Mike, maybe you could fill me in on why the transducer of the Lowrance doesn’t make an audible “click” like the vex’s or Marcums. Also, could it be that the 15 watt graphs use a narrower cone angle to produce a better picture? And one last thing, if the Lowrance can truly put out a 60 degree cone angle like it says it can by turning up the sensitivity, (And I’ve come close) will the vexilars and Marcums produce the same results by turning up the gain? Nice posts by the way.

Derek I took myself back to school on this topic but couldn’t find much in terms of sonar that deals with Watts P-P or Watts RMS but found alot in audio electronics which is somewhat the same field. Apparently MORE POWER isn’t always better?! Signed, Huge Tim Allen Fan. Apparently “marketing” knows what I like. P.S. How do they figure 4x Watts Peak to get the Watts P-P? We know Watts RMS X 2 = Watts Peak, if you multiply that by 2 like you would do with Voltage Peak to get Voltage Peak to Peak, you would only get 200 Watts. Couldn’t find it in my books. Any info from someone would be great.

I picked up the Lowrance unit about a month and a half ago after using an Fl-8 last year. I’ve used it in 20 below windchills for over an hour and a half which is pretty rediculous being the holes freeze up every 3 or 4 minutes but it performed flawlessly. Some people seem to be concerned about moisture on the screen. Obviously there will be a little condensation (as anyone knows who wears glasses) on the screen when you go outside in those temps for extended periods of time and then go into a steamy shack but, under most conditions, such as 0 degrees and up, it is unaffected. Also, short little trips from the shack to the hole in those conditions to reset a tip-up didn’t seem to affect it either. Probably due to the fact that the electronics keep it somewhat warm and the insulated bag retains some of the heat and blocks the wind. Simply put, only under extreme temp. changes do you see any noticeable condensation, from my experiences anyway. As far as the unit goes otherwise, it has proven itself to be superior to all units in everyway except it only has half the power of the Marcum, but the Marcum supposedly has some interference issues. It has twice the power of the Vexilars giving it better separation, and with the fish reveal, water temp., fish alarms (which works quite well I might add), scrolling sonar with 2x or 4x adjustable depth zoom (which I find myself using the most), 256 colors vs. 3 colors, etc. etc. etc., this thing is going with me everywhere (hardwater or boat). Probably should mention the battery meter on the flasher screen and the fact that you don’t have to unplug it to conserve battery life and that it doesn’t have a motor therefore having around 4 or 5 times the charge life of the regular flasher units. Also, while it may seem cheaply made, I’m pretty certain the arm will take a pretty good beating as lond nobody jumps up and down on it. All it has to do is hold a little transducer. All this results in one versatile,lightweight, fishfinding powerhouse and I’m happier than a pig-in-mud that I tried something new for a change. My only regret is not shelling out the extra $ for the x68 that comes with GPS.