Best Gps For Boats – Top 5 Picks & Review

Rating: 9.2/10

The Garmin Striker Plus 4 with Dual-Beam transducer is a fantastic fishfinder for anglers of all levels. It helps you find more fish with its clear sonar images and easy-to-use design. You can see what’s under your boat like never before.

What We Like:

• The dual-beam transducer with Garmin CHIRP traditional sonar gives you super clear pictures. You can easily tell the difference between fish and underwater objects.
• You can create your own fishing maps with the built-in Quickdraw Contours software. It lets you map out areas with 1-foot contours for up to 2 million acres.
• The built-in GPS lets you mark favorite fishing spots (waypoints) and plan your routes. It also shows you your boat’s speed.
• Its bright, 4.3-inch screen is easy to see even in direct sunlight. The controls are simple and straightforward.
• The device is built tough for any fishing trip, no matter the weather or water conditions.
• It has Bluetooth connectivity, which is a neat bonus feature.

What Could Be Improved:

• The touch control method might not be everyone’s favorite, especially with wet hands. Some users prefer physical buttons for better tactile feedback.
• While the transmit power is decent at 200W (RMS), more experienced anglers might wish for higher power options for deeper water.

Overall, the Garmin Striker Plus 4 is a powerful and user-friendly fishfinder. It’s a great tool for anyone looking to improve their fishing success.

Rating: 9.5/10

The Garmin Striker 4 with Transducer is a fantastic tool for any angler looking to find more fish. This 3.5-inch GPS fishfinder uses CHIRP sonar technology to give you incredibly clear images of what’s beneath the water’s surface. It’s designed to be user-friendly with a simple, keyed interface, making it easy to operate even for beginners. Plus, it’s built tough with a water rating of IPX7, so it can handle splashes and rain.

What We Like:

• Clear Vu scanning sonar shows detailed images of fish and structure.
• The simple, keyed interface makes it very easy to use and set up.
• CHIRP sonar provides crisper fish arches and better target separation.
• The built-in flasher is great for ice fishing or vertical jigging.
• You can mark and navigate to your favorite fishing spots using the waypoint map.
• It offers a good maximum depth capability for both freshwater and saltwater.

What Could Be Improved:

• The display size of 3.5 inches might be a bit small for some users.
• While it has GPS, it doesn’t come with pre-loaded maps for navigation.

Overall, the Garmin Striker 4 is a powerful and easy-to-use fishfinder that will help you catch more fish. It’s a solid investment for anglers who want clearer sonar and simple operation.

Rating: 9.1/10

Ready to take your fishing game to the next level? The Garmin STRIKER 5CV is a powerful fishfinder that helps you find more fish and explore new waters. Its bright 5-inch screen shows you everything clearly, even in direct sunlight. This device comes with a special transducer that uses CHIRP sonar. This means you get super clear pictures of what’s below your boat, showing you fish and the bottom structure in amazing detail. You can even create your own custom maps of your favorite fishing spots using the built-in Quickdraw Contours software. Plus, the GPS lets you mark where you found fish, plan your routes, and see how fast you’re going. It’s built tough for any kind of weather or water.

What We Like:

• It includes a transducer for both traditional and ClearVu scanning sonar, giving you great views of fish and the water below.
• The built-in Quickdraw Contours software lets you easily create and save your own maps with very detailed depth lines.
• The GPS feature is super helpful for marking spots, planning trips, and checking your boat’s speed.
• The 5-inch display is bright and easy to read, even when the sun is shining.
• It has a strong, rugged design that can handle all your fishing adventures.

What Could Be Improved:

• While it’s great for many, some advanced anglers might want more customization options.
• The initial setup might take a little time for those new to fishfinders.

This Garmin STRIKER 5CV is an excellent tool for any angler looking to improve their catch. It offers fantastic features in a user-friendly package.

Rating: 8.8/10

The Garmin GPSMAP 79sc is a tough, waterproof handheld GPS made for the water. It floats, so you won’t lose it if it falls overboard. Its bright, clear screen is easy to see, even in the sun. This device comes with helpful maps already loaded, making it ready for your next adventure on the sea.

What We Like:

• It’s built tough and floats, so you don’t have to worry about it getting damaged or lost in the water.
• The screen is clear and bright, and the glass resists scratches and fog.
• It has a lot of memory to save all your favorite spots and routes.
• It uses many satellite systems for accurate location tracking, even in remote areas.
• It comes with preloaded BlueChart g3 coastal maps, which are great for boating.
• The built-in compass helps you know which way you’re going, even when you’re not moving.
• The battery lasts up to 20 hours, so it will keep working on long trips.

What Could Be Improved:

• The water resistance is at the unit level only, meaning it’s not meant to be submerged for long periods.

This GPS is a reliable tool for anyone who spends time on the water. Its sturdy design and useful features make it a great companion for your boating and coastal exploration needs.

Rating: 9.1/10

The Simrad GO9 XSE is a powerful and versatile 9-inch multifunctional display that brings advanced navigation and fishfinding to your boat. This unit is packed with features like a built-in echosounder, GPS, and Wi-Fi, all displayed on a super-bright, multi-touch screen. It also connects to other marine electronics using NMEA 2000 and has a radar interface, making it a central hub for your onboard systems. The package includes a transom mount transducer for excellent fishfinding, pre-loaded C-MAP Discover charts for detailed navigation, and all the necessary cables and mounting hardware.

What We Like:

• The display is very bright and easy to see, even in sunlight.
• It has a user-friendly touchscreen that responds quickly.
• The built-in echosounder can show different types of sonar images like CHIRP, ForwardScan, Sidescan, and Downscan, which helps you find fish and see underwater structures clearly.
• Connecting to a Simrad radar is simple with the radar port.
• It integrates well with other marine electronics, autopilot, and engine systems via NMEA 2000.
• Built-in Wi-Fi allows you to mirror your phone or tablet screen on the display and download chart updates.
• The included C-MAP Discover charts cover US and Bahamas coastal areas and inland waters, providing excellent navigation detail.

What Could Be Improved:

• While the included transducer is good, upgrading to a more advanced one might be beneficial for serious anglers.
• The user interface, while generally good, can take a little time to learn all its features.

This Simrad GO9 XSE is a fantastic all-in-one solution for boaters who want advanced navigation and fishfinding capabilities. It offers a clear display and a wide range of features that enhance your time on the water.