My options are to mount it on the floor or put it in the place of the X-75 I am replacing which is flush mounted in the front dash. I store the boat outside under cover and I think the unit froze during the winter. Has a brown sport in the middle of the screen and will power up but screen is blank. I am afraid mounting the new unit in the bow will result in the same issue. So which way should I go?

if you think the new unit will break, you should probably mount it where you can take it off the boat when not in use.

I flush mounted mine ...took it off after a couple of trips..put it on a removable swivel mount ..

reason
at certain times of the day ..sun was at a angle that washed out the screen..
now I can reposition the screen

I mounted mine using a Ram mount. With the smaller screen it helps to see the images when they are lifted off your deck. I have been out on Lewisville with it in some pretty rough conditions and even when I was pounding through waves the mounts never budged. I am very happy with my Ram mounts.

http://cgi.ebay.com/RAM-111-UNIVERSAL-MO...=item256198257c