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Marcum LX-5 - Original Model

Discussion in 'Buy and Sell' started by Backroad Benny, Dec 14, 2017.

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  1. chrism

    chrism Well-Known Member

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    Benny, i am from the same mold as Tip-up and feel 100% about everything he says above - xept i use a Lowrance cause thats all i had at the time. Same issue with eyes. I am pretty sure you'll have a WTF moment when you start using a graph. I used one three winters ago and since then wondered why people still use a flasher.
    There is no doubt a flasher is simpler and easier to use - graphs take a minute longer to start working due to warm up and loading, etc. whereas a flasher you turn in and start fishing... think of a flasher as a corded phone, think of a graph unit as a smartphone.... but once on, its a mute point..
    Graph does use more juice, but if you have your new sled along, its nothing to thrown in a 15-20ah battery that will last you a long time.
    I will also add of the 3 flasher brands, from what i have seen regarding meltdowns, stick with Vex. They have the best track record for trouble free use out there imho.
    @Cam has some know of decent priced 10ah Lithium batts - put two together and you have a solid three day weekends worth of battery power.
     
    chrism, Dec 17, 2017
    #21
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  2. Cam

    Cam Well-Known Member

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    Cam, Dec 17, 2017
    #22
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  3. Green

    Green Well-Known Member

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    Ice 55 is $544.99 @ cabelas after a $55 mail in rebate and $90 discount

    Some have been on kijiji used for that price recently
     
    Green, Dec 17, 2017
    #23
  4. Gord

    Gord Well-Known Member

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    Personally I can’t see why you would use a flasher instead of 2d sonar.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
    Gord, Dec 17, 2017
    #24
  5. Cam

    Cam Well-Known Member

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    I have zero interest in using anything but a flasher.
     
    Cam, Dec 18, 2017
    #25
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  6. Gord

    Gord Well-Known Member

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    That is interesting. I guess it’s a personal preference thing.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
    Gord, Dec 18, 2017
    #26
  7. chrism

    chrism Well-Known Member

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    yeah a graph may remind @Cam too much of open water fishing....:tonguewink::tonguewink::tonguewink::tonguewink:
     
    chrism, Dec 18, 2017
    #27
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  8. Backroad Benny

    Backroad Benny Well-Known Member

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    Thanks for the feedback everyone. I'm having difficulty deciding if I need to make a move. I can definitely live with my LX5 and do so happily, but I am intrigued by a graph too... I should rig up a Helix 9 to test it out.
     
    Backroad Benny, Dec 18, 2017
    #28
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  9. Backroad Benny

    Backroad Benny Well-Known Member

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    Now I'm reading about battery life issues with these Helix units not even lasting a full day on a charge...
     
    Backroad Benny, Dec 18, 2017
    #29
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  10. Neil

    Neil Well-Known Member

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    Thats funny Ben, my buddy just sent me a post that uncut put out (probably what your reading) as he was thinking of switching to a graph. He liked the fact I could clearly see the bait balls coming through where on his Marcum in a tent its second guessing if its interference or bait. It must be the GPS and map that drains the units along with the large screen. My LX-7 (graph) lasts two days and I think its only a 7 amp. No lag time for start up either. Having to lug around two batteries IMO is brutal especially at $100 a pop for lithium.
     
    Neil, Dec 18, 2017
    #30
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  11. ribbie

    ribbie Well-Known Member

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    FLX 28 it is then hahah
     
    ribbie, Dec 18, 2017
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  12. chrism

    chrism Well-Known Member

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    Yes - turn off gps and keep brightness off max and battery life is just fine.
     
    chrism, Dec 18, 2017
    #32
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  13. Tip-Up

    Tip-Up Well-Known Member

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    My only experience is with the smaller Helix 5 but I was running 2 1/2 days without a charge on a 9 amp battery last winter. I would think a motor driven flasher would draw more juice than a digital screen.....
     
    Tip-Up, Dec 18, 2017
    #33
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  14. Backroad Benny

    Backroad Benny Well-Known Member

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    Well I'm waiting either way. May sell the Marcum and bite the bullet on a FLX28 at some point or just keep my Marcum and deal with squinting.
     
    Backroad Benny, Dec 18, 2017
    #34
  15. lake-fisher

    lake-fisher Well-Known Member

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    I tried a hds 9 on the ice and found it way too big to lug around. I read on another post that a helix 9 unit is the size of a hds 12.
     
    lake-fisher, Dec 18, 2017
    #35
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  16. Tony

    Tony Well-Known Member

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    Get a lx6 or 7. They have the graph mode and have history. Although you can't go back like a Lowrance. ;)
     
    Tony, Dec 18, 2017
    #36
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  17. Gord

    Gord Well-Known Member

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    Gord, Dec 18, 2017
    #37
  18. ericcooley

    ericcooley Well-Known Member

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    I run my hds9 with a 12v 15ah and have gotten two full days 8 hours each day. Still haven' seen the low battery alarm. Which comes on under 12v. It is a bit big for run and gun/hole hopping but wow do I love it. Haven' taken the ice35 out of the jeep since I got the hds9 set up.
     
    ericcooley, Dec 18, 2017
    #38
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  19. chrism

    chrism Well-Known Member

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    Benny - the other option is, get glasses! I had to - but in the end, it made things so much better - and clearer! My telltale sign was that i struggled to get line thru an eyelet...arms just weren't long enough!
     
    chrism, Dec 19, 2017
    #39
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  20. Backroad Benny

    Backroad Benny Well-Known Member

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    Yea I had to get glasses for reading... I guess I'm just getting old. Turning 37 in a couple weeks.
     
    Backroad Benny, Dec 19, 2017
    #40
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