If you are looking for an easy to use and affordable fish finder model then the Raymarine Dragonfly 5 Pro is your best bet.
Raymarine is a renowned brand that’s synonymous with recreational and light commercial saltwater market. They launched the Dragonfly fish finder series in 2013 along with GPS plotters. This particular model took over the market in 2017.
Raymarine Dragonfly 5 Pro has it all.
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Raymarine Dragonfly 5 Pro works well for both recreational and professional anglers alike. The best thing about this fish finder model is that it’s packed with impressive features and is equally affordable.
This an excellent choice for those in the US and Canada fishing on small or large water bodies, angling for a trophy catch or angling for something for dinner. The large screen, sleek design, mapping abilities, Wi-Fi, ease of use and advanced sonar makes it more than just a regular fish finder.
This Raymarine Dragonfly 5 Pro review highlights different features of this unit and why anglers need to invest in it. We also get to explain why its one of the best fish finder models on the market to suit all your fishing needs.
Raymarine Dragonfly 5 Pro Review
Features of the Raymarine Dragonfly 5 Pro
Simplicity
Raymarine Dragonfly 5 Pro multifunction display was designed with simplicity in mind. It features a control pad and four different buttons to replace previous joysticks and dials. Also, the menu system is less than two trees deep to allow the user to have an intuitive technology use.
Design
All the units in this fish finder model are waterproof to IPX7 and IPX6 standards. The monitor features an LCD technology that is optically bonded to offer both high and bright contrast to provide high visibility especially on sunny conditions. The display screen additionally offers sharp contrast and color that can’t fog up in freezing temperatures or when it rains.
Raymarine Dragonfly 5 Pro uses a ball and socket mounting system that is not only convenient but also easy to install. This typically makes it one of the best fish finder models on the market.
Dual Sonar Channel
Raymarine Dragonfly 5 pro also features a dual channel sonar that uses CHIRP technology with a wider spectrum while the Down Vision sonar runs simultaneously. This allows the head unit to display the sonar signals at a go to help interpret the detail and bottom structure in the water accurately. Both professional anglers and recreational boaters will find high resolution images and the technology quite helpful.
The Raymarine Dragonfly 5 Pro sonar delivers sharper signals up to about 600ft for DI in fresh and saltwater and 900ft for CHIRP technology. The brand is certain about the anti-fogging technology.
Wi-Fi
Raymarine Dragonfly 5 Pro is the best fish finder model on the market as it allows anglers to live stream sonar to any android device or smartphone. In technical terms, this fish finder model shares the sonar signals allowing the information to go directly to your tablet or phone.
Currently, there are two apps in the marketplace that can use the Raymarine Dragonfly 5 Pro Wi-Fi.
The Wi-Fish app is one of the apps that can use the Raymarine Dragonfly 5 Pro Wi-Fi to share sonar data to your tablet or smartphone directly. Secondly, there’s the Navionics Boating App that allows anglers to create their own bathymetric charts according to their personal specifications with the incredible contours. The best thing about this app is that you can live stream sonar directly to any android device or phone.
Mapping Features and Maps
Since Raymarine is a renowned brand, it partnered with other cartography companies to give their clients an alternative of some of the best mapping features.
You can preload the maps or go for the prepackaged ones from Raymarine Lighthouse, Jeppesen’s C-MAP and Navionics. The two most significant features on a map are setting waypoints and tracks capabilities. Tracks are just that, tracks like a string that tracks the exact locations of where you pass through on the water from when you turn on the unit to the time you turn off the tracker.
In addition, you can have different tracks with over 10,000 points. Maps and mapping features are quite helpful especially for those who are looking to learn the lake or find their way back to the starting point. Most people usually opt for the string feature to help trace their routes in large water bodies since its easier to get turned around. Another important feature is the ability to set different waypoints.
Waypoints are some of the most important spots on a map which you can easily identify using an icon. It’s easy to mark significant hidden reefs a fishing hotspot or underwater island with the Raymarine Dragonfly 5 Pro. This is because you effortlessly split more than a thousand waypoints into different categories or groups.
Raymarine Dragonfly 5 Pro Review
Raymarine Dragonfly 5 Pro is one of the best fish finder models on the market. It’s not only efficient but also provides high resolution images. Let’s dive in right into the Raymarine Dragonfly 5 Pro review:
Ease of Use
Raymarine Dragonfly 5 Pro is one of the simplest and easy to use fish finder models on the market. One of the easiest things to use is the Dragonfly cable hookup as it makes it a simple plug and play alternative.
You can pull the icon menu and descriptions on the display screen that you want to use with a push of a button. Besides, you can also use two different screens simultaneously and switch between the mapping and sonars.
Raymarine Dragonfly 5 Pro has fewer buttons for a hassle-free operation. The entire unit is specially designed for ease of use ideal for both professionals and the novice alike. You don’t have to spend hours figuring out the technology used with this fish finder model.
Sonar Technology
Raymarine Dragonfly 5 Pro uses an advanced sonar technology that delivers high resolution images up to about 600ft in both fresh and saltwater. Plus, it’s viewable in different weather conditions.
Paired with sonar that uses CHIRP technology and other modern state-of-the-art technologies that was only available in high-end fish finder models that are relatively expensive. This fish finder is a worthy investment for any angler out there.
In addition, the sonar signal delivers high resolution images of the bottom, structure and water whether you are familiar with the water body or not. All these information is helpful in learning the environment, patterns and habitats.
High Resolution LCD Screen
Raymarine Dragonfly 5 Pro is relatively cheap compared to its counterparts from other different brands with the same technology or even less. Other fish finder models lack maps and mapping features, streaming capabilities and small display screens and are quite expensive. This particular model falls on the lower side of the pricing spectrum that’s why it’s one of the best fish finders on the market.
Most people fancy the display screen as it almost looks like a tablet except it delivers higher resolution images that anglers find fascinating. The LCD screen is equally bright and well built which makes it easy to read the data displayed.
The Dragonfly 5 Pro is a handy device that’s why the brand offers a guarantee against fogging. This means that the unit works perfectly well in all weather conditions and will serve its intended purpose even when it rains or in freezing temperatures.
According to the Raymarine Dragonfly 5 Pro Review, this model is one of the best fish finders available on the market.
Pros and Cons of the Raymarine Dragonfly 5 Pro
Pros
- Concise, clear and easy to use especially when it comes to reading the maps and mapping features
- This find finder model is quite unique as it has Wi-Fi that can connect to tablet or smartphone apps
- Has many impressive features unlike other models in the same class
- It falls on the lower side of the pricing spectrum making it a worthwhile investment for any angler
- This fish finder model comes with some preloaded maps
- You can customize the map of the water body they way you want it
Cons
- Features a 5-inch LCD display that is a bit small especially for mapping in split screen. However, you can go for 7 Pro since it has a 7-inch screen
Conclusion
The Raymarine Dragonfly 5 Pro typically employs state-of-the-art Down Vision and sonar technology to give both professional and new anglers an incredible field of view of the underwater. It’s one of the best fish finders on the market since its beautifully designed and its equally easy to install and use. The best thing about this unit is that you don’t have to spend days or even hours to learn how to use it.
Raymarine Dragonfly 5 Pro allows you to explore the water body since it comes with many impressive features that deliver high resolution images. It has a 5-inch display screen that is clear and concise even on rainy and cold days. The app capability, Wi-Fi and mapping features are as incredible as they are innovative. Generally, this unit is a great package for the price.
