I can't take credit for it, as the previous owner put it there. If I had done it, I would have put it on a RAM mount with a short arm, so that it could be rotated out of the way. It doesn't block gauges and warning lights, which is important. But it does block all the switches. Which I am only searching for when looking for the lights.
Yes, it is a Simrad GO7. What I have found, and this will be important for you based on the water you most frequent, is the charts are based on a couple things. Inland or offshore, navigation or fishing. They will all work for you, but they do have characteristics that vary.
For example, Simrad is the big brother to Lowrance in the Navico corporation. Here in MN, Lowrance, Hummingbird etc are the big dogs. And their maps have very detailed contours for fishing. In fact, you can highlight a particular depth band, and your trolling motor will keep your boat in that depth band at a particular speed (hand free navigation) On the Simrad, the charts are more offshore specific with more details in navigational items and the autopilot functions work with those found in larger offshore boats and yachts. But it still works just fine in our boat, and honestly the mapping works fine too.
Like Yamaha, this older Simrad had features and touchscreen that have now filtered down to the Lowrance models. So it was cool to see my buddies getting those features today. Not many are familiar with Simrad around here. But look at the dash of many big offshore boats, and that is what you see most of all, that and Ray Marine etc.
I don't think you can go wrong. Hit a price point, get the most bang for the buck, and get a more universal mount by putting a RAM ball on your dash, and then one on the back of the unit. Then you have some flexibility to move it around.
Hit up your local Cabelas/Bass Pro, scheels and ask their advice. Each of those shops usually has at least one wiz kid that knows all the features and is ready to spew them out with little hesitation.
Good luck
