Garmin Striker Plus 4cv

Although the Striker Plus 4cv is one of the new Garmin fish finders released in 2018, it is still available in 2020. It’s a unit that focuses on fish finding features and only offers basic navigation features. In other words, it basically has the same sonar as the ECHOMAP Plus 43cv but doesn’t have charts, only a GPS plotter. Also, as opposed to the older Garmin Striker 4cv, this unit comes with several improvements, such as a bigger display and the Quickdraw Contours feature. For reference, this is the Garmin part number 010-01871-00.

Key Features and Specifications

• Display: 4.3″ diagonal, 480V x 272H pixel resolution, QSVGA color, backlit
• Sonar: 2D CHIRP & ClearVü
• Frequency and Coverage:
  • 2D Sonar: 200 kHz / 15° and 77 kHz / 45°
  • ClearVü: 455 kHz / 2.5° x 53°, 800 kHz / 1.6° x 29°
• Depth Capability:
  • 2D Sonar: 2,300 ft (701 m)
  • ClearVü: 250 ft (76 m)
• Transducer: CV20-TM
• Transmit power: 300 W (RMS)
• GPS: High-sensitivity, internal
• Maps: No
• Waypoints: 5,000

Sonar and transducer

Since it’s a ClearVü unit, the Garmin Striker Plus 4cv includes the CV20-TM transducer. This transducer is 77/200 kHz capable for the unit’s 2D CHIRP sonar, and 455/800 kHz for ClearVü. It’s a plastic transducer, with a metallic transom mount. It also has an internal temperature sensor, so that the unit can show the water temperature. It features 20 ft. (6 m) of cable and a 4-pin connector.

With the included CV20-TM transducer, this Garmin fish finder can use Mid CHIRP and High CHIRP in its 2D sonar mode and can modulate the sonar pulse on a CHIRP interval between 435-475 kHz and 800-840 kHz for ClearVü. This CHIRP sonar pulse modulation leads to a better target definition and separation, and also to clearer images with less clutter, aspects that considerably help with the detection of fish. However, the unit itself is capable of 50 kHz for 2D, and 260 kHz for CV, so you can use a different, more powerful transducer with it.

In terms of depth scanning and coverage, the transducer uses conical beams for the 2D sonar. These offer a coverage of 45° @ 77 kHz, and 15° @ 200 kHz. For ClearVü, the beams are fan-shaped not conical; they’re very thin fore/aft, approx. 1.5°, but wider side-to-side. Their side to side angles is approx. 53° @ 455 kHz and 29° @ 800 kHz.

The specified max. depth capability of the included CV20-TM transducer is 2,300 ft (701 m) at 77 kHz, and in freshwater, with the best conditions possible. In saltwater, its depth penetration should go only up to 1,100 ft (335 m). For ClearVü, its depth capability is only approx. 250 ft (76 m). So, this being said, ClearVü is a sonar best used for lakes, rivers, or in general, freshwater fishing.

As opposed to the ECHOMAP Plus units, the Garmin Striker Plus 4cv doesn’t have Sonar Recording and Sonar Rewind. However, on the list of included standard sonar features and functions are UltraScroll, Fish Symbol ID, AutoGain, A-Scope, Split-Zoom, Depth Line, Fish Alarm, Depth Alarm, etc.

Navigation features

The Garmin Striker Plus 4cv is not a chartplotter. It doesn’t have any charts, not it can be upgraded with any charts. It only has a GPS plotter, which shows your position on a blank sheet. The GPS plotter also gives you the possibility to mark up to 5,000 waypoints, it automatically records your track, and gives you the possibility to create routes between your marked waypoints. It offers several types of icons for waypoint creation so that you can make each waypoint more suggestive.

Evidently, the GPS shows the coordinates (latitude/longitude) for each waypoint marked. It can also calculate the speed of your boat.

Although the unit doesn’t have any charts, it does have Quickdraw Contours. The last year’s Striker units do not have this feature. Quickdraw Contours uses the GPS and basic sonar data to draw the depth contours of the lake, river, canal or body of water where you’re fishing. Therefore, you can create your own fishing maps with the most up to date 1′ depth contours. The unit can record up to 2 million acres of contours.

Control unit features

As we’ve mentioned above, this unit has a slightly larger display than the older Garmin Striker 4cv. It’s 4.3″ in diagonal (up from 3.5″); it’s QSVGA color, and has a pixel resolution of 480V x 272H, providing pretty sharp images. It also has LED backlight for a better visibility in direct sunlight. Users have actually reported that you can read the display without any trouble in direct sunlight with the brightness set at 80%.

The unit is keypad operated and IPX7 waterproof. Differently put, it is resistant to incidental water exposure such as rain or occasional splashes, and even immersion up to 1 m, in freshwater.

This Garmin unit doesn’t have any networking features, so no NMEA ports, no Ethernet ports. It also doesn’t have a microSD card reader. Its current draw is 12V: 0.23A, so this being said, you can use a standard 12V 7Ah battery to power it up. With the brightness on the highest settings, a battery of this sort should last for over 24 hours.

A standard tilt-swivel mount is included with the unit. The box doesn’t include a unit cover, though.

The Pros

• CHIRP 2D sonar;
• ClearVü sonar for structure observation;
• The unit is capable of using 50/77/83/200 kHz base frequencies;
• Supports 50/77/200 kHz frequencies for 2D, and 260/455/800 kHz for CV;
• ClearVü (CV20-TM) transducer included;
• Various sonar features such as Fish Symbols, A-Scope, Ultrascroll, Flasher etc;
• High-sensitivity GPS;
• GPS speed;
• Quickdraw Contours;
• Can save up to 5,000 waypoints;
• Routes and track recording functions;
• Larger display than the older unit (4.3″ up from 3.5″);
• Tilt-swivel mount included;
• Easy to install;
• Affordable.

The Cons

• No NMEA connectivity;
• No unit cover.

Summary

The Garmin Striker Plus 4cv is a small fish finder featuring 2D CHIRP sonar, ClearVü, a basic GPS plotter for navigation, and the Quickdraw Contours feature. It includes the CV20-TM transducer for 2D and ClearVü. It’s an excellent fish finder for kayak, great for both saltwater and freshwater. With a bit of improvisation, it can also be used on the ice. And finally, it’s one of the most affordable fish finders with down scanning sonar and GPS that you can find at the moment, currently priced for less than $200.