vexilar experience

[hnd]

I have owned the FL8, FL18, VX1P, and currently use an LX5.  i have extensive use of the FL22 as well but it wasn't mine.  when they work, the marcum just outshines any other unit i've used.  but the horror stories of some of the new units, i dont' really have much issue with people shying away.   

my old saying is any flasher will suffice in 80% of all fishing applications.  to figure out which flasher to buy, you need to figure out which of the 20% of applications you regularly fish.

if you fish in 10-25' of water the majority of the time, the fl8 will be fine.   if you fish alot of shallower water, i wouldn't recommend the 8 if my life depended on it.  to use effectively you need a supression cable, and in the end its a pain.  if you fish in deeper, its nice to have a zoom of sorts. 

For me if you are set on a vex, get the 18.  its probably the most used and time tested unit above the entry level models there is. 

[leftydeadeye]

The fl 20 is what I've had for 6 or 7 years.  I bought a new battery for it, but heck the original is still fine. I use the thing hard. I wouldn't consider buying anything else. All the others just jumped on the band wagon. Vex  blazed the trail in flasher sonar.  I think any of the other models would be just fine.  Fl 8, fl 12  no matter. they all tell the same wonderful underwater stories..

[Stinkybaits]

Love the 28. Use it in the summer too with a ton of other electronics on the boat no interference issues what so ever.

[Clear_Ice]

I have had a vexilar Fl-18 for 4 years, zero issues and it is used 4-5 times a week all winter long. The battery has been not exactly well taken care of and I have had no issues with this either.

If you are looking at which vex to buy, I think that a Fl-18 is a good mid level flasher that gives you some great features for a mid ranged price. Thats why I bought one myself 

A Vexilar is the best money that I have ever spent on fishing, in both hard and soft water! Period!

Just my 2 cents

CI

[mricefish]

fl8 for the last 15-16 years.  runs just as good as the day I bought it.  Have wanted to upgrade to a 18 or better but have never got around to it keep buying other things instead.  Price of some of those new flashers....crazy lol but I suppose one day I will break down and get a new one again.  And pass the 8 down to one of the kids.

[one_eye]

I have three vexilar's, two FL18s and a FL28. What I like about them is they always work and I do not have problems with them. I've had friends use my extra units and after that they bought their own units.

[wallleyes]

Vexilar for me. Rock solid for decades. Currently 2 flx-28 units and love them. Had an lx-5 but did not care for it and sold it.

[Retiredbum]

I have a FL 8.   Had it over 10  years    never had a problem  .   Smoked alot of trout because of it,  Just replaced my battery this year,  Simple is sometimes better.

[hamms]

My favorite unit from vex is the fl18. Never an issue with that or the fl8se I had. I currently run lx7

[Cotacatchers]

FL 18....since 2003...I just upgrade to the tri transducer ,ultra pack case  , trophy angler bag ,flex light and digital depth ...was looking to up grade last season and after looking at all the options went with a face lift for the ol Vex.

Just sold my 2 lx3. And upgraded to the flx 28
Have used it two times and absolutely love it
Very pleased with purchase

[hnd]

Just remember new and improved. Is not always better.

that is actually the exact definition of "improved"

[gearheart]

I've been using an FL8 for over 20 years. It was state of the art when I bought it. I wish the damn thing would break down so I could justify buying a new FL28.  It refuses to die. Batteries die but not this flasher.

[DR.SPECKLER]

i bought a vex fl8 and a Marcum vx 1 at the same time 7 years ago.in that time the vex keeps running and the Marcum transducer oozed all the black cheap epoxy from the bottom of it.sent it in for that.then 2 years ago the Marcum started doing the infamous bottom bounce and had to be sent in again for the motor.ive sold them both since then to 2 of my brother in laws.they are both working now and I can say marcums customer service is pretty good.but I want a product that works right out of the box and keeps working.i now have 2 years running a fl20 and Marcum lx3tc and no problems so far with either but im worried about the lx3tc after reading all the motor problems with those.i would've never bought another Marcum but dicks sporting goods had a steal it price online last year and picked it up for 249.

[hnd]

I've been using an FL8 for over 20 years. It was state of the art when I bought it. I wish the damn thing would break down so I could justify buying a new FL28.  It refuses to die. Batteries die but not this flasher.

ours started to fade. it was about that old.  still worked though unless it was really sunny you had a hard time seeing it.

[taubros]

I wanted to thank everyone for their honest opinions. I decided to pick up a vexilar flx 28.  I really hoped that vexilar still lives up to its name as this one will see a lot of use. Plus I hope it will get along with my lx7. I will updated my experience and any findings that arises. 

[royjulius]

The Fl-18 is a time tested. Bullet proof as they come flasher. 

Yep. Had mine since they came out, just replaced the first battery last year. It found me a limit of perch on my first time out last Friday. I added the digital depth reader/battery status indicator last year. $50 well spent, really beats the old LED battery status indicator.

All of the new stuff will find fish once you learn how to operate them, but nothing is more time tested than Vexilar. 

[Mt.Bucket]

Kinda like the Energizer Bunny, they just keep on going. I lost one out of the back of a sled going 40 MPH, it bounced and flew through the air. That was 6 years  ago, sold it to a buddy 3 years ago. It still works like new today. They are the only way to go IMO.

[Lobes]

Looks like a lot of positive input from others. My FL8 slt has had no problems, always works the way it's supposed to and after over ten years the original battery is still going strong.

                                                       
NBG

[Fishmon]

I have owned a Vexilar Fl-8se, a Marcum Lx-5, and now have a Vexilar Fl-28.  The Fl-8se was absolutely bullet proof. It ran like a champ and I never had any problems with it.  I sold it and traded up to the Marcum LX-5 for the sole purpose of fishing deeper water with the zoom capabilities offered by the LX-5.  It worked great but had some transducer issues and  was tough on batteries compared to the Vexilar.  I saw a Fl-28 unit last year on the ice and was impressed by its capabilities. I purchased one when it went on sale earlier in the fall.  I can't wait to use it this season.  Once again, this is a Ford vs. Chevy issue.  Both brands have their pluses and minuses.  I would say that I am a Vexilar fan and probably always will be.

[carcus1]

I have  a 9 or 10 year old fl20 and it worked flawlessly, might replace the battery for the first time this year as its getting a little weak.  I am currently looking at buying another flasher as my wife and kids need to use one now when they come out and I sold my lx3tc after 5 MOTOR REPLACEMENTS! Also had 3 showdown 5.6 dual beams fail me and my cousins showdown troller only lasted a year, so you can only imagine how I feel about marcum pruducts(never in my life have I seen such a low quality product cost so much)  Anyhow, I am looking at either a fl18 in the gens pack or a humminbird ice 35, leaning more towards the 18

[jeepdude64]

Lowrance has $100 rebate on the ice machines.  i just got the 5 chirp elite.. I have a vex-8 (15 years old) and it is running great but just wanted gps.  got mine off ebay for $500 and with the $100 off i think a great deal. 

http://www.lowrance.com/Global/Lowrance/Offers/Ice_Machine_Rebate/2014-Ice-Machine-Rebate-Form.pdf

[Cotacatchers]

I wanted to thank everyone for their honest opinions. I decided to pick up a vexilar flx 28.  I really hoped that vexilar still lives up to its name as this one will see a lot of use. Plus I hope it will get along with my lx7. I will updated my experience and any findings that arises.

Had my new 28   4 times now pretty amazing unit.   And I've been a marcum guy for years.  Good luck