I'm thinking of upgrading my electronics. My budget is approximately $1300-1600.

I currently have a Lowrwnce Elite-7 HDI at the console with a cheap Lowrance 4" black/white unit on the bow.

I'm thinking of moving the Elite-7 to the front and buying a Lowrance HDS7 Gen3 for the console. From what I have read, to move the Elite-7 I would need to buy a trolling motor mounted transducer. To install the HDS7, I would need to buy the unit with transom-mount 83/200 kHz transducer and the structurescan transducer (PN 000-11788-001). It looks like I can use the mounting bracket that came with the Elite-7 for the bow install, and reuse the RAM mount currently on the console for the HDS7. I'd also buy the NEMA2000 cable to connect the two units to share waypoints.

Any thoughts on my plan? I'm open to alternative products (HDS7 Gen2, other manufacturers, etc) or installation ideas. Any help is greatly appreciated!

There is a trolling motor adaptor made for the HDI transducer and you can form the transom bracket to use a hose clamp through it for trolling motor mounting.

 

The problem with either of those is the fragile mount. Transducer Shield and Saver has an aluminum mount that encloses the HDI transducer to protect it:

http://www.transducershieldandsaver.com/home/transducers?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=58&category_id=5