X-15 or X-100C

[Skis]

Here's my dilemna: Have a friend with a X-15 wanting to sell and upgrade to the 104C. Selling the X-15 for $100+ less than new and has been used 6 times maybe.

But, for that price, I still could go to a 100C. X-15, bigger screen, but black and white. X-100 is color with the same size screen I'm used to (X-87 & 65 currently).

I am leaning towards the 100C, just to have a color unit, but can still be convinced otherwise. I would like to hear pros and cons of each unit.

Thanks for the feedback!

[Eyez]

Are you ever going to want GPS capablity with it?

How much do you like the color? Some people think it really helps separate targets.

Is there any warranty left on the x-15?


Dusty

[Skis]

To answer your questions, in order:

I have a handheld GPS, so no, GPS is not necessary.

Second, I fished in two boats at the PWT in Chamberlain with Color units and couldn't believe the fish markings compared to my 87. One was the 104 and the other had the 100.

Third, warranty, don't have a clue. He bought it last year. Warranty is only a year?

[Skis]

Bumping it back up!

[perchjerker]

Personally, I would much rather have the gps, mapping and sonar recording capabilities of the X15 over a handheld gps.

But it sounds like you have already pretty much made up your mind to go for the color unit. Which may be the better choice for you, only you can make that decision.

[Skis]

You tweaked curiousity for me PJ....Are there mapping differences in the X-15 compared to a handheld? I thought they would be the same, since both are Lowrance products (GPS is an iFinder Pro).

What sonars do you have in your boat?

[perchjerker]

I just looked the your Ifinder on the Lowrance site. It does look very nice. Some of the handhelds I have used have real small screens and are hard to use in a bouncing boat.

I like the ability to record the bottom (4 hours worth if I want) and play it back at home on my pc, and get the lat/lons for different areas of interest like humps, etc so that I can return to them later. And to use that information to make contour maps also.

I have the V15 and an old X70A on the bow.

[mike t.]

My vote is for the x-15, hands down it is a better locator! Sure color makes it a bit easier to spot fish but if you know how to read your unit you won't have difficulty. I run an x-15 and x-85 and I spot fish in the zoom mode all the time that I cannot see on the x-85, this is when the eye's are right on the bottom. Plus you do have the ability to have a great gps setup as well w/ the x-15. Get an antenna on Ebay for $100 bucks and you've got a $1,000 unit!

[Bradnd]

Skis... I went from the x87 to the 100c. I didn't plan on going color this year, but after seeing one in use, I got one. The color is much easier to see, even standing in the rear of the boat. I have a separate gps, so that wasn't an issue. If you already have gps, I'd opt for the color unit.

Take care,

Brad

[Tom (mich)]

I have both mounted on my dash. While my opinion is likely in the minority, I think the color (at least the 100C) is over-rated. While it's true that I can see the screen easier, I simply haven't marked fish on the 100C that I would not have on the X-15 sonar. I wouldn't call it a gimmick (yet), but I haven't found it better than my monochrome units.

[unlogged Rod Holder]

I put an X-100C on the bow of my boat in the first week of May and it has seen some use. I have an X-85 in the front of my aluminum boat. My brother and I just returned from a four day weekend fishing trip to northern MI and I just discovered on this trip the only issue I have with the X-100C but for me at certain times, this is substantial. Lowrance only put three brightness levels in this unit. Fishing in daylight, the highest level is quite all right. Fishing at night with the unit on its lowest brightness level, it is still too bright. I think Lowrance should have put in software to make brightness adjustments on a sliding scale so a guy can get it down to the level with just enough backlight to see the numbers he's wanting to see. After dark, I wasn't really looking for fish marks. I already knew where the fish were and just wanted to see my depth numbers so I could stay positioned on the outside of a break rather than up on top in 5' of water and also without having night vision torched. When night fishing using the X-85, I just left the backlighting off and could see the numbers by looking at the screen with my headlamp light hitting the screen. In fact, based upon this recent discovery I am considering sending the X-100C back to Cabela's and, perhaps, putting on a monochrome unit with higher vertical resolution. The other solution might be to find a piece of flexible mylar with some shading which I could drape over the screen. As the season moves on toward fall this will become more and more important. Might be nice if Lowrance could do a software change and make varying the brightness on a sliding scale possible.

[MrBigeyes]

Not sure about your 100c but on my x18 I can set the color to monochrome or night vision or a number of colors to keep the brightness down at night. Check your options out as you may be able to do the same.