I am looking and getting all new electronics for my boat, I�ve looked at both Lowrance and Hummingbird. I want a unit for both the console and for the trolling motor. I want both units to be GPS and at least down imaging and side imaging if it will fit in the price range. I am looking to spend right around $2000. I mainly bass fish with a little crappie and white bass thrown in every now and then. What is the best combo for the price? What units and extras would you recommend?

For the price range, you could put a 798c SI at the console and a 788 at the front. The new HD 788's have down imaging. I believe if both are the newer units they can be linked with ethernet. On the console unit you would want to add the thru-hull transducer for depth reading at speed which also requires the y-cable.

Check with Shut up and fish here on TFF, good guy to buy units through. Here is a link to his thread. http://texasfishingforum.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/5767861/1

Here is a link to Bass Boat Central with a graphic showing the additional transducer and cable. http://www.bbcboards.net/zerothread?id=655154

Lots of good help on here on the Electronics board of TFF.

I would think about a 898 and a 858 combo. That should put you right around that 2000 dollar range and you will have linked graphs with SI at the console.

Im a humminbird guy so thats my recommendation. Im sure Lowrance guys can help you out if you would rather go Lowrance.

Check out my info site. I have a lot of info about Lowrance products.

For that price range I would get two Lowrance HDS 7 units. They should run you about $1,000 a piece or a little less if you get just the base units. You can find some good prices online. Buy a navionics chip for $120 and you will be good to go... you will have to buy the structure scan box though for the down scan and structure scan. They are great units. I have an 8 and the picture is awesome...

good electronics are expensive. spend some time looking around on ebay,craigslist and here for good used units. You can stretch your buck along way further! i recently purchased a 997 and 798 with all the wiring,interlink, transducers, GPS puck, ram mount, etc. for 2300. everything is in next to perfect condition! just my .02

I had the Bird on my boat and I liked the way it all worked together and its a lot easier to figure out as far as buttons and the menus go.

I think for the type of fishing your going to do you may just need down scan rather than the big expense of side image. But if you got the money just go ahead and drop it on side image on the console and a down scan on the bow. You can drive your boat and look at the side scan and when you locate fish just mark them and then go up front and fish for them using the down scan to find them vertically.

The new down image units from Bird is really nice and very affordable. And Bird's units have 2D sonar as well as the down scan and the Lowrance only has down scan. More bang for you buck with Bird.

I had a older 800 series side scan and a new 500 series down scan on my boat. Everything worked great. I got a heck of a deal at this website and they are very fast on the shipping. I ordered on a Monday and got the stuff on Thursday and if you catch them at the right time shipping will be free!!

Humminbird 798ci HD SI Combo is going for $860
Humminbird 597ci HD DI Combo is going for $580-out of stock as is most places(this unit flew off the shelf when it came out)

That leaves you a little extra money in your pocket and some really great units on your boat.

Here is the site-

http://www.universalmania.com/search.asp?sp=humminbird

Good luck catching fish!!

+1 - just bought a Lowrance HDS 7 and its friggen awesome

I also love my HDS 7 with scan. have a regular lowrance on the TM, and it is amazing the difference in the pictures. I like to turn my HDS around so I can see from the bow when dropshotting in deeper water. You can almost call your shots on when you are going to catch one. My wife hates it when I drag a bait to the back of a boat and then say watch this, gunna get one right now.

I picked up a new HB 998c for 1600. Looking at getting another one for up front now.

I would think about spending a little more on your electronics. Save some money and get two 998si units. i have a 1197si at the console and a 858c on the bow. I realy wish they were both si units. The biger screen will help you out alot.

I decided to get the 898c I have 2 questions. Do I have to have it linked to 2 transducers for the side imaging and my second question is do I have to have anything else besides what comes with the unit to run down, side imaging and GPS