Since Raytheon launched its first depth sounder product in 1923, the company has been on the leading edge of the marine electronics industry. Raymarine a78 is currently one of the the most popular fish finders on the market, despite being on the pricey side.
Table of Contents
- Display
- Navigation
- Performance
- Extras
- Features
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Q: I Don’t Fish So I Won’t Need the Down Vision Aspect of the Display. Can I Devote the Display Solely to GPS?
- Q: The Raymarine a78 Comes With a Transducer That Says to Mount on the Transom. Can I Install It on My Boat in the Water?
- Q: Is There Anything Else I Need to Purchase to Make This Fish Finder Work?
- Final Verdict
- Relevant Resources
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After several changes in company structure over the years, the current marine electronics line goes under the Raymarine brand. The a-series of products from Raymarine are touchscreen operated multi-function displays (MFDs).
Private boaters and commercial fishermen alike will appreciate the state-of-the-art technology and many features of the Raymarine a78. The a78 can function as a Chartplotter, sonar, and radar display all at the same time.
Display
The a78 has a 7-inch color touchscreen display that is backlit by LED lights for maximum visibility at night or in direct sunlight conditions. The screen can be divided into three separate windows which allow the user to see radar, CHIRP DownVision sonar, and chart mapping simultaneously. Users can also display one function to take advantage of the full-screen size. The 7-inch display features 800×480 pixels.
The a78 has a built-in 5Hz Fast Acquisition GPS antenna which allows you to track your current position, and set waypoints to remember the hot spots. You can store 100 waypoint groups with 3000 waypoints in each group. The unit comes with a Navionics Gold North America chart bundle.
The a78 is compatible with Navionics Gold, Raymarine LightHouse, and Jeppesen C-Map chart upgrades for specialized fishing locations. These upgraded charts provide you with much more information about features both above and below the water for your particular location. You can also download required charts right from your phone using the Navionics Boating application.
Performance
The a78 is dual transducer ready so you can switch back and forth between different cone angles. Select a narrow-angle transducer for deep water, or a wider angle transducer for greater visibility below your boat.
You can also display both transducers simultaneously. The a78 has plenty of available power to penetrate the deepest depths. It will show you fish and features down to a whopping 600 feet. Power required to operate this fish finder is 12 volts DC.
Also Read: Best Side Imaging Fish Finders – Most Popular on the Market
Extras
The a78 is Wi-fi enabled to connect with interface via wireless networking, such as Bluetooth. Raymarine’s LightHouse user interface is intuitively easy to operate. The unit also comes with a tilt/swivel bracket, mounting bracket, sun cover, flush-mount bezel, power cable, and data cables.
You can also create your own unique underwater maps using sonar data that you collect using the Navionics bathymetric data. The built-in Wi-fi also lets you stream audio from your smartphone to the a78.
- High-powered unit works great in the deepest waters (Up to 600 ft.)
- Bright, easy to read display works well in all light conditions.
- Integrated GPS and radar saves space on your boat’s dashboard.
- Dual-channel sonar capable, simultaneous sonar capable.
- Turn your smartphone into a remote control for the a78 with the RayRemote Application.
- Many available add-ons make this system easily expandable.
- The a78 is also capable of displaying engine data and fuel management calculations.
- Must purchase separate radome to access radar features.
- The high price may put this unit out of reach for some boaters.
Features
- Size – 15 inches by 12 inches by 6 inches.
- Weight – 8.3 pounds
- Two-year manufacturer’s warranty plus an extra year if you register your unit online.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: I Don’t Fish So I Won’t Need the Down Vision Aspect of the Display. Can I Devote the Display Solely to GPS?
A: Yes, you can use the chart only display option. Make sure you install the transducer for the depth sounder functions for your own safety.
Q: The Raymarine a78 Comes With a Transducer That Says to Mount on the Transom. Can I Install It on My Boat in the Water?
A: No. In order to install a transducer correctly, you will need to remove your boat from the water unless you want to sink it.
Q: Is There Anything Else I Need to Purchase to Make This Fish Finder Work?
A: No, it will work with everything that’s included. If you want to access the radar features, you will have to purchase a radome separately. Or if you want to stream video to your a78 you need to buy an IP compatible camera or two. There are tons of upgrades available for the a78.
Final Verdict
If you are in the market for a new fish finder for your commercial or private fishing boat, seriously consider the Raymarine a78. It is loaded with many advanced features to lead the way among all fish finder models. Built-in GPS, built-in Wi-Fi, three-function color display, radar capability, multiple sonar capability, and state of the art software with broad compatibility are just a few of the many fine features built into this multi-function unit.
Add this to a solid two-year (+1) manufacturer’s warranty and you have one of the best fish finders available on the market today. Raymarine continues to be one of the most trusted names in marine electronics, and great products like the a78 are the reason why. The Raymarine a78 is a great marine electronics unit for the money.
I retired and live in Venice Italy. I’m trying to find something like this that will give me the following: I need a map of the Venetian lagoon loaded with internal gps to find my way around the lagoon, also a fishfinder with transducer for both salt water and fresh water. Can this do all this for me? 7 inch screen? What else do I need to purchase?
You Can Use it for salt and fresh water both, But I’m concerned it’s maybe not Venetian Map preloaded.