Airmar’s B275LHW Wide Beam CHIRP-ready Transducer provides broad coverage under the boat. Now, in addition to providing precise fish detection in the upper water column and wide coverage at the bottom, Airmar’s new wide beam format also creates crisper and larger return images on the display.

 

GARMIN

Garmin chartplotters
Known for creating user-friendly GPS navigation and wireless devices, Garmin’s marine offerings include sophisticated chartplotters and touchscreen multifunction displays, sonar technology, high-definition radar, autopilots, high-resolution mapping, and instrumentation. The flagship GPSMAP series includes 7- to 24-inch multifunction displays, the EchoMap Plus series offers 4- to 9-inch easy-to-use, easy-to-set-up chartplotter/sonar combos, and the new Striker Plus series of fishfinders includes built-in GPS and Quickdraw Contours map drawing.

panoptix_system
$499; garmin.com
The Panoptix LiveScope LVS12 is a new transducer that offers both 30-degree forward and 30-degree downward real-time scanning sonar views. The single-array transducer is an economical solution for inland and near-shore anglers without the need for a black box. With the active scanning capabilities of Panoptix LiveScope, anglers can see images and movement so clearly and precisely that it’s even possible to distinguish between species of fish. The LVS12 is compatible with Garmin’s new GPSMAP 8400/8600xsv multifunction displays.

Garmin_EchoMap_Plus
$199 to $1099; garmin.com
The next generation of Garmin’s EchoMap combo series features 4- to 9-inch sunlight-readable keyed and keyed-assist touchscreens that now include BlueChart g3 and LakeVü g3 cartography products with Navionics content built-in for coastal and inland boating and fishing. The Garmin ECHOMAP Plus series is available with and without transducers to accommodate nearly every angler and budget. For crystal-clear scanning of fish and structure, the ECHOMAP Plus series offers built-in CHIRP traditional sonar and CHIRP ClearVü and SideVü scanning sonar capabilities, and the bundled versions now include Garmin’s GT transducer with a dedicated down element for increased ClearVü depth performance of 500 feet. The ECHOMAP Plus “sv” models also add SideVü scanning for customers who want to see what’s located on both sides of the boat. All 7- and 9-inch Plus units provide support for Garmin Panoptix all-seeing sonar transducers, including Panoptix LiveScope.

GPSMAP_8600_Series
$2,499 to $5,999; garmin.com
Garmin’s extension of its flagship GPSMAP 8600 series brings premium features like built-in sonar and new BlueChart g3 coastal cartography to smaller, more affordable display options. Available in 10-, 12- and 16-inch displays that feature full HD in-plane switching screens with multi-touch control, the all-in-one compact design eliminates the need for black boxes, monitors, and external Wi-Fi antennas. The line also includes support for CHIRP, CHIRP ClearVü and CHIRP SideVü scanning sonars, and the full Garmin Panoptix all-seeing sonar product line, including the new Panoptix LiveScope LVS12 transducer.

 

RAYMARINE

Raymarine electronics equipped bass boat
With a legacy of marine navigation technology spanning over 80 years, Raymarine products are renowned today for their ease of use, rugged design, and reliability. Their comprehensive range of marine electronics for recreational boating includes the powerful Axiom multifunction navigation system, the Axiom Pro, which combines touchscreen controls with a keypad; the Axiom XL, which offers screen sizes to 24 inches; the new Element series sonar/GPS units; and the Dragonfly series of simple yet advanced fishfinders in 4-, 5-, and 7-inch sizes.

Raymarine_Element
$679-$2,549; raymarine.com
Building on the success of Raymarine’s Axiom displays, the Raymarine Element incorporates integrated RealVision 3D sonar technology, improving anglers’ underwater view with 3D bottom imagery and more precise location of fish targets. Element also introduces new patent-pending HyperVision 1.2-megahertz sonar technology, featuring ultra-high CHIRP sonar frequencies and enhancing the DownVision, SideVision, and RealVision 3D sonar, allowing anglers to see structure, vegetation, and fish with lifelike detail. The Element series consists of 7-, 9-, and 12-inch display models.

AxiomPro-Performance
$2,299 to $5,999; raymarine.com
Raymarine has expanded its Axiom multifunction display series with the introduction of the Axiom Pro, available with 9-, 12- and 16-inch screens. The new line features HybridTouch, which combines touchscreen controls with a keypad for easy use in tough offshore conditions. Advanced display technology maximizes viewing angles and reduces blackouts when seen through polarized glasses, and a quad-core processor allows extra-fast response. Available with RealVision 3D and 1kW CHIRP sonar, the Axiom Pro is easy to expand into an advanced navigation network that includes multiple Axiom displays, CHIRP radar, Evolution autopilot, FLIR thermal night vision technology, and more.

 


Furuno offers a full suite of marine electronics for fishing boats of all sizes. Multifunction NavNet displays are the foundation of systems that include multibeam sonar, radar, GPS, and autopilot options.


MSRP $3,695
Eligible for Rebate through May 31st

With a sleek all-glass front, refined graphical user interface, built-in RezBoost Fish Finder, and an internal GPS antenna, the 12″ NavNet TZTL12F is as easy to use as the phone in your pocket. NavNet TZtouch 2 allows you to build a navigation suite that is not only functional, but offers a luxurious look and feel. Add your choice from a variety of UHD Radars, control your NavPilot Autopilot, and send important data to Furuno’s matching FI70 Instrument displays. Also include AIS, Weather Fax, Sirius/XM Satellite Weather, Fusion Marine Stereo, and IP Cameras, as well as NMEA2000 and Furuno CAN bus devices. You can even remotely view and control your bridge with free apps for your smartphone and tablet.

MSRP $5,400
Eligible for Rebate through May 31st
The Furuno NXT Radar is the next step in Radar evolution: a Solid-State Radar with pulse compression, Target Analyzer™ and Fast Target Tracking™ utilizing Doppler technology. Combined with FURUNO exclusive RezBoost™ technology for beam sharpening, NXT packs the performance of a larger Radar in a more compact package. NXT showcases Furuno’s Target Analyzer™ function, where targets that are approaching your vessel automatically change color. Green targets are targets that stay stationary, or are moving away from you, while red targets are moving towards your vessel. Target Analyzer™ works independent of vessel speed, both your own vessels and target vessels, with minor limitations. Echoes dynamically change colors as targets approach, or get farther away from your vessel. Target Analyzer™ can increase safety, as well as improve situational awareness.

1 thought on “2019 Fishing Electronics Guide

  1. Julie Rafine

    Hi I was wondering if you could send me a few stickers I love your products my name is julie Rafine 110 highland avenue pennsville nj 08070 thanks

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