The Raymarine Dragonfly 4 and Dragonfly 5 are older units now, but they still do exactly what a lot of anglers need: reliable sonar, usable mapping, and a screen size that makes sense on a kayak, jon boat, aluminum fishing rig, or compact helm. That is why these units are still around. What has not aged as well is the mounting discussion around them.
Most fish finder articles treat every 4- or 5-inch unit the same. That is a mistake here. The Dragonfly 4 and 5 do not mount like many Garmin or Lowrance models that use a more common small gimbal or round-base approach. These Raymarine units use a rear M6 x 30 threaded connection near the lower back of the device. In plain English, that means a lot of generic fish finder mounts are not direct fits, even when they look close in a product photo.
That odd mount design is also why the best Dragonfly mount depends heavily on how you use the unit. Some people simply need a fresh replacement for the original low-profile bracket. Some want a sturdier RAM setup that swings higher and adjusts more easily. Some want a no-drill clamp option for a jon boat rail or temporary setup. And some want a quick-release mount for a portable sonar box or removable electronics plate.
Why the Dragonfly 4/5 is trickier than most small fish finders
The easiest mistake to make with these units is shopping as if they use the same base as a Striker 4 or other small fish finder. They do not. Your current article actually got the most important thing right: the Dragonfly 4 and 5 mount through a single rear threaded connection, and that changes everything.
That rear-thread design has some benefits. It keeps the stock mount compact, clean, and easy to remove. It also lets the unit sit close to the surface, which is nice on a cramped console. But there are tradeoffs too. The stock bracket does not give you much height. It does not move very far out of the way. And once glare becomes a problem, you start wishing the unit could sit a little higher or swing more freely.
That is exactly where better mounting solutions help. The real upgrade path for these units is not “bigger fish finder mount equals better.” It is choosing a mount that respects the odd rear-thread design while improving visibility, clearance, and adjustability.
Best Raymarine Dragonfly 4/5 mounts at a glance
| Mount | Best for | Why it makes sense |
|---|---|---|
| Official Raymarine Dragonfly 4/5/Wi-Fish bracket | Replacing a worn stock mount | Direct fit and the cleanest low-profile option |
| RAM universal marine mount | Permanent installs | Far better adjustability |
| Johnny Ray JR-300 quick-release swivel mount | Portable sonar boxes and removable electronics panels | Quick removal, swivel action, and solid support |
1. Best direct replacement: official Raymarine Dragonfly bracket
If your original bracket is cracked, worn out, or just sloppy after years on the water, the simplest solution is still the best one: replace it with the official Raymarine mounting bracket for the Dragonfly 4/5/Wi-Fish family.
This is the right move for people who actually like the original low-profile install and do not need a lot more articulation. It keeps the Dragonfly close to the mounting surface, looks tidy on a compact helm, and preserves the basic quick-remove feel of the original setup. On smaller aluminum boats, tiller rigs, and modest center-console spaces, that compactness is often a plus rather than a drawback.
Where this mount works best is on a dedicated flat surface where the display position is already good. If your complaint is “my old bracket is worn out,” this is the clean fix. If your complaint is “the Dragonfly sits too low and I cannot get the screen angle right,” then you probably want to skip to one of the other options below.
2. Best Heavy Duty upgrade: RAM Marine Mount
This is where the article needs to stop being generic and get useful. For a lot of Dragonfly 4/5 owners, the best real-world upgrade is the RAM Univeral Marine Mount. These attach to the gimbal bracket.
It is also a much better answer than the stock bracket if you want to swing the screen toward you, raise it a little, or remove the whole thing quickly at the end of the day. The ball-and-socket design is simply more forgiving on the water. You can fine-tune glare angles. You can move the screen out of the way. You can shift the display as your seating position changes.
For older Dragonfly units that are still being used on smaller boats, this is probably the smartest all-around upgrade because it fixes the stock mount’s biggest weakness without forcing you into a full custom fabrication project.
3. Best for portable boxes and removable electronics panels: Johnny Ray JR-300
If your Dragonfly 4 or 5 lives on a portable fish finder box, a removable panel, or a setup that gets carried in and out after every trip, the Johnny Ray JR-300 is one of the more interesting options still widely available.
This is not a Dragonfly-specific kit, so this is where you need to think like a builder instead of a casual buyer. The JR-300 is useful because it gives you a quick-release swivel platform with a positive locking system. It supports plenty of weight for a small Dragonfly setup, and it is ideal for people who want to remove the display cleanly for transport or storage.
Where this mount makes the most sense is on custom portable sonar boxes, removable deck plates, ice-fishing crossover builds, and older rigs where you are happy to drill or adapt a mounting plate once in exchange for a quick-remove system every trip afterward. It is less elegant than a direct Dragonfly-specific RAM kit, but it solves a different problem.
What not to buy for a Dragonfly 4/5
This is just as important as the recommendations. A lot of generic fish finder advice online points people toward universal rectangular electronics plates, kayak track fish finder mounts, or round-base systems meant for other small displays. Some of those products are excellent — just not for these specific Raymarine models.
For example, YakAttack’s excellent round-base fish finder mount is specifically marketed around round-base units such as the Garmin Striker 4 and the Raymarine Dragonfly 7 Pro. That is a different fitment conversation than the rear-thread Dragonfly 4 and 5. It is a great product in the right application, but it should not be sold as a direct-fit answer for the older 4/5 models.
The same goes for many of the generic aluminum “fits Garmin / Lowrance / Humminbird / Raymarine” fish finder mounts you see online. Those are often built around gimbal brackets or standard electronics plates. Unless you are also adding the correct Dragonfly-specific adapter hardware, they are not plug-and-play solutions for the 4/5 family.
Best mounting strategy by boat type
Small console boat: stick with the official bracket if the stock position already works and you just need a fresh mount. If you want better visibility and more angle control, move to a Dragonfly-specific RAM solution.
Portable fish finder box: use the Johnny Ray style quick-release approach if your priority is fast removal and transport.
Kayak: think carefully before forcing a Dragonfly 4/5 into a modern round-base kayak mount ecosystem. The 4/5 is not the same fit as the Dragonfly 7 Pro round-base world, so a Dragonfly-specific RAM solution is usually the safer route.
Installation tips that actually matter
- Mount the screen high enough to read while seated naturally, but not so high that it blocks sight lines.
- Use stainless hardware anywhere the mount lives in a wet environment.
- Think about transducer cable routing before you drill or clamp anything permanently.
- If the unit lives outdoors, make quick removal part of the plan instead of an afterthought.
- Do not buy a generic plate first and assume the Dragonfly will somehow match it.
Related Mount Guides
Bottom line
The best Raymarine Dragonfly 4 and 5 mount is not the one with the biggest plate or the most aggressive product description. It is the one that actually fits the Dragonfly’s rear-thread mounting design and matches how you use the boat.
If you just need to replace a worn original, the official Raymarine bracket is still the cleanest answer. If you want a real upgrade, the RAM entry is the best choice. And if you are building a portable box or removable electronics panel, the Johnny Ray JR-300 gives you a quick-release path that still makes sense today.
That is the real update to this article: stop shopping the Dragonfly 4/5 like a generic small fish finder. It is not one, and the mounting choices work much better once you respect that.
