Recently bought a used Astro fish and ski. Has 1 graph now (old eagle) at the helm, but it still works - mostly

Planning to get a new graph soon. Should I put a new one on TM and live with the Eagle for a while?

This depends on how much you want to spend and where you feel you need the best "vision" of what's under the water.

Plan to have 2 new units eventually but would like to start with lower end unit.

Go as big as you can now and put that at the console. SI & DI.
Purchase a DI unit for the bow later/next.

Shoot me a PM or call direct as I would be happy to talk with you about your options.

David @ shut-up-and-fish

Buying a lower end unit is probably a mistake. You'll end up not liking it and not be able to sell it because no one else will want it either. Buy a good unit for the console with plans to add another one just as good on the bow later.

You might want to think about where to put the better unit. I always put the better unit on the bow. That is where I spend hours and hours while I only spend a few minutes at the wheel.

Yea that's the way I was thinking too. But it seems like most guys make their investment at the console. Just wondering why that's so much more popular? In my mind the console just ends up functioning as a depth finder.

The console unit can rotate so you can see the side imaging and chart from the front and the front unit set and see the down imaging depth, temp, etc. In a search condition I would want the best unit at the consol. But that's just me.

Might think of starting with a reasonably priced used set up too.

http://texasfishingforum.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/12004402/HDS_8_and_HD_Elite_7#Post12004402

Usually the SI unit will be the most expensive and that should go on the console. On the bow would be a DI unit, networked into the console unit, so when deciding on the purchase, make sure the units will be networkable. Buying one at a time is doable, but you need to do some planning. Call me if I can help.
John

I put the biggest and best unit at the console. That is where I spend the most productive time searching for structure and fish. I want the larger screen there to help see better and faster. They are linked together so I can just mark a spot and when I want to get to it, just drop the tm and tell the ipilot to go to it. I really don't care about having anything more than 2d up front as I already know where I want to fish. I can even do without a front ff if I have to. I never really stand up front trolling around looking for a spot.

David, planning to put transducer in the bilge for the console unit. Will SI work thru the hull?

Not for shoot-thru, but there is a thru-hull SI transducer that takes a 1"+ hole through the hull to have the transducer on the exterior. That installation is common under the transom extension of a Ranger.

Lots of opinions on this and good rational from both sides. It's all in what your needs are. Right now, I have a Helix 12 Chirp SI on the bow and a 1199 at the console. After a couple of outings, I think I'm going to swap them because I do most of my looking at the wheel, and the Helix has a better display than the 1199. Once I find them and know where I'm going to drift or if I'm on spot lock, all I really need is DI and the 1199 is more than good for that. Different strokes.

Whatever you decide, spring for the GPS version and a lake chip.