Choosing between two Garmin marine electronics comes down to what you want on the water: plot a course or find fish. The GPSMAP 740s is a chartplotter; the Fishfinder 160C is a sonar fish finder. One is built around GPS navigation, the other around echo sounding. They are at different price points, but the more important difference is how much readiness you are buying.
Quick verdict
If your need is sonar you can use right away, the Garmin Fishfinder 160C is the stronger pick. If you are deliberately shopping for a Garmin chartplotter and can take on a repair/parts project, the GPSMAP 740s is the lower-priced route.
Comparison at a glance
| Product | Listed price | Condition | Core role | Main catch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garmin GPSMAP 740s Chartplotter Marine GPS | USD 150.00 | For parts or not working | GPS chartplotter | Screen damage; cut power cable |
| Garmin Fishfinder 160C Marine Boat Echo Sounder Sonar Fish Finder | USD 175.00 | New other (see details) | Sonar fish finder | Not a chartplotter |
Where each product wins
Garmin GPSMAP 740s Chartplotter Marine GPS wins for the boater who wants a chartplotter model and is comfortable with a repair or parts exercise. It is the lower-priced option.
Garmin Fishfinder 160C Marine Boat Echo Sounder Sonar Fish Finder wins for the boater who wants a fish finder intended for sonar use. It is the more ready-to-use answer in this pair.
Product notes
Garmin GPSMAP 740s Chartplotter Marine GPS
The GPSMAP 740s is the chartplotter in this pair and the only one with GPS navigation in its model name. It is listed at $150, the lower price of the two. The unit is marked TESTED and comes with a sun cover, but the screen has sun damage and the power cable is cut. That combination explains the 'for parts or not working' condition: you are getting a unit that needs attention before it can serve as a reliable onboard display. Choose it if you already have a repair plan, need parts, or value the chartplotter model over a ready-to-go sonar. The limitation is equally clear: a damaged screen and a cut cable make this a project, not a plug-and-play navigator.
Garmin Fishfinder 160C Marine Boat Echo Sounder Sonar Fish Finder
The Fishfinder 160C is the ready-to-use option in this head-to-head. It is listed at $175 and is new open box, with a condition of 'new other (see details).' That puts it in different territory from the parts/repair GPSMAP 740s. If your time on the water is about finding fish, this model matches the job: it is a fish finder/echo sounder rather than a chartplotter, so you are paying for sonar function rather than GPS mapping. The trade-off is the higher listed price and the fact that it does not add chartplotting capability. For a boater who wants a sonar unit to install and use, the Fishfinder 160C is the more direct pick.
Final choice by use case
- If you want sonar for fishing: Garmin Fishfinder 160C, because it is the fish finder/echo sounder in this pair.
- If you want GPS chartplotting and are prepared to repair: Garmin GPSMAP 740s, because it is the chartplotter model and carries the lower listed price.
