Most first-time boat owners spend their electronics budget in the wrong order.
We see it every fall. Someone closes on a used 22-foot center console in September, walks into a dealer, and walks out with a 12-inch touchscreen and a live sonar transducer. The boat still has the factory VHF from 2011 with a cracked antenna base, and nobody asked whether it had ever been registered with an MMSI number.
This guide is about getting the sequence right. Buying marine electronics for new boat owners isn't really a shopping problem. It's a priority problem. Radio first, then navigation and sonar, then collision avoidance, then an autopilot, and each step only when the boat and the way you use it actually call for it. Below: that order, four boat-type setups, the add-ons to skip, and why October through February is the best time of year to buy.
The order that actually makes sense
Here's the short version before we get into each step:
| Priority | What | Why it comes here | Typical spend at NVN |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fixed-mount DSC VHF (plus a handheld) | It's how you call for help. Everything else is convenience | $106–$223 |
| 2 | Chartplotter / fish finder combo | Knowing where you are and what's under you | $420–$1,600 |
| 3 | AIS and/or radar | Seeing other boats in fog, at night, or in shipping lanes | $631–$2,200 |
| 4 | Autopilot | Holding a heading so you can do other things | $1,470–$2,250 |
Not every boat needs all four. A pontoon on a 900-acre reservoir might stop at step 2 for good.
Step 1: A VHF radio, before anything with a screen
A cell phone is not a marine radio. It doesn't reach every boat within 15 miles, and it dies at the wrong moment. A fixed-mount VHF with DSC (Digital Selective Calling) sends a distress call with your GPS position at the push of one red button. That button is the single most important piece of electronics on any boat that leaves sight of the ramp.
You don't need to spend much. The Standard Horizon GX1400 fixed-mount VHF is $131.99 and it's the radio we put on more first boats than anything else. Spend the extra $44 on the GX1400G with built-in GPS at $175.99 if your boat doesn't already have a GPS source on an NMEA 2000 network. Without a position feed, the DSC distress button sends a call with no location in it, which defeats most of the point. The compact Icom M330 with GPS is $222.99 if your dash is tight.
Then register the MMSI. For recreational boats that stay in US waters, BoatUS issues one for free online. Half the used boats we see never had it done. Our DSC VHF radio explainer covers the setup.
Add a floating handheld. The Standard Horizon HX210 at $106.29 or the Icom M25 EVO at $147.99 goes in the ditch bag. If the house battery dies or the boat floods, the fixed radio goes down with it.
One honest note: the antenna matters more than the radio. A $132 radio on a clean 8-foot antenna will outreach a $400 radio on a corroded 3-foot whip every time. Our VHF radio buyer's guide goes deeper on antennas and output power.
Step 2: Chartplotter and fish finder
For most new owners this is where the real money goes, and the easy mistake is buying too much screen. On a boat under 20 feet, a 7-inch combo unit is honestly enough. On a 22- to 26-foot center console, 9 inches is the sweet spot. Twelve inches and up is great, but it's a second-season purchase once you know how you actually use the boat.
What we recommend at each level:
- Garmin STRIKER Vivid 7cv with GT20-TM transducer — Fish finder with a GPS track plotter but no charts. Fine for small lakes. $419.99
- Humminbird HELIX 7 CHIRP SI GPS G4 — Side imaging and real mapping in a 7-inch box. Our default for freshwater. $528.99
- Garmin ECHOMAP UHD2 74cv with US Coastal maps — Charts, CHIRP, ClearVü. Best value for a small coastal boat. $699.99
- Simrad GO9 XSE with transom transducer — A 9-inch touchscreen that can run a Halo radar later. $799.00
- Lowrance Elite FS 9 with Active Imaging 3-in-1 — The inshore angler's 9-inch. $1,099.00
- Garmin GPSMAP 943xsv — Full networking, radar and autopilot ready. This is the "I'm going to build a real helm" choice. $1,599.99
The jump from a STRIKER to a GPSMAP is less about screen quality than about what the unit can talk to later: radar, AIS, autopilot, engine data. If you'll ever add those, buy the networked unit now.
The transducer is half the purchase. A great display on a badly mounted transducer shows garbage above 20 knots. Read our marine transducer buyer's guide before you pick a bundle.
Step 3: AIS and radar, if you share the water with traffic
AIS (Automatic Identification System) shows ships that broadcast their position. Radar shows everything that reflects a signal, including the lobster boat and the squall line.
For a new owner running coastal waters with commercial traffic, AIS usually comes first because it's cheaper and simpler. The em-trak B921 Class B transceiver is $630.63. The 5-watt em-trak B951 at $757.35 gets you seen at longer range and gets priority in busy slot traffic, which matters near a port. On a sailboat, the B954 with built-in VHF antenna splitter at $1,304.82 lets the AIS share your masthead antenna instead of adding a second one.
Radar is the bigger commitment. A dome like the Garmin GMR Fantom 18x at $2,199.99 needs a mount, a cable run up an arch or T-top, and a compatible display. Daylight-only boaters can skip it. If you run in fog or after dark, it moves up the list fast. Our AIS vs radar breakdown explains why most coastal boats eventually want both, and the best AIS transponders of 2026 and best marine radar of 2026 guides compare the options.
Step 4: Autopilot, and why it's last
An autopilot is the item most likely to be bought too early. It needs a heading sensor, a drive unit matched to your steering, and a calibration run on open water. On a 20-foot boat that runs 8 miles to the fishing grounds and back, it doesn't earn its keep.
Where it does earn its keep: long runs offshore, trolling where you want both hands on rods, and shorthanded sailing. For outboard boats with hydraulic steering, the Raymarine EV-100 Power pilot starts at $1,469.99. The Garmin Reactor 40 mechanical retrofit corepack with GHC 50 is $2,249.99 and pairs naturally with a Garmin helm. See how marine autopilot systems work before you buy. Drive sizing trips up a lot of people.
What it looks like on four common boats
Pontoon on an inland lake
The HX210 handheld plus a HELIX 7 CHIRP SI GPS comes to about $635. On a big lake with barge traffic or a marine patrol monitoring channel 16, add the GX1400 fixed mount. You don't need radar, AIS, or an autopilot. We mean that.
Bass boat
Bass boats are sonar boats. The usual setup is a 9-inch or larger unit at the console and a second unit at the bow, networked so waypoints show on both. A HELIX 7 CHIRP MEGA DI GPS at $619.99 is a smart bow unit on a budget. Put the rest of the money into the trolling motor, because that decides how you fish more than any screen does. Our trolling motor guide covers it. A handheld VHF is enough on most bass lakes.
Center console, 20 to 28 feet
This is the boat where the full sequence makes sense. GX1400G at the helm, an ECHOMAP UHD2 93sv at $1,199.99 or a GPSMAP 943xsv if you want radar later, then AIS once you start running inlets with ship traffic. Our chartplotter/GPS combo guide compares the 9-inch options side by side.
Sailboat, 28 to 36 feet
A sailboat needs things in a different order. VHF first, obviously, but AIS moves up to second, because you're slow, you're hard to see, and you'll be crossing shipping lanes at 6 knots. A Simrad GO9 XSE at the pedestal or companionway handles charts. Then an autopilot, sooner than on a powerboat, because steering by hand for eight hours is exhausting. On a tiller boat, the EV-100 Tiller kit at $1,799.99 is the one we install most.
What dealers upsell that you don't need (yet)
A 12- or 16-inch display on a boat under 22 feet. A 9-inch is readable from anywhere on a small helm.
Live sonar in year one. It's amazing technology. It's also $1,500 to $3,000 you'll spend before you can read a basic 2D and side-imaging screen. Learn the fundamentals first.
Radar on a daylight-only lake boat. Nothing more to say here.
Premium chart subscriptions on small inland water. The built-in maps on most combo units cover popular lakes well. Upgrade if you find gaps, not before.
Pre-bundled "helm packages" that include things you haven't chosen. Price out the pieces. Sometimes the bundle wins. Often it includes a transducer that doesn't suit your hull.
Pick a brand family, because you're choosing an ecosystem
NMEA 2000 lets basic data move between brands: GPS position, depth, engine data, AIS targets. The high-value stuff mostly doesn't cross over. Garmin radar only runs on Garmin displays. Raymarine radar only runs on Raymarine. Simrad, Lowrance, and B&G share the Navico family's Halo radar. Autopilot control works best, and sometimes only, from the same brand's display.
So the chartplotter you buy in step 2 quietly decides your radar and autopilot in steps 3 and 4. If you know you'll grow into a full helm, pick the family now. Garmin and Navico (Simrad/Lowrance) have the broadest lineup for outboard boats. Raymarine is strong on sailboats and cruisers. Humminbird is excellent for freshwater fishing but isn't the brand to build around if you're planning radar and an autopilot.
Our NMEA 2000 network setup guide shows what can and can't be shared.
Why fall and winter are the best time to buy
Installers get slammed from March through May. A helm rewire that's a one-week job in December can be a five-week wait in April. Right now the boat is out of the water and you have months to run cable properly.
Winter boat shows also bring the year's best bundle pricing and manufacturer promotions, typically January through March. If you're flexible, shortlist your gear now and watch for show pricing.
One catch: most manufacturer warranties start at purchase date, not install date. Buy in October and splash in May, and you've spent six months of warranty on a unit sitting in the garage. For expensive items like radar or an autopilot, it can make sense to buy closer to install. Also update firmware on the bench before launch day.
Our recommendation
If you've just bought a coastal boat between 18 and 26 feet and you're working with around $1,000 this winter, spend it like this: a GX1400G at $175.99, an HX210 handheld at $106.29, and a Garmin ECHOMAP UHD2 74cv at $699.99. That's $982.27 and a boat that can call for help, navigate, and find fish. Put the next $760 toward the B951 AIS next season, not toward a bigger screen.
If you're not sure what your boat needs, call us at (212) 688-0550. Tell us the hull, the water you run, and your budget. We'll tell you what to skip.
Authorized dealer for Garmin, Raymarine, Simrad, Lowrance, Humminbird, Icom & Standard Horizon · Same-day shipping before 3 PM EST · Full manufacturer warranty
Shop All Chartplotters at NVN Marine →Frequently asked questions
What marine electronics does a new boat owner need first?
A fixed-mount VHF radio with DSC and a GPS source, plus a floating handheld VHF as backup. After that, a chartplotter/fish finder combo sized to your boat. AIS, radar, and an autopilot come later, and only if your boating includes fog, night running, shipping traffic, or long runs.
How much should I budget for electronics on a new boat?
For a small lake boat, $500 to $700 covers a handheld VHF and a 7-inch fish finder. For a coastal center console, around $1,000 buys a GPS-enabled VHF, a handheld, and a 7-inch chartplotter combo. A fully built helm with radar, AIS, and an autopilot on a 25-foot boat usually runs $5,000 to $8,000 before installation.
Can I mix Garmin, Raymarine, Simrad, and Lowrance on the same boat?
For basic data, yes. GPS position, depth, engine data, and AIS targets share across brands over NMEA 2000. Radar, sonar sharing, and full autopilot control generally need a display from the same brand or brand family. Simrad, Lowrance, and B&G share Navico's Halo radar, but Garmin and Raymarine radars only work on their own displays.
Do I need an MMSI number for my VHF radio?
Yes, if you want the DSC distress button to identify your boat. Recreational boats that stay in US waters can get a free MMSI from BoatUS online. Boats traveling to foreign ports need an FCC ship station license, which comes with its own MMSI.
Is it better to buy marine electronics in the fall or the spring?
Fall and winter are usually better. Installers have open schedules, the boat is out of the water so wiring is easier, and winter boat shows bring bundle pricing. The one trade-off is warranty: most start at the purchase date, so for expensive items you may want to buy closer to installation.
Do I need radar if I have AIS?
Not always. AIS only shows boats that are transmitting, which leaves out most small recreational boats, fishing skiffs, and navigation hazards. If you only run in daylight and clear weather, AIS alone is a reasonable start. If you run in fog or at night, radar shows what AIS can't, and most coastal boaters end up with both.
