I fish from a pontoon and have the (once use to be) high end electronics with two transducers and a 360 all mounted on a terrova trolling motor but I enjoy the electronics as much as I do catching fish. I like having everything mounted up front where I spend all my fishing time.
I like Humminbird because of the options and networking with other units.
I have a 1198 and Onix mounted up front and a 798 mounted at the console and wouldn't change anything if I had it to do over.
I will suggest go as big as you can and you want be sorry.