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Written by
Larry Stark, Founder / Main Editor
Professional fisherman, who loves to review new fishing gadgets.
It is difficult to get comfortable in a small boat, and you are forced to leave some gear behind. But it doesn’t mean you can’t catch some big fish, especially if you use a suitable fish finder. I’m sure at least one fish finder on my list will fit your needs.
My Personal Picks
Best Fish Finder for Small Boat
- Castable fish finder will be a good choice for small boats
- Fast charging for more hours of fun
- Good scanning range and good deep scans to detect fish
Runner Up
Deeper Pro Plus
- Rechargeable battery for longer fishing trips
- A good choice for anglers who prefer to use phones as screens
Best Budget Fish Finder For Small Boat
Garmin Striker Cast
- Built-in GPS gives you a chance to create maps
- The lightweight fish finder is easy to use, and easy to carry on the small boat
Table of Contents
- 7 Best Fish Finders for Small Boats
- Deeper Chirp 2 Fish Finder
- Small Boat Fish Finder - Deeper Sonar PRO+
- Garmin Striker Cast
- Humminbird Piranhamax 4 Fish Finder
- Garmin Striker 4 Fish Finder
- Lowrance Hook Reveal 5
- Garmin Striker Vivid 5CV Fish Finder
- How to Choose the Best Fish Finder for a Small Boat
- GPS integrated
7 Best Fish Finders for Small Boats
- Deeper Chirp 2 – High-End Fish Finder For Small Boats
- Humminbird Piranhamax 4 – Easiest to Use Fish Finder For Small boats
- Garmin Striker 4 – Best Beginners Fish Finder For Small Boat
- Garmin Striker Cast – Small Boat Fish Finder
- Lowrance Hook Reveal 5 – Small Boat Fish Finder
- Garmin Striker Vivid 5CV – Small Boat Fish Finder
- Deeper Sonar PRO+ – Small Boat Fish Finder
My reviews of the best fish finders for small boats are based on overall performance, selection of features, coverage, and image clarity. All of them are worthy purchases, but the final choice depends on your preference.
#1
The Best Fish Finder for Small Boat
Deeper Chirp 2 Fish Finder
- Three-frequency Chirp: Yes
- Wi-Fi: Yes
- Connection Range: 394 feet
- Rechargeable Battery: Yes
- Fish Deeper app Connection: Yes
Pros
- Castable fish finder will be a good choice for small boats
- Fast charging for more hours of fun
- Good scanning range and good deep scans to detect fish
Cons
- This device can be challenging in shallow waters
- Deeper Chirp is a heavy device and might not work well because the fish become alert as you cast it
#2
Runner Up
Small Boat Fish Finder - Deeper Sonar PRO+
- Built-in GPS: Yes
- Onshore Mapping: Yes
- Fishing Modes: 4
- Internet Needed: No
Pros
- Rechargeable battery for longer fishing trips
- Compatible with iOS and android phones
- A good choice for anglers who prefer to use phones as screens
Cons
- Does not identify fish correctly
- The device is heavier than other castable fish finders
#3
Best Budget Small Boat Fish Finder
Garmin Striker Cast
- Long Battery Life: Yes
- Wi-Fi: Yes
- Bluetooth Connectivity: Yes
- GPS: Yes
- QuickDraw Contours: Yes
Pros
- Built-in GPS gives you a chance to create maps
- Works well in shallow and deep waters
- The lightweight fish finder is easy to use, and easy to carry on the small boat
Cons
- The Wi-Fi connection become weak as the fish finder drifts far
- The fish identification may not work always
BUYING ADVICE: This fish finder is on our list for multiple reasons such as portability, and ease of use. Who does not want an easy to use fish finder? The best part is that this one will connect to the Garmin app and will give a crystal clear picture of what lies beneath the boat. The GPS comes in handy while finding waypoints and getting back. If you’re looking for affordability, check out our guide on the cheapest fish finders. It’ll help you reel in the best deal.
#4
Easiest to Use Fish Finder For Small boats
Humminbird Piranhamax 4 Fish Finder
- Dual Beam Sonar: Yes
- Down Imaging Depth: 320 feet
- GPS: Yes
- Transducer Included: Yes
Pros
- Excellent quality of hardware, which is durable
- Down imaging helps with finding fish in the water column just beneath your boat
- Sonar technology is going to help you find fish every time
Cons
- Dependent on boat power source
- The mount can loosen up some times.
#5
Best Beginners Fish Finder For Small Boat
Garmin Striker 4 Fish Finder
- GPS: Yes
- Wi-Fi: Yes
- Dual Beam Transducer: Yes
- Portable: Yes
- Keyed Input: Yes
Pros
- The chirp sonar and traditional sonar technology ensure accuracy
- The mount does not require a lot of time
- The display is quick and the scanning is constant
Cons
- The screen loses brightness in the sun and become hard to read
- There are too many buttons for a small task
#6
Small Boat Fish Finder from Lowrance
Lowrance Hook Reveal 5
- Down scanning: Yes
- Fishfinder Identification: Yes
- Inland Maps: Yes
- Chirp Sonar: Yes
- GPS: Yes
Pros
- Mountable and a good screen size
- GPS is reliable for mapping waypoints
- Good for small boats because it does not have too many cables or attachments
Cons
- The SD card does not come with the device
- You will need to purchase a few inland maps that can be inconvenient
#7
Small Boat Fish Finder from Garmin
Garmin Striker Vivid 5CV Fish Finder
- Garmin ClearVu, SideVu: Yes
- Traditional Chirp: Yes
- Sonar Color Palettes: Yes
- Chirp Sonar: Yes
- GPS: Yes
Pros
- Good for kayak fishing or small boat fishing because of easy mount
- If you want to get quick scans within a short time this is the right fish finder for you
- Small boats can rock when you catch a fish, and this fish finder can take the movement
Cons
- The screen becomes dark in the sun
- There are too many functions that require many commands
FEATURES: Garmin Striker Vivid 5CV is a portable fish finder with a decent screen size. This device comes with Garmin features that allow deep scan, side scan and can be used for ice fishing with ease. The GPS helps map waypoints to find your way back. Moreover, the sturdy Garmin brand will last a long time for anglers so it becomes an obviously economical choice.
How to Choose the Best Fish Finder for a Small Boat
GPS integrated
GPS is a great feature as it allows anglers to find their way back without a problem. Moreover, this feature means that the fish finder will be able to follow the maps and give you more information about underwater structures and the terrain around the water body.
Castable as well as mountable fish finders for small boats with GPS can be a good addition because you get to enjoy fishing and can also map waypoints to get back home without difficulty.
Mapping
Some fish finders for small boats are castable, which means that you see the maps on your phone device. Some of the devices have a good screen size that makes the display of maps much more easier. Select a fish finder that will make the mapping readable for you.
Cone Angle
The cone angle is the angle of the vision from the transducer downwards into the water. The broader the angle, the more area is covered. You can find more fish when you get images from a wider area under the boat. Choose a fish finder that has a wider cone angle.
Screen
The screen size and picture quality makes a lot of difference. Some fish finders for small boats should have a clear view of the images because there has to be the exact locations for anglers to cast the lure from the limited space of the boat. All of the fish finder on the list have a reasonable screen size for small boat anglers.
Display
The display colors give a good idea of contours and that makes it easier for anglers to read the locations and catch fish in a short period. Selecting the right fish anglers would mean that it has the display which will get you closer to the fishing spots by distinguishing between schools of fish and underwater structures.
Frequency
Frequency of any device determines the depth of water that it can scan. A dual beam or triple beam frequency sonar will give you the options of swimming in shallow or deep water. So if you decide to fish a shallow stream in the small boat, or a wide water body like lakes or the sea, a good fish finder will give you deep and shallow scans by adjusting the frequency.
Sonar
A built-in sonar can send out ‘signals’ and receive them back with information of all the fish locations, underwater environment and debris, or boulders that may be in the area. Anglers must select any fish finding device based on the kind of sonar it has. If the sonar technology is strong and has a high range, it will be able to help you find fishing spots significantly.
Pick a fish finder for small boat by selecting the sonar technology that allows deep water scans as well as shallow stream scans. It is hard for anglers to possess different models according the the depth of water that they are going to explore. We recommend a fish finding device that will provide it all.
Transducer
Just as the sonar is essential, the transducer is its extension. Whatever the sonar receives, the transducer will translate it to maps for you. The best transducers can convert to maps within a few seconds s that anglers get mas without breaks.
Mounting
There are castable fishing devices, and mountable fish finders. A mountable fish finder has its display unit on the boat, and if it can mount well on the small boat, you will be able to see the maps clearly while keeping your hands free. A convenience feature, mounts can keep the display in place so that you do not even have to change the direction of your head.
Size
The best fish finder for small boat will have to be small too. You cannot use one of the large devices. The size of the fish finder matters because of the screen size. If the screen size is bad, then the display might be unclear, and you wouldn’t want that. A good size of fish finder would mean good display.
Portability
Small boat owners or rental boat anglers always carry their fish finders with them. Imagine if these devices had been so big that they couldn’t carry it with them. It is not necessary that all anglers have their own boats. Portable and compact fish finders are a preference when you have to go fishing in a different boat every time.
Durability
If there is no lifespan, there is no preference! The durability of a fish finder is essential because you cannot spend so much money on every new purchase. Moreover, a fish finder saves data and settings that suit the angler. If you are looking for a fish finder, you should be looking for durability as well.
Water resistance
The transducer usually goes on the wall or under the boat so it is a waterproof component. However, many fish finders have LED screens that are not waterproof. The models discussed above are all waterproof, which means that even if you go bass fishing or select a vicious target, these fish finders will keep working despite the splashes of water.
Battery
The kind of battery and time that it runs makes a significant difference in every fishing trip. If you are planning an adventurous trip for hours, it is best to consider the battery life of the fish finder. Moreover, buy the device that can use rechargeable batteries.