[alanw]

I started with a Lowrance X-4 black and white unit with no GPS and it got the job done just fine for $80. I did upgrade within a year though to a bigger Dragonfly 6 color unit with GPS and haven't felt the need to upgrade since. Save yourself a little bit of money on a future upgrade by getting the best unit that you can find on sale within your budget.

I'm not a fan of the Lowrance units with all the extra functionality like networking and engine monitoring capabilities built in because your paying extra for stuff you won't use unless you have a boat. I'd look for basic units with GPS, color, charts, and the older your eyes are and the further you plan on mounting it from your eyes the bigger the screen should be. If my DF6 dies I'll be looking at a 7" unit, maybe a new DF or the new Lowrance Hook-7 seems to be a good value.