Had my first real tournament last Sunday on Winnipesaukee, NH.  I own a 2004 Tracker PT 185 w/a 75 merc.  There were 37 boats entered.  I had the the 3rd lowest hp, and at least 35 of the boats were superior to mine.  Full-blown, some lightly wrapped w/decals, big motors, and, most importantly in my opinion, TOP NOTCH electronics.

My partner and I finished in the top 10 despite my 'inferior' boat and having only fished it for the first time the day before the tourny.  I went into this tourny wishing I had a better boat, but came out feeling my boat is just fine (for now anyway).  It's my electronics that really need to be stepped-up.  I spoke w/ the winners of the tourny, who gave me a tour of their boat.  Top-end Skeeter w/a 225 Merc.  That's all fine.  I can live with not being the fastest or having a casting deck that 2 guys could tee-off on at the same time (again, for now anyway).  I can also live w/o the payments.  What I'm wondering is.....can I live w/o good electronics?

Any advice on electronics?  I'd like to keep it under $300, so I know that may limit me.  I'll be fishing a lot of big, deep, clear water this tournament trail, all with both smallmouth and largemouth.  I just feel that what may keep me from getting into some winnings is less my boat than my electronics......

That is such an open ended question. I would buy the best unit I could afford. Since money is always a consideration I would go for the most pixels possible over color. Of course color is fun, but I would go for the crisp display in the grey tones if I had to make a choice over a lower end color unit vs a high end black and white. Before everyone yells at me, I have a color unit with GPS with the lake map chips with 1foot topo increments. This is a great unit but of course the $go up with it. The GPS Lake Maps are great to find underwater structure that someone without it will not be able to find. This enables you to cast to fish that have not been pounded so hard. In pressured lakes I have MUCH better success fishing away from the bank so my electronics are the difference between casting and catching. 8-)

Yes, the good electronics are important when needed. GPS speaks for itself. But depending on what type of fisherman you are determines how good of a depth finder you need. If you beat the bank all year long hoping today is the day they are feeding in the shallows, then don't waste a lot of money. But if you want to be a good fisherman no matter what it takes, then there are times when you need to be fishing off the shore. Listen to some of the experts that are good enough to make money at this sport. They talk about how important it is to find hidden structure and cover that is overlooked by most fishermen. They find subtle things on the bottom that produces quality fish. Most people like to shrug off the pros, but I happen to think they know a little something!!! But you have to educate yourself how to use them. Just my opinion

Just like most of us, I feel I can catch fish w/the best of them....I lived w/o electronics for years and have 3 fish over 10lbs. to my name before I got my first sonar.  I'm fairly confident about my understanding of where a bass should be given weather, water temp, and season.  I just want more help when my patterns start to fail.

I could give two farts about color.  When I grew up we only had flashers.  The first 'fish finder' I ever had was almost science fiction to me.  I've just never been able to sink money into them.  I'm at a point in my fishing life where I want to be on par w/my competition.  Guess I'll be spending more of my kids college tuition ;D