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Category: Buying Guides

  • Complete Marine Electronics Package for a New Boat: Buyer’s Guide

    Kitting out a new (or new-to-you) boat with electronics from scratch is genuinely overwhelming — there are a dozen categories to consider and it’s easy to overspend on one thing while missing something essential. Here’s a sensible order of priority and what to budget for each category.

    1. Chartplotter

    Your primary navigation display is the foundation everything else connects to. See our full chartplotter buying guide for options across every budget, or our breakdowns of units under £500 and under £1,000.

    2. VHF Radio

    Non-negotiable safety kit for anything beyond very sheltered water. See our VHF radio guide for fixed vs handheld advice — most boats benefit from both.

    3. Battery and Charging

    Every other piece of electronics depends on a properly sized, properly charged battery system. Start with our marine battery guide and pair your battery with a smart charger — see our charger recommendations.

    4. Fish Finder / Sonar

    If fishing is part of why you’re on the water, sonar is where a genuine budget decision needs to happen. Our fish finder guide covers everything from entry-level to flagship, and our live sonar comparison covers the newest forward-facing systems if budget allows.

    5. Trolling Motor (If Fishing)

    For anglers, a trolling motor is arguably as important as the chartplotter. See our trolling motor buying guide and pair it with the right battery from our trolling motor battery guide.

    6. Anchoring

    Don’t overlook anchoring gear when budgeting a new boat — see our anchor guide for traditional and shallow water options.

    7. Safety Equipment

    Round out the package with a PFD for every person aboard (see our PFD guide) and, for offshore trips, a PLB (see our personal locator beacon guide).

    Suggested Budget Order

    1. Safety essentials (PFDs, VHF, PLB if going offshore) — non-negotiable regardless of remaining budget.
    2. Battery and charging system — everything else depends on it working properly.
    3. Chartplotter — your primary navigation and information hub.
    4. Fish finder / sonar, if fishing is a priority.
    5. Trolling motor, anchor and accessories — build out from here as budget allows.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    How much should I budget for a full electronics package?
    It varies enormously by boat size and ambition — a modest small-boat setup (chartplotter, VHF, battery) can be done for under £1,500, while a full tournament-ready angling setup with live sonar and a premium trolling motor can run well into five figures.

    Should I stick to one brand?
    Not essential for every category, but chartplotter, sonar and live sonar systems generally need to be the same brand to network together — see our brand comparison guides for details.

    Can I add electronics gradually rather than all at once?
    Yes, and it’s often the sensible approach — start with safety and navigation essentials, then add fishing-specific electronics as budget allows.

    Planning a full electronics fit-out for a new boat? Our UK-based team can help you plan and budget the whole package — browse the full range in our online shop or get in touch.

  • Best Marine GPS Under £1,000: Mid-Range Chartplotter Guide

    Between £500 and £1,000 is where marine GPS units start to feel genuinely capable — larger screens, proper imaging sonar and, on some models, GPS charts built specifically for local waters. Here’s our pick of the best mid-range options.

    UnitScreenPrice
    Garmin GPSMAP 86sc Handheld Marine GPS with BlueChart g3 ChartsHandheld£574.99
    Lowrance HOOK Reveal 7 TripleShot with SideScan7-inch£574.99
    Humminbird HELIX 7 CHIRP MEGA DI GPS G4N Fish Finder7-inch£632.99
    Lowrance Eagle 9 with C-MAP European Waterways and TripleShot Transducer9-inch£804.99
    Humminbird HELIX 9 MEGA SI+ G4N with AutoChart Live9-inch£977.99

    The Lowrance HOOK Reveal 7 TripleShot with SideScan and Humminbird HELIX 7 CHIRP MEGA DI GPS G4N Fish Finder both bring 7-inch screens with proper imaging sonar (TripleShot and MEGA Down Imaging respectively) into this bracket — noticeably sharper structure detail than entry-level 4-5 inch units.

    For UK boaters specifically, the Lowrance Eagle 9 with C-MAP European Waterways and TripleShot Transducer is worth a close look — it ships with C-MAP European Waterways charts included, useful if you’re cruising canals, rivers or coastal Europe rather than just open sea.

    The Humminbird HELIX 9 MEGA SI+ G4N with AutoChart Live tops this bracket with AutoChart Live, building your own depth maps as you go — genuinely useful on waters that aren’t well charted commercially.

    What You Get at This Price Point

    • Larger 7-9 inch screens that are easier to read from a distance at the helm.
    • Proper imaging sonar (Side/Down Imaging or MEGA Imaging) for reading structure, not just fish arches.
    • Better chart options, including region-specific packages like European Waterways coverage.
    • More capable networking for adding a second display or basic radar later.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Is a 7-inch or 9-inch screen better?
    7-inch suits smaller helms and kayaks; 9-inch is easier to read at a glance from further away and gives more usable space for split-screen views.

    What’s AutoChart Live?
    A Humminbird feature that records depth data as you drive and builds it into your own chart layer — useful on smaller lakes and rivers that lack detailed commercial charts.

    Should I spend more for European Waterways charts?
    If you cruise rivers, canals or coastal Europe regularly, having dedicated charts included can be worth more than the price difference in convenience alone.

    Want help picking the right mid-range unit for your boat? Our team can talk through screen size, charts and sonar — browse the full range in our online shop.

  • Best Marine GPS Under £500: Budget Chartplotter Guide

    You don’t need to spend thousands to get proper GPS mapping on the water. Every unit below sits under £500 and includes built-in GPS for waypoint marking, basic chart plotting and finding your way home — here’s how they compare.

    UnitScreenPrice
    Deeper PRO+ 2 Smart Sonar Castable WiFi Fish FinderPhone-paired£229.99
    Garmin STRIKER Plus 4 Fish Finder with GPS4.3-inch£172.99
    Garmin Striker Vivid 4cv Fish Finder4-inch colour£172.99
    Lowrance Hook Reveal 5 TripleShot Fish Finder5-inch£287.99
    Humminbird HELIX 5 CHIRP GPS G3 Fish Finder5-inch£287.99
    Garmin STRIKER Vivid 9sv with GT52HW-TM Transducer9-inch£436.99

    At the entry point, the Garmin STRIKER Plus 4 Fish Finder with GPS and Garmin Striker Vivid 4cv Fish Finder both sit around £172.99 and give you built-in GPS with CHIRP sonar in a compact display — enough to mark spots, track your route and read basic structure.

    Step up to £287.99 and the Lowrance Hook Reveal 5 TripleShot Fish Finder or Humminbird HELIX 5 CHIRP GPS G3 Fish Finder add a larger 5-inch screen, making charts noticeably easier to read at the helm.

    The standout at this budget is the Garmin STRIKER Vivid 9sv with GT52HW-TM Transducer — a genuinely large 9-inch display for £436.99, well under the £500 mark and proof that you don’t need to spend flagship money to get a big, clear screen at the helm.

    What You Give Up at This Budget

    • Advanced imaging sonar (MEGA Side/Down Imaging, live sonar) is generally reserved for higher-end units.
    • Preloaded detailed charts may be limited — check whether UK coastal charts are included or need a separate card.
    • Networking to add radar, autopilot or a second display is usually more limited on entry-level units.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Is a budget GPS unit good enough for coastal sailing?
    For basic navigation and waypoint marking, yes — but check chart coverage carefully, and consider a fixed VHF radio and a backup handheld GPS for genuine offshore trips.

    Can I upgrade sonar later on a budget unit?
    Some support swapping to a higher-spec transducer later, but the display’s processing power ultimately limits how advanced the imaging can get — check compatibility before buying if you plan to upgrade.

    What’s the best value pick under £500?
    The Garmin STRIKER Vivid 9sv with GT52HW-TM Transducer stands out for giving a large 9-inch screen at a genuinely budget price point.

    Want help picking the right budget GPS for your boat? Our team can talk through your options — browse the full range in our online shop.