Garmin Striker Plus 5cv

The Striker Plus 5cv is one of the Garmin fish finders released in 2017, and still available in 2020. It’s not extremely different from the older Garmin Striker 5cv but does have a major extra feature, while the price is the same. For reference, this is the Garmin part number 010-01872-00, which includes the ClearVü transducer.

Key Features and Specifications

• Screen: 5″ diagonal, 800H x 480V pixel resolution, WVGA color, backlit
• Sonar: 2D CHIRP & ClearVü
• Frequency & coverage:
  • 2D Sonar: 200 kHz / 15° and 77 kHz / 45°
  • ClearVü: 455 kHz / 2.5° (fore to aft) x 53°, 800 kHz / 1.6° (fore to aft) x 29°
• Depth Capability:
  • 2D: 2,300 ft (701 m)
  • ClearVü: 250 ft (76 m)
• Transducer: CV20-TM (4-pin)
• Transmit power: 500 W (RMS)
• GPS: High-sensitivity, internal
• Charts: No
• Waypoints: 5,000

Sonar and transducer

The Garmin Striker Plus 5cv comes with the last year’s ClearVü transducer, the CV20-TM. This is a dual-frequency transducer, and with it, the system can use two base frequencies for its 2D broadband sonar, and two for ClearVü. The base frequencies used for the 2D CHIRP sonar are 200/77 kHz. The frequency modulation interval is not specified, but as a general idea, Mid-Band CHIRP and High-Band CHIRP modes are available. The unit can also use 50 kHz, but you’ll need a 50 kHz capable transducer.

For ClearVü the system can use 455/800 kHz, the CHIRP frequency intervals being 435-475 kHz & 800-840 kHz.

The CV20-TM transducer integrates a temperature sensor, so the unit can show the water temperature at the depth of the transducer. It comes with 20′ (6 m) of cable, and for this unit, you’ll get the one with the 4-pin connector.

When it comes to depth capability, the Striker Plus 5cv can reach depths up to 2,300 ft (701 m) when using the 2D CHIRP sonar. ClearVü is capable of depths up to 250 ft (76 m). These being said, ClearVü is a type of sonar best used for fishing in freshwater. However, it can still provide decent results when fishing off-shore, if you remain in shallow areas. Also, the recommended boat speed for the best results on the unit’s display is trolling speed, (up to 10-12 MPH). However, with the UltraScroll function, it can still display fish targets at higher boat speeds.

Evidently, since it’s one of the affordable Garmin fishfinders, the Striker Plus 5cv doesn’t have highly advanced sonar features such as Panoptix sonar. However, it does off the usual base sonar functions. Among them, we can count the Flasher mode, A-Scope, Split-Zoom page, Bottom Lock, Sonar Gain, Fish Symbols, and various Alarms. It doesn’t have the Sonar Recording or the Sonar Scrollback functions.

Navigation features

The Garmin Striker Plus 5cv is equipped with a basic GPS plotter which gives you the possibility to mark waypoints with their coordinates for the best fishing spots or other points of interest. It can save up to 5,000 waypoints and has multiple icons so you can make each waypoint more suggestive. It also gives you the possibility to create routes and record tracks. For example, you can create a route from your location to a certain waypoint, adding turns along the way to avoid obstacles. For the tracks, each recorded track plot can be re-traced and used as a route.

Just as the last year’s Striker unit, this one doesn’t have any charts, nor it can be upgraded with any charts, as it doesn’t have a microSD or SD card slot. However, as opposed to the older Striker unit, the Plus unit has the Quickdraw Contours feature. This feature uses the sonar and GPS data allowing you to create maps with 1′ contours and depth labels for any body of water. It’s estimated that you can record up to 1,500 hours of map data into the device. A Depth Range Shading function is available for the unit’s Quickdraw Contours. This function lets you color code depths in order to navigate safer or to mark certain areas where the fish are biting.

Control unit features

As its name suggests, the Garmin Striker Plus 5cv features a 5-inch display. It’s a WVGA color display with a resolution of 800 x 480 pixels which delivers very sharp images. It also has an adjustable LED backlight which considerably improves its readability in direct sunlight. It’s not a touchscreen unit, though. The navigation through the menus and usage of functions is done exclusively via the keypad on the right of the unit. The keypad is slightly different than the last year’s unit.

The unit is IPX7 waterproof. This means it can withstand rain or splashes, its connectors creating a tight seal.

As we’ve mentioned above, the unit doesn’t have a microSD card slot, so it’s not compatible with any charts. Also, it doesn’t have NMEA ports or Ethernet ports, only the transducer/power connectors.

The only mount available with the unit is the classic tilt-and-swivel bracket. A flush mount is not included, nor is a unit cover.

The Pros

• CHIRP 2D and ClearVü sonar;
• CV20-TM transducer included;
• Dual-frequency sonar – which means you can use both 2D beams simultaneously;
• Various sonar features such as Fish Symbols, A-Scope, Ultrascroll, Flasher, Bottom Lock etc;
• High-sensitivity GPS;
• Quickdraw Contours;
• Depth Range Shading;
• Can save up to 5,000 waypoints;
• Can show coordinates;
• Can calculate the speed of your boat;
• IPX7 waterproof and LED backlight for better readability in direct sunlight;
• Easy to install;
• Affordable unit.

The Cons

• Unit cover not included;
• No microSD card reader;
• No NMEA support;
• Only transom mount for the transducer.

Summary

The Garmin Striker Plus 5cv is a great unit for freshwater use, but due to its powerful CHIRP sonar, it can also serve as a great fish finder for off-shore fishing. It also has ClearVü sonar for structure scanning. It only has a basic GPS plotter for navigation, but it also has the Quickdraw Contours feature which allows you to draw maps for any body of water, with contours of 1′. In general, it’s a unit that focuses on supplying the best sonar technologies available and basic navigation for quite an affordable price. It’s actually one of the best fish finders under $300 that you can get at the moment. It’s an excellent unit for any small boat or kayak, and with a portable kit, it can make an excellent fish finder for ice fishing as well.