Top 10 Tips for Choosing a Sonar Fishing Boat

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Lowrance

Garmin

Humminbird

LUCKY

Rivotek

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The power of the echo sounder is one of the main criteria when choosing. It shows how far the device can scan the space, as well as how clear the picture will be on the display. For convenience, consider several options of different power, using two beams in operation:

Power, W)	Scanning range (m)
4000	690
500	45
2400	200
2000	152

A direct relationship is visible, but it is impossible to build on this parameter alone. In addition to power, you need to look at the sensitivity of the device and its frequency, which we will also talk about. It is the combination of these factors that determines how far the scan will be performed. In addition, the power indicator displays how high quality the resulting picture will be. If the device has a high level, but a low range, then at the output you will get the most clear and understandable image, and the error will be minimized. Note also the difference between working in salt and fresh water. Sea depths are scanned less. The difference will be about two times. That is, if in fresh water your device studies 400 meters of space in front of it, then in salt water it is no more than 200 meters.

The number of beams determines the angle of view of the echo sounder. The more of them, the wider the radius, but also the more expensive the device. Budget models use only one beam and in most cases this is enough. Also, one beam is enough if your fishing is trolling from a moving boat. Each additional beam increases the viewing radius by a certain number of degrees.There is no specific figure here, the data will differ depending on a number of other factors and the manufacturer itself. For example, consider an echo sounder with 4 working beams. With averaged values, the parameters will look like this: the first beam with an angle of 75°, the second with 45°, the third with 28° and the last with 16°. Together we get 164 degrees. At the same time, each beam operates at its own frequency, that is, the main picture is transmitted from the first beam, and the rest only complement it.

Sensitivity indicates how accurate the scan will be. Unfortunately, it is not determined by any specific parameter. And not all manufacturers indicate a specific value. Most often in the description of the device you can find such an indicator as the distance between objects. This is sensitivity. If it is 50 cm, then objects that are closer simply will not be detected. The smaller the distance, the more complete picture you get on the screen. Which echo sounder to choose in this case, everyone determines for himself. If you just need to find a cluster of fish, then a device with low sensitivity will do. But if you want to clearly understand which individuals are under water, how many of them and at what speed they move, you will have to look for an echo sounder with higher values.

Frequency is the cornerstone of how a sonar works. This parameter is directly related to the power of the device. The frequency is measured in kilohertz. Devices below 50 kHz allow you to view water over long distances, but at the same time give a low-quality picture. The most common setting is 200 kHz. This is the golden mean. The scanning range is reduced, but you get the most detailed and clear picture of what is happening. For fishing from a boat, a device with 200 kHz is ideal.

Accordingly, if you just want to study the water area, and you don’t really need a picture, it’s better to choose a low-value sonar. In addition, the device will be inexpensive and smaller.

A modern echo sounder is a full-fledged computer that can not only scan the water area, but also calculate other parameters. The cost of the device directly depends on the number of additions. The more of them, the more expensive the device, and vice versa, an inexpensive echo sounder will not have options at all. The list of additional functions includes: temperature measurement, the speed of your movement and movement of objects under water, water turbidity, and so on.

Separately, it is necessary to talk about the chartplotter. This is a kind of satellite navigator that determines the position of the boat on the map and relative to both surface and underwater objects.It is very convenient when fishing takes place in unfamiliar places and there is no way to remember some point without the help of special equipment. The chartplotter uses certain cartography. There are several of them, and most often manufacturers prefer one particular scheme:

Cartography type	Manufacturers
Navionics	Raymarine; Lowrance; Simrad.
S-MAR	Seiwa; Standard Horizon; Cobra.
Furuno	Samyung; Garmin; LUCKY.

The chartplotter only works with water areas. In his memory there is data on all the nuances. He knows where the buoys are, what the bottom topography is on the ground and other important aspects. The presence of a chartplotter significantly increases the cost of equipment. If you fish in the studied places and you do not need all this data, feel free to refuse the function. This will allow you to significantly save on the purchase and will not affect the quality of the device.

Fishing from a boat should be as comfortable and convenient as possible. If you have an inexpensive portable fish finder with a small display, you will have to constantly take it out of your pocket and put it back. This is inconvenient and time consuming. The stationary models look the most attractive, but it's also important to look at what kind of display they use.

There are no clear recommendations here. It all depends on personal convenience and financial capabilities. Note that the display parameters relate not only to its size, but also to clarity, as well as additional options. For example, the best fish finder will be equipped with an anti-reflective screen. When fishing, this is very important, since the sun shining in the back seriously affects the ability to read data.

To choose the best display, you need to correlate its size with its resolution, measured in pixels. The higher the resolution, the clearer the picture will be displayed. This is completely irrelevant for models with low sensitivity, since they most often have a schematic display in a small color gamut. Some inexpensive versions are generally monochrome.

A budget echo sounder will certainly not have its own GPS module and even the ability to connect it. This is a feature of more expensive models. You can save a lot of money on it if the water area is well known to you and you do not plan to swim many kilometers along an unknown river or go out to the open sea. A feature of GPS modules on echo sounders is not only the ability to determine the location on the map, but also to set points and remember the route. Top models are able to record up to several thousand points and plot a route with a range of up to 500 kilometers.

The presence of GPS significantly increases the price of the product. If you're still undecided about which sonar to choose and don't know if you'll have to explore new rivers, it's best to take a model with optional GPS connectivity. Such a device will cost less, and at any time you can simply buy a module and attach it to your echo sounder.

Even the most careful fishing from a boat implies the presence of moisture and splashes on board. The echo sounder must have a maximum level of protection, measured in IP or IPX. In the first case, the figure should be more than 60. This tells us that the device is not afraid of moisture, but to a different extent. So, the IP60 parameter means that the device is not afraid of splashes, and IP68 will even allow you to immerse the device in water, after which it will not fail.

The IPX value has similar characteristics, but the number varies from 1 to 10. The higher it is, the more reliably the echo sounder is protected from moisture. In addition, the protection indicator shows the level of frost resistance, but in our case it is not needed. It is unlikely that you decide to fish from a boat in winter.

An inexpensive echo sounder, scanning the underwater space, focuses only on the presence of movement. The logic is simple - if something is moving, then it is a fish. But what kind of fish, how many of them and at what speed it moves, he no longer knows. More expensive models analyze more information and can even determine the type of fish. Of course, conditionally, especially if it's a big jamb.

Echo sounders are also able to scan the bottom, drawing its topography and structure. With the help of such a device, it is easy to find bottom holes and obstacles, which is very important when trolling from a boat or fishing in unknown places. The information on the display can be in the form of a picture or a diagram. The picture, of course, looks more attractive, but only a schematic display is used on professional models. Here you will not see painted fish, algae and pebbles at the bottom.All data is displayed in the form of different colors, showing the height of the bottom relief and the presence of moving objects.

There are leaders in the echo sounder market - three brands: Lowrance, Garmin and Humminbird. They have the best devices with maximum information content and maximum capabilities. But the price tag is appropriate. Some models can cost more than 100 thousand rubles, which is simply unacceptable for most ordinary fishermen. True, these same brands also produce budget models. Their functionality will be more modest.

In the middle price segment, echo sounders have proven themselves well LUCKY, Rivotek and SAMYUNG. They are a little cheaper than the top brands, but you still can’t call them budget. In the budget segment, the leaders are fish finder and ReelSonar. As a rule, these are portable devices with a minimum of functions, one working beam and a limitation on the scanning range.