I'll start off by saying I know enough to be dangerous, but have always ran Lowrance, before it got really complicated. Anyway, bought a boat about 6 years ago that already had a HDS-8 Gen 2 non-touch at the bow, and a HDS-8 Gen 2 non-touch at the console, with the structure scan box/module mounted underneath. Also has a Point-1 puck, platinum chips, and seems to be wired correctly as far as the ethernet and NMEA, units talk to each other and share waypoints etc.
Boat has a MotorGuide Tour Digital 82 trolling so the bow unit uses the built in transducer, and the console unit has a 2D transducer in the hull, and then the structure scan transducer is mounted on the step in the rear. Overall the units have been fine and serve their purpose, plus the structure scan image is great, but I'm looking to upgrade. This will just be for bass fishing, with a mix of shallow and offshore, depending on time of year
My question is, does anyone have any suggestions on the most affordable way to accomplish this with my current setup? Ideally staying with one unit at the console, and maybe 2 at the bow, like a 10" or 12" just for Active Target, and possibly keep one HDS-8 for mapping/2D. Sounds like the carbon 12's that BPS had on sale would have fit the bill, but I missed on that. The "boat in a box" on TW comes with HDS Lives but I already have some of the other pieces, not to mention it's over $5K, plus I'd still have to buy the AT and transducer for $1,600. Or do I maybe wait for next iteration and hope the price of the Lives comes down?
Sorry for the lengthy post but appreciate any feedback, thanks.