Garmin STRIKER vs ECHOMAP: Which One Fits Your Boat
Garmin STRIKER and ECHOMAP units both have built-in GPS, both come with a transducer, and some models look almost the same at the helm. The real difference is what happens beyond the sonar screen: charts, touchscreen, networking and support for add-ons like LiveScope. This guide compares the two lines using Garmin’s own specifications and manuals, so you can pick the unit your boat actually needs.
The short answer
- Choose a STRIKER if you mainly want to find fish and mark spots: sonar plus GPS waypoints at the lowest price. Garmin calls STRIKER Vivid “a great option” if you are on a budget and need a robust GPS fishfinder.
- Choose an ECHOMAP if you also want to navigate with charts on screen. Every ECHOMAP UHD2 with a 3 or 4 at the end of the model name comes preloaded with Garmin Navionics+ inland or coastal charts.
- Choose an ECHOMAP UHD2 sv or Ultra 2 if you want a touchscreen, an NMEA 2000 network, LiveScope live sonar or wireless control of a Garmin Force trolling motor.
STRIKER and ECHOMAP side by side
| Feature | STRIKER Vivid | ECHOMAP UHD2 cv | ECHOMAP UHD2 sv | ECHOMAP Ultra 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screen sizes | 4, 5, 7 and 9 in | 5 and 7 in | 6, 7 and 9 in | 10, 12 and 16 in |
| Controls | Buttons | Buttons | Touchscreen with buttons | Touchscreen with buttons |
| Sonar | CHIRP and ClearVü; sv models add SideVü | CHIRP and ClearVü | CHIRP plus Ultra High-Definition ClearVü and SideVü | CHIRP plus Ultra High-Definition ClearVü and SideVü |
| Transducer in the box | cv: GT20-TM; sv: GT52HW-TM | GT20-TM | 6 and 7 in: GT54UHD-TM; 9 in: GT56UHD-TM | GT56UHD-TM (or sold without transducer) |
| Charts | No detailed mapping; you create your own maps with Quickdraw Contours | Garmin Navionics+ inland (x3) or coastal (x4) preloaded | Garmin Navionics+ inland (x3) or coastal (x4) preloaded | Worldwide basemap (x2) or Garmin Navionics+ U.S. and Coastal Canada (x6) |
| microSD card slot | Not listed by Garmin | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| NMEA 2000 | Not listed by Garmin | No (power and transducer ports only) | Yes | Yes |
| Garmin Marine Network port | Not listed by Garmin | No | Yes | Yes |
| Wi-Fi and ActiveCaptain app | 7cv, 7sv and 9sv only | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| LiveScope support | Not listed by Garmin | Not listed by Garmin | Yes | Yes, full LiveScope lineup |
| Wireless Force trolling motor control | Not listed by Garmin | Not listed by Garmin | Yes | Yes |
| GPS waypoints | 5,000 | 5,000 | 5,000 | 5,000 |
| Water rating | IPX7 | IPX7 | IPX7 | IPX7 |
Source: Garmin product specifications, owner’s manuals and installation instructions for each series. “Not listed by Garmin” means the feature does not appear in Garmin’s specifications or manuals for that model.
The real difference: charts
Garmin puts it simply: “Many Garmin chartplotters come with built-in mapping or have the capability of supporting it, while our fishfinders do not have in-depth mapping built in.” A STRIKER shows your position, your waypoints and the maps you record yourself with Quickdraw Contours as you drive over the water. Garmin’s STRIKER Vivid page notes that it “does not contain detailed mapping. Content is user-generated.” It will not show channel markers, navigation aids or depth contours you have not mapped yourself.
An ECHOMAP is a chartplotter and fishfinder in one. The UHD2 x3 models come with Garmin Navionics+ U.S. inland charts and the x4 models with Garmin Navionics+ U.S. coastal and Great Lakes charts, both with a one-year subscription for daily chart updates. If you run inlets, the Intracoastal or unfamiliar water, that is the reason to step up.
When a STRIKER is enough
For a small boat, a kayak, a jon boat or a second unit at the bow, a STRIKER does the core job well. The STRIKER Vivid 4cv and 5cv include the GT20-TM transducer for CHIRP traditional and ClearVü scanning sonar. The 7cv adds Wi-Fi for the ActiveCaptain app and smart notifications from your phone. The 7sv and 9sv come with the GT52HW-TM transducer and add SideVü to see structure on both sides of the boat. Garmin describes STRIKER Vivid as “perfect for lakes, ponds and inland coastal waters.”
When an ECHOMAP is worth it
- ECHOMAP UHD2 cv (53cv, 54cv, 73cv, 74cv): the step up for charts. Same type of sonar as a STRIKER cv, plus preloaded Navionics+ charts and a microSD slot. It has no NMEA 2000 port, so it works as a standalone unit.
- ECHOMAP UHD2 sv (for example the 73sv and 93sv): touchscreen, Ultra High-Definition side and down scanning, NMEA 2000, a Garmin Marine Network port, LiveScope support and wireless Force trolling motor control.
- ECHOMAP Ultra 2 (for example the 106sv or the 12 in LiveScope Plus bundle): 10, 12 and 16 in screens with the highest resolution in the ECHOMAP line, two microSD slots and support for the full LiveScope lineup.
One limit to know before you buy
ECHOMAP is not the line for radar. Garmin’s installation instructions for the ECHOMAP UHD2 sv and Ultra 2 say the device “is not compatible with some Garmin Marine Network devices such as GPSMAP, GSD, and radar devices.” If radar is on your list, look at Garmin’s GPSMAP chartplotters instead. For a general overview of the two kinds of units, see our fishfinder vs chartplotter guide.
Does the Garmin STRIKER have maps?
Not detailed charts. A STRIKER has built-in GPS for waypoints and routes, and Quickdraw Contours lets you record your own depth maps as you drive. Garmin states that STRIKER Vivid “does not contain detailed mapping.” For preloaded charts, choose an ECHOMAP.
Does the Garmin STRIKER work with LiveScope?
Garmin does not list LiveScope support for STRIKER or for the ECHOMAP UHD2 cv models. LiveScope is supported on the ECHOMAP UHD2 sv chartplotters and on the ECHOMAP Ultra 2, which supports the full LiveScope lineup.
What do the numbers in an ECHOMAP model name mean?
The first digits are the screen size: 5, 6, 7 and 9 for the UHD2, 10, 12 and 16 for the Ultra 2. The last digit is the chart: 2 is a worldwide basemap, 3 is Garmin Navionics+ U.S. inland, 4 is Garmin Navionics+ U.S. coastal and Great Lakes, and 6 on the Ultra 2 is Garmin Navionics+ U.S. and Coastal Canada. cv means CHIRP traditional and ClearVü sonar; sv adds SideVü.
Can a Garmin ECHOMAP connect to radar?
No. Garmin’s installation instructions for the ECHOMAP UHD2 sv and Ultra 2 state that the device is not compatible with radar devices on the Garmin Marine Network. Garmin’s GPSMAP chartplotters are the line that supports radar.
Shop Garmin STRIKER and ECHOMAP
All STRIKER Vivid and ECHOMAP units in this guide ship from Pompano Beach, FL, with free US shipping on orders over $199. Browse all Garmin marine electronics, or call (786) 277-2596 for help choosing. Want it installed? See our marine electronics installation page.