Things to Look for when choosing a FishFinder

 If you are looking to buy your first fish finder for boat, you may get lost in all the technical talk. Looking at all the different functions and features can be overwhelming for a first-time buyer. Between the different types of transducers, flashers, echoes, sonar, and other things, it's hard to make sense of it all.

For this reason, we've gone ahead and put together this fish finder guide to simplify the process for everyone. We'll demystify some of the terms and keep you updated on the latest developments. This way you can be confident that you are making the right decision when you finally pull the trigger and purchase yourself a fish finder.

These are the essential things to look for when choosing a fishfinder for boating. The items on this list will help you narrow down your search and choose the fish finder that best meets your needs. We've also put together a list of the best fish finders of 2022.

Power Transducer

Power transducers are an essential part for every fish finder. They transmit and receive sonar waves. These waves, once released in the water, bounce off various objects. Then, they are captured by the transducer. When data returns, it goes to the central unit. This is where these signals are processed into an on-screen image that you can see and understand.

Power Adapters

Power adapters come with various types of mounts. The easiest way to install is a transverse mount. However, if you have a larger boat or need something more serious, you can choose another type, such as through-hull installation.

Transducer Material

Depending on the type of boat you are going to use, you need to choose the right transducer material. For avid anglers and casual fishermen, a plastic cross-section holder will do just fine. They are compatible with almost all types of boats. If you are using a transducer with a through-chassis or in-chassis mount, the fiberglass or metal enclosures require plastic housings. 

Aluminum or steel structures need stainless steel casings. Bronze housings are intended for boats with fiberglass wood hulls. When it comes to recreational users, most fish finders are equipped with either trolling motor transducers or transducers with transom mounts. These work with almost any type of boat, you just need to be sure to follow the installation instructions.

Things to Look for when choosing a FishFinder

Beams and Cone Angles


Beams and Cone Angles

When selecting a transducer, an important aspect to take into consideration is the cone angle. In other words, the cone angle tells you the width of the beam being emitted from your boat into the water. A wider cone means a larger area is covered. As the beam decreases, the cone angle expands, but at the cost of sensitivity in deeper water.

An interesting feature when it comes to power transformers is that they can emit more than one cone from a single point. There is one beam with a traditional transformer, but with more advanced units you can have multiple beams. Some have a double beam, some have a triple beam, some have a side beam, etc. With every new beam, you can cover more area. More beams are ideal for larger bodies of water, like lakes.


Screen Resolution

When looking at displays, you should also consider the resolution and how many pixels the fish finder display will have. Simply put, a pixel is a single dot on your screen. The more pixels you have, the more detail your display can display. With a resolution of 320 x 320, 320 dots are oriented left to right, and 320 dots are oriented top to bottom in each column.
Fish Finders Resolution

You should target at least 240 x 160 pixels. But even with this resolution, you might feel like you're playing Tetris instead of finding fish. If you can save the money, it's worth paying more for a higher resolution display. It will give you more details and give you clear pictures.


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