Raymarine Dragonfly 4DV

The Dragonfly 4DV is one of the discontinued Raymarine units. It’s a fish finder only unit, without any GPS or charts. It includes the CPT-DV transducer. For reference, this is the Raymarine part number E70291.

Key Features and Specifications

• Display: 4.3″ in diagonal, 24-bit color TFT, 480H x 272V pixel matrix, 16:9 aspect ratio, optically bonded and with LED backlight
• Waterproofing IPX-6 and IPX-7
• Sonar: CHIRP DownVision
• Depth Capability: 600 ft. (183 m)
• Frequency and Coverage: 320-380 kHz / 60° side-to-side and 1.4° fore to aft
• Transducer: Transom CPT-DV (R70373)
• Power Input: 10.8 – 15.6 VDC
• Power Draw: 9.4 W Max (full brightness), 4.8 W (PowerSave mode)
• GPS: No
• Maps: No
• MicroSD card slot: No

Sonar and transducer

One of the most important aspects to underline regarding the sonar features and functions of the Dragonfly 4DV is the fact that it only uses CHIRP DownVision sonar technology. It does not have a dual-frequency sonar, and it cannot use the 2D traditional sonar view. With this unit, you will only have DownVision sonar. But since it uses CHIRP, each pulse will be modulated over a range of frequencies between 320-380 kHz.

The transducer supplied with this Raymarine fish finder is the CPT-DV (part number: R70373). It uses one fan-shaped beam, 1.4° fore to aft, and 60° side-to-side. In other words, it does offer quite a decent coverage. Its depth capability goes up to 600 ft. (183 m), which is not bad for such a small unit. And when it comes to boat speed, this particular transducer should be able to track the bottom at speeds up to 25 MPH and offer a pretty clear picture.

The transducer is temperature capable, having a built-in sensor. It comes with a transom mount and features 13.1′ (4 m) of cable.

The unit’s CHIRP DownVision is great for the analysis of structure, and the shape of the bottom. It offers crystal-clear images, close to the quality of photographs. Also, since CHIRP technology is involved, target separation is superior. Thus, with this unit, you will be able to tell fish apart from structure much easier.

Three important features regarding the DownVision sonar of this unit should also be mentioned here. Gain, Contrast, and Noise Filter have Automatic and Manual modes. The Gain setting adjusts the echo strength at which an object will be displayed on the screen. In Auto Mode, the setting will automatically adjust to suit current conditions, while in Manual mode, you can select a value between 0% and 100%. This also goes for Contrast, which basically changes the signal strength threshold for the strongest color or shading. On the other hand, the Noise Filter function cuts the amount of clutter on the screen, varying the gain throughout the water column. In Auto mode, the Noise Filter is set to 20%, but if you opt to adjust it manually, you can select between 0% and 100%.

Control unit features and functions

The control unit is pretty similar to the Dragonfly 4PRO unit. In other words, it features a 4.3″ display, with a 480 x 272 pixel resolution, and 16:9 aspect ratio. But what’s most impressive regarding the unit’s display is its 24-bit color depth, which is quite better than other units within this price range. For example, the Lowrance HOOK-4 units use a 16-bit color depth display. The Dragonfly 4DV display also features LED backlight, for superior readability in direct sunlight, or in the dark.

The unit’s display is IPX6 and IPX7 waterproof, which means it can survive incidental water exposure, being also dust-tight. In other words, the screen won’t blur out in just about any weather conditions, also offering excellent readability even if the user has polarized sunglasses on.

Just like the other Dragonfly units, this one does not feature NMEA outputs. And since it does not offer GPS or cartography, it also doesn’t have a microSD card reader.

The unit comes with the pivot ball mount, also featuring the quick disconnection system and the unified cable. The box does not include a battery, but a 12-7 gel cell battery should do just fine.

The Pros

• Affordable fish finder, with CHIRP DownVision;
• Offers a clear view, similar to the accuracy of a photo, and with a superior target separation;
• Transducer included;
• 24-bit color display;
• Possibility to automatically adjust Noise, Gain, and Contrast;
• Horizontal display layout, offering more side-to-side screen space for sonar observation;
• LED backlight;
• Quick disconnection system.

The Cons

• Lacks 2D sonar, which may be an issue, as many anglers prefer the traditional 2D view;
• No NMEA connectivity;
• Unit cover not included.

Summary

The Raymarine Dragonfly 4DV is one of the very few small fish finders that use CHIRP with their down view sonar technology. This helps a lot with telling fish apart from structure and is also great for analyzing structure shapes, and the contour of the bottom. On top of that, it has a bright, colorful display, a nice, quick-disconnection system, and comes with the transducer, being ready-to-use out of the box. All in all, it’s quite an affordable unit, great to use in freshwater, and to have on a small boat or kayak.