OK - I will soon be purchasing new electronics for my boat but need some help deciding what I want. If money was no object what would you put on your boat. I've pretty much decided on Lowrance and am thinking a 12 at console and a 9 for the bow. I want all the side scan / down scan / navigation stuff too. When I get online there are just so many different options I'm really not sure what I want (or need).

If someone is on the forum that sells and installs this stuff - give me a shout. I'm in east Texas on Tbend

If money was no object, I'd have a twelve up front and on the console

Stratch that, I'd have 4 twelves

a 12 on the console and a 9 up front good enough..

I have a 12 on the console and a 7 up front. Suits me just fine.

Curious what do you have now and do you like it?
I have Lowrance hds 10 gen 2 and 12 gen 2 touch with point one antenna and lss2 side imaging. They seem to be having software/update issues for running two different maps at sametime on one screen. It is very slow to load. Also heard gen 3 has had some issues. Losing waypoints and trails for no reason and structure scan going out. Not sure about new Birds but price wise you could get a whole lot more screen size and accessories for new gen 3 Lowrance equipment. I know you said money no object.

I'll tell you, I have a 9 up front and wish it was a 12.

I use the front one WAY more than the back one... so I would have a 12 up front and a 9 at the helm.

Really two 12's is the right way to go. Try to squeeze 4 things on that 9, then stand up and look down... not very productive.

Honestly, I've been leaving mine turned off completely --- a LOT

I have a 12 and a 9,
wish it were two twelves one at bow one at stern
Thinking of getting another just to view maps at the console but I don't need to confuse myself or anyone else and act like I know what I am doing either

I did 2 Gen 3 12's with 3D imaging and Precision sonar mounts. All installed at Fun n Sun and had Slade Dougharty tune it all in, it is a awesome set up!

Whatever you decide on, get the Point 1 antenna/compass. It makes a world of difference if you venture away from the bank. I believe it works with other brand equipment.

I use my 5 up front, in the panel, to view GPS/maps. I have a 7 to look in the water. I have a touch 7 on the steering wheel console. It is there for mapping once I get my touch 12. Until then, touch 7 mainly runs maps and sometimes 2d/side imaging

Two 12's only way to go.....

Go to Bass Pro and stand back 5-6' away from the units there. See which one is easier to read and see the details. When you walk away, you'll want 2 12s. One at console and one at bow. Forget the 9.

Most people don't do sidescan at the bow from what I can tell. To me, that relieves some pressure for the huge screen up front. Like several others, I have a 9 at the bow and 12 at the console.

You didn't say what boat you have, what main battery you have, or what size you can accommodate for that main battery. An HDS12 draws substantially more power than an HDS9, so you need to plan on what you will do to provide enough power, especially if you end up with two 12s. Depending on your electronics habits, you may need a Group 29 battery no matter what unit choice you make. One thing that helps is to put the console unit in low-power mode when you stop to fish. It will not have to reboot when you get ready to use it again - wakeup is virtually instant.

Double 12's at the console and 1 up front. Might consider getting one lowrance and one of the other brands for the console, unless they're paying you $$ to only run lowrances.