X67c-M68c Ice machine. What do you think?

[slick2526]

Im looking for a graph/flasher to pull double duty. Canoe in the summer and ice fishing. Im just looking to see what people think about them who own them.

Wondering how you like the target seperation, how well does it handle the cold, how long will the battery last, and how do you like the mapping feature of the M68c? Also will it take lake master chips or not?

[cwmn]

I have had the X-67 for three years now and I like it allot. I have never had a vex so I don't know how they compare.

The main reason I got the Lorance was that I needed a graph for the boat and a ice fishing rig and it fit both good.

I have not had any problems with it since I got it, it is a good unit.

CW

[MNSnow]

I have the X-67 Icemachine and I love it. The battery lasts forever. I can't really say how long but I started it up the past week without using it since March of 08 and it still had 80% of the battery left. It works great in the cold weather too. We were out this past weekend when the temps dropped into the teens and had no problems. I really like using the graph mode versus the flasher it just makes more sense and you are provided with a history of your jigging action and how the fish respond to it. My buddies fish with a Marcum and a Hummingbird and they have nothing bad to say about them. Like you I chose the X-67 to pull dual duty with summer and winter fishing. Good luck

[lucky]

I also have the x-67. I use it for my trolling motor and i get interferance but i think that i have other issues to make this happen. I also use it for ice fishing and love it. I use the graph screen and i change the pin speed to get the most up to date info. I think for the money its the best buy. good bat life. On my wish list would be a sd card slot and a bigger screen. I belive the screens will get bigger in the future. I think you are on the right track with this unit. Dont get sucked into the trendy thing and buy just a flasher

[jtroop]

My X67 pulls double duty, also. I prefer the graph mode over the flasher mode (and over a "real" flasher, as well). The only downside I can think of is the interference rejection capability when used near other sonar units. It doesn't make the unit unusable but there are times when you can't get a "clean" picture.

[leech~~]

I was really looking at getting one of these units but it seemed like the screens were not very bright when I was checking them side by side with others in the stores and bring the brightness up as high as it would go. What do you guys think about that? Are you having any issues when outside? I'm sure in a house they are ok?

[KUBIE]

i also have the x-67 it works great in both summer and winter and i have had no problems with it in the few years i've had it. seems to handle the cold well also i've been out on some really cold days and it hasn't had any problems so far. The battery on mine lasts all day with both the depth finder and my H20c on all day and still has plenty of power to power my LED lights all night then make it out the next day with no problem.

as for the M68c i bought one and i returned it the next day because it didn't accept the map chips and the built in map didn't show any bottom contour so i opted for the x-67 and H20c combo,

hope that helps

[MNSnow]

Leech - what are you comparing the screens too? Other X-67's? Mine is plenty bright during the day or at night. I think the dedicated flashers like Marcum, Vex and especially Hummingbird are a little brighter but I've never had a problem reading the colors on mine.

[Chode2235]

I was really looking at getting one of these units but it seemed like the screens were not very bright when I was checking them side by side with others in the stores and bring the brightness up as high as it would go. What do you guys think about that? Are you having any issues when outside? I'm sure in a house they are ok?

Push the power button again, there are several brightness settings.

[Ralph Wiggum]

I have never had an issue with the brightness, even in direct sunlight.

The mapping on the M68c is worthless. Don't waste your money.

[Chode2235]

I have never had an issue with the brightness, even in direct sunlight.

The mapping on the M68c is worthless. Don't waste your money.

Yeah, if you want mapping get something that will take a lake chip (522). My buddy has the 68 in his boat and it is nice for marking waypoints, but the detail in the base map leaves much to be desired.

Not worth the bucks if you ask me.

[BRULEDRIFTER]

Im looking for a graph/flasher to pull double duty. Canoe in the summer and ice fishing. Im just looking to see what people think about them who own them.

Wondering how you like the target seperation, how well does it handle the cold, how long will the battery last, and how do you like the mapping feature of the M68c? Also will it take lake master chips or not?

I have owned my X67C for 4 years now and still love it! However, thier biggest draw back is interference regection. It can usually play nice with others, but when you hit the deep water and rocky bottoms all bets are off. I usually fish solo, but lately I have been fishing with others more and have been losing the battle at times. Other then that they are great, especially for the year round use and having the graph screen which is 10,000,000 times better then the flasher screens. Having the history on the screen shows you so much more. It's nice if your not paying attention and all of a sudden you look at your screen and you can see that a fish came in and had a look a few seconds ago. You don't get that from the traditional flashers.

The target separation is great. It has 6 colors so it's easy to tell how strong the echo is coming back. And you can always find your jig in a school of fish.

I have left mine in my truck overnight in the bitter cold and it fires right up and works, however this drians the battery life. But the battery lasts forever. I still have the original battery after 4 years and it still lasts me all day if not longer. I can usually go multiple days with out having to charge it.

FYI: You will have to buy the suction cup transducer for your boat/canoe, so be prepared to drop another $70 this spring.

Good luck if you get one, you shouldn't be dissapointed!

[mskyfshntchr]

FYI: You will have to buy the suction cup transducer for your boat/canoe, so be prepared to drop another $70 this spring.

Good luck if you get one, you shouldn't be dissapointed!

I think you could make one up pretty easy, especially for a canoe. With the small hole in the top of the puck, you could run a bolt through it and have that on a bracket with a suction cup. Even if you took it to someone to weld, I don't think it would cost you more than $20.

I have the X67C. Love it because of its versatility- graph, flasher, etc. Fished with a guy who had the 68- he said the GPS wasn't worth it in that unit.

[Boxcar Wllie]

I have had mine for 3 years. Love it. Have even started to change a few guys over from vexies to the graph. The history is probably the best part. For ice fishing you really can hone in on your jigging style and find out what works. You can split screen it and fish any part of the water column. I bought both ducers and just leave the one on the boat. I also us the suction cup because in case I go someplace w/o the boat and rent one I still have my graph. If you don't already have a GPS the 68 works well as a plotter. Don't pay attention to the basemap. It does not take any chips.

With the interference rejection issue, if I have issues I usually turn the unit off and turn it back on and it usually helps. If I still have problems I turn up noise rejection and that helps clean things up a lot.

I kinda dig it.

[Todd_J]

I was really looking at getting one of these units but it seemed like the screens were not very bright when I was checking them side by side with others in the stores and bring the brightness up as high as it would go. What do you guys think about that? Are you having any issues when outside? I'm sure in a house they are ok?

[slick2526]

thanks for the info guys.

[leech~~]

MNSnow, I was just comparing the screen brightness to other units around them up at Cabalas. I did go into the menu and bring the brightness up as far as it could go. It just didn't seem as bright to me as other units, and even the guy working there said he didn't think so also. But maybe it's OK? Other then that they look like really nice units.