Looking to upgrade my marine electronics for boats setup and wondering what everyone recommends. There are so many options out there - chartplotters, fishfinders, radar, AIS, VHF radios. Which marine electronics have been game changers for you? I'm especially interested in what's actually worth the money versus what's just nice to have. Budget is a consideration but I don't want to skimp on safety or functionality.
As someone who installs marine electronics for boats professionally, I'd say the most worthwhile investments are: 1) A good chartplotter with detailed charts for your area, 2) VHF radio with DSC and GPS, 3) Radar if you boat in fog or at night. For marine electronics for boats, focus on reliability over fancy features. Garmin and Raymarine make solid systems. AIS receiver is also great value for safety.
I've sailed with all sorts of marine electronics for boats over the years. Honestly, the basics matter most. A reliable VHF is non-negotiable. Good chartplotter is worth every penny - but get one with buttons, not just touchscreen (wet fingers don't work well on touchscreens). Depth sounder is essential for coastal cruising. Fancy fishfinders and entertainment systems are nice but not critical marine electronics for boats.
For fishing purposes, marine electronics for boats that actually help are: good fishfinder/chartplotter combo, preferably with side-scan or down-scan imaging. Temperature gauge is underrated - fish follow temperature breaks. Also, consider a marine radio with good range for talking to other boats about catches. But honestly, the best marine electronics for boats won't catch fish if you don't know how to use them properly.