Whether you’re outfitting a new boat or refitting an existing vessel, selecting the right electronics can make your head spin because of the dizzying variety of brands and models, each touted as the one to buy. We’re here to help you narrow down the choices.
Every year at Marine Electronics Journal, we ask manufacturers to name the one model or series of electronics that they consider their best based on factors such as innovation, popularity or utility, or maybe it has proved itself over time. There are 20 product categories in all, from AIS to wireless devices. We call the results the Best & Brightest Boating Electronics.
For the next several weeks The Mic will continue to report on the marine electronics that manufacturers consider to be their best. Last week we rolled out the second batch of MFDs/chartplotters. This time we’ll show you the first round of fishfinders/sonars.
Two new stand-alone fishfinders include all-new features that fishermen will love. The 5.7-inch FCV600 and NMEA 2023 Best New Product award-winning 8.4-inch FCV800 can drive either a CHIRP or dual-frequency CW (Continuous Wave) transducer, allowing fishermen to configure the fishfinder to suit their needs. Dual transducer ports on the FCV800 offer the best of both worlds. Features such as Bottom Discrimination, which displays the composition of the bottom, and Furuno’s ACCU-FISH fish size assessment tool, require a dual-frequency CW transducer. At the same time, Furuno’s TruEcho CHIRP delivers greater detail and target separation for baitfish, game fish and structure by transmitting across a spectrum of frequencies. The FCV800 drives both TruEcho CHIRP and CW options simultaneously.
See fish live. Catch fish deep. The Panoptix PS70 thru-hull transducer is powered by Garmin RapidReturn sonar, which gives you live sonar views down to 1,000 feet below the surface. As the fastest live sonar at 1,000 feet, images update at a minimum of 10 frames per second. Locate bait and fish quickly with a wide 120° by 8° sonar beam. Four easy-to-understand sonar modes—LiveVü Down Mode, Traditional Sonar, Triple-Beam Traditional Sonar or RealVü 3D historical scanning technology—allow you to select the view that works for your circumstance. And new QuickDraw Contours feature improvements allow you to survey wide areas of the sea floor at depths to 1,000 feet.
The RVM-1600 3D sonar module is a black-box sonar processor that combines CHIRP DownVision, SideVision and RealVision MAX 3D channels, which all benefit from faster ping rate and tighter beams to deliver exceptionally clear imagery. The high-frequency CHIRP sonar channel also boasts 600 watts of output power, significantly expanding the depth range to 1,200 feet and greatly improving the clarity of fish targets. The black box design can be added to the new Axiom 2 XL series, or any other legacy Raymarine Axiom system. Anglers adding RealVision MAX systems can also choose between the transom-mounted RVM100 or the through-hull RVM400-series of transducers, optimized for all new RealVision MAX sonar technologies.
The S5100 features three fully independent channels able to deliver high-resolution CHIRP sonar coverage across multiple depth ranges. Mix and match up to three transducers to provide the right coverage for any fishing style. Detect small or tightly grouped fish, identify thermoclines, and target specific depths with ease. The S5100 can be used to add sonar capabilities to a modular Simrad display system, or to provide additional sonar capabilities on multifunction displays or fishfinders with built-in sounder technology. High-speed ethernet connectivity enables easy installation almost anywhere onboard, on vessels of any size.
