Best GPS for Sailing: Chartplotters and Marine GPS Units
The best GPS for sailing is usually not a GPS on its own anymore. Almost every modern marine unit combines a satellite receiver with electronic charts, and many add sonar, radar, autopilot control and AIS. The right choice depends on where it will live on your boat (in your hand, on a bracket at the helm or flush-mounted in a pod), which charts you want, and how much sunlight and spray it has to survive.
Quick answer: for most cruising sailboats, a fixed chartplotter of 7 to 10 inches at the helm plus a floating handheld or phone app as a backup is the setup that works. Garmin and Raymarine lead for sailboat chartplotters because their units talk to autopilots, wind instruments and AIS. Lowrance and Humminbird units are excellent value but lean toward fishing.
Handheld GPS vs Fixed Chartplotter
Before comparing models, decide which type you need. Many sailors end up with both.
| Handheld GPS | Fixed chartplotter / MFD | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical screen | Small (around 2–3 in) | 5–16 in |
| Power | AA or rechargeable batteries | Boat 12 V system |
| Charts | Basic or preloaded regional | Full vector charts, often satellite overlays and 3D |
| Integration | Limited (some Bluetooth/NMEA) | Autopilot, wind/depth instruments, radar, AIS, engine data via NMEA 2000 |
| Best for | Dinghies, small daysailers, backup, grab bag | Cruising and offshore boats, primary navigation |
A handheld is portable, independent of your boat’s batteries and ideal for the ditch bag. A fixed chartplotter, often called a multifunction display (MFD), is far easier to read and becomes the hub of your navigation system. If you only buy one device for a cruising boat, buy the chartplotter and use a phone or tablet app as the backup. Our guide to the best sailing apps covers navigation apps that work well in that role.
What to Look For in a Marine GPS
Chart compatibility
Charts matter more than the hardware. Each brand supports a specific set of chart formats:
- Garmin uses its own Garmin Navionics+ and Navionics Vision+ charts (Garmin owns Navionics; the Navionics app is now called Garmin Boating).
- Raymarine uses LightHouse charts and also accepts Navionics and C-MAP cards on most current displays.
- Lowrance (and its sister brands Simrad and B&G) work with C-MAP and Navionics.
- Humminbird uses its own LakeMaster and CoastMaster charts plus Navionics on many models.
Check that the charts for your sailing area are available for the unit you choose, whether they come preloaded, and what an update subscription costs. Charts preloaded for US waters are of little use if you plan to cruise the Mediterranean.
Screen size and sunlight readability
A cockpit display has to be readable in bright sun, through polarized sunglasses and at an angle. Look for an optically bonded screen (no air gap, so no fogging and less glare) and a high brightness rating. As a rule of thumb, 5 inches is the minimum for a small boat, 7 to 9 inches suits most cruisers, and 12 inches and up makes sense if you will run split screens with radar and charts.
Touchscreen or buttons
Touchscreens are fast in calm conditions but awkward with wet fingers or in a seaway. Units with physical keys, or hybrid models that offer both, are easier to use when the boat is bouncing. If you sail offshore, try the controls in a store with gloves on.
Waterproof rating
Look for at least IPX7 (survives immersion to 1 m for 30 minutes). IPX6 means protection against powerful water jets, which covers heavy spray and washing down. Handhelds that float are a real bonus on a sailboat.
Networking and sailing features
For a sailboat, the GPS is only part of the story. Check for NMEA 2000 (and NMEA 0183 if you have older instruments), autopilot control, AIS display, wind data overlays and laylines, and Wi-Fi to link with a phone app. Fishing-oriented units often skip sailing features such as laylines and polar data.
GPS receiver quality
Modern receivers track several satellite systems (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo) and use WAAS/EGNOS corrections for accuracy within a few meters. A faster update rate (5–10 Hz) gives a smoother boat icon and more accurate speed and heading at slow speeds.
Best GPS Units and Chartplotters for Sailing
The units below cover the main brands and price levels. Marine electronics are updated every few years, so several of these models now have newer successors. Check current availability before you buy, and compare with the latest version of the same series.
1. Garmin GPSMAP 1040xs: Best Large Helm Display
The Garmin GPSMAP 1040xs Chartplotter/Sonar Combo is a 10-inch keyed chartplotter with built-in sonar and a fast 10 Hz GPS/GLONASS receiver. The keypad is its strength on a sailboat: you can zoom, set waypoints and switch pages without touching a wet screen. It networks with Garmin autopilots, instruments and radar, and supports Garmin’s scanning sonar modules.
- Pros: large readable screen, reliable keypad control, full Garmin ecosystem, two card slots
- Cons: older model, now largely replaced by newer GPSMAP series; sonar features matter less to most sailors
2. Raymarine e95: Best for Networked Sailboat Systems
The Raymarine e95 9-Inch Multifunction Display offers Raymarine’s hybrid touch control (touchscreen plus keypad and rotary knob), a sunlight-viewable bonded display and built-in GPS. It handles chart, radar, sonar, AIS and autopilot data in split-screen pages and networks over SeaTalk ng (NMEA 2000). Many sailboats still run eS-series displays, and Raymarine’s newer Axiom range is its successor.
- Pros: excellent hybrid controls for rough weather, strong autopilot and radar integration
- Cons: discontinued series, so buy only if the price is right or you need to match an existing network; check availability
3. Raymarine Axiom 7: Best Compact Touchscreen Plotter
The Raymarine AXIOM 7 is a 7-inch multi-touch chartplotter running Raymarine’s LightHouse operating system, with a fast multi-constellation GPS and an optically bonded screen that stays readable in sunlight. It works with LightHouse, Navionics and C-MAP charts and links to Raymarine autopilots and instruments. Raymarine has since introduced the Axiom+ and Axiom 2 ranges, so compare with the current lineup.
- Pros: compact, fast, wide chart support, good sailing features
- Cons: touch-only control can be tricky in a seaway; newer versions exist
4. Garmin ECHOMAP UHD: Best Value Garmin Plotter
The Garmin ECHOMAP UHD series is a keyed chartplotter/sonar combo in several screen sizes, with built-in Wi-Fi for the Garmin ActiveCaptain app and Quickdraw Contours for making your own depth maps. It is aimed at fishing and small powerboats but works well as an affordable plotter for a small sailboat or a second display. Garmin’s ECHOMAP UHD2 series is the newer generation.
- Pros: good value, simple keypad operation, Garmin chart support and app integration
- Cons: fewer sailing-specific features than the GPSMAP range
5. Lowrance HOOK2: Best Budget Combo
The Lowrance HOOK2 Fish Finder & GPS combines a simple chartplotter, GPS and sonar with a smartphone-like menu system and a quick-release mount. It is an inexpensive way to get a moving-map display on a small boat or trailer sailer. Lowrance has replaced the HOOK2 with the HOOK Reveal line in many markets, so check current availability.
- Pros: very affordable, easy to use, quick-release bracket
- Cons: small screen, limited networking, fishing focus
6. Humminbird Helix 5 G2: Budget Backup Option
The Humminbird Helix 5 G2 is a compact 5-inch fishfinder/GPS combo with a chartplotter and space for extra charts on a microSD card. On a sailboat it makes sense as a cheap backup plotter or for a dinghy or small daysailer, not as a main navigation hub. Newer Helix generations exist, so check current availability.
- Pros: low cost, simple keypad, works in salt and fresh water
- Cons: small screen, no sailing integration, older model
Comparison Table
| Model | Screen | Control | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garmin GPSMAP 1040xs | 10 in | Keypad | Main helm display on a cruiser |
| Raymarine e95 | 9 in | Touch + keypad | Raymarine-networked boats |
| Raymarine Axiom 7 | 7 in | Touch | Compact helm plotter |
| Garmin ECHOMAP UHD | 6–9 in | Keypad | Small sailboats, second display |
| Lowrance HOOK2 | 5 in (other sizes available) | Keypad | Budget plotter, trailer sailers |
| Humminbird Helix 5 G2 | 5 in | Keypad | Backup or dinghy |
Tips for Using GPS on a Sailboat
- Keep a backup. Carry a handheld or a phone/tablet app with offline charts, plus spare power. Electrical failures and lightning strikes do happen.
- Keep paper skills alive. Know how to plot a position and keep a log with regular fixes. Our guide to navigating without a chart or compass shows why this still matters.
- Update charts. Electronic charts are only as good as their data; update before a season or a passage.
- Mount it where the helmsman can see it. A plotter hidden at the chart table is of little use when entering a harbor.
- Set safety alarms. Use anchor drag, shallow depth and cross-track error alarms.
A GPS is one item on a longer list. See our checklist of must-have boat safety equipment and our guide to cruising sailboat equipment essentials for the rest.
Best GPS for Sailing: Summary
For a cruising sailboat, choose a 7 to 10-inch chartplotter from Garmin or Raymarine with good chart coverage for your area, a sunlight-readable bonded screen, IPX7 waterproofing and NMEA 2000 networking. The Garmin GPSMAP 1040xs and Raymarine Axiom 7 represent that category well, while the Garmin ECHOMAP UHD, Lowrance HOOK2 and Humminbird Helix are budget choices better suited to small boats or backup duty. Whatever you buy, carry a second, independent GPS source and keep basic chart and compass skills.
