vexilar fl18 or 20

[wildcoy73]

oka guys wife has said i can get one this year with our tax return
i have played around with the 18 but have not had the chance to use the 20. have anyone been able to use both and is it worth the extra green to go ahead and upgrade to the 20 our should i just save the money and stay with the 18.
if it helps i fish alot and plan on buying a small boat and will be using the unit on the boat. right now i do alot of crappie fishing but want to play around in some bigger lakes and start chasing perch and walleyes. any info for and against will be helpfull in this purchase
thanks mike

[zx10r2004]

i have both and i love the fl-20 better just because its easier to see. that about it. i cant say anything negative about either they both will do the job.i got my fl-20 last year on ebay for $385 new in a box. thats the only reason i bought it.

[kkirkens]

The guy at Gander Mountain said they are getting rid of the FL-18 and will only have the 20 next year. He also said they weren't even shipping any more 18's to their store. This is the Gander Mountain in Portage Michigan.

[Coldwater Charters]

I just bought a Lowrance 522C ice machine with GPS mapping and a chip with all the lakes in Michigan and there depths. I don't have a clue why anyone would want to use a Flasher when these unit are available and much easier to use with more details. If someone is hooked on Flashers it also has that too already built in. No lag,,none,,instant reading on any movement in the cone angle.

Oh yea, the kid at Gander acted like I was clueless when I wanted a lowrance ice machine instead of a vexilar. I about blew a gasket, but then thought, it isn't worth it. I'll just buy it somewhere's else. And I did. I been using electronics longer then that kid has been on this earth.

[roger23]

I just bought a Lowrance 522C ice machine with GPS mapping and a chip with all the lakes in Michigan and there depths. I don't have a clue why anyone would want to use a Flasher when these unit are available and much easier to use with more details. If someone is hooked on Flashers it also has that too already built in. No lag,,none,,instant reading on any movement in the cone angle.

Oh yea, the kid at Gander acted like I was clueless when I wanted a lowrance ice machine instead of a vexilar. I about blew a gasket, but then thought, it isn't worth it. I'll just buy it somewhere's else. And I did. I been using electronics longer then that kid has been on this earth.

does it work good when it is cold like 0 that we will encounter in Canada when not in the shack ?

[icefishermanmark]

Look at the Marcums. Vexilar is the trusted name, but it doesn't mean it's the best.

The Marcum LX-5 is cheaper, and has 1600 more watts of power, for better target seperation. It has an adjustable zoom mode, where-as the fl-20 only has the bottom lock of 6-12feet. This doesn't do you much good if the fish are suspended in the middle. The transducer is also adjustable, and switches from a 20 degree cone angle to an 8 degree with just the push of a button. This eliminates the need for buying an expensive extra transducer. And on top of it all, the LX-5 which is the top model, rns for almost the same price. Now, the fl-20 has advantages too. The new flatscreen is nice, and it has the night mode so you don't get night blindness, plus the Vexilar name.

I just bought a flasher and did the research, and the Marcums have the Vex's beat at every level, from entry level to the top of the line. You can;t go wrong with either one, as they will both improve your fishing remarkably, but if you're going to spend nearly $500 you may want to get the best unit out there.

[Coldwater Charters]

does it work good when it is cold like 0 that we will encounter in Canada when not in the shack ?


Buddy you must be one tough SOB to be outside fishing at zero, but it says down to 20 below 0.

[Coldwater Charters]

LMS-522C IceMachine™ Sonar/GPS Chartplotter
Exclusive, water-repellent, softpack nylon bag with sure-grip handle, dual zippers, and rubberized non-stick base - fits conveniently in a 5-gallon pail
Built-in, molded tray with battery tie-downs
12 volt, 7-amp rechargeable, sealed battery and battery charger both included
Swing-out, ice hole transducer bracket
Included boating package adds Skimmer® transducer, gimbal mounting bracket and knobs, and 12V power cable
High-brightness 5.0" (12.7cm) diagonal 16-bit SolarMax™ TFT display
High detail 480x480 pixel resolution
12-parallel channel GPS+WAAS receiver with internal antenna
2,400 W peak-to-peak power
Depth penetration to 900 feet* (275 m)
Portable fishfinder/chartplotter combo including an internal GPS+WAAS antenna, over 3,000 built-in Enhanced Lake Maps with depth contours, 2,400 watts of sonar transmit power and a brilliant, 480x480 pixel, 16-bit color SolarMAX™ TFT display for optimum cold-climate readability down to -20° F!


The FL-20
Frequency: 200 kHz
Power output: 400 watts peak-to-peak (50 watts RMS)
Display resolution: 525 segments
Current draw: 275 ma at 12V DC
Dimensions: 4.4"H x 6"W x 2.5"D
Depth Range: Maximum 200 ft.
Weight: 1.1 lb.

[icefishermanmark]

Do you have a link to a site that sells that ice machine? I'm interested in it after that post.

[Coldwater Charters]

http://www.lowrance.com/Products/Marine/IceMachine-Fishfinders/LMS-522C-IceMachine/

The M68c is a bit smaller and less power but also has GPS but does not have ths chip capacity the 522 has, both are color monitors. You can see a link there for the M68 or the non GPS unit the M67

[melnik]

I've used my 67c in -15F..... it worked fine. My hands got cold though.

[Sparky23]

If Gander doesnt carry the 18 then dont go there, its just a way for them to make more, they are still making 18's, I just picked up the 20 this year and it is awsome, ive used all of the vexilars, 8, 12, 18, and 20, 20 blows them all away. ive used the markums and prefer the vex.

[roger23]

Buddy you must be one tough SOB to be outside fishing at zero, but it says down to 20 below 0.

when the wind is not blowing it is not really that bad ( a dry cold :lol::lol::lol: ) we always have a heated shack close but I like to move around

[Duck-Hunter]

I would look at Marcum Lx-5 if your lookin to spend that on a flasher. It has more power and from what i read its all around better. The only thing I see that Vexilar has going for them nowadays is there name. Just because they have been around longer. Dont get me wrong whatever flasher you choose will put more fish on the ice.

[tubejig]

I have an 18 pro pack and its a pretty sweet unit, but the 2 things that I hate about that unit is the way the transdeucer is held. I either have a choice of using the foam hook magnet or that chinsy plastic arm. I definately like the features of the Lawrance unit. I never used one but it looks very nice.

[Lost Lake Ed]

Just bought the Lowrance 522, this thing is sweet. Took a little getting used to but is easy once you get the hang of it. I would have got the 67 but this one will be really nice on the boat.

[brdhntr]

does it work good when it is cold like 0 that we will encounter in Canada when not in the shack ?

Have not had a problem with my Humminbird Matrix 10 LCD even in neg temps.

[roger23]

they must have improved in the last few years..

[bhorn]

I second the Marcum vote. Not because I own one but because I own 5. Was A diehard vex guy then won a Marcum LX-3 before the tc days and sold the vex and never looked back. Best flasher out there.

[Fred Bear]

I am getting a flasher this season and from the research I have done the marcum lx-5 is the top dog. That is the one my sights are set on. The vex is good but I think Marcum has them.

[olddog413]

Another vote for the LX-5. I love mine. Everyone talks about the adjustable zoom on the unit. I like the superfine line feature. It magnifies the entire water column to 3/4 seperation,no need to even mess with the zoom. I use it in that mode a lot. Never used a vex, not going to bash them. I did all the research before I bought mine, do the same, then make up your mind. The important thing is...get one, any one, it will change the way you fish for the better...forever !

[zx10r2004]

Another vote for the LX-5. I love mine. Everyone talks about the adjustable zoom on the unit. I like the superfine line feature. It magnifies the entire water column to 3/4 seperation,no need to even mess with the zoom. I use it in that mode a lot. Never used a vex, not going to bash them. I did all the research before I bought mine, do the same, then make up your mind. The important thing is...get one, any one, it will change the way you fish for the better...forever !:yeahthat: i have had problems with my 2 lx3's. marcum has good custumer service and fixed them. i sold them and stuck with the vex and never had a problem. both marcum and vex are great units and your not going to catch more fish if you choose one or the other.they both will improve your fishing greatly.