Dublin Bay covers a huge range of boating — sheltered marina cruising out of Dun Laoghaire, working charter boats out of Howth, and light-tackle kayak sessions at Malahide and Poolbeg. The right chartplotter or fish finder depends heavily on which of those you’re doing. Here’s what we’d recommend for each, and what it costs to get gear delivered to Dublin.
For Howth Charter Boats & Offshore Anglers
Boats working the Baily, Ireland’s Eye and the deeper marks off Howth need strong CHIRP target separation to pick fish out of structure. The Garmin ECHOMAP Ultra 2 122sv pairs CHIRP, ClearVü and SideVü sonar with a 12" sunlight-readable display and preloaded Navionics UK & Ireland charts — no separate chart purchase needed before you leave the harbour.
For Dun Laoghaire Cruising Yachts
If you’re berthed in Dun Laoghaire and running passages across Dublin Bay or further down the Irish Sea, you want chart plotting and networking that scales with your boat. The Lowrance HDS Pro 12 handles chart plotting, Active Imaging sonar and NMEA 2000 networking in a single multifunction display, so you can add AIS, autopilot or a second station later.
For Poor-Visibility Passages In and Out of Dublin Port
Dublin Bay’s weather can close in fast. The Raymarine Axiom 2 Pro 12 RVM builds in radar alongside chartplotting and sonar, which matters if you’re regularly running in or out of Dublin Port, Dun Laoghaire or past busy shipping lanes in reduced visibility.
For Kayak & Shore Anglers at Poolbeg and Malahide
Not every Dublin angler needs a full helm install. For kayak sessions at Malahide Estuary or shore fishing off Poolbeg Lighthouse, a compact, portable fish finder gets you sonar readings without permanent wiring.
Do I need live sonar for Dublin Bay fishing?
Not essential, but useful. Garmin LiveScope and Lowrance ActiveTarget 2 are both in stock and popular with anglers working structure around Howth and Ireland’s Eye where precise target identification matters.
What does it cost to ship marine electronics to Dublin?
Every order to Dublin ships Delivered Duty Paid — Irish VAT is calculated and included at checkout, so there’s no customs bill on delivery. Typical transit time is 2–4 working days via tracked, insured courier.
Ready to Gear Up for Dublin Bay?
See our full Dublin marine electronics range or shop everything in stock. Our technical team can help match a transducer and mount to your boat before you order.
Leave a Reply