After installing and servicing marine electronics on hundreds of boats over 25 years, I can tell you that choosing the right electronics package is one of the most impactful decisions you'll make for your vessel. The right setup keeps you safe, helps you find fish, and makes every trip more enjoyable. The wrong setup? That's thousands of dollars gathering dust on your helm.
In this guide, I'll walk you through the major categories of marine electronics, compare the top four brands — Garmin, Simrad, Raymarine, and B&G — and help you figure out exactly what you need for your boat and budget.
The Four Pillars of Marine Electronics
Every boat's electronics package is built around four core systems. You don't necessarily need all four, but understanding what each does will help you prioritize your investment.
1. Chartplotters (GPS/MFD)
Your chartplotter is the brain of your electronics system. Modern Multi-Function Displays (MFDs) combine GPS navigation, chart mapping, and integration with all your other electronics into one touchscreen. Think of it as the iPad of your boat — everything connects through it.
What to look for: Screen size (7" minimum for coastal, 12"+ for offshore), screen brightness (1,000+ nits for sunlight readability), chart compatibility (Navionics, C-MAP, LightHouse), touchscreen responsiveness when wet, and networking capability (NMEA 2000, Ethernet).
2. Fishfinders / Sonar
Modern fishfinders go far beyond the simple depth sounders of the past. Today's units use CHIRP sonar, side-imaging, down-imaging, and live sonar to give you a detailed picture of what's beneath and around your boat. For serious anglers, this is where you'll spend the most money — and get the most return.
What to look for: Transducer type and frequency range, CHIRP capability (essential), side-scan and down-scan imaging, live sonar (Garmin LiveScope, Simrad ActiveTarget), maximum depth rating, and screen resolution.
3. Radar
Radar is your eyes in the fog, rain, and darkness. Even with GPS, radar provides real-time awareness of other vessels, weather cells, and shoreline features that charts can't show you. For anyone running at night or in the Gulf, radar is not optional — it's a safety essential.
What to look for: Solid-state (broadband) vs. magnetron (pulse), range (24nm minimum for coastal, 48nm+ for offshore), target resolution, bird mode for fishing, MARPA target tracking, and dome vs. open array form factor.
4. Autopilots
An autopilot holds your course so you can focus on fishing, trimming sails, or simply enjoying the ride. Modern autopilots integrate with your chartplotter for route following and can even adjust for current and wind. For long runs and offshore passages, this is a game-changer for fatigue reduction.
What to look for: Hydraulic vs. mechanical drive unit (match to your steering system), heading sensor quality (9-axis IMU preferred), integration with your MFD brand, response speed, and power consumption.
Brand Comparison: Garmin vs. Simrad vs. Raymarine vs. B&G
All four brands make excellent products. The best choice depends on your boat type, primary use, and which ecosystem fits your needs. Here's my honest assessment after installing all four extensively:
Garmin
Best for: Fishing boats, center consoles, and boaters who want the most intuitive interface.
Garmin dominates the fishing electronics market for good reason. Their GPSMAP series (923xsv, 1223xsv, 1623xsv) combines chartplotting and fishfinding in one unit with the best touchscreen interface in the business. Garmin LiveScope revolutionized live sonar and remains the gold standard for real-time fish targeting. Their Fantom radar series offers excellent target resolution. The ecosystem is deep — from the Panoptix transducers to Force trolling motors, everything talks to everything.
Weakness: Premium pricing. Garmin products typically cost 10-20% more than comparable Simrad or Raymarine units. Their sailing-specific features lag behind B&G.
Simrad
Best for: Sport fishing boats, dual-purpose cruiser/fishers, and boaters who want professional-grade features at a competitive price.
Simrad's NSS Evo3S and NSX series offer outstanding value with features that rival Garmin at lower price points. Their ActiveTarget live sonar is a serious competitor to LiveScope. Simrad excels in radar with the HALO series — the HALO20+ and HALO24 are among the best broadband radars available. The Simrad AP autopilot line is rock-solid and widely trusted by commercial operators.
Weakness: The interface isn't quite as polished as Garmin's. Software updates can be less frequent. The dealer network is smaller in some regions.
Raymarine
Best for: Cruising boats, trawlers, and boaters who want the best augmented reality navigation.
Raymarine's Axiom series (Axiom 2 Pro, Axiom XL) features the innovative LightHouse operating system and the industry-leading ClearCruise AR augmented reality overlay that identifies AIS targets, navigation aids, and hazards in a live camera view. Their Quantum 2 radar with Doppler technology excels at target separation. Raymarine also makes the Evolution autopilot, which uses AI-based learning to adapt to your boat's handling characteristics.
Weakness: Fishing-specific features (live sonar, side-scan) aren't as advanced as Garmin or Simrad. Higher-end units can be pricey.
B&G (Bandg)
Best for: Sailboats and performance sailing vessels.
B&G is the undisputed leader in sailing electronics. Their Zeus S series and Vulcan series include sailing-specific features no other brand matches: SailSteer wind strategy display, layline calculations, start-line tools, and polar diagram integration. The H5000 instrument system is the choice of racing programs worldwide. B&G shares the Navico platform with Simrad, so you get the same excellent radar and autopilot options.
Weakness: Limited fishing features compared to Garmin/Simrad. Smaller product range. Not the best choice for powerboat-only applications.
How to Size Your Electronics Package
Here's my rule of thumb based on boat size and use:
Under 25 feet (Bay boats, skiffs, small center consoles)
Minimum: 7-9" combo chartplotter/fishfinder, VHF radio
Recommended: 9-12" combo unit with CHIRP + side/down scan, VHF with GPS
Budget: $1,500 - $4,000
25-35 feet (Center consoles, express cruisers, coastal sailboats)
Minimum: 12" MFD, standalone fishfinder, VHF, AIS receiver
Recommended: Dual 12" MFDs (one for charts, one for sonar), broadband radar, autopilot, VHF with DSC/GPS
Budget: $5,000 - $15,000
35-50 feet (Sport fishers, cruising sailboats, motor yachts)
Minimum: 16" MFD, radar, autopilot, AIS transceiver, VHF
Recommended: Dual 16" MFDs, open-array radar, full autopilot system, AIS Class B+, satellite weather, thermal camera
Budget: $15,000 - $40,000
50+ feet (Yachts, commercial vessels)
Recommended: Full glass bridge with 3+ large MFDs, dual radar (broadband + open array), redundant GPS, full autopilot with remote stations, AIS Class A, satellite communications, FLIR thermal
Budget: $40,000 - $150,000+
Installation Matters More Than You Think
I've seen $20,000 electronics packages perform terribly because of poor installation, and $3,000 setups that work flawlessly because they were installed right. Here's what matters:
- Transducer placement — This is the #1 factor in fishfinder performance. Improper placement causes turbulence, cavitation, and signal loss. Every hull is different.
- Wiring — Marine electronics need clean, dedicated power circuits with proper gauge wire, inline fuses, and corrosion-resistant connections. Never daisy-chain off existing circuits.
- Grounding — A proper RF ground plane is essential for VHF range and radar performance. This is where most DIY installations fail.
- NMEA 2000 network — Your backbone cable routing, termination, and T-connector placement all affect data reliability across your entire system.
- Helm layout — Screen angles, glare management, and ergonomic placement affect usability every single day on the water.
This is why professional installation pays for itself. At Accumar Marine, we've installed electronics on everything from 18-foot flats boats to 80-foot motor yachts. We know the quirks of every brand and every hull type.
Our Recommendation
If you're primarily a fisherman: Start with Garmin. The GPSMAP series with LiveScope is unbeatable for finding and catching fish.
If you're a cruiser or trawler owner: Look at Raymarine Axiom 2 Pro with ClearCruise AR. The augmented reality navigation is a genuine safety advantage.
If you're a sailor: B&G Zeus S is the only serious choice. The sailing-specific features will make you faster and safer.
If you want the best value: Simrad NSS Evo3S or NSX gives you 90% of the features at 80% of the price. Excellent for sport fishing and cruising.
No matter which brand you choose, contact Accumar Marine for professional installation. We're authorized dealers for all four brands and can design a complete electronics package tailored to your boat and budget. Call us at 239-323-9600 for a free consultation.
