Raymarine Axiom 2 12 RV | RealVision 3D CHIRP Sonar

The Raymarine Axiom 2 12 RV brings built-in RealVision 3D sonar to a bright, fast 12-inch multifunction display. This is the base RV configuration, the display and its sonar, ready for you to add the charts and transducer that suit your boat and your water. If you want a genuine chartplotter and sonar combo and prefer to choose your own cartography, this is the version to build around.

The screen is a 12-inch touchscreen at WXGA 1280 by 800 resolution with a very bright 1800 nit display, so it stays clearly readable in direct sun. Behind it is a 6-core processor with 64 GB of solid-state storage, which is what makes the Axiom 2 quick in daily use, charts and sonar redraw fast and switching screens happens without lag. The display uses HydroTough display technology, built to handle the knocks and moisture of the marine environment.

The RV in the name is the built-in RealVision 3D sonar, and it's the reason to choose this model. Paired with a compatible RealVision transducer, such as an RV-100, it gives you a lifelike, three-dimensional view of the bottom, structure, and fish around and behind your boat. That three-dimensional picture makes it far easier to understand what's down there and where the fish are holding than a flat traditional sonar view. The transducer isn't included with the base unit, so you match it to your boat and how you fish.

It runs the LightHouse operating system, with expanded app support and engine integration, and it's built to be the hub of a connected helm. It supports gigabit networking so you can tie in radar, more displays, and additional sonar, along with NMEA 2000 for engine data and sensors and Wi-Fi for app connectivity and updates. That expandability means you can start with this display and grow the system as your needs change.

Because this is the base RV configuration, you have flexibility on charts. It's designed to run LightHouse charts, and Raymarine offers configurations bundled with regional charts if you'd rather have them preloaded, but this version lets you add the exact cartography you want. Some anglers prefer that, choosing their charts to match exactly where they run rather than paying for a region they don't need.

It's built for the water, and like the rest of the Axiom 2 line it's designed to be a fast, reliable helm display that handles the marine environment. Physically it's a 12-inch display sized for helms where that screen fits well, and it supports the standard trunnion, surface, and flush mounting options of the platform, so plan your helm space and mounting accordingly. In the box you get the base display unit, with the transducer, charts, and mounting configuration varying by the exact bundle you choose.

It's worth adding a note on the LightHouse experience day to day. The interface is designed around fast, app-style operation, so laying out the exact combination of chart, sonar, and data you want on screen is quick, and your setup is there waiting the next time you power up. And because this base configuration lets you choose your own transducer and charts, you build precisely the sonar and navigation setup your fishing calls for rather than accepting a preset. That flexibility, on top of the fast platform, is what makes the base RV such a popular starting point for a serious angler's helm.

Who's this for? Anglers who want built-in RealVision 3D sonar on a fast, bright 12-inch display and prefer to pick their own transducer and charts rather than take a preset bundle. If fishfinding is a priority and you want a true chartplotter and sonar combo you can tailor to your boat, the Axiom 2 12 RV is the flexible, capable choice. If you'd rather have North America charts already loaded, there's a version of this same display that ships with them preloaded.