All Tested Raymarine Models (1)

Raymarine Dragonfly: Full Review and Price

Raymarine Dragonfly: Full Review and Price

Full Review

Raymarine isn't a fishing company that happens to sell electronics. Its own product catalog covers marine radar, boat autopilots, marine instruments, assisted docking, AIS transceivers, VHF radio, and satellite TV, alongside its chartplotters. Fish finders are one piece of a much bigger marine-electronics business, which shows in how the products are built: navigation and sonar are treated as one integrated system, not two features bolted together.

Raymarine's Real Current Lineup

As of this check, Raymarine sells exactly two active chartplotter/fishfinder lines: Axiom and Element. Dragonfly, an older budget-tier line some searches still turn up, is not part of either. We looked into that gap directly in our Dragonfly review rather than pretending it's still current.

Axiom is the larger, more configurable family. It spans Axiom+ (7/9/12", Raymarine's previous generation, sold with or without built-in RealVision sonar), Axiom 2 (7/9/12", the current generation with faster processing), Axiom 2 Pro S and Pro RVM (9/12/16", aimed at cruising/sailing and serious offshore fishing respectively), and Axiom 2 XL (16-24", premium glass-bridge displays for larger helms). Element is the simpler, keypad-controlled entry line, split into Element S (single-channel sonar) and Element HV (HyperVision sonar), both sold at 7, 9, and 12 inches.

Where Raymarine Fits Against Garmin, Lowrance, and Humminbird

Raymarine competes at the mid-to-premium end of the market, closer to Simrad than to the budget tiers Garmin and Lowrance also cover. There's no confirmed sub-$300 current Raymarine chartplotter with built-in sonar in this research; the Axiom+ 9 RV starts at $1,349.99 for the display alone, before adding a transducer. If a tight budget is the deciding factor, Raymarine's Element line or a competing budget brand is worth checking first. If having navigation, radar, and autopilot gear from the same maker, wired to talk to each other, matters more than upfront price, Raymarine's depth outside of pure fish-finding is a real differentiator most single-purpose sonar brands can't match.

Our Raymarine Reviews

We've tested and researched three real, currently-relevant Raymarine models in depth:

  • Raymarine Axiom 9, the Axiom+ 9 RV, Raymarine's 9-inch display with the full CHIRP/DownVision/SideVision/RealVision 3D sonar suite built in, starting at $1,349.99 for the display alone.
  • Raymarine Axiom 12, the same sonar suite on a bigger, brighter 12-inch screen, starting at $2,599.99 for the display alone.
  • Raymarine Dragonfly, a real look at why this once-popular budget line no longer appears in Raymarine's own current catalog, and what to buy instead if you want a currently-supported unit.

Every model on this page is grouped below with whatever else we've confirmed about it.

Verdict: Who Should Buy Raymarine

Raymarine makes sense for a boat owner who wants navigation, sonar, radar, and autopilot gear from one maker, built to network together, and who has the budget for it: none of the current fish-finding-capable Axiom+ units come in under $1,300. It doesn't make sense as a first purchase for someone who wants the cheapest possible entry into GPS-and-sonar, or who's chasing a specific Dragonfly-era budget price point that Raymarine itself no longer sells.

FAQ

What fish finders does Raymarine currently sell?

Two active lines: Axiom (Axiom+, Axiom 2, Axiom 2 Pro, Axiom 2 XL) and Element (Element S, Element HV).

Is Raymarine only a fishing-electronics brand?

No. Its catalog spans radar, autopilots, marine instruments, docking assistance, AIS, VHF radio, and satellite TV, in addition to chartplotters.

Is the Raymarine Dragonfly still available?

Not through Raymarine's own current catalog. See our full Dragonfly review for what we found.

How does Raymarine compare on price to Garmin or Lowrance?

Raymarine sits at the mid-to-premium end. There's no confirmed current Raymarine unit with built-in sonar under $1,300 in this research, unlike some competing brands' budget tiers.

Which Raymarine model should I start with?

For most boats, the Axiom 9 balances screen size, sonar capability, and price. Larger helms may prefer the Axiom 12 for its bigger, brighter display.

Read Also

Sources

  • [S001] Raymarine.com : Support, product category navigation
  • [S002] Raymarine.com : Chartplotters overview
  • [S003] Raymarine.com : Axiom, full lineup
  • [S004] Raymarine.com : Element