vexilar vs marcum

[skiinglady]

I'm thinking about upgrading from my 10 year old Zercom - which I love but has it's limitations - to a Vexilar or a Marcum. I tried out a friend's Marcum LX5 yesterday. It seemed to do the trick but then for some reason it stopped showing me the bottom 2 feet of the water column. I don't know if I somehow poked the wrong buttons or if it was malfunctioning. I can't imagine why it would be designed to do that.

Anyway, my question is: What would you recommend for a good, reliable flasher? I fish maybe 10 times in the winter, mostly for sunnies and crappies. I like to have stuff that works well.

[blueroof]

Skinglady, did you move locations when you lost the bottom? Were you on a steep break? If so, reducing your cone size will allow you to see bottom better. On steep breaks that is just the way it is, you can't always see the bottom.

If you crappie fish in deeper water, I would recommend the LX5 for the zoom.

Something could have gone wrong, especially if you were on a flat area when you lost bottom. I've had issues with a weak battery causing the bottom to become thick.

LB

[Deitz Dittrich]

Like Blueroof, I am confused by you loosing the bottom few feet?... Did you have it in zoom mode and not have it zoomed all the way to the bottom?

Both MarCum and Vex make great products. My personal choice is the LX-5 for many reasons. If you are only going to go fishing 10 times a year, you may be able to save some money and go with the LX-3tc, an equally good unit, slightly less power, and doesnt have the dual beam tranceducer.. but still a great unit.

[CSP88]

Hard to beat the time tested Vexilar FL-8 for reliability. This model has been around since 1989 with a very low failure rate. You'll see many people using these for 10+ years without any issues. Good luck in your decision.

Chad

[dkf]

I love my vexilar and it is hard to find a tougher unit than the vexilar. For me the colors and the display is much easier to read than the marcum and I like the colors on the vexilar. Marcum uses membrane switches which I have had nothing but trouble with on other electronics and such, Membrane switches break and the cover wears out, vexilars knobstyle switches are easily replaces and last. I also like the upgradabilty of the vexilar. I bought the Fl-18 genz pack several years ago and it comes with the 12 deg ice ducer. I entually upgraded to a dual beam 9/19 ducer, and all vexliar transducers and most accessories are interchangeable no matter what unit you have. Say you have an LX-3 and decide you want a dual beam transducer, you can't put one on you'll have to see it and buy an LX-5. I'm shure Marcums are fine units but for me I'll stick with vexilar.

[SP180]

On this site you will find all types that have there oppinions regarding the two. i just bought the LX2 for 229 and really like it. Now why did i not get a vex? everyone seems to have them and i like to be alittle differnet. Now look at what YOU like and buy it, you wont go wrong either way.

[skiinglady]

Thanks for all the input. I guess I'll have to read the owner's manual and see if I messed something up with the LX5 before I throw in the towel on it. I was hole hopping and it seemed to work fine in one hole but not another. I think you guys are on to something, either with the steep break or more likely the zoom idea. Probably operator error.

What is the advantage of the dual cones? Since I fish almost exclusively in less than 25 feet of water, do I need both? Which cone is better for shallow water? I'm thinking the wide one but that's mostly a guess.

My only experience with a vexilar was that it marked fish very well but it lit up like a Christmas tree when all I had down the hole was a tiny jig and a wax worm. And it made a lot of noise. I'm used to a Zercom which makes ablsolutely no noise whatsoever.

[Ferny]

It's a coin toss for all the reasons already listed.

They are both excellent units and you will be impressed with either one. Either one will see a lone maggy dropped down to 30+ feet. I do like the adjustable zoom though.

I think Vexi was around before '89 I just can't remember when my brother picked one up. I want to say about '85? The time tested FL-8 technology has been used since the Hondex, Micronar, and SiTex days before coming into Vexilar's hands.

By the way whats wrong with the Clearwater? I had a classic and Pro and they worked very nice. Are you getting interference from all the other flashers out there?

Ferny

[skiinglady]

Quote:

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By the way whats wrong with the Clearwater? I had a classic and Pro and they worked very nice. Are you getting interference from all the other flashers out there?

Ferny

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Yup! I can't use my Zercom if I go out with anyone else using anything within about 30 feet. And sometimes it just doesn't seem to be working correctly. My husband is an electrical engineer and he says that 10 years is about the useful life for the integrated circuits in most electronic gadgets. I think the old Zercom may be on its last legs. Hey, if Santa wants to bring me a new flasher, I want to help him pick the right one. I have a great husband!

[bassislife]

For crappies and sunnies there is no better flasher than the fl-8. My dad has had his for 15 years and never had one problem with it. What makes it great for pannies is its ability to zoom 0-30 ft. That comes in handy more times than I can count! All in all, its a great unit for its price and my number one choice when it comes to flashers!