Vexilar Sunhood

[Mike Stark]

so i just picked up an older fl-8slt for 100bucks...it works but lights are dim very dim compared to my newer fl-18...im going to try and clean it to see if that helps.

i was looking on vexilars site and they have a sun hood for older modles...has anyone ever used on of these? do they help?

thanks,

mike

[lakeshoremunster]

if it is pretty old check to see if the carbon brushes need to be changed, buy the kit from vexilar and swap it out it should help brighten up things for you

[Mike Stark]

its 10years old...2000 model

[lakeshoremunster]

wow that is old, i would email or call vexilar they will tell you how to get it bright again, I got a fl-18 this year for free that didnt work(lights didnt spin but came on) so I took it apart and cleaned it, as i was cleaning it i noticed that a capacitor was broken, emailed the guy but he wouldnt sell me the part but gave me the vaule of the part so i can fix it.

[Mike Stark]

yeah im a little bummed about it...they guy that sold it to me said nothing about it being dim.

[Ed Carlson]

You can send it in to Vexilar and have it refitted with a new L-E-D display for about $100, or get the new "Cool Blue" conversion for that or even a bit less. They will also clean it, and tune it up. I have 2 converted...love them!

So...you not totally pooched yet bud.

A cleaning may perk it up too, but a upgrade would make it better than new.

[Mike Stark]

answered my own question.

[Mike Stark]

whats up with the cool blue?

[Steve Foss]

With cool blue, the red stays, but the green and orange are replaced by blue and purple.

You can "cool blue" the following units:

FL-8

FL-8SLT

FL-8se

FL-12

FL-18

FL-20

[Mike Stark]

what are the perks of "cool blue"? bsides of course being "cool"

[icehousebob]

The contacts might need cleaning and the Vex service center can do that, usually while you wait. But first, here's a cure that I used back with my first Vexilar. Go to an SA or Holiday gas station, get their big soft drink cup and drink it. Cut the bottom out of the cup and cover the dial of the Vex. You might have to cut the top down until it fits tightly. Paint it flat black and re-enforce the rim with duct or electrical tape. It's like looking into a tunnel, but it shades the dial and keeps the sun light out of it. Cheap fix, try it.

[Mike Stark]

thanks for the tips...the vex is going back to its original owner...im not willing to pay money for a unit i cant read. the deal was too good to be true.

[Steve Foss]

what are the perks of "cool blue"?

None that I am aware of. Blue and purple are cool colors along the spectrum, just as yellow, orange and red are warm or hot colors. Only potential real-world advantage I can think of blue/purple might have over green/orange is which one shows up best in bright sun conditions, and the cool colors are no better in my experience.

[mn_bowhunter]

Also good for red green color blind folks. The older units were not as bright as newer ones. There are instructions on vex HSOforum for cleaning brushes. It's not difficult. I'd try that before returning it. I suspect the original owner was not aware the lights were dim, since it slowly happens over time.

[Ed Carlson]

what are the perks of "cool blue"? bsides of course being "cool"

The Vexilar CB Conversion or "Cool Blue" is a conversion conceived and designed to aid people with Color Blindness issues, it helps greatly, I know I am CB..or feel free to ask anyone who has one in use.

It was originally known as the CB Conversion...but the handle "Cool Blue Conversion" caught on and just sounded better than the Color Blindness Enhancement Retrofit Conversion....yada-yada-yada..zzzzzzzzz..see my point.

Yes as designed it indeed has great value for individuals with CB.

It also just caught on as a nifty color pallet option for anyone whom preferred the new color Blue, Pink/Purple, and Red L-E-D's over the Green, Orange, Red. This is a High Contrast Display color pallet, less likely to blur colors together for many users. The new generation L-E-D's are far brighter than the ones in the past, so it is brighter too...by far.

In my opinion it is more daylight friendly and easy on the eyes in Night Mode on my FL-20's. I find it a better color pallet for open water boating use as well. Even non-CB guys who have actually used one and/or own one, say this after using them only once.

I set up my CB FL-20 unit next to a conventional Vexilar Color Pallet at my fishing seminars....it stops guys dead in there tracks. Many comment..."Why can I read this display when I could never do so in the past?" This was largely due to they are CB, and never had a working option out in a sonar to help them compensate for this deficiency.

For some it may be a huge benefit, and for others, not so much. I would suggest for you to look at the CB Color Pallet on the Vexilar Web site, or arrange to see a "Cool Blue" FL Unit in person (See pic above too), to see if it is an option you would wish to pursue or not.

[BobT]

thanks for the tips...the vex is going back to its original owner...im not willing to pay money for a unit i cant read. the deal was too good to be true.

If the deal was that good, it might be worth the few extra bucks to get it tuned up. After all, it is 20 years old.

A friend of mine took his old one apart and cleaned it up and it works like new again.

[Mike Stark]

its 10 years old...im sending it back...im going to put the 100bucks towards a newer unit. its not worth the time and effort.

[Mike Stark]

i think i might get a bird...they are on clearance and i have really wanted to try one out.

[Steve Foss]

Ah, thanks guys. I hadn't even thought of color blindness as an issue. Doh!

[Rope]

Go to the Vexilar site,there is how to section and just clean it up.Takes about 20 mins.and it will be like new.

[Mike Stark]

new in the year 2000 will not be like the new 2010...if anyone wants to buy im sure it will be back up for sale.

[Stringerless!]

I have an old fl8 too and I use a 1 pound coffee can as my sun shield. Perfect fit !

[Bob/Mn]

Vexilar makes a slip over sunhood or you can make your own.

A 1 lb coffee can or Dinty Moore stew can with the bottom cut out will fit the unit.

Paint the inside with flat black paint and you have a good sunhood.

[Iceseeker]

Thw coffee can trick works good, this is what I use in the summer as well.

Iceseeker

[hamms-scooter]

I was wondering about what to do in the summer with it and I think that is it... sun hood would be nice. That unit would be worth 100 bucks easy and with a quick cleaning good as new and will probably still out last the bird...