Vex or Marcum

[FishingJoe]

I feel the need to buy something, thinking of upgrading my Vex-8 (which I love). The new Marcum looks good on paper, but has anyone actually used one that can make a recommendation? Vex-18 or 20 is the other I am looking at.

Thanks :D

FishingJoe

[GFHFG]

marcum lx5 works great for me

[BassFisher91]

marcum lx5 works great for me

This is the second time I've quoted you. Haha. But I completely agree with you.

[bjacobs]

This is a subject that comes up every year. You are going to get a lot of responses each way. One thing that I noticed while researching last year was that in the Minnesota ice fishing forums a lot of the hard core fishermen there seem to really have a hard on for marcum.

[Captain Happy]

This is a subject that comes up every year. You are going to get a lot of responses each way. One thing that I noticed while researching last year was that in the Minnesota ice fishing forums a lot of the hard core fishermen there seem to really have a hard on for marcum.

This is what happens when a company sponsors there web site.

[icefishermanmark]

You might as well ask Obama or McCain, or Ford, Chevy or Dodge? This is a real can of worms. I say Marcum or Lorance

[hardwaterfan]

This is what happens when a company sponsors there web site.

yep, i dont even bother with that site anymore. the best sites are bias/huckster free.

[FISH21]

Everyone has their own opinion, you just have to do some research on each unit and see which one suits you best. I've only ever used marcums and I have to say they're all great units. I've never used a vex so I can't say anything about them.

[grouly925]

As is being said, each product has its ups and downs. Whether it be price or convenience or accessories. I have been in the same boat as you, and I don't know how to decide between the cheap Fl-8, the more expensive FL-18, or a Marcum LX-3tc or LX-5. I think what it boils down to is how good of a price you can get on any of them. I do think that it is nice that the Marcum's come with a soft carrying case straight from the factory instead of having to buy one afterwards.

[FishingJoe]

I am looking to get some discrimination at the bottom of the water column - which I can't do well with the FL-8. I've read the manufacturer hype, and the Marcum and FL-18 or 20 read pretty well. Just wondering if anyone had one they didn't like, as I am pretty sure there are few that own all of them. Thanks for the help though, and for the PM's about buying the one I have now.......:o

[Superhog]

so what did you end up with?

[kcud rellik]

marcum lx5 works great for me

Same here and my buddyloves his LX2. If you can, I'd get the LX5. The adjustable zoom window is awesome esp. in deeper waters.

[icefishermanmark]

Same here and my buddyloves his LX2. If you can, I'd get the LX5. The adjustable zoom window is awesome esp. in deeper waters.

I have the LX-2 and I love it. I'd like to have na LX-3 or LX-5 but I didn't have the money at the time and I've never really seen an advantage to having the better unit because my fishing is usually done shallow. The new Marcum VX-1 is the same as the old LX-2. I e-mailed and asked why they discontinued and they said that the difference between the 2 units was negligable, so they just upgraded the VX-1 and raised the price.

[M1Tanker]

I went through the same decision last year and went with the Marcum VX-1...I couldn't be happier and I saved some $ also. Watch for a rebate/discount in a month or so and you'll really be happy.

[Duck-Hunter]

If you want more bang for your buck and not just paying for a name go with Marcum. I did alot of home work last year when I bought a flasher, I went with a LX-2 and did not regret it one bit.

Also if your buddies fish with Vex.'s its funny to watch there flashers turn into a xmas tree when you fire up your machine. :lol:

[FishingJoe]

Went to BPS to start the upgrade process from my FL-8 to the Marcum when I spotted a Hummingbird. Wow - big, crisp display, dual beam transducer, etc, etc -----and half the price. :) Any opinions on that one? I am intrigued and wondering if there are experiences out there with that unit.

Thanks

FishingJoe

[Gutz]

I've owned the the M68c and the FL-18 but not a Marcum. I like the readability (don't know why, just seems easier) of the the FL-18 SLIGHTLY better but the Lowrance's fully adjustable zoom makes it more versatile, IMO.

The higher end Marcum's (VX-3 & VX-5) have an adjustable zoom feature that seems functionally the same as the Lowrance's. That makes them seem very interesting to me as a possible best candidate but don't let anyone tell you that Marcums are cheaper because the higher end ones that have the really adjustable zoom are pretty much the exact same $$ as the Vex's, from what I can see.

-G

[wildcoy73]

I have the fl-20 in the dual beam and love the unit. For most of ice fishing I would save the money and go with a single beam unit. Will be a change for ya in the dual beam and seeing what side of the transducer reads what and at what deapth.

[walleye]

I've owned the the M68c and the FL-18 but not a Marcum. I like the readability (don't know why, just seems easier) of the the FL-18 SLIGHTLY better but the Lowrance's fully adjustable zoom makes it more versatile, IMO.

The higher end Marcum's (VX-3 & VX-5) have an adjustable zoom feature that seems functionally the same as the Lowrance's. That makes them seem very interesting to me as a possible best candidate but don't let anyone tell you that Marcums are cheaper because the higher end ones that have the really adjustable zoom are pretty much the exact same $$ as the Vex's, from what I can see.

-G

I was looking at the Marcum owners manual and it only lets you zoom in on either five feet or ten feet.

The highest the X67 will let you zoom in to is 1 1/2 ft, so you can zoom in a lot more with the X67. It will let you zoom in anywhere from the bottom all the way up too. It's also is $325 less than the marcum LX-5

[FishingJoe]

Ended up at Franks on Saturday, and walked out with the Humminbird ICE45. Took it on the ice Sunday, and it is sweet (so far). Huge bright dial, easy to read, 1/2 inch seperation....Bluegills were easy to spot and count, and I could see if my spike was gone. So far, so good........:D

[sfw1960]

NICE choice!
:D

[Gutz]

I was looking at the Marcum owners manual and it only lets you zoom in on either five feet or ten feet.

The highest the X67 will let you zoom in to is 1 1/2 ft, so you can zoom in a lot more with the X67. It will let you zoom in anywhere from the bottom all the way up too. It's also is $325 less than the marcum LX-5

I think five feet is as small of piece of water column as I would want to look at anyways. From what I understand, the X-3 and X-5 let you pick any 5 or 10 feet in the water column you want to look at, not just the bottom, like Vex. That makes it functionally the same as the Lowrance to me, IMO.

The X67 is $200 less than the LX-3, though.

-G

[bluekim7]

This is exactly right. Zoom in on either 5 or 10 ft of the water column anywhere from the top to the bottom. You can see so much detail. Any flasher is better than fishing blind. I love my LX-5, but i think my next purchases of electronics will get the nod for humminbird. open water and possibly ice.

[TroutFishingBear]

I have an FL-18 and I love it. The bottom zoom or whatever its called that shows you the last 5-6 of the water column in detail is very useful when fishing for perch on deepwater flats, among other times.

But, everyone has their preference, but there is something important I haven't seen anyone mention. If someone else you fish with has a vexilar, and you then buy a marcum and use it, you are going to give extreme interference to your partner's vexilar that he/she will not be able to get rid of. (if using a vexilar nearby, the interference button thing works to get rid of vexilar interference...but NEVER works for the marcum).

Vexilars also use less power and the battery lasts longer, which is a plus if you don't want to haul along an extra battery and you like to fish all day long, sunup to sundown.

[Gutz]

I have an FL-18 and I love it. The bottom zoom or whatever its called that shows you the last 5-6 of the water column in detail is very useful when fishing for perch on deepwater flats, among other times.

But, everyone has their preference, but there is something important I haven't seen anyone mention. If someone else you fish with has a vexilar, and you then buy a marcum and use it, you are going to give extreme interference to your partner's vexilar that he/she will not be able to get rid of. (if using a vexilar nearby, the interference button thing works to get rid of vexilar interference...but NEVER works for the marcum).

Vexilars also use less power and the battery lasts longer, which is a plus if you don't want to haul along an extra battery and you like to fish all day long, sunup to sundown.

Can anybody else verify that a Vex can not get rid of the interference from a Marcum and a Marcum won't run all day?

-G

[Quack Wacker]

I love my Vex, but I am seriously considering one of those new Hummingbirds, that show the water column and digital display.

www.humminbird.com (http://www.humminbird.com)

http://store.humminbird.com/renderImage.image?imageName=product_images\\large/ice45_01.jpg

[Gutz]

Looks interesting. They don't give you too much information on the website.

-G

[sfw1960]

I think five feet is as small of piece of water column as I would want to look at anyways. From what I understand, the X-3 and X-5 let you pick any 5 or 10 feet in the water column you want to look at, not just the bottom, like Vex. That makes it functionally the same as the Lowrance to me, IMO.

The X67 is $200 less than the LX-3, though.

-G
Lowrance ~
FIVE foot window - and if you go split-screen you can zoom 4X to 1.25'
[15"]
If you are in 50-100 FOW after smelt , whites or especially perch that ability is key to seeing the "sneakers" that are in the outside edge of the beam , lurking BELOW the printed bottom signal - see on a 20 degree beam it's deeper to the edge of the beam in 60FOW than just 60' straight down due to simple geometry.
:)
This is exactly right. Zoom in on either 5 or 10 ft of the water column anywhere from the top to the bottom. You can see so much detail. Any flasher is better than fishing blind. I love my LX-5, but i think my next purchases of electronics will get the nod for humminbird. open water and possibly ice.
BK7 you should SEE the w|-|00P@z$S new "birds they got coming out - the only gripe I thinnk I had against my 797c2 SI was the screen is 640 X 480 and narrower than it is tall...
I'll see if I can post up a few images of a few new units....

ROCK ON DUDE!
:coolgleam
I have an FL-18 and I love it. The bottom zoom or whatever its called that shows you the last 5-6 of the water column in detail is very useful when fishing for perch on deepwater flats, among other times.

But, everyone has their preference, but there is something important I haven't seen anyone mention. If someone else you fish with has a vexilar, and you then buy a marcum and use it, you are going to give extreme interference to your partner's vexilar that he/she will not be able to get rid of. (if using a vexilar nearby, the interference button thing works to get rid of vexilar interference...but NEVER works for the marcum).

Vexilars also use less power and the battery lasts longer, which is a plus if you don't want to haul along an extra battery and you like to fish all day long, sunup to sundown.
I generally fish after dark so one battery does me fine - but I do bring TWO .
Also when I fire up my 2400 watts next to any Vexilar I have been near , it's flitter-twitter in GREEN baby!!!
:lol:
There's a few members here that have seen it them selves....:evilsmile
The reason the Marcums blow a Vex away is due to the higher power emitted from them also.
Vexilars typically put out only 400 watts , the Marcums output between 1000 and 2000 watts.
There's your explanation.

;)

[ih772]

Lowrance ~
FIVE foot window - and if you go split-screen you can zoom 4X to 1.25'
[15"]
If you are in 50-100 FOW after smelt , whites or especially perch that ability is key to seeing the "sneakers" that are in the outside edge of the beam , lurking BELOW the printed bottom signal - see on a 20 degree beam it's deeper to the edge of the beam in 60FOW than just 60' straight down due to simple geometry.
:)



Your giving away one of my secrets Robert! I have it in split screen zoom a lot. I usually have it showing 5 FOW on the right side and the bottom 16" on the left.

That's another thing I love about the adjustable color line. When you have it set up correctly, it will show you fish outside of the 20 degree beam. I love it when that solid yellow bottom turns orange and gets a little blotchy. There's fish hugging the bottom and sneaking in, so be ready for them to fly up and strike!

FeesH oN! :fish: