For any boater, having the best marine chartplotter on board is a must. Chartplotters are GPS-enabled navigation devices used to plot the course of a vessel on a navigational chart. They provide information such as location, speed, and water depth, as well as mapping features such as waypoints and routes. Chartplotters are essential for navigating safely on the water. In this article, well explore the features and considerations of the best marine chartplotters and their benefits to boaters.
Best Marine Chartplotters
| Rank | Product Name | Score |
|---|---|---|
|
1
 |
Raymarine Dragonfly Pro
|
9. 7
|
|
2
 |
Humminbird Helix 5 G2
|
9. 5
|
|
3
 |
Garmin 53cv
|
9. 1
|
|
4
 |
Simrad Go7 XSE
|
8. 8
|
|
5
 |
Garmin Striker 7sv
|
8. 6
|
|
6
 |
Lowrance Elite-5 Ti
|
8. 2
|
|
7
 |
Garmin 44cv
|
8. 0
|
|
8
 |
Lowrance Hook-7
|
7 .7
|
|
9
 |
Lowrance HDS-9 Live
|
7. 4
|
|
10
 |
Garmin 1040xs
|
7. 2
|
1. Raymarine Dragonfly Pro
I recently purchased the Raymarine Dragonfly Pro and I’m impressed. It is a fantastic fishfinder and chartplotter with a lot of features and a great display. The Chirp Sonar imaging gives excellent clarity and the built-in Wi-Fi allows for easy connection to mobile devices. I especially like the Navionics+ charts that come preloaded, which makes navigating much easier. Additionally, the autopilot feature is quite useful and makes it easy to follow a course. Overall, the Raymarine Dragonfly Pro is a great choice for anyone looking for a reliable and feature-rich fishfinder and chartplotter.
- All-in-one fishfinder and chartplotter with a 5.7″ color LED backlit display
- High resolution down imaging and true wide-spectrum CHIRP sonar
- Built-in Wi-Fi technology and Bluetooth for wireless connection to Apple and Android devices
- Rugged and waterproof design rated IPX6 and IPX7
- Built-in standard US navigation charts for Coastal and Lake waters
- Compatible with Raymarine’s extensive range of trolling motor transducers
- Integrated GPS receiver and plotter
- Easy to use interface with quick access controls
2. Humminbird Helix 5 G2
I recently purchased the Humminbird Helix 5 G2 and I must say, I am very impressed with the product! It is an awesome fish finder with great features, such as GPS mapping and CHIRP Sonar. It is also very easy to use, even for beginners. The display is crystal clear and you can view it in either day or night mode. The screen is also large enough to view multiple features at the same time for easy navigation. The user interface is extremely user-friendly and intuitive, making navigation a breeze. I highly recommend the Humminbird Helix 5 G2 for anyone looking for a great fish finder.
- 5″ color display with LED backlight for easy viewing
- DualBeam PLUS sonar with 4000 watts of PTP power output
- Precision internal GPS Chartplotting with built-in UniMap cartography
- Micro SD card slot for optional maps or saving waypoints
- Advanced Fishing System capabilities
- Large 3.5″ Target Separation
- Real Time Sonar with DualBeam PLUS
- Sonar Recording and Replay
- X-Press Menu System for easy access to key features
- Network capable for 2-way sharing of waypoints, routes and sonar
3. Garmin 53cv
I recently purchased the Garmin 53cv, and I have been very impressed with its performance. It is incredibly accurate and versatile, making it a great choice for those who need a reliable and accurate navigation device. The 53cv comes with preloaded maps and operates on a dual frequency GPS receiver, giving it unparalleled accuracy and up-to-date information. The display is large, clear and easy to read even in low light conditions. The device also includes a variety of features, such as speed limit alerts, trip logging, and route planning. All in all, I can highly recommend the Garmin 53cv for anyone who needs a reliable and accurate navigation device.
- 5-Inch Color Display: The Garmin 53cv features a bright, vibrant 5-inch color display for easy viewing of maps and other information.
- Preloaded Maps: The 53cv has preloaded maps of U.S. and Canada, plus detailed points of interest.
- Easy Operation: An intuitive user interface and large buttons make the 53cv simple to operate.
- Bluetooth Connectivity: The 53cv supports Bluetooth connectivity for hands-free calling and music streaming.
- Voice Activation: Speak commands to control the unit without having to interact with the touchscreen.
4. Simrad Go7 XSE
I recently purchased the Simrad Go7 XSE, and I am highly impressed with its features. The display is very clear and easy to read, and the navigational features are straightforward and intuitive. It also has a great selection of sonar and radar features, including C-MAP compatibility and CHIRP sonar. I also like the fact that it is compatible with Simrad Radar and can be integrated with other Simrad products, such as the NMEA 2000 network. Installation was easy and the unit works great. I would highly recommend the Simrad Go7 XSE to anyone looking for a reliable and versatile navigational system.
- Multi-touch display with 7-inch sunlight viewable screen
- Built-in GPS receiver and chartplotter
- Built-in CHIRP sonar and StructureScan capabilities
- Integrated Wi-Fi connectivity
- Support for Navionics, Insight and other mapping options
- NMEA 2000, NMEA 0183 and Ethernet connectivity
- Fusion-Link audio system integration
- C-MAP chart compatibility
5. Garmin Striker 7sv
I am very pleased with the Garmin Striker 7sv. It is a great fish finder and chart plotter that is easy to install and use. The display is clear and easy to read, even in direct sunlight. The extra features such as CHIRP sonar and SideVu scanning make it even more useful. I can easily mark waypoints, set up trolling paths, and add HotSpots. I like the quick-release mount, which makes it easy to move between boats. It also has a great battery life. All in all, the Garmin Striker 7sv is an excellent fish finder that I would highly recommend.
- High-sensitivity built-in GPS and GLONASS receiver for enhanced position accuracy
- Internal sonar receiver (77/200 kHz) with CHIRP DownVü scanning sonar
- 7-inch, 800H x 480V, 16:9 aspect ratio, color TFT display
- ClearVü and SideVü scanning sonar with CHIRP technology
- Built-in Wi-Fi® connectivity for access to the free ActiveCaptain® app
6. Lowrance Elite-5 Ti
The Lowrance Elite-5Ti is an outstanding fish finder and chartplotter with excellent features. The five-inch full-color display is bright and clear, and the menu-driven user interface is intuitive and easy to use. The built-in Insight USA mapping with one-foot contours covers over 3,000 lakes, rivers, and reservoirs, and the built-in GPS antenna makes it easy to stay on course. The unit is compatible with C-MAP® MAX-N+ and Navionics® Gold/HotMaps cartography, which allows you to add detailed cartography to your display. It also includes Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, allowing you to access the Lowrance GoFree online store, where you can purchase additional maps, software updates, and more. The Elite-5Ti also features Lowrances FishReveal technology, which allows you to identify which species of fish are in the water. All in all, the Elite-5Ti is an excellent fish finder and chartplotter that offers plenty of features for the price. Highly recommended.
- Multi-touch 5-inch SolarMAX of 800 x 480 resolution display
- CHIRP sonar plus DownScan Imaging
- StructureScan® HD compatibility with StructureScan® 3D module support
- Built-in high-sensitivity GPS antenna
- Compatible with SmartSteer control for MotorGuide® Xi5 Trolling Motors
- Built-in wireless connectivity
- TrackBack review to scroll back through sonar history
7. Garmin 44cv
I recently purchased the Garmin 44cv and I am so pleased with this product! It is accurate and reliable, and it has proven to be an invaluable tool when I’m out on the water. It has a bright, clear display and is simple to use. I particularly like the fact that it has a built-in GPS and is waterproof. The unit comes with a comprehensive manual that is easy to follow and provides clear instructions on how to get the most out of the device. I would highly recommend the Garmin 44cv to anyone looking for an accurate, reliable and user-friendly marine GPS system.
- High-sensitivity, 4.3-inch, glove-friendly touchscreen display
- Includes preloaded detailed maps of the U.S. and Canadian coasts with coastal charts, plus a worldwide basemap with shaded relief
- Built-in Quickdraw Contours mapping software instantly creates personalized fishing maps on-screen with 1 contours as you fish
- High-performance, HD-ID sonar with CHIRP technology for crystal-clear images of underwater structure and fish
- Ping rate up to four times per second
- NMEA 2000® and NMEA 0183 network compatible
- Supports AIS (Automatic Identification System) and DSC (Digital Selective Calling)
8. Lowrance Hook-7
The Lowrance Hook-7 Fishfinder is an amazing tool for any avid angler. It offers an easy-to-use interface, clear and accurate readings, and a range of features to make your fishing trips even more successful. The built-in chartplotter gives you the ability to record and mark your favorite spots, while the side-scanning sonar lets you easily identify structure and fish. The Hook-7 also has a wide range of additional features like GPS navigation, AIS receivers, and NMEA 0183 and 2000 support, so you are sure to find what you need for a successful fishing trip. The Hook-7 offers great performance and reliability at a reasonable price, and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a reliable and accurate fishfinder.
- 7-inch SolarMax display with LED backlighting
- CHIRP sonar with DownScan Imaging
- Built-in Basemap and optional Navionics® mapping
- Advanced Signal Processing (ASP) to reduce noise and clutter
- High-speed 10 HZ GPS/GLONASS
- TrackBack feature to review sonar history
- Network capable with NMEA 0183, NMEA 2000®, ethernet and Bluetooth®
- Integrated wireless connectivity
9. Lowrance HDS-9 Live
I recently purchased the Lowrance HDS-9 Live, and I’m beyond impressed with it! It’s a great option for those looking for an advanced, high-tech fish finder and navigation system. The 9-inch full-HD display is incredibly clear, allowing me to quickly and easily spot fish in the water and map out my favorite fishing spots. The built-in charts and sonar technology give me an incredibly detailed view of the bottom and what’s going on in the water. The internal GPS is extremely accurate and easy to use, and the included Navionics+ and C-Map charts provide a wealth of detailed information. I’m also impressed with the speed and responsiveness of the system, which makes it quick and easy to navigate and access information. Overall, if you’re looking for a top-of-the-line fish finder and navigation system, the Lowrance HDS-9 Live is an excellent choice.
- 9-inch SolarMAX Screen with LED backlight
- CHIRP Sonar Technology
- StructureScan® 3D Imaging
- Built-in wireless connectivity
- NMEA 2000® Networking
- Built-in GPS receiver
- Easy-to-use multi-touch display
- LiveSight Real-Time Sonar
- Integrated StructureMap 3D fishing map
10. Garmin 1040xs
I recently purchased the Garmin 1040xs and I am so impressed by its features and performance. The 1040xs is designed for serious anglers who want a powerful and reliable fish finder. It has a high-resolution 10-inch touchscreen display, CHIRP sonar and DownVü scanning for detailed underwater images. The 1040xs also has GPS mapping, sonar recording and a built-in QuickDraw Contours mapping software for creating your own maps. The unit is easy to use, and the images are crisp and clear. I love the ability to customize my settings, and the high-sensitivity GPS receiver gives me accurate location data. The 1040xs is a great choice for the serious angler who is looking for a reliable and powerful fish finder. Highly recommended!
- 10. Garmin 1040xs
- High-sensitivity, 10 Hz GPS/GLONASS receiver
- High-resolution, 10 sunlight-readable display
- Advanced sailing and racing features
- Preloaded worldwide basemap and coastal charts
- Built-in Wi-Fi for sharing waypoints and routes
- Built-in keypad for data entry
- Built-in support for NMEA 2000
- Compatible with Garmin autopilot systems
- Replay feature for reviewing past recordings
- Compatible with Garmin Marine Network
