New Vexilar?

[marine_man]

I'm signed up for Vexilar's e-mail updates, and there was a little blurb about a new vexilar in the works.

What do you guys know?

If / when I hear more I'll be sure to post it...

marine_man

[deepportage01]

This alway's happens to me, I just got my FL-18 2 years ago and now they come out with one that cleans your fish I should have waited 2 years.

[CNY Tim]

From what I hear hold on to your FL-18, there's just a couple of extra features and no need for a sunshield, the watts are still 400 from what I hear so don't expect any increase of performance. I am sure they will still be the same old blobs. MarCum still gives you more for less and at $550 for the FL-20, quite less... I think Thorne Bros. still has LX-5's for $455.99 on sale with free shipping now that's a deal!

[icenutter]

I have also received information that they are the FL-12 and FL-20. The new products will be unveiled at the ICAST show next month in Las Vegas. Info on the new units coming at the end of July. I don't know any other details about the units.

[IndyEFI500]

Since I just bought a Marcum last year it will be interesting. I was just told the other day by a salesman at a shop that both brands have something big coming down the pipeline this year. Now the lithmus test will be to see if he is right or wrong or both.

[Northlander]

Icenutter is on the ball with this one. The rep was trying to sell these to a local baitshop when I was there. We will see if they are up to snuff with Marcum yet or not.

They sure were big $ thats for sure.

[marine_man]

The ICAST show starts today and runs through Friday... should hear something any day now...

marine_man

[CNY Tim]

FYI Gang...

New FL-20 Changes the Way Anglers Fish

Minneapolis, MN. The dawn of a new era in sport fishing sonar is at

hand. Vexilar Marine Electronics, pioneers in marine sonar technology

for over 40 years is launching an exciting new sonar/fish finder the

FL-20.

Using cutting edge flasher sonar technology developed by Vexilar, the

FL-20 promises to deliver a live action, three-color sonar display that

is bigger, and more visible than anything previously offered by Vexilar.

The sleek profile of the FL-20 offers a larger viewing window and a

greatly enhanced viewing angle of the display. The super-bright LEDs can

be easily seen in sunlight, but after dark, the FL-20 offers a night

mode so you can turn down the intensity of the lights for comfortable

night viewing.

The FL-20 uses the same easy to operate, three-knob control system as

their popular FL-18 Flasher sonar, but with some enhanced features. A

ten step inference rejection feature is standard with the FL-20. You

will also be glad to know the Vexilar FL-20 enhanced receiver

performance and increased noise immunity. This means less inference

when fishing with other 200 kHz systems.

The FL-20 boasts two auto zoom ranges that split the display screen to

let you focus in on just the bottom 6 or 12 feet of the water column,

depending on your needs.

The FL-20 is capable of showing target I.D. of less than 1/2 inch, but

can also display depths down to 200 feet. Another new feature is a 20

foot shallow water mode that is available for anglers when fishing in

thick weeds or in very shallow water. The 20' Low Power Mode cuts the

output of the transmitter by nearly 50% to make it easier to see true

bottom in thick weeds or when you are fishing in only a few feet of

water.

Combine all these features plus a low battery warning light and you can

see why many experts believe the FL-20 will change the way many anglers

fish with sonar summer or winter.

The FL-20 Pro Pack II will retail for $449.95. That's alot better price than $550. Shallow water weed performance and zoom performance in hole hopping for me will be most critical, hopefully they've taken care of the multiple target blobbing issue.

[marine_man]

Thanks for the info Tim...

It'll be interesting to see all of these "new" features... the Low Power mode sounds an awfull lot like the current FL-18 LP mode...

marine_man

[CNY Tim]

MM I noticed that too.. Display performance is key.. What internally have they done to clean up the display in regards to the receiver and trans, stats are the same? Time on the ice will tell..

The MarCum LX-5 set the industry standard for high performance flashers it's a fact. Props to both companies for listening to customer feedbacks. Innovations do indeed fuel competition.

[Tony Boshold]

There web site has all the info on the new units. Impressed most with the new screen.

We'll have to wait and see how it works for official opinions.

Good info Tim, thanks.

[Gus]

I agree, we will have to wait to see it in action for official opinions. But on paper.... I'm sure glad I have my LX-5.

[marine_man]

Here's a picture:

marine_man

[iffwalleyes]

They are changing the look of the flasher that we are all used to. They have some improvements but I think Marcum still has them. Better zoom windows and the two shades of brightness of the LED would be nice for day and night fishing. Would be interesting to get ahold of one and spend some time with it.

[deepportage01]

I think I'm going to hang on to my FL-18 for a few more years I like the new one but, 2 years ago I paid $400 for the FL-18 and I realy don't see anything on the new one I can't live without, unless it cleans your fish for you thanks for the pics MM way to stay on top of things!

[hanson]

Interesting... very interesting. I'm not quite sure what I was expecting from Vexilar, but that is definitely not what I was expecting.

It really looks to me like the gave the FL-18 a makeover and boosted the power a little bit. Not quite sure if I like that new look yet but I'm sure it'll grow on me. Better low power mode and the daytime/nighttime light levels are very interesting.

Still no adjustable zoom though.

I think like most of you guys, I'm pretty excited to see one in person and see what it can do on the ice. Until then, I can only speculate based upon the given information.

[Captain B.R.K]

WOW.....

The vexilar unit looks pretty darn good, but would like to hear some feedback on the unit come ice-season. I think the flat screen will be nice- ice won't form and cause any issues w/ visual problems.

I love my FL-18, but used the LX-2 all last year and it's a pretty nice unit-Marcum did a great job. IMO I think they may be a little to late for getting a new product on the market. The LX-2,LX-3tc, and LX-5 are superb units!

[CNY Tim]

Well boys as I sit here and think about how much personal fishing enjoyment and excitement my MarCum LX-5 has given me last season and that solid feeling that MarCum, a Minnesota company driven by ex naval engineers took the bull by the horns and developed a 3 color flasher to a performance level unsurpassed. The LX-5 revolution started and simply put the LX-5 has been flawless! Customers most I talked with made that purchase not by sponsored endorsements but by word of mouth by informed knowledgable anglers that put many of hours of ice under the feet working this tremendous unit. An added bonus was a solid patriotic feeling you had coming away from the counter, dang it's nice to have something that delivers all this technology and performance for a great price, built at home. That's something rarely achieved these days, made in the U.S.A....

Vexilar fans deserve to get the same enjoyment from there new toys like Marcum has with there LX-5. The FL-20 does offer much more than the FL-18 minus the cup holder, tackle box and rod holder which was a cheesy attempt at best to fight MarCum's tech advancements with pro pack trinkets rather than substance. Conversely if they had introduced the FL-20 at the time of the LX-5 it would have been a more comparable assesment for me anyways. The 12% larger flat view panel I think is a nice plus. We all like a little more screen and our eyes aren't getting any younger, that's a nice feature that jumps out on the FL-20. The increase in zoom to 12' was much needed for us zoom fanatics, that's a plus. Interference rejection and shallow water performance will be some items that I will be interested in hearing comments on.

A few of you have wondered if I am going to take the plunge, break down, and purchase the 20, who knows maybe I will later on during the ice season.

Barring glitches right off the bat I believe that the FL-20 will well out sell the FL-18. Remember the LX-5 has been dominant since it's release and has an entire year of on ice experiences and P.R. of mouth under it's belt with hardly any glitch in performance. With Vexes improvements and new design loyalists will have some bragging rights this season. Good for them I say and vex fans should be thanking MarCum. MarCum's innovations forced there hand. Now some hard heads will take exception to that comment but think about what would have happened with no MarCum the FL-18 would have been here and probably had a very long life maybe as long as the FL-8. Nope you have to thank MarCum for bumping the tech. needle, plain and simple.

Now if your new to ice fishing and flashers both companies have some great leftover steal deals on older and used models for the dollar conscious angler. You should be able to locate good bargains from both manufacturers through out the season.

Competition is a great thing, maybe the best of things.

[OldBear]

Gee Wiz sure glad I bought my FL18 about the time the ice went out. Ha.

[deepportage01]

I know the feeling

[CNY Tim]

The FL-20 review from a buddy of mine said if you like the zoom feature the 12' zoom window is nice but not nearly as sharp as the LX-5, the dimmer switch is nothing but a gimmick., the screen is sweet, but it still doesn't seperate targets better than the LX-5, to me it's pretty much the same old Fl-18 technology, very slight or no improvement in this area. Stacked targets still clump... Shallow water? Definitely no improvement over the FL-18. Interference unchecked... Do you still know anyone that has a Vex? If I was going for new now it would be the MarCum LX-5 Tim. It still rules the roost.

As I have more I'll share...

[hanson]

Quote:

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Gee Wiz sure glad I bought my FL18 about the time the ice went out. Ha.

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I don't know if I'd be so disappointed in that decision. FL18 is a great flasher and I don't see too many 'improvements' with the FL20 where it would make me throw it out the window and upgrade, unless you like that new look.

Its gonna need some time on the ice to really learn more about it but I would feel perfectly comfortable with an FL-18 purchase.

[Jason Durham]

Finally!!! I've been holding my breath about these two units since February and I will tell you they are AWESOME! I had the opportunity to try both out and they rock. We actually put four transducers in the same 10 inch ice hole and you could knock out ALL interference.

[crappace]

Were all four ducers from vexilar?

[CNY Tim]

Guys you can add some extra coin to the base FL-20 price if you want the dual beam probably looking at $499.95.