Boat Electronics You Actually Need (and What You Can Skip)

Boat electronics are where it's easiest to either underspend on something you'll actually use constantly, or overspend on features that only matter for a specific kind of boating. Here's how to tell the difference.

Fish Finder / Chartplotter

This is the widest price range of any boat electronic, and for good reason — it covers everything from a basic standalone display to a full networked chartplotter/sonar system:

• Entry-level (roughly $130-$160) — a basic display, fine for casual fishing on a lake
• Mid-range (roughly $300-$450) — better sonar resolution and a larger screen, worth it if you fish regularly
• Premium (roughly $1,800-$2,500) — full chartplotter integration, side-scan sonar, and networked displays — built for serious or offshore anglers

If you're not a dedicated angler, the entry-level tier is genuinely enough — this is one of the easiest categories to overspend in based on what looks impressive rather than what you'll use.

Marine Battery Charger

A smart 12V marine charger (roughly $50-$80) keeps your battery topped off between trips — boat batteries drain even when the boat's sitting unused, and showing up to a dead battery is one of the most common (and easily avoidable) first-season frustrations.

Portable Jump Starter

A portable jump starter (roughly $65-$100) is cheap insurance against exactly the problem above — if the battery does die at the ramp or on the water, this gets you running again without needing another boat or a tow.

What About a VHF Radio?

A handheld VHF marine radio is technically filed under safety gear rather than electronics, but it belongs in the same conversation — it's the one piece of "electronics" that actually matters for communication once you're away from cell coverage. See our required boat safety equipment guide for when it's worth having.

Buy the Charger Before the Fish Finder

If you're budgeting in order, the battery charger and jump starter come first — they're cheap and prevent the single most common reason a boat day gets cancelled. The fish finder is worth spending more on only once you know how seriously you'll actually use it.