Which Fish Finders are Waterproof?

Fish finders are waterproof to a certain extent, and they can stay submerged under one meter of water for about thirty minutes. Which means they can resist rain, splashes, and a temporary capsizing. You may be able to find fish finders that can last longer in deeper water if you buy a more expensive brand. 

Please keep reading to learn what conditions you can use your fish finder, what the different industry standards are for waterproofing a fish finder and what they mean, and how saltwater can affect your fish finder.

Can Your Fish Finder Get Wet?

If you are going to be fishing, whether in a boat or on the shore, there is a very high chance that some water will splash on any equipment you have with you. In more instances, we all know that water and electronics don’t mix well, but fish finders all have some level of waterproofing since escaping water altogether is unlikely.

Most fish finders are waterproof to IPX7 industry standards and can survive any sudden rain or the occasional splash of water. However, those that fish in saltwater will encounter some issues since salt is corrosive, so they will need to clean their equipment after using it properly.

What Do the Waterproofing Ratings Mean?

When buying a fish finder or any electrical equipment used around water, you will come across terms like IPX7 or IPX8, which are the ratings for industry waterproofing standards. Knowing what the different ratings mean will help you determine which rating the equipment you choose needs to best fit your style of fishing.

What does IPX7 mean?

The IPX stands for Ingress Protection, which tests how well the object or item can prevent water intrusion. IPX7 is one rating above “water-resistant,” and a fish finder with this rating can survive submersion in one meter of water for thirty minutes.

What does IPX8 mean?

An IPX8 fish finder can be underwater completely submerged to a depth deeper than one meter, but you will need to check the oner’s manual to precisely determine what depth it can survive to and for how long. It should be greater than 1 meter of water, but it is not resistant to high pressure or temperatures.

Properly storing and sealing your fish finder can increase the depth and time your device is underwater.

Which Are the Best Waterproof Fish Finders?

Now that you know a bit of what to look for to ensure you are getting a fish finder that will fit your needs, here are some fish finders that are waterproof for you to consider.

Humminbird Helix 5

The Helix 5 is a down imaging (DI) and Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) unit to make waypoints and track your movements. Some newer models have Autochart Live mapping, which is helpful in secluded areas and allows you to save the map for later use. The Helix is on the more expensive end for fish finders coming in around $655.

Garmin Striker 4

If you’re looking for something more compact, then the Striker 4 is an excellent choice. It has a narrow and tall screen which is different from the usual wide screens on other devices. The Striker is a great beginner’s device if you’ve never had a fish finder before since it’s easy to use and costs about $160. However, most people will grow out of this device over time.

Lowrance Hook 2

The Hook 2 is another excellent beginner’s device that will give you similar features to other fish finders while maintaining a lower price tag. It’s also an autotuning sonar, and it has a similar price range to the Striker at about $160.

The main thing to remember is that you don’t need an expensive fish finder to succeed in your fishing adventures. If you find something water-resistant enough that protecting it in other ways will keep it from damage, you should be fine.

Will Saltwater Ruin Your Fish Finder?

If you like to fish in saltwater, you have an added problem to contend with than freshwater fishers. Saltwater is corrosive and will damage your fish finder over time if you don’t take care of it. Even a few seconds in saltwater can leave corrosion on the device’s connectors and deteriorate its performance or cause total failure.

For a quick fix, you will want to rinse your fish finder with clean, fresh water to get as much of the saltwater out as possible. You can either carry some with you while you are out fishing or rinse it with a garden hose once you arrive home. You will need to clean it regularly to keep it correctly functioning.

How to clean salt from your fish finder

You will want to regularly inspect and clean your electronic devices if you fish in saltwater to ensure they aren’t getting residue or corrosion on the connectors or other parts of the device.

To clean your fish finder:

1. Remove your fish finder from its power source as well as disconnect any cables and wiring.
2. Get a soft-bristle brush, such as a toothbrush or a Q-Tip, and some isopropyl alcohol or vinegar.
3. Dip the brush or Q-Tip in the alcohol or vinegar and scrub the corroded areas clean. You may see some fizzing as you clean off the corrosion, but it’s nothing to worry about.
4. Ensure that you clean every wire and cable including the ends since these areas are most likely to have corrosion. A thorough cleaning will help prevent corrosion from building up.
5. Once you finish cleaning, use distilled water to rinse off the remaining alcohol or vinegar.
6. Leave the components out and wait for them to completely dry.
7. Put your fish finder back together by returning the wiring and cables, then reattach the power source.

You should be ready for your next fishing trip. Try to make it a habit to clean your fish finder after each outing fishing in saltwater. Even if you only fish in freshwater, it’s a good idea to clean your equipment regularly to get rid of any dirt or other particles that might cause damage.

How to Make Your Fish Finder Waterproof

While all fish finders are water-resistant to some extent, there is a limit to how much time they can stay wet before they start to take damage. A brief splash or a temporary capsizing is fine, but if you are worried about your device getting ruined, then there are some steps you can take to protect it.

The main areas of concern are the cable connections between the transducer and power source and the device. Water getting into these areas can cause electrical shorts and false or inconsistent readings from your device.

The best way to protect these connections is to use Dielectric Grease to guard against fresh and saltwater, dirt, and other particles. Keep in mind that there are other methods for protecting against water, like waterproof boxes, which you can read about later in this article.

How to apply Dielectric grease

If you’ve never used Dielectric grease before then, you may want to do further research to find the best products to use.

To apply the grease:

1. Thoroughly clean all the connections. You can follow the steps above if you need guidance.
2. Apply a tiny amount of dielectric grease to the connections in places where they connect together. The grease will help prevent future corrosion without interfering with the electrical current’s flow.
3. Reassemble your device and wipe away excess grease before connecting the power source again.

Dielectric grease is a great way to protect any connections you have on your boat or kayak, so it’s handy to keep some around. Include checking the grease on the connections into your regular inspection of your equipment to know if you need to apply more.

Are Fish finder Batteries Waterproof?

Electronics and water are never a good mix, and water coming into contact with any battery terminal or wiring is likely to cause the system to short out. However, most batteries for fishing equipment are water-resistant to some extent to ensure that the entire system isn’t damaged if it gets some water on it.

You can also get a waterproof battery box to keep your batteries while you aren’t using your fish finder to help ensure that your batteries will not get wet if your boat capsizes or there is rain. These boxes can cost anywhere from $30 to $100 depending on how big and heavy-duty you want to box to be.

Final Thoughts

Most fish finders are water-resistant at the very least. They can be in the water for a short period or have water splash onto it without anything terrible happening to the device’s electronics. You should regularly check the connections as these are most likely to suffer corrosion and other effects from water.

Giving the connections extra protection with the help of dielectric grease and keeping the battery in a waterproof box should give you enough security to not need to worry about water ruining your equipment.

 

Cover Art Credit: Photo by beytlik from Pexels