Vexilar FL-18 vs. Lowrance X67 (68)

I've use the FL-18 and loved it and I've seen the X67 in use, but never had the hands on experience of trying it out. I'm sure the X67 is a great unit, but I'm a Vexilar man when it comes to the hard water. Ease of use, color definition, cone sizes, sensitivity...it's tough to beat.

I own a Vexilar FL-18 and also know quite a bit on the Lowrance X67 Ice Machine and the Lowrance X68. The FL-18 has the stadard top to bottom mode, a 6 foot Auto zoom so it shows the bottom and up six feet making it more easy to detect perch, walleyes, ect. close to the bottom. It also has bottom lock so if on a fishing boat it can tell the depth going up to 40 mph and has a Low Power mode for standard mode, AZ, and BL.
The X67 has a Flasher and a (what I consider) a standard boat style screen that show the contour of the bottom and fish location. I think it also can read the depth at faster speeds in a boat compaired to the Vexilar. I dosn't have Auto Zoom which I like but is a very good product. The X68 is the same as the 67 but has a gps system in it. Go to www.lowrance.com and you can compare the Lowrance units. Over all the are all very good products and you should chose to what will fit your needs the best.

Good feedback Duck16,

In addition,the x67 & 68c only use a 240watt transducer crystal compared to 300watt on the vexilar(18) which gives you a crisper and more defined target.Also,fishing close to others with like units in deeper water with hard bottom we have noticed the lowrance I/R or interference was lacking compared to the vex.

My .02

Oh yeah,the "Nod" goes to the vexilar..

I have used both units and I can say that hands down if you are looking for ONE unit for both winter and summer fishing The Lowrance is head and shoulders above the others. If you already have a summer specific unit in a boat then the Vexilar comes into play. I have noticed that the ice machine scrolling screen gives a person a sense of what is happening with the fish over time (about the last ten seconds). I usually fish with my brother in law who has an FL-18 I have not had any problems with interference. Find what is best for you but for me when those two products are side by side and then you look at the cost difference Lowrance $279.99 @ Cabelas It is very hard to justify the Vexilar unit.

How about a marcum? I picked up last year's marcum lx-3 brand new for $299.99. I honestly think the marcum is the best out there right now, but that is MY opinion.

Will it just be for ice fishing or is it for summer fishing too?

talking to a rep at Scheels, he said he owns the x67 and has used it side by side with an fl-18 without noticing a difference. I'm one of those guys that likes to buy stuff cause everyone else has it :) meaning I know it works. I just don't see a lot of guys out there with the x67 or 68. Its the price that has me even asking this question as which to buy.

Ex Vex user - no comparison between the two - It is hard to do a comparison as the vex is 1980 technology (286 vs pentium d or 4). Vex also has a racket on the transducer degree - you should have the variable 12degree isnt always going to be the ticket. Your neck won't hurt trying to read a 67 vs the vex. If you buy a Vex plan on looking at it 24-7. You wont see that one that grabbed your bait and let go a second ago when you were grabbin a cool one. Read the December issue of walleye insider - good article on the 67 and TFTs in general. The 67 has many many settings for bonehead mode to complicated. I liked the 80's but it is a new century and time to move foward.

Can anybody tell me what stores in ND carry the lowrance x67. Check out this link you can download this and then you get an x67 emulator so you can see exactly how one works, you can run one right from your computer.
www.lowrance.com/software/PCSoftware/install/x67c/x67c_demo.asp

bump

-Come on shorthair- There has been significant changes on the vexilar in just the last two years.I've used the x67,sold a 68c(never used) and also field tested the marcum LX-5 and currently on my 4th generation vexilar(FL-18) since 1991.Yes all work just fine,you see your lure,the fish,Bang "fish-on" game...

For the guy that wants a well proven flasher,one that will last (my 1991 FL-8 is still in use) and unsurpassed customer service take a close look at the vex.

And if your a 8,10 or 20 day per season type icefisherman save some money (from the 18)and purchase the FL-8...

There is a reason most of the top self made icefisherman today use the vexilar and its not because they are free...

I own an X67c. So far I love it. I have been able to do everything I used to be able to do with my vex. Shoots through ice well. I can't say it is BETTER than Fl18 or LX5 - but I can say that I believe it to be as good at telling oyu what is happening below the ice as those two units. Reliability and durability are issues I can't comment about yet. I will say that if you buy the X67c - make sure in flasher mode that you turn the zoom on to show you the bottom 6 feet. This is the same feature that other popular highend flashers have and works GREAT. One thing no one mentions much is that the ice machine shows flashes in four colors, which is slightly better than three. Once you use it for a while you can tell bigger fish from smaller fish more easily. Vex and Marcum are easier to learn to use. If you are looking for a unit to use for icefhising only - buy whatever you are most comfortable with (I believe the LX5 has a TINY edge over VEX). If you want to use it on the boat - buy the X67c.

In my opinion the FL-18 is the way to go, for several reasons. First it has normal and low power, this is great because you get twice the range to adjust your gain compared to the marcum. In dirty water it great to turn your unit to low power so you dont pick up anything but your jig. With the marcum, if the water is dirty you will be picking up stuff in the water other than your jig making the screen very cluttered. Another plus to the vexilar is that it has bottom lock. This is great for using the unit on your boat, it locks on the bottom so that when you are fishing in waves the bottom stays at a consitant depth allowing you to read the bottom much better, without this it makes it very hard to mark any fish while fishing in waves. Marcum has what they call "adjustable zoom", it lets you zoom to any depth range. Many people think this is a plus over the vexilar. This serves no purpose, the reason for zooming to the bottom is to pick up fish hugging the bottom that you would normally not pickup. You have no problem marking fish in any other section of water other than the bottom. This is what zooming to the bottom came about for, so I cant figure out what you would ever need adjustable zoom. The last reason I think vexilar hands down is there reputation and service. They have been around for years and are an extremely reliable unit. This is just my opinion, not saying any of the units are better than the other, just what I prefer

is the 18 worth $200 more?

This is an interesting and informative discussion. From my observation on the sideline, it appears a few of you have used both units and some have been fishing together side by side with both units. I would venture to say that both like their individual unit, but experience with having operated each unit over a period of time (weeks or a season) and learning all the adjustments would tell us more how they compare as timbrubakken and shorthairsrus have stated. I have run the software for the x67c and agree it will take more than 2 or 3 days to learn all the adjustments, but I am a patient person (once Tim P told me I have to much time on my hands, just go buy a new E85 truck) hahaha! Some might gather that I am retired and like to shop for the best buy. Hey, maybe I should wait for some ice down here in Nebraska before I buy, but I can always head north.

the nise thing about the x67 is that you can see the fish on a graph and see if they are stoping short or liking what you have on. that is the only thing that I liked about the unit.

Does either vexilar or lowrance advetize here cause it seems some are waving the Vexilar flag a bit prouder than normal?

One correction, the X67c does have a zoom for the bottom, a 2x or a 4x zoom from the bottom up, it will come up on a split screen so you can see the whole way down on the right side and also the zoomed part on the left side. It seems to read very well, I can see my jig with a waxie in the same hole as the transducer, and see the jig with waxie in the hole aprox. 5 feet in any direction. i think it has a 19 or 20 degree transducer on it. I would very highly recommend it to anyone!

Funny how often we see this same topic...About every month or so. I'm a Vex guy, went halves with my Brother in law 7 years back on a FL-18, but got sick of swapping every so often so I bought my own last week, another FL-18 Pro Pack...He don't know the old one is all his yet...I was pleasantly suprised in the upgrades since my older models...I use vex only because most pro's I've met swear by it...That's all I needed to hear...I use the Aqua View XL too, so sometimes I can just concentrate on the fish tendencies and such...In between beer's that is...Take care...Rich T

Was thinking about the X67 or m68 ice machine. Thought it would be a good forum to bring back a year later. Any thoughts?