Garmin Gps Units: Which Is Best For Your Boat?

Garmin offers a wide range of GPS devices for boats, catering to a variety of needs and preferences. From the GPSMAP series to the ECHOMAP and STRIKER lines, Garmin has durable chartplotters and fishfinders for all types of boaters and anglers. When choosing a Garmin GPS for your boat, consider factors such as screen size, resolution, sonar features, and compatibility with other devices. Whether you prioritize entertainment, advanced sonar capabilities, or basic GPS and sonar functions, Garmin has a product to suit your needs.

Garmin GPSMAP® 9000 Series

The Garmin GPSMAP® 9000 Series is a range of premium multi-function displays (MFDs) designed for captains who demand the best. Available in 19", 22", 24" and 27" touchscreen displays, the 9000 series offers stunning 4K resolution with edge-to-edge clarity. The displays provide superior clarity and sunlight readability, with in-plane switching (IPS) technology ensuring consistent, accurate colours that can be seen from all viewing angles, even with polarised sunglasses.

The 9000 series delivers superior design and performance, with a seamless and luxurious modern look and a maximised glass design. The MFDs can be flat or flush-mounted to create a stunning glass helm. The series offers enhanced connectivity and speed with the new Garmin BlueNet™ gigabit network, providing faster networking speeds and comprehensive connectivity throughout the vessel.

The 9000 series has ample processing power, with processors that are seven times faster than previous generations, ensuring quick and responsive performance. This premium processing power significantly enhances the user experience across the entire network and benefits all onboard sensors, including sonar, radar, cameras, video and digital switching.

The series offers myriad interfaces for integration, with a wide range of compatible devices, including chartplotters, cameras, radars, sonars and more. The BlueNet™ gigabit network enables faster networking speeds and enhanced multimedia streaming and seamless video integration, allowing users to play and hear the same video and audio throughout multiple screens and speakers on the network.

The 9000 series also provides innovative integration capabilities with onboard systems, including engine monitoring, OneHelm™ integrated digital switching, Fusion® audio and entertainment integration, and extensive camera support. The displays also feature voice control capabilities and can be paired with a compatible Garmin smartwatch for remote control of key MFD features.

The GPSMAP® 9000 Series is an impressive and powerful addition to Garmin's lineup, offering captains and boat enthusiasts a feature-rich and high-performance navigation solution.

Garmin GPSMAP® x3 Series

The Garmin GPSMAP® x3 Series is a powerful and versatile chartplotter that offers a range of features for anglers, cruisers, and sailors. The series includes 7-, 9-, and 12-inch display options, with sleek and streamlined designs that can be bail-, flush-, or flat-mounted to fit a wide range of dash configurations.

The GPSMAP® x3 Series boasts impressive processing power, with nearly double the processing capabilities of its previous generation. This results in faster and more responsive performance, benefiting all onboard sensors such as sonar, radar, cameras, and digital switching. The series also supports J1939 engine connectivity for select Yamaha engines and is compatible with OneHelm™, allowing users to control and customize crucial boat systems from the chartplotter screen.

One of the standout features of the GPSMAP® x3 Series is its built-in sonar capabilities. The sonar combo versions (xsv series) offer built-in support for Ultra High-Definition ClearVü™ and SideVü™ scanning sonar, as well as CHIRP traditional sonar. This provides anglers with superior target separation and high-contrast vivid color palettes, making it easier to distinguish fish from structures.

The GPSMAP® x3 Series also includes preloaded exclusive BlueChart® g3 coastal charts and LakeVü g3 inland maps with integrated Navionics® data and Auto Guidance technology. This industry-leading cartography offers navigational aids, spot soundings, depth contours, tides, and currents, as well as detailed harbors and marinas.

In terms of connectivity, the GPSMAP® x3 Series is fully network-capable with NMEA® 2000 and the Garmin Marine Network. It also features built-in Wi-Fi®, enabling reliable software updates, smart notifications, and access to the free all-in-one Garmin ActiveCaptain® mobile app.

The GPSMAP® x3 Series from Garmin is a feature-rich and powerful chartplotter, offering improved display optics and seamless integration into a Garmin marine system. With its robust processing power and built-in sonar capabilities, it is an excellent choice for those seeking a versatile and high-performance marine electronics solution.

Garmin ECHOMAP™ Ultra 2 Series

The Garmin ECHOMAP™ Ultra 2 Series is a fantastic choice for inland and nearshore anglers. The series offers two sizes: the ECHOMAP™ Ultra 2 106sv with a 10-inch display and the ECHOMAP™ Ultra 2 126sv with a 12-inch display. Both sizes come with a GT56UHD-TM transducer and Garmin Navionics+™ U.S. Inland & Coastal Mapping.

The ECHOMAP™ Ultra 2 series offers a range of advanced features that make it a versatile and powerful tool for anglers. One of its key features is wireless networking, which allows anglers to share sonar, waypoints, and routes with another ECHOMAP Ultra 2 or ECHOMAP UHD2 chartplotter on the boat. This eliminates the need for extra holes in the boat and reduces deck clutter from cables.

The series also boasts multi-band GPS technology with fast 10Hz updates, providing improved position accuracy, which is especially beneficial for anglers fishing under bridges, along bluffs, or in tree-covered coves. With its modernized operating system, updated graphics, and a new homepage, the Ultra 2 series offers a user-friendly and intuitive experience for anglers.

In addition to its wireless capabilities and accurate GPS, the ECHOMAP™ Ultra 2 series includes UHD scanning sonar and preloaded Garmin Navionics+™ mapping with a 1-year subscription for daily updates. The mapping software provides unparalleled coverage and detail for both coastal and inland waters, with depth range shading and Auto Guidance for faster route calculation. Anglers can also upgrade to Garmin Navionics Vision+™ premium mapping for high-resolution relief shading.

The ECHOMAP™ Ultra 2 series is designed for quick installation and removal, and it includes a quick-release mount for easy mobility. With suggested retail prices ranging from $1899.99 to $3099.99, the series offers a range of features that make it a top choice for anglers looking for a powerful and versatile chartplotter.

Garmin ECHOMAP™ UHD2 Series

The Garmin ECHOMAP™ UHD2 series is a range of premium chartplotters and fishfinders designed for inland and nearshore anglers. The series offers a range of screen sizes: 6", 7", 9", 10", and 12", all featuring touchscreens with keyed assist. The ECHOMAP UHD2 series provides anglers with features such as Ultra High-Definition sonar, preloaded Garmin Navionics+™ mapping with a one-year subscription to daily map updates, wireless networking for data sharing, and support for Garmin's LiveScope™ live-scanning sonar.

The ECHOMAP UHD2 series offers crystal-clear imaging of fish and structure with its Ultra High-Definition GT54UHD or GT56UHD transducer, which provides brilliant ClearVü™ and SideVü™ scanning sonar images and CHIRP traditional sonar. Anglers can choose from 16 vivid colour palette options to distinguish fish and structure based on their preferences and fishing conditions. The series is also compatible with Garmin LiveScope, allowing anglers to see real-time sonar imagery of fish and structure below and around their boat up to 200 feet down.

The built-in Garmin Navionics+ mapping provides boaters and anglers with enhanced situational awareness and streamlined navigation. The mapping features vibrant colours, a one-year subscription to daily map updates, colour-shaded target depth ranges, up to 1-foot depth contours, shallow water shading, and access to ActiveCaptain® community content, including recommendations and advice from fellow boaters. With the ActiveCaptain app, users can download Auto Guidance+ technology, enabling faster route calculations and improved routing detail.

The ECHOMAP UHD2 series also includes wireless networking capabilities, allowing anglers to share sonar data, waypoints, and routes with another ECHOMAP UHD2 or ECHOMAP Ultra chartplotter on the boat. This reduces the need for extra holes and cables on the boat. The series also features multi-band GPS technology with fast 10Hz updates, improving position accuracy, especially in areas like under bridges, along bluffs, or in coves with tree cover.

The ECHOMAP UHD2 chartplotters have a modernised user interface and graphics, providing intuitive handling and control. The quick-release brackets make it simple to remove the unit from the boat, and the 9" ECHOMAP UHD2 adds a high-resolution display with improved detail, clarity, and viewing angle compared to previous models. The suggested retail prices for the ECHOMAP UHD2 chartplotters range from $799.99 to $3099.99, depending on the display size and included features.

Garmin STRIKER® Vivid Series

The Garmin STRIKER® Vivid Series is a great choice for boat owners looking for a GPS system that doubles as a fishfinder. The series offers a range of features that make it a valuable tool for navigation and fishing.

Firstly, the STRIKER® Vivid Series provides crystal-clear images of what lies beneath the surface of the water. With industry-leading Garmin CHIRP traditional sonar and CHIRP ClearVü and SideVü scanning sonar technology, anglers can easily see fish arches and target separation. The series also offers 16 colour palettes to choose from, seven of which are new high-contrast options, making it easier to distinguish fish and underwater structures.

The built-in high-sensitivity GPS receiver is another standout feature. Anglers can quickly mark their favourite fishing spots, as well as other areas of interest like brush piles, stumps, or docks. The GPS also enables users to plan and create routes and view their boat's speed.

The STRIKER® Vivid Series also comes with built-in Quickdraw Contours mapping software, allowing anglers to create their own HD fishing maps. They can store up to 2 million acres of maps with 1-foot contours, and easily share their data with others through the Garmin Quickdraw™ Community.

Select models in the series also offer built-in Wi-Fi®, enabling users to connect to the free ActiveCaptain® app to transfer waypoints and receive smart notifications.

The STRIKER® Vivid Series is designed with durability in mind, featuring a rugged design and a keyed interface built to withstand the harsh marine environment. It comes with a tilt/swivel mount and transom- and trolling-motor mounting hardware, making it easy to install and use.

With screen sizes ranging from 4 to 9 inches and prices starting at $179.99, the STRIKER® Vivid Series offers a range of options to fit different budgets and needs. Overall, this series is an excellent choice for boat owners looking for a feature-rich and reliable GPS system and fishfinder.

Frequently asked questions