I may be about to buy a boat that is in serious need of electronics. I want to add one on the console with map ability and one on the bow that may or may not have all those capabilities. I'm not up to date on electronics. Im not particular to one brand or another, but would like to know what others recommend after use. I will be fishing new to me lakes and want to be able to now where I am and be able to mark places I want to come back to. I also want to be able to see what I'm fishing over when I'm on the casting deck. Thanks in advance.

I�m no expert so this is only an opinion and you�re going to hear it time and again. Get the biggest and best you can afford. I had Lowrance on my boat and just switched to Hummingbird. I bought two 10� Mega units. Down imaging for the bow and side imaging for the console. The console has the map card and the two are networked together so I can see way points from the bow. The images are so clear I wonder why I waited so long to get them. It�s really helpful to be able to see what�s around and under you. It�s made my fishing more enjoyable too. I won�t speak badly about the Lowrance units - I just decided for me that the �Birds were what I wanted.

Thanks. Thats exactly what I was looking for. I want to be able to mark some spots and make fishing more enjoyable. I don't want to get on the water and not know what I'm fishing and then just be discouraged.

Buy the biggest screen you can afford. Preferably with network capable units. What is your budget and do you want new? Can find some good deals on the Gen 1 Helix units used right now. In the last 4 years I have upgraded from 5" to 7" to now I have a Helix 10 DI on the bow and a 12 SI on the console. It is night and day between each unit that I progressed to. I bought right before the Mega units came out. Even so, I am more than satisfied with my Gen 1 Helix units. They are brighter than older units which helps on those sunny days. The resolution of the screens are great. So much better having the extra screen size.

While you are doing it, I'd also recommend that you hire a reputable electronics guide to tune them up and teach you how to operate them. It isn't that expensive and will cut your learning curve way down. It can be discouraging to use newer technology and not know how to get the most out of it.

Go to Bass Pro and play with their display units to decide.

If you live close to the Bass Pro Grapevine, they have great selection of H-Bird, Lowarance and Garmin to look at.
Get them to show you the new Fish Reveal that Lowrance is introducing. I have been running this new fish reveal and it is awesome.