Structure scanning sonar is great to have because it offers the possibility to understand the structure of the underwater environment, benefit from photo-like sonar views, and see the position of the fish in relation to the boat. However, these sonar features considerably increase the price of a fish finder and not everyone may need them. Therefore, on this page, we have put together a list of 10 best fish finders without structure scanning for 2023.
Top 10 Fish Finders
Without Structure Scanning Sonar
Fish Finder | Features | Price |
 | - DualBeam sonar | |
 | - Dual beam sonar | |
 | - Dual beam sonar | |
 | - Dual beam sonar | |
 | - Dual Beam sonar | |
 | - CHIRP sonar | |
 | - DualBeam Plus CHIRP sonar | |
 | - Dual beam CHIRP sonar - Dual-frequency - GPS | |
 | - Dual beam CHIRP sonar - Dual-frequency - GPS | |
 | - Dual Spectrum CHIRP sonar |
Humminbird PiranhaMAX 4
The Humminbird PiranhaMax 4 is one of the oldest Humminbird fish finders available. It’s a sonar-only unit, 
without GPS or maps. For reference, this is the Humminbird fish finder part number 410150-1.
The unit’s sonar is DualBeam without CHIRP technology. It supports two sonar frequencies, these being 200 kHz and 455 kHz. It does not support 50/83 kHz like the HELIX units. Also, since the unit’s sonar is only “DualBeam” and not “DualBeam Plus”, it cannot use both frequencies simultaneously.
The PiranhaMax 4 includes the XNT 9 28 T transducer which supports both sonar frequencies. It uses two conical beams with a coverage of 28° @ 200 kHz, and 16° @ 455 kHz. The maximum depth capability is 600 ft. (183 m) and can be reached with the 200 kHz beam.
In terms of standard sonar features, the unit has Fish ID+, Structure ID, Bottom View, White Line, and various alarms. It does not have Sonar Recording, a Circular Flasher function, or Amplitude Scope. This being said, it’s a pretty basic fish finder.
The unit itself features a vertical format display, 256-color, with a pixel matrix of 480V x 272H. It is keypad-operated; it does not have touchscreen technology. Its interface is very easy to use; it only has four buttons, one that covers the Power / Menu functions, Up / Down arrow keys, and the Check / Enter key.
Needless to say, the unit does not have any navigation features (no GPS, no maps). It also does not have any networking features or a microSD card slot. It does not have online connectivity and it is not compatible with any apps. It includes the standard gimbal mount.
Pros |
Cons |
|
|
HawkEye FishTrax 1C
The HawkEye FishTrax 1C is one of the most basic fish finders at the moment. It’s a sonar-only fish finder;
it does not have any navigation features and only offers standard sonar.
To begin with, the unit features a 3.5″ diagonal VirtuView color display with LED backlight. It also offers polarized support so you can view the sonar data while wearing polarized sunglasses. It is keypad-operated. It has four main buttons plus the mode select button. Some of the four buttons cover multiple functions while the large select button on the right allows an easy navigation through the functions and menu. In all, the unit is very easy to use.
The FishTraxc 1C is battery-powered but does not require a 12V battery like most other similar fish finders without structure scanning. You’ll need 4 AAA batteries for it (it does not come with batteries). A set of 4 batteries should last for up to 8 hours. Evidently, the unit does not have networking features or online connectivity. It also does not have an SD or microSD card reader.
The unit’s sonar is standard dual beam. It does not use CHIRP technology, so the transducer casts a single-frequency pulse. The unit supports 200 kHz and 83 kHz. It does not support 50 kHz. Naturally, the transducer included with the unit supports these frequencies as well. It casts two conical beams with a coverage of 26° @ 83 kHz, and 14° @ 200 kHz. Also, its maximum depth capability is 240 ft. (73 m).
The transducer is castable from a boat and includes a foam floater. It can be attached to a boat’s transom as well, but the transom mount is not included. It also integrates a temperature sensor and the unit can show the water temperature.
In terms of sonar features, the most notable ones are the FishID, the Circular Flasher, the Noise Rejection, and the Surface Clarity filter. An Auto Zoom bottom tracking function is also available. Plus, the unit offers several alarms.
Pros |
Cons |
|
|
Garmin Striker Cast GPS
The Striker Cast GPS is one of the fish finders released by Garmin in 2020. It’s a castable fish finder that uses your 
smartphone as the control unit. This is the Garmin part number 010-02246-02, the one that has GPS and the Quickdraw Contours features, but there also is a sonar-only version.
To begin with, the Striker Cast GPS features a rugged construction with a casing made of durable thermoplastic material. It comes with a 16.4 ft. (5 m) tether which you can attach to it in order to cast it. You can also cast it with a fishing rod as long as you use a fishing line above 20 lbs test. The unit has a built-in battery with an autonomy of approx. 10 hours. Naturally, the battery is rechargeable and the unit comes with a USB cable.
The Garmin Striker Cast GPS syncs with your smartphone via the Striker Cast App. This app is available for both Android and iOS systems. Also, the unit has a broadcasting range of approx. 200 ft. (61 m), so as long as you’re within this range from your Striker fish finder, you should be able to view the sonar and data on your phone.
The unit’s sonar is standard dual beam. It supports two frequencies, these being 260/455 kHz. It casts two oval beams with a coverage of 22° x 63° @ 260 kHz, and 9° x 14° @ 455 kHz. The maximum depth range is 150 ft. (46 m). The app offers several useful sonar applications including Fish Symbols, AutoGain, Circular Flasher, and A-Scope.
Since this is the Garmin Striker Cast fish finder version that has GPS, it also has the Quickdraw Contours feature. Therefore, you can create your own bathymetric maps with it. It also has the Depth Range Shading feature which allows you to color-code your maps by depth. A track plotting function and a waypoint creation function are also included.
Pros |
Cons |
|
|
Deeper Pro+
The Deeper Pro+ Smart Sonar is already on our list of best fish finders under $300 and best kayak fish finders.
Similar to the Garmin Striker Cast GPS it is a castable fish finder that does not include a head unit. It connects to your smartphone via the Fish Deeper app available in the Apple App Store and Google Play. This app is free.
The Deeper Pro+ features a spherical casing made of durable ABS plastic material. The casing has three connection points on the outside into which you can screw the attachment bolts, depending on how you will deploy the gadget (from a boat, drop-down from a bridge, or cast from shore with a fishing rod). The sonar sensors are on the bottom. The top of the casing can be removed. Inside, there is a micro USB connector. A micro USB to USB cable is included with the unit. A portable bag is also included with the unit.
The Deeper Pro+ fish finder offers a dual-beam sonar. It operates at 90 kHz and 290 kHz. The built-in transducer casts two conical beams with a coverage of 15° @ 290 kHz, and 55° @ 90 kHz. The maximum depth capability is 260 ft. (80 m). Also, the broadcasting range of the unit is 330 ft. (100 m), slightly better than for the Garmin Striker Cast GPS.
The unit’s list of sonar features includes a Circular Flasher, Fish Icons (or Fish ID), Color Palette, Sonar Feed Storage (or Sonar Recording), and more. It’s also important to mention that the Fish Deeper app has a split-screen function so you can view and work with two sonar modes at the time, or with the sonar and GPS function.
The Deeper Pro+ also offers a set of basic navigation features. It has a built-in GPS receiver. It also has a bathymetric mapping feature similar to the Quickdraw Contours available with the Garmin Striker models. All the contour maps that you create with this fish finder can be archived and accessed at any time.
Pros |
Cons |
|
|
Vexilar SP200 T-Box
The Vexilar SP200 T-Box is another fish finder without a head control unit, similar to the Deeper Pro+ or Garmin 
Striker Cast GPS. However, this particular model is not castable. It consists of a small sonar black box and a transducer that features a transom mount.
Needless to say, the sonar black box has internal WiFi and connects to your smartphone or tablet. The SonarPhone app that facilitates the connection between the Vexilar SP200 sonar black box and your phone is free, available from the Apple App Store and Google Play. The sonar black box has a broadcasting range of approx. 300 ft. (91 m), a bit lower than for the Deeper Pro+.
The SonarPhone app offers several fishing modes and functions. The list includes Surface Clarity, Auto Range, Noise Rejections, Fish Icons, and more. It has a Split-Zoom function so you can have a view closer to the bottom on the left, and the full range view on the right. It also has a Fish Alarm, a Depth Alarm, and a Battery Alarm.
The sonar black box unit does not have internal GPS. It also does not support maps. However, the SonarPhone app is compatible with the Navionics app. Therefore, if you install the Navionics mapping app, the SonarPhone app can work with it so you can view the sonar and the maps in split-screen.
The included transducer uses two conical beams with a coverage of 20° @ 200 kHz and 40° @ 83 kHz. Its maximum depth range is 240 ft. It has 25 ft. (7.6 m) of cable, a transom mount, and an internal temperature sensor. The app also displays the water temperature.
Pros |
Cons |
|
|
Garmin Striker 4
The Garmin Striker 4 is one of the oldest fish finders from the Striker series that is still available. It is also the most
basic Garmin fish finder and the most affordable. It offers standard CHIRP sonar and basic GPS. For reference, this is the Garmin part number 010-01550-00.
The unit supports three base sonar frequencies; these are 50/77/200 kHz. It only has standard CHIRP sonar. It does not support ClearVü. The included transducer is the basic Garmin Dual Beam 010-10249-20. This transducer supports the 77/200 kHz frequencies. It has a built-in temperature sensor, 20 ft. (6 m) of cable with a 4-pin connector, and a transom mount.
The transducer casts two conical beams with a coverage of 45° @ 77 kHz, and 15° @ 200 kHz. The maximum depth range that can be achieved with this fish finder and transducer combo is 1,600 ft. (488 m).
The unit offers multiple sonar functions. The list includes Fish Symbol ID, AutoGain, Depth Line, A-Scope, Split-Zoom, Bottom Lock, various alarms, and more. It also has a Circular Flasher feature great for down-dropping or ice fishing. Plus, it has a Temperature Log and Graph.
For navigation, the Striker 4 has a built-in basic GPS plotter. It offers several functions including GPS speed, GPS heading, waypoint marking, and track recording. It does not have a route creation function, though. Since it’s one of the first Striker units, it does not have the Quickdraw Contours function. Also, just like the other Striker units, it does not support charts like LakeVü or BlueChart.
Last but not least, the unit features a 3.5″ display, with a pixel matrix of 480V x 320H. It does not have any networking features. It comes with the standard tilt-and-swivel mount. A unit cover is not included with it. However, Garmin offers the option of a portable kit (which is not included).
Pros |
Cons |
|
|
Humminbird HELIX 5 CHIRP GPS G2
The HELIX 5 CHIRP GPS G2 is one of the Humminbird fish finders released in 2016 but it’s still available at the
moment. As opposed to the PiranhaMax 4, this one also has GPS and maps. For reference, this is the Humminbird part number 410210-1.
As its name suggests, the HELIX 5 CHIRP GPS G2 features a 5-inch display with a pixel resolution of 800H x 480V. It has LED backlight for improved readability in direct sunlight and at night. Like most other HELIX units released so far, it does not have touchscreen technology. It also does not have wireless connectivity but does support NMEA 0183.
Like most other HELIX GPS units, the 410210-1 comes with the Humminbird Basemap. These charts offer coastal coverage for the U.S. waters as well as inland coverage. They actually offer 1-foot contours for more than 10,000 U.S. lakes. The unit also supports charts from Navionics and LakeMaster charts. Plus, it has the AutoChart Live feature that allows you to create your own fishing maps.
The unit’s sonar is DualBeam Plus. This means it can use two frequencies simultaneously. It supports 50/83/200 kHz. The CHIRP intervals are 28-75 kHz, 75-155 kHz, and 130-250 kHz. It comes with the XNT 9 20 T transducer which has an internal temperature sensor, 20 ft. (6 m) of cable, and a transom mount. This transducer only supports 83/200 kHz, though.
The XNT 9 20 T transducer casts two conical beams with a coverage of 60° @ 83 kHz (75-155 kHz) and 20° @ 200 kHz (130-250 kHz). The maximum depth capability that can be achieved with this transducer in perfect weather conditions and visibility is 1,500 ft. (457 m) when using the 83 kHz beam.
Pros |
Cons |
|
|
Simrad Cruise 5
The Simrad Cruise series was released in 2019. The Cruise 5 is the smallest unit of this series. As opposed to the
NSS Evo and GO units, the Cruise models only have standard sonar but do have navigation features. For reference, this is the Simrad fish finder part number 000-14998-001.
The Simrad Cruise 5 features a Dual Beam CHIRP sonar. It supports two frequencies, these being 83/200 kHz. The CHIRP intervals are not specified. Also, the unit does not support 50 kHz, so if you pair it with a 50/200 kHz skimmer transducer you won’t be able to use the Low CHIRP (50 kHz) mode.
The unit comes with the 000-0106-72 transducer which supports 83/200 kHz. It casts two conical beams with a coverage of 22° @ 200 kHz, and 52° @ 83 kHz. Its maximum depth range is 1,000 ft. (305 m). It also integrates a temperature sensor and the unit can display water temperature.
The unit is equipped with the Simrad US Coastal and Worldwide Basemap chart platform. These are basic charts but offer plenty of information for navigation and are pretty reliable. But nonetheless, the unit is compatible with Navionics and C-MAP charts. It also supports the SonarChart application from Navionics. Therefore, if you equip it with a Navionics+ map card (not included), you can also create bathymetric maps with depth contours. The unit’s internal GPS operates at 1 Hz and is WAAS, EGNOS, and MSAS capable. Also, the unit has the Trip Intel Lite feature. However, it does not support Radar or AIS.
Last but not least, the unit has a 5-inch color display with a pixel resolution of 800H x 480V. Unlike most other Simrad units, the Cruise 5 does not have touchscreen technology. It also does not have wireless connectivity, NMEA 2000, or Ethernet ports. It comes with the standard tilt mount.
Pros |
Cons |
|
|
Simrad Cruise 7
The Simrad Cruise 7 is pretty similar to the Simrad Cruise 5 in terms of features, but as its name suggests,
it has a bigger 7-inch display. Its pixel resolution is the same, though, 800H x 480V. Needless to say, its display also has LED backlight.
The unit is IPX6 and IPX7 waterproof. It does not have touchscreen technology. The navigation through its functions and menus is done exclusively from the keypad and rotary knob on the right. It has a very easy-to-use interface featuring pre-determined page views for different applications as well as quick access for waypoints, storage, Trip Intel, and more. In split-screen mode, the applications can be viewed in a vertical or horizontal format.
The Cruise 7 does not have wireless connectivity (no WiFi, no Bluetooth). It does not have networking features such as NMEA or Ethernet either. However, it does have a microSD card port that you can load with charts from Navionics or C-MAP.
The unit’s built-in sonar is standard dual-beam CHIRP. Evidently, it does not support any type of structure scanning sonar such as DownScan, SideScan, or StructureScan 3D. It can use only two frequencies; these are 83 kHz and 200 kHz. The CHIRP intervals are not specified, but as a general idea, this Simrad sonar system uses Mid Range CHIRP and High Range CHIRP.
The unit comes with the skimmer transducer 000-0106-72. This is a plastic transducer with a transom mount, 20 ft. (6 m) of cable, and an 8-pin connector. It also integrates a temperature sensor, and the unit can indicate the water temperature at the depth of the transducer. The transducer casts two conical beams. Their coverage is 52° @ 83 kHz and 22° @ 200 kHz. The maximum depth range that can be achieved with this transducer is 1,000 ft. (305 m).
On the list of navigation features, the Simrad Cruise 7 has a built-in 1 Hz GPS receiver. It supports WAAS, EGNOS, and MSAS for position augmentation. It offers the possibility to save waypoints, record tracks, and create routes. It is pre-loaded with the Simrad US Coastal and Worldwide basemaps. These are basic charts but offer pretty decent information. However, the unit is also compatible with C-MAP charts and Navionics charts. And if you opt for a Navionics+ chart card, it also supports the SonarChart feature which gives you the possibility to create your own bathymetric maps. The Trip Intel Lite page is also available.
Pros |
Cons |
|
|
Humminbird HELIX 8 CHIRP GPS G4N
The HELIX 8 CHIRP GPS G4N is one of the Humminbird fish finders released in 2020. As opposed to the 
older G3N unit, this particular model comes with several improvements. For example, it has built-in WiFi, NMEA 2000, and supports the new CoastMaster charts. Plus, it has a richer pixel matrix. For reference, this is the HELIX part number 411330-1.
The unit has Dual Spectrum CHIRP sonar and supports three main frequencies: 50 kHz, 83 kHz, and 200 kHz. However, the included XNT 9 HW T transducer only supports the High CHIRP (200 kHz) range. The Dual Spectrum CHIRP sonar has three modes: Full, Wide, and Narrow. The CHIRP frequency ranges are 180-240 kHz for the Narrow Mode, 140-200 kHz for the Wide Mode, and 150-220 kHz for the Full Mode. The transducer beams have a coverage of 25° for the Narrow Mode, and 42° for the Wide and Full Modes. Also, the maximum depth range that can be achieved with this transducer is 1,200 ft. (365 m).
As its name suggests, the unit has built-in GPS. The receiver can operate at 5 Hz and at 10 Hz. It supports WAAS, EGNOS, and MSAS. The unit also offers functions such as GPS Speed, saving waypoints, track recording, and route creation.
Like all the other HELIX GPS units, the 411330-1 model is pre-loaded with the Humminbird Basemap. These cover more than 10,000 U.S. lakes and reservoirs with 1-foot contour detailing, and offer coastal coverage as well. The unit also supports LakeMaster, CoastMaster, Navionics, and SmartStrike fishing charts. Plus, it has AutoChart Live which is a bathymetric application that allows you to create your own fishing maps.
This Humminbird fish finder is keypad-operated; it does not have touchscreen technology. It has a color display with a pixel matrix of 1024H x 600V, with LED backlight. It is also IPX7 waterproof. In terms of networking, it has Ethernet and NMEA 2000. It supports i-Pilot Link and radar. It has wireless connectivity so you can sync it with your smartphone via the FishSmart app. It also has two microSD card slots. The standard Gimbal mount is included with the unit.
Pros |
Cons |
|
|
A Few Things to Consider When Choosing a Fish Finder Without Structure Scanning
The 10 fish finders that we’ve covered above may not be the only models without structure scanning. Therefore, if none of them fit your needs or budget, here are a few aspects to consider if you want to end up with a good one.
Brand
Among the most popular fish finder brand names at the moment, we can mention Humminbird, Garmin, Simrad, and Lowrance. They pretty much offer fish finders from the most basic models to the most inclusive and most advanced. Some of the highest-rated models without structure scanning are covered on this page. But nonetheless, due to the popularity of the name brand, there usually cost a few extra bucks. Thus, especially if you’re looking for an affordable model, you may as well check lesser know brands such as Phiradar, or Hawkeye.
Supported Frequencies
Most fish finders without structure scanning support at least 83 kHz and/or 200 kHz. And in case they have CHIRP technology, the frequency ranges may differ. With any of these two frequencies, a fish finder can serve its purpose pretty well in freshwater, as they should be able to scan depths of at least 200 ft. (61 m). However, for off-shore fishing, you may need a model that supports 50 kHz. Even if the unit won’t include a 50 kHz capable transducer, the option of using this frequency for scanning deeper waters can be a plus.
Transducer
Not all fish finders come with a transducer, so this is an important aspect to check before purchasing one. All ten fish finders that we’ve covered above do include a transducer. It’s also important to check the unit’s transducer compatibility before purchasing it. The more types of transducers it can support, the better. It’s always good to have the option of a transducer upgrade.
Navigation Features
GPS and charts are features that most definitely increase the price of a fish finder, regardless of model or type of sonar. A GPS plotter can be useful if you want to mark waypoints on the map for certain fishing spots. It may also have other features such as track recording, route creation, and more. Also, the charts of a certain area may already offer a lot of data and indicate many important points of interest. But then again, not everyone may need features such as these especially if they’re going to fish in the same 2-3 lakes. So, in this case, it’s best to opt for a model without. The listing above includes several fish finders without GPS.
Networking Features
Networking features such as NMEA 2000, Ethernet, Bluetooth, or WiFi connectivity are also features that will considerably increase the price of a fish finder. For some of them, like the Deeper Pro+ or Garmin Striker Cast GPS, they are necessary, though, because they work with your phone and a wireless connection needs to be established. NMEA and Ethernet ports are great to have if you already have a boat grid ready so you can easily plug in your new fish finder and have it communicate with the other existing boating instruments such as AIS units, auto-pilots, or Radar. As a general idea, most fish finders without structure scanning are not networkable. The best ones that have networking features are the Humminbird HELIX G2N, G3N, and G4N.
Bottom Line
This page covers some of the highest-rated fish finders without structure scanning sonar in 2023, at least for the moment. Our top 10 covers models for all budgets and needs. Each one comes with a transducer, and most of them offer at least dual-beam sonar. They all offer excellent value for the price, and so far, most of them have gathered the best user feedback.