Deep Drop Fishing

Garmin ECHOMAP UHD2 73sv chartplotter fish finder with GT54UHD-TM transducer

Garmin ECHOMAP UHD2 73sv Review

Top 5 Editorial Picks

Five current picks chosen for distinct deep drop needs — from a sonar-first 7-inch unit to a premium expandable system and our top electric reel. These are editorial selections, not ratings.

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1
Garmin ECHOMAP UHD2 73sv

Best for deep drop boats

Garmin ECHOMAP UHD2 73sv

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2
Humminbird XPLORE 9

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3
Lowrance HDS PRO 10

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Lowrance HDS PRO 10

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4
Garmin STRIKER Vivid 7sv

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Garmin STRIKER Vivid 7sv

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5
Daiwa Tanacom 1200

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Garmin ECHOMAP UHD2 73sv Review

Disclosure: DeepDropFishing.com is reader-supported. When you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This review is based on Garmin’s published specifications and documentation — not on paid placement.

Garmin ECHOMAP UHD2 73sv chartplotter fish finder with GT54UHD-TM transducer
Photo: Garmin

Quick Answer

The Garmin ECHOMAP UHD2 73sv is a 7-inch touchscreen chartplotter/fishfinder with built-in CHIRP traditional sonar, ClearVü and SideVü scanning sonar, and preloaded Garmin Navionics+ U.S. Inland charts. Garmin’s own manual rates its sonar depth at 2,300 feet at 77 kHz — a serious number for a compact unit — and the bundle version includes the GT54UHD-TM transducer in the box. For deep-drop and bottom-fishing anglers running a smaller boat or a second station, it is one of the few 7-inch units whose paperwork supports genuine deep-water work, provided you pair it with a transducer suited to the depths you fish.

Who This Unit Is For

Most 7-inch fishfinders are built for bass boats and inland lakes. The 73sv starts there too — its preloaded charts are U.S. inland lakes — but the hardware underneath is more capable than the typical inland combo. Garmin builds traditional CHIRP, ClearVü and SideVü into the unit itself, gives it a proper NMEA 2000 port and a Garmin Marine Network port, and rates the sonar for depths most small units never claim.

For our readers, the interesting question is different: can a compact, single-screen unit hold up on an offshore or deep-drop boat? The honest answer is that the 73sv works best as a dedicated sonar display on a smaller center console, a bay boat that occasionally runs offshore, or as the second screen next to a larger chartplotter. If your whole program is deep dropping in 600 to 1,500 feet, the 73sv’s manufacturer-stated depth capability is promising, but your transducer choice matters more than the screen — a point we return to below.

Key Specs

SpecGarmin ECHOMAP UHD2 73sv
Display7″ diagonal touchscreen with keyed assist
Resolution800 x 480 pixels (WVGA)
Sonar built inSingle-channel CHIRP traditional, ClearVü, SideVü
Traditional frequencies50/200, 77/200, 83/200 kHz; CHIRP 40–250 kHz
ClearVü frequencies260/455/800 kHz (CHIRP)
Transmit power500 W RMS (CHIRP and ClearVü)
Stated sonar depth2,300 ft (701 m) at 77 kHz — transducer and conditions dependent
Transducer includedGT54UHD-TM (bundle 010-02684-01); also sold without transducer
Preloaded chartsGarmin Navionics+ U.S. Inland (73sv)
NetworkingNMEA 2000 (1 port), Garmin Marine Network (1 port), built-in Wi-Fi
Card slot1 x microSD (up to 1 TB)
Power9–18 Vdc input; max draw 15 W; 3 A fuse
Dimensions (unit only)232 x 143.1 x 67 mm
Weight0.68 kg (1.5 lb)
Water ratingIPX7

Display and Charts

The 7-inch screen is a touchscreen backed up by physical keys — Garmin calls it keyed assist. On a small boat in chop, that combination matters: you can poke at the screen when it is calm and fall back on real buttons when your hands are wet and the boat is moving. Resolution is 800 x 480, which is adequate rather than luxurious; sonar returns and chart detail are clear at normal viewing distance, though side-by-side split screens get tight on a 7-inch panel.

The 73sv ships with Garmin Navionics+ U.S. Inland mapping, covering more than 18,000 U.S. lakes with contours as tight as 1 foot on HD lakes. That is the inland variant of this unit. If your boating is coastal, the same hardware is sold as the 74sv with U.S. Coastal charts, and deep-drop anglers who trailer between inland reservoirs and the coast should choose the variant that matches their home water — or budget for a Garmin Navionics+ card later. A single microSD slot handles chart cards and software updates.

Built-in Wi-Fi lets the 73sv share sonar, waypoints and routes wirelessly with a second ECHOMAP UHD2 on the boat, and the unit pairs with Garmin’s ActiveCaptain app for updates and smart notifications. It also supports Garmin’s LiveScope live-scanning sonar systems through its network connection, with the LiveScope transducer and module sold separately.

Sonar and Transducer

Everything sonar-related is built into the head unit: single-channel CHIRP traditional sonar, ClearVü down-scanning and SideVü side-scanning. The bundled GT54UHD-TM transom-mount transducer delivers all three from a single housing — CHIRP traditional for fish arches and bottom tracking, ClearVü for a photo-like view below the boat, and SideVü for scanning structure out to the sides.

Garmin’s manual lists traditional frequencies of 50/200, 77/200 and 83/200 kHz, with single-channel CHIRP sweeping 40 to 250 kHz, and ClearVü CHIRP at 260/455/800 kHz. Transmit power is 500 W RMS. One caution for buyers: the 73sv is sold both with the GT54 transducer (part 010-02684-01) and without any transducer (010-02684-00). Check the part number before you buy — the two boxes look similar and the price difference is the transducer.

For comparison, our Garmin STRIKER Vivid 7sv review covers Garmin’s simpler 7-inch option, which gives you strong sonar but no full chartplotter networking; the ECHOMAP is the step up when charts and expansion matter.

Deep-Water Use

This is where the 73sv separates itself from most compact units. Garmin’s published specification for the ECHOMAP UHD2 7-series states a sonar depth of 701 m — 2,300 feet — at 77 kHz. Garmin is careful to footnote that figure: actual depth depends on the transducer, water salinity, bottom type and conditions. Even so, the manufacturer is putting a deep number in writing, at the low 77 kHz frequency that suits deep bottom work.

Two honest caveats. First, that figure describes the platform’s sonar capability, not a promise that the bundled GT54 transom transducer will paint tilefish at 1,500 feet — the GT54 is an all-in-one imaging transducer designed primarily around shallower scanning work. Second, deep-drop performance is always a system: head unit, transducer element, frequency and installation. Anglers planning to fish beyond a few hundred feet should read our best transducer guide for deep drop fishing, which explains how to match a low-frequency, narrow-beam transducer to depths like these, and our roundup of the best fish finders for deep drop fishing for how the 73sv’s specs stack up against bigger offshore units like the Humminbird XPLORE 9.

Used within its limits — bottom fishing and deep dropping at moderate depths, or as a networked second display feeding a serious transducer — the 73sv brings real capability at a compact size.

What’s in the Box

The transducer bundle (010-02684-01) includes:

  • ECHOMAP UHD2 73sv chartplotter
  • GT54-TM transducer
  • Power cable
  • Tilt/swivel mount with quick-release cradle
  • Protective cover
  • Mounting hardware
  • Documentation

The no-transducer version (010-02684-00) includes the same kit minus the transducer. Flush-mount hardware is supported, and the unit can also be bail-mounted with the included cradle.

Who Should Buy / Who Should Skip

Buy the ECHOMAP UHD2 73sv if:

  • You want one compact unit that combines full chartplotting with CHIRP, ClearVü and SideVü sonar.
  • You fish inland lakes and coastal or bottom-fishing spots and want a manufacturer-rated depth capability (2,300 ft at 77 kHz) that most 7-inch units do not claim.
  • You plan to grow the system — NMEA 2000, a second UHD2 display over Wi-Fi, or LiveScope later.
  • You prefer physical keys as a backup to the touchscreen.

Skip it if:

  • Your primary water is coastal and you would rather have coastal charts preloaded — look at the 74sv variant instead of buying charts twice.
  • You deep drop in very deep water full-time and need a large screen and a high-power, multi-transducer setup; a bigger offshore platform will serve you better.
  • You only need simple sonar without charts or networking — Garmin’s STRIKER line covers that for less complexity.

FAQ

Does the Garmin ECHOMAP UHD2 73sv come with a transducer?

It depends on the version. Part 010-02684-01 includes the GT54UHD-TM transom-mount transducer, which provides CHIRP traditional, ClearVü and SideVü sonar. Part 010-02684-00 is the same chartplotter sold without a transducer, for owners who already have a compatible one.

How deep can the ECHOMAP UHD2 73sv read?

Garmin’s official specifications state a sonar depth of 2,300 feet (701 m) at 77 kHz. Garmin notes that real-world depth depends on the transducer used, water salinity, bottom type and conditions, so the transducer you pair with it will decide how deep you can actually fish.

What maps come preloaded on the 73sv?

The 73sv comes with Garmin Navionics+ U.S. Inland mapping, covering more than 18,000 U.S. lakes with up to 1-foot contours. The coastal version of the same unit is the 74sv, which swaps the preload to U.S. Coastal charts.

Can the 73sv connect to other electronics on my boat?

Yes. It has one NMEA 2000 port for engines, autopilots and other NMEA 2000 gear, one Garmin Marine Network port, and built-in Wi-Fi that shares sonar, waypoints and routes with another ECHOMAP UHD2 chartplotter. It does not support NMEA 0183.

Does the ECHOMAP UHD2 73sv support LiveScope?

Yes. Garmin lists LiveScope sonar system support for the ECHOMAP UHD2 series; the LiveScope transducer and black-box module are sold separately and connect through the unit’s network port.

The Bottom Line

The Garmin ECHOMAP UHD2 73sv is a small unit with unusually serious paperwork: full CHIRP/ClearVü/SideVü sonar, real networking, and a manufacturer-stated 2,300-foot sonar depth at 77 kHz. Match it with the right transducer for your depths and it earns its place on boats that fish everything from inland lakes to deep-drop bottom spots.

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