Humminbird PiranhaMax 4 PT

Although the PiranhaMax 4 PT is one of the Humminbird fish finders released quite a while ago, it is still available in 2020. It is one of the most basic Humminbird fish finders that you can get at the moment; it only offers DualBeam sonar and no navigation features but does come with a portable kit. For reference, this is the Humminbird part number 410170-1.

Key Features and Specifications

• Display: 4.3″ diagonal, color TFT with a 256 color range, 480V x 272H pixel resolution, with LED backlight
• Sonar: DualBeam
• Depth Capability: 600 feet (183 m)
• Frequency and Coverage: 200 kHz / 28° and 455 kHz / 16°
• Transducer: XPT 9 28 T (with suction cup)
• Power Output: 300 Watts (RMS)
• Power Input: 10.8-20 VDC
• Power Draw: 180 mA
• Portable kit: Included
• GPS: No
• Charts: No

Sonar and transducer

The Humminbird PiranhaMax 4 PT features DualBeam sonar, capable of operating at 200/455 kHz. However, keep in mind that it’s not DualBeam Plus as for the HELIX 5 CHIRP GPS G2. This means it cannot use both sonar beams simultaneously, only one at the time. Also, even though one of its operating frequencies is 455 kHz, it does not have Down Imaging sonar. Just the standard (2D) DualBeam.

The system includes the XPT 9 28 T transducer, which is also a basic model. It’s temperature capable, though, comes with a suction cup instead of a trolling or transom mount, and has 20′ (6 m) of cable.

The transducer uses two conical beams of 28° @ 200 kHz and 16° @ 455 kHz. Its depth capabilities aren’t extraordinary, but it can reach up to 600 ft (183 m) when using the 200 kHz mode, and 320 ft (97.5 m) at 455 kHz. It’s not exactly a transducer built for high speeds; the suction cup won’t hold to well at boat speeds higher than trolling speed (10 MPH). In fact, the recommended boat speed for the best bottom reading and a maximum of targets is between 1-6 MPH.

Although it’s a basic unit, it does have most of the standard sonar functions. Among them, we can count Selective Fish ID+, Structure ID, several alarms, Bottom View and WhiteLine.

The Fish ID function is present in most Humminbird fish finders. This function basically replaces the fish arches (or the suspended targets, which it interprets as fish), with small fish icons. Even though not all the targets are actually fish, the depth of each target is displayed right above it so you’ll see it at a quick glance.

Structure ID is a function that represents the weak returns as light pixels, while the strong returns will be darker. WhiteLine highlights the strongest sonar returns in white, which results in a distinctive outline, with the benefit of clearly defining the bottom on the display. Last but not least, the Bottom View function focuses the view of the sonar onto the bottom. It’s best to be used along with the Fish ID+ function, in order to have a better view of the fish that are feeding close to the bottom.

The unit has three main alarms, Fish Alarm, Battery Alarm and Depth Alarm. You can setup the Fish Alarm notify you when it detects a fish of a certain size (large, medium or small). This function works only when the Fish ID is on, though. The Depth Alarm gives you the possibility to select a certain depth value, so the unit will beep when you reach a depth equal or lower than the selected value. And finally, the Battery Alarm can be set to sound when the battery drops at a certain voltage or below.

Control unit features and portable kit

The control unit is basically the PiranhaMax 4 unit that we’ve previously covered here. It features a wider display than the previous 197c model, with a 480V x 272H pixel resolution and a 4.3″ diagonal. Although it is a basic unit, it does have a color display, with a 256 color range.

The display is basically similar to the echoMAP CHIRP 42dv from Garmin. It also integrates LED backlight, offering excellent readability in direct sunlight or from sharp angles. It’s also IPX7 waterproof, which basically means that it can withstand incidental water exposure such as rain or splashes.

Evidently, since it is a basic unit, it doesn’t have a microSD card reader, nor does it have any NMEA or Ethernet ports.

The portable kit includes the case, a 7 AMP Hour battery, and a charger. However, since this is not an ice fishing kit, it doesn’t include a floater for the transducer.

The Pros

• Wider and clearer display than the older PiranhaMax units;
• Dual Beam sonar 200/455 kHz;
• Portable transducer XPT 9 28 T with suction cup included;
• 600 ft depth capability, more than enough for fresh water fishing and even off-shore shallows;
• Various functions included, such as Fish ID, Bottom View, Fish Alarm, Depth Alarm etc;
• IPX7 waterproof;
• Color display;
• Portable case included;
• 7 AMP Hour battery included;
• Charger for battery included;
• Fairly easy to install;
• Affordable.

The Cons

• No upgrade possibilities;
• No Down Imaging;
• No Circular Flasher function.

Summary

The Humminbird PiranhaMax 4 PT is a basic fish finder featuring standard sonar and a portable kit which includes a portable DualBeam transducer with a suction cup, portable case, battery, and charger. It’s a color unit offering standard sonar features such as Fish ID+, Structure ID, Whiteline, Fish Alarm etc. It doesn’t have any navigation features, and due to this fact is evidently cheaper than other similar units. It’s perfect for small boats, kayaks, floaters. And finally, it’s a fish finder that won’t break the bank.