12-11-2006, 02:13 AM
I was in your shoes a few weeks ago, trying to choose between between a Marcum and a Vexilar. I had a chance to try a friend's Vexilar FL-8SLT last year and was impressed with the way it showed the mood and proximity of the fish. I finally settled on a Marcum LX-3 because of the features it offers and it was a killer price at Cabelas bargain cave ( about 45% off retail and it had the color upgrade ). I also have a Garmin 160 which I used on the ice last year. It was OK, but the resolution on it leaves much to be desired. Better than no finder at all on the ice. I know that you are looking for all-in-one solution but why not go for both? For the price of a x102C, check out the Marcum VX-1 (or the Cabelas VXR - same unit), it is going for $199 with a $50 dollar rebate. Not bad for a starter flasher unit. There's a lot of decent LCD units out there to be had from your leftover money. You can't go wrong with either brand of true flasher. The colors are more vivid on the Vexilars but the Marcums have sharper definition and better target separation. Don't confuse that with target ID, which both units can accomplish down to 1". The target separation on the LX-3 is spec'ed at 1" but the Vexilars are at 2.65". Kinda nitpicking here but could be important when looking at perch hugging the bottom. Good luck on your search! If you need a demo of the LX-3 on the ice, let me know.
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