Which configuration would you chose?

Console: Humminbird 997c
Bow: Lowrance X87

or

Console: Humminbird 797c
Bow: Lowrance LMS-520C (get GPS on bow)

Basically, should I spend the money to upgrade both console and bow, or just console? Opinions please?

What are you fishing for?

I would do the 997 combo if I were locked into it.

Question is if you have wiggle room or have depthfinders picked out already.

If you just have that price range, go with the 797c2si on the console and the 787 for the bow. Wire them to communicate together and you will have gps and all your waypoints marked on the console will magically appear on the bow.

I mostly fish for large mouth and sandies, maybe an occational crappie.

I've currently got an X87 on the bow and an X51 on the console. I'm looking to upgrade both units. Depending upon how much I spend on console unit - I may keep X87 on bow (I would like to have GPS on bow also). I've always favored Lowrance.....but they can't compete with SI. That's why I looking to add a Humminbird SI unit on console, but 'leaning' with Lowrance on bow.

All feedback welcome!

Both Humminbirds.

Ok...maybe a dumb question. For 2D displays, why does the Lowrance images look so much 'sharper' than the Humminbird? Is there a reason a specific reason Humminbird does this - are they cheaper displays, or is HB trying to show more detail or something? I've always been a Lowrance 'guy', and I'm having a hard time convincing myself Humminbird has improved over the year....but I'm trying!

Yep I would go 997 on console. And proabbly the 797 on bow. (If your interest is GPS up front and waypoints sharing). With a Lowrance and a HB unit you will have to convert waypoint data at home on PC and then load back to the other unit (all the time).

Lowrance has it for 2d. But HB 2D sees in 60 degree cones (84 kHz) pretty well. I like the extra coverage idea on HB 2D although not as sharp as Lowrance. But in compareing one to the other (side by Side on the cosole), HB is not missing anything, it just looks a little better on the Lowrance.