Simrad GO Chartplotter and Fish Finder, with Transducer and Radar Options, Preloaded C-MAP Discover Chart Card
Price: $799.00
(as of Oct 27, 2025 20:47:12 UTC – Details)
Simrad GO9 XSE Chartplotter and Fish Finder: A Comprehensive Review
The Simrad GO9 XSE is a cutting-edge chartplotter and fish finder designed to provide a seamless navigation experience for power boaters, fishermen, and water sports enthusiasts. This 9-inch multifunctional display boasts a super-bright, multi-touch widescreen display, making it easy to use and navigate through various features. In this review, we will delve into the key features, capabilities, and benefits of the Simrad GO9 XSE, exploring its chartplotter navigation, fish finding capabilities, radar options, and customization features.
Chartplotter Navigation and Waypoint Management
The Simrad GO9 XSE is a full-featured chartplotter that supports a wide range of cartography options, including C-MAP MAX-N, Navionics, Insight, Insight Genesis, and NV Digital Charts. This flexibility allows users to choose the charts that best fit their needs and location, ensuring confident navigation to destinations near and far. The device features simple waypoint management, enabling users to mark waypoints with a touch and assign meaningful names for easy lookup. With the ability to record and manage multiple waypoints, users can plan and navigate complex routes with ease.
Radar Options and ForwardScan Sonar
The Simrad GO9 XSE is compatible with Simrad Broadband 3G, Broadband 4G, and Halo Pulse Compression radar systems, providing a clear radar picture in any conditions. The device also features automatic tuning, which helps to optimize the radar image, and radar overlay, which combines radar data with navigational charts for a comprehensive view of the surroundings. Additionally, the GO9 XSE supports ForwardScan sonar, which provides a clear two-dimensional image of the bottom in front of the vessel, allowing for confident navigation in shallow or poorly charted waters.
Customization and Interface
The Simrad GO9 XSE features a fully customizable interface, enabling users to personalize their home screen with shortcuts to frequently used features and choose their preferred wallpaper. The device also offers adjustable split-screen views and customizable panel layouts, allowing users to see everything they need on-screen at once, regardless of their activity. This level of customization ensures that the device can be tailored to meet the specific needs of each user, whether they are power boating, fishing, or engaging in water sports.
TripIntel Technology and Automatic Routing
The Simrad GO9 XSE features TripIntel technology, which tracks and displays key information to help plan safe and enjoyable days on the water. This includes fuel range overlaid on charts, easy access to current and future tide levels, and a detailed history of previous trips, including route and boat performance. The device also offers automatic routing, which brings the convenience of in-car navigation to boating, helping users to plot a route and get underway with less delay. This feature is available with Navionics+ or Navionics Platinum charts and Jeppesen CMAP MAX-N+ charts.
Built-in Sonar and Fish Finding Capabilities
The Simrad GO9 XSE features built-in sonar, which provides accurate, real-time depth tracking when paired with a suitable transducer. The device also offers StructureScan Imaging, which combines DownScan and SideScan sonar to provide a picture-like view of the bottom beneath the vessel. With the addition of a suitable transducer, the GO9 XSE can be used as a powerful fish finder, featuring CHIRP-enabled broadband sonar for clear detection of fish throughout the water column. The device also supports HDI or TotalScan transducers, which offer StructureScan HD sidescan imaging for a detailed view of fish-holding structure beneath and around the boat.
Additional Features and Connectivity
The Simrad GO9 XSE features a built-in 10 Hz GPS receiver, which updates the user’s position ten times every second, making it ideal for use aboard fast-moving RIBs and powerboats. The device also offers a unique Cruise Charting page, which brings together crucial navigation data and charts in one easily readable display. The GO9 XSE connects to any NMEA 2000-capable equipment aboard the vessel, including outboard and inboard engines, fuel level and flow meters, and speed, heading, and water temperature sensors. This connectivity enables users to create custom digital instrument displays, bringing a wealth of information to the dashboard while maintaining a clean and clutter-free layout.
Conclusion
The Simrad GO9 XSE is a powerful and feature-rich chartplotter and fish finder that is designed to meet the needs of power boaters, fishermen, and water sports enthusiasts. With its intuitive interface, customizable display, and advanced sonar and radar capabilities, this device provides a comprehensive navigation and fishing experience. The GO9 XSE’s ability to connect to a wide range of equipment and its built-in Wi-Fi connectivity for mobile device mirroring and internet downloads make it an ideal choice for those looking for a versatile and connected navigation solution. Whether you are a seasoned boater or an occasional fisherman, the Simrad GO9 XSE is an excellent choice for anyone looking to enhance their time on the water.
